2009-2010 NBA Preview - Pacific Division
Lastly, we have a one horse division.
1. Los Angeles Lakers. Chalk up another 60 plus win, trip to the NBA Finals season for the Lakers. Andrew Bynum is another year older and better, and they still have Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and now Ron Artest. I think the Spurs could give them a little challenge, but honestly, just hand them the Western Conference title now.
2. Los Angeles Clippers. I think the Clippers will be vastly improved from last year. Possibly good enough to squeak into the playoffs. Baron Davis looks hungry (not hungry like last year, but hungry in a basketball sense), and they still have plenty of good players to go along with first overall pick Blake Griffin. Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby and Eric Gordon look like solid teammates. I could see them approaching 40 wins.
3. Phoenix Suns. The Suns are not good. They still have Steve Nash and the vastly overrated Amare Stoudemire, but they lack all the complimentary pieces that made the Suns of a few years ago go. In their place is Jason Richardson, who seems content to do nothing but shoot 3's, Grant Hill, who doesn't have much left, Leandro Barbosa, who lost his way last year, and a bunch of nothing. They could squeak back into the playoffs, but they are an easy one and done team now.
4. Golden St. Warriors. Don Nelson has no freakin' idea what he is doing. He's senile, he's off his rocker. Anybody would know you start a team of Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, Corey Maggette, Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis. Off the bench you have Ronny Turiaf, Stephen Curry and Kelena Azubuike. Bad defensively, but great on the offensive end. But we know Nelson will play Maggette at power forward, put Randolph on the bench and give Acie Law minutes over Jackson, for no reason whatsoever. The Warriors were once the talk of the NBA after defeated top ranked Dallas a few years ago. Now they are back to being a joke.
5. Sacramento Kings. The recession has hit the Kings harder then anyone. They have a few good pieces. I like the potential in the frontcourt of Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes. Tyreke Evans is a very talented rookie. I do not like Kevin Martin, who can't do anything but score 23 ppg. Other then that though, there is nothing. It will take several brilliant drafts to restore the Kings to glory. Just in time for them to be the Kansas City Kings.
All Pacific Team
C - Andrew Bynum, Lakers
PF - Pau Gasol, Lakers
SF - Ron Artest, Lakers
SG - Kobe Bryant, Lakers
PG - Steve Nash, Suns
MVP - Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin, Clippers
Coach of the Year - Phil Jackson, Lakers
Most overrated player - Amare Stoudemire, Suns
Most underrated player - Chris Kaman, Clippers (when healthy)
1. Los Angeles Lakers. Chalk up another 60 plus win, trip to the NBA Finals season for the Lakers. Andrew Bynum is another year older and better, and they still have Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and now Ron Artest. I think the Spurs could give them a little challenge, but honestly, just hand them the Western Conference title now.
2. Los Angeles Clippers. I think the Clippers will be vastly improved from last year. Possibly good enough to squeak into the playoffs. Baron Davis looks hungry (not hungry like last year, but hungry in a basketball sense), and they still have plenty of good players to go along with first overall pick Blake Griffin. Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby and Eric Gordon look like solid teammates. I could see them approaching 40 wins.
3. Phoenix Suns. The Suns are not good. They still have Steve Nash and the vastly overrated Amare Stoudemire, but they lack all the complimentary pieces that made the Suns of a few years ago go. In their place is Jason Richardson, who seems content to do nothing but shoot 3's, Grant Hill, who doesn't have much left, Leandro Barbosa, who lost his way last year, and a bunch of nothing. They could squeak back into the playoffs, but they are an easy one and done team now.
4. Golden St. Warriors. Don Nelson has no freakin' idea what he is doing. He's senile, he's off his rocker. Anybody would know you start a team of Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, Corey Maggette, Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis. Off the bench you have Ronny Turiaf, Stephen Curry and Kelena Azubuike. Bad defensively, but great on the offensive end. But we know Nelson will play Maggette at power forward, put Randolph on the bench and give Acie Law minutes over Jackson, for no reason whatsoever. The Warriors were once the talk of the NBA after defeated top ranked Dallas a few years ago. Now they are back to being a joke.
5. Sacramento Kings. The recession has hit the Kings harder then anyone. They have a few good pieces. I like the potential in the frontcourt of Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes. Tyreke Evans is a very talented rookie. I do not like Kevin Martin, who can't do anything but score 23 ppg. Other then that though, there is nothing. It will take several brilliant drafts to restore the Kings to glory. Just in time for them to be the Kansas City Kings.
All Pacific Team
C - Andrew Bynum, Lakers
PF - Pau Gasol, Lakers
SF - Ron Artest, Lakers
SG - Kobe Bryant, Lakers
PG - Steve Nash, Suns
MVP - Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin, Clippers
Coach of the Year - Phil Jackson, Lakers
Most overrated player - Amare Stoudemire, Suns
Most underrated player - Chris Kaman, Clippers (when healthy)
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