1. UTAH JAZZ
LAST SEASON: 54-28, lost to Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 in second round of playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Deron Williams (18.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 10.5 apg), G Ronnie Brewer (12.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg), F C.J. Miles (5.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.9 apg), F Carlos Boozer (21.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.9 apg), C Mehmet Okur (14.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.0 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Brevin Knight (trade, Clippers).
KEY LOSSES: G Jason Hart (trade, Clippers).
COACH: Jerry Sloan, 21st season with Jazz, 24th season overall; 1,089-717.
EYES ON: Williams. Followed Chris Paul’s rookie of the year campaign by having the stronger 2006-07 season. Paul now has the upper hand again in their friendly rivalry after his runner-up MVP finish last season, so now it’s Williams turn to answer again.
OUTLOOK: With two Olympians in Williams and Boozer, a deep bench and one of the league’s best home-court advantages, Jazz seem set up for a deep playoff run. Must show they can win on the road after inexcusable 17-24 mark last season.
2. DENVER NUGGETS
LAST SEASON: 50-32, lost to Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in first round of playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Anthony Carter (7.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.5 apg), G Allen Iverson (26.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 7.2 apg, 2.0 spg), F Carmelo Anthony (25.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.4 apg), F Kenyon Martin (12.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg), C Nene (5.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.9 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Chris Andersen (free agent, Hornets).
KEY LOSSES: C Marcus Camby (trade, Clippers), F Eduardo Najera (free agent, Nets).
COACH: George Karl, fifth season with Nuggets, 21st season overall; 879-614.
EYES ON: Anthony. Known as a scorer who does little else, Anthony is now the Nuggets’ leading returning rebounder. With Camby and Najera gone, and Martin and Nene injury-prone, Nuggets need ‘Melo to continue showing commitment to rebounding.
OUTLOOK: Barely grabbed the No. 8 spot last season, and even getting that again will be difficult after giving Camby away in a move that weakens an already awful defense. Will need plenty of scoring from Anthony and Iverson — whose names will pop up in trade rumors if the Nuggets struggle — to keep pace in the West.
3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
LAST SEASON: 41-41, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Steve Blake (8.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 5.1 apg), G Brandon Roy (19.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.8 apg), F Travis Outlaw (13.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.3 apg), F LaMarcus Aldridge (17.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg), C Greg Oden (rookie).
KEY ADDITIONS: C Oden (injured all last season), G Rudy Fernandez (trade, Suns), G Jerryd Bayless (trade, Pacers), F Ike Diogu (trade, Pacers), G-F Nicolas Batum (trade, Rockets).
KEY LOSSES: G Jarrett Jack (trade, Pacers), F James Jones (free agent, Heat).
COACH: Nate McMillan, fourth season with Blazers, ninth season overall; 306-335.
EYES ON: Oden. Blazers get to add a potential franchise big man who has a year of being around the NBA under his belt. And since he’s playing alongside an emerging star in Aldridge, Oden won’t even be asked to do much beyond shot blocking and rebounding, which are his specialties.
OUTLOOK: Should continue to improve, but the league’s longest playoff drought — they haven’t made it since 2003-03 — could last another season in the deep West. Still, Blazers will be back in the postseason soon, and with the best young core in the league, it won’t be long before they’re advancing far in it.
4. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
LAST SEASON: 22-60, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Randy Foye (13.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.2 apg), G Rashad McCants (14.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.2 apg), F Mike Miller (16.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg), F Kevin Love (rookie), C Al Jefferson (21.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Love (trade, Grizzlies), F Miller (trade, Grizzlies), F Rodney Carney (trade, 76ers).
KEY LOSSES: G Marko Jaric (trade, Grizzlies), F Antoine Walker (trade, Grizzlies).
COACH: Randy Wittman, third season with Timberwolves, fifth overall; 92-196.
EYES ON: Miller. Plenty of teams would have loved to have him when it was believed the Grizzlies would make him available last season before the trade deadline. His outside shooting, ability to start or come off the bench, and veteran leadership are a big boost to an otherwise young Minnesota team.
OUTLOOK: With good inside-outside balance and an emerging star in Jefferson, the Timberwolves would have hopes of competing for a playoff spot if they played in the East. Instead, they’ll have to settle for trying to be competitive against the West powers and continue building for the future.<
5. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
LAST SEASON: 20-62, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Earl Watson (10.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.8 apg), G Kevin Durant (20.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.4 apg), F Jeff Green (10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg), F Chris Wilcox (13.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.2 apg), C Nick Collison (9.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.5 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Russell Westbrook (draft, No. 4), F Desmond Mason (trade,
Bucks), F Joe Smith (trade, Cavaliers)
KEY LOSSES: G Luke Ridnour (trade, Bucks).
COACH: P.J. Carlesimo, second season with Thunder, eighth season overall; 203-284.
EYES ON: The Oklahoma City fans. They supported the Hornets in a big way when they played most of two seasons there following Hurricane Katrina, and now the Thunder will be looking for that same response in their first season after moving from Seattle.
OUTLOOK: Endured a miserable experience last season, losing and dealing with the constant uncertainity about their future in Seattle. The losing will continue, but at least it should come in a friendlier environment.
1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
LAST SEASON: 57-25, lost to Boston 4-2 in NBA finals.
STARTING FIVE: G Derek Fisher (11.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.9 apg), G Kobe Bryant (28.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.4 apg), F Lamar Odom (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.6 apg), F Pau Gasol (18.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.2 apg), C Andrew Bynum (13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: None.
KEY LOSSES: F Ronny Turiaf (free agent, Warriors).
COACH: Phil Jackson, fourth season of second stint with Lakers, 18th season overall; 976-418.
EYES ON: Bynum. His rapid improvement had him on the brink of becoming one of the league’s dominant centers before his season-ending knee injury, and the Lakers need him to pick up where he left off. Los Angeles showed how badly it missed his interior toughness in its loss to the Celtics in the NBA finals.
OUTLOOK: They’ve got the best guard in the game in Bryant, so the key to the Lakers’ hopes of getting back to the finals is their frontcourt. Bynum has to show he’s all the way back, he and Gasol have to demonstrate they can play together, and Odom has to adjust to playing away from the basket. All that happens, and this team is again the best in the West.
2. PHOENIX SUNS
LAST SEASON: 55-27, lost to San Antonio 4-1 in first round of playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Steve Nash (16.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 11.1 apg), G Raja Bell (11.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.2 apg), F Grant Hill (13.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.9 apg), F Amare Stoudemire (25.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.1 bpg), C Shaquille O’Neal (13.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Matt Barnes (free agent, Warriors); C Robin Lopez (draft, No. 15).
KEY LOSSES: F Brian Skinner (free agent, Clippers).
COACH: Terry Porter, first season with Suns, third season overall; 71-93.
EYES ON: Nash. The two-time NBA MVP became the league’s best point guard playing under Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system. With his old coach now in New York, Nash gets a chance to show he made the system look so good, not vice versa.
OUTLOOK: They won’t be as entertaining as they were under D’Antoni, and with a lineup filled with players whose best days seem behind them, they won’t be as good, either.
3. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
LAST SEASON: 48-34, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G C.J. Watson (3.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.1 apg)/Monta Ellis (20.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.9 apg), G Corey Maggette (22.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.7 apg), F Stephen Jackson (20.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.1 apg), Al Harrington (13.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.6 apg), C Andris Biedrins (10.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Maggette (free agent, Clippers), F Ronny Turiaf (free agent, Lakers), F Anthony Randolph (draft, No. 14), G Marcus Williams (trade, Nets.)
KEY LOSSES: G Baron Davis (free agent, Clippers); F Mickael Pietrus (free agent, Magic); F Matt Barnes (free agent, Suns).
COACH: Don Nelson, third season of second stint with Warriors, 30th season overall; 1,280-954.
EYES ON: Maggette. An explosive scorer who was often overlooked playing with the Clippers, the swingman could put up huge offensive numbers playing for Nelson.
OUTLOOK: Essentially lost two point guards over the summer, with Davis leaving for the Clippers and Ellis sidelining himself for perhaps a couple of months with his injury in a moped accident. Until he gets back — and proves he hasn’t lost much of his speed — up to Maggette and Jackson to keep the Warriors’ offense rolling.
4. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
LAST SEASON: 23-59, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Baron Davis (21.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 7.6 apg), G Cuttino Mobley (12.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg), F Al Thornton (12.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 apg), F Marcus Camby (9.1 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 3.6 bpg), C Chris Kaman (15.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 2.8 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Davis (free agent, Warriors), F Camby (trade, Nuggets), G/F Ricky Davis (free agent, Heat), G Eric Gordon (draft, No. 7),
KEY LOSSES: F Elton Brand (free agent, 76ers), G/F Corey Maggette (free agent, Warriors), G Jason Williams (retired).
COACH: Mike Dunleavy, sixth season with Clippers, 16th season overall; 573-625.
EYES ON: Kaman. Followed a disappointing 2006-07 campaign in which he clearly took a step backward by rebounding for the best season of his career last season. Now needs to show he is over the hump and can play at that level consistently.
OUTLOOK: No question the Clippers were busy over the summer, but difficult to tell if they got back more than they lost in Brand and Maggette. Baron Davis improves the offense and Camby bolsters the defense, but both have injury histories, a familiar problem for the Clippers lately.
5. SACRAMENTO KINGS
LAST SEASON: 38-44, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Beno Udrih (12.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.3 apg), G Kevin Martin (23.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg), F John Salmons (12.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg), F Mikki Moore (8.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.0 apg), C Brad Miller (13.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.7 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Bobby Jackson (trade, Rockets), F Jason Thompson (draft, No. 12), G Bobby Brown (free agent, Europe).
KEY LOSSES: F Ron Artest (trade, Rockets).
COACH: Reggie Theus, second season, 38-44.
EYES ON: Martin. Another season like the shooting guard had last season would warrant All-Star consideration, but lack of attention on the Kings, combined with the likelihood that they’ll struggle, will probably cost him any real shot in the West.
OUTLOOK: A team that played hard under Theus might have been a factor in the West playoff race last season if it was healthy. But after trading Artest so soon after dealing Mike Bibby, Kings are left with a pretty weak lineup beyond Martin.
1. HOUSTON ROCKETS
LAST SEASON: 55-27, lost to Utah 4-2 in first round of playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Rafer Alston (13.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.3 apg), G Tracy McGrady (21.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.9 apg), F Ron Artest (20.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.3 spg), Luis Scola (10.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg), C Yao Ming (22.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Artest (trade, Kings); G Brent Barry (free agent, Spurs).
KEY LOSSES: G Bobby Jackson (trade, Kings).
COACH: Rick Adelman, second season with Rockets, 18th overall; 807-508.
EYES ON: Yao. Limited by injuries to 57, 48 and 55 games the last three seasons. Rushed through rehab to return and play well for China in the Olympics, but the Rockets likely will try to control their franchise center’s minutes as much as they can.
OUTLOOK: The Artest trade gives McGrady the best chance he’s ever had to advance in the playoffs. However, that assumes the Rockets stay healthy, and that’s been a problem for this team. McGrady already warned that he’s still got nagging injuries, and Shane Battier began the preseason on the bench.
2. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
LAST SEASON: 56-26, lost to San Antonio 4-3 in Western Conference semifinals.
STARTING FIVE: G Chris Paul (21.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 11.6 apg, 2.7 spg), G Morris Peterson (8.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.9 apg), F Peja Stojakovic (16.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.3 apg), F David West (20.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.3 apg), C Tyson Chandler (11.8 ppg, 11.8 rpg,
1.1 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F James Posey (free agent, Celtics), G Devin Brown (free agent, Cavaliers).
KEY LOSSES: G Jannero Pargo (free agent, Europe), G/F Bonzi Wells (not re-signed).
COACH: Byron Scott, fifth season with Hornets, ninth overall; 300-316.
EYES ON: Stojakovic. Avoided injuries to play in 77 games last season, his best total since 2003-04. Hornets need their top perimeter shooter on the floor to stretch defenses and give Paul room to penetrate or find Chandler and West down low.
OUTLOOK: Key players stayed healthy last season, Hornets finally developed a home-court advantage in New Orleans, and the result was the best success in team history. Then added a proven winner in Posey, and they have hopes of helping him win his third ring in four years.
3. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
LAST SEASON: 56-26, lost to Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in Western Conference finals.
STARTING FIVE: G Tony Parker (18.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 6.0 apg), G Michael Finley (10.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 apg), F Bruce Bowen (6.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg), F Tim Duncan (19.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.8 apg), C Fabricio Oberto (4.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Roger Mason (free agent, Wizards), G Salim Stoudamire (free agent, Hawks).
KEY LOSSES: G Brent Barry (free agent, Rockets), F Robert Horry (not re-signed).
COACH: Gregg Popovich, 13th season; 632-302.
EYES ON: Bowen. Critics keep expecting the Spurs to start showing their age, and Bowen would be a likely candidate if that happens, since he’s 37, missed only one game over the last six seasons, and is called upon to defend the opponent’s top offensive player.
OUTLOOK: Odd-numbered years have belonged to the Spurs, who won NBA titles in 1999, 2003, ‘05 and ‘07. Wouldn’t come as a surprise if they extended that streak, but without any significant changes to an aging roster and without leading scorer Manu Ginobili until mid-December after Olympics ankle injury, also wouldn’t come as a shock if they slipped to the lower half of their loaded division.
4. DALLAS MAVERICKS
LAST SEASON: 51-31, lost to New Orleans 4-1 in first round.
STARTING FIVE: G Jason Kidd (10.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 10.1 apg), G Antoine Wright (6.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.4 apg), F Josh Howard (19.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.2 apg), F Dirk Nowitzki (23.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.5 apg), C Erick Dampier (6.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg).
KEY ADDITIONS: C DeSagana Diop (free agent, Nets), F Shawne Williams (trade, Pacers).
KEY LOSSES: G Eddie Jones (trade, Pacers).
COACH: Rick Carlisle, first season with Mavericks, seventh season overall; 281-211.
EYES ON: Howard. Has found himself in enough off-the-court situations that fans could turn on him if his level of play slips. Luckily for Howard, that shouldn’t be a problem, since some people consider him, and not Nowitzki, the Mavericks’ most talented player.
OUTLOOK: The Kidd trade didn’t work for the Mavs, ending in another brief playoff appearance. But with a whole season for the point guard to learn how to get the most out of the players around him, Dallas hopes to return toward the top of the West standings.
5. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
LAST SEASON: 22-60, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Mike Conley (9.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.2 apg), G O.J. Mayo (rookie), F Rudy Gay (20.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.0 apg), F Hakim Warrick (11.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.7 apg), C Marc Gasol (rookie).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Mayo (trade, Timberwolves), G Marko Jaric (trade, Timberwolves), F Antoine Walker (trade, Timberwolves), F Quinton Ross (free agent, Clippers), F-C Gasol (trade, Lakers).
KEY LOSSES: G Mike Miller (trade, Timberwolves), G Juan Carlos Navarro (free agent, Europe).
COACH: Marc Iavaroni, second season, 22-60.
EYES ON: Gasol. Though not as talented as older brother Pau, whom the Grizzlies traded to the Lakers to obtain Marc’s rights, Marc Gasol has gotten himself into good shape and played well alongside his sibling for Spain in the Olympics.
OUTLOOK: Plenty to be excited about in Memphis, including the star potential for Mayo and Gay. But that’s all for later on. For now, the Grizzlies are a young team playing in the toughest division in the league, and that means lots of losses.
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