Western Conference Preview

The Western Conference remains as stacked as ever. Just like the East, each team is just one catastrophic injury away from missing out on the playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs virtually retained their entire championship core and re-signed a lot of their key personnel making them the favorites to repeat for the first time in the Duncan era.

‘Minimal’ offseason moves were made for last season’s top eight teams. They intend to compete and hang on to their playoff spots and give themselves a fighting chance to compete for the NBA championship.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks quietly tried to position themselves for another championship run. Dirk Nowitzki’s took a pay cut in order to give Dallas owner Mark Cuban the necessary cap flexibility to try and land one top-tier free agent to pair with Dirk. The Mavs opened the offseason striking a deal to bring back one-time Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler to help anchor the middle as well as adding point guards Raymond Felton and Jameer Nelson.

However, their offseason’s greatest haul is swingman Chandler Parsons whom they’ve signed to a lucrative $46 million 3-year deal from the Houston Rockets. Parsons should provide the Mavs a two-way player who can create and manufacture his own shot but at the same time being an overqualified spot-up shooter to space the floor for Dirk on the high post and driving lanes for Monta Ellis.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Each year, the Thunder seem to be the a team which teases you with their upside and talent. They continue to display their success and stellar play during the earlier parts of the season but come to struggle come playoff time. Kevin Durant last season elevated his game to new heights as he was adjudged MVP of the regular season but after backing out of Team USA this summer, Durant was diagnosed with a Jones fracture and would miss the earlier parts of the season.

Durant’s injury is a major blow to the Thunder’s championship aspirations. Over the years, untimely injuries have held them back from displaying their potential in the same way that coach Scott Brooks has handled his roster (especially Kendrick Perkins and his bench). The Thunder made no dramatic offseason move and their bench continues to remain shallow. This will be another challenging year for Scott Brooks and the team and don’t be shock if he will be gone by the end of the season. 

Houston Rockets

Rockets GM Daryl Morey lost a calculated gamble after he allowed restricted free agent Chandler Parsons to go into free agency one year earlier. In Morey’s defense, he wanted to free the necessary cap room to go after marquee big name free agents such as LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony but after Bosh re-signed with the Heat--which ruined-- Morey’s plans of a super team, Parsons then became a Maverick.

The Rockets have two established players in Dwight Howard and James Harden but it remains to be seen if they can both co-exist. Rockets coach Kevin McHale employs a run-and-gun type of offense which limits Howard's touches down low but if the Rockets do figure it out, they will be a tough team to beat. 

Los Angeles Clippers

There are $2 billion why the Clippers have to be a better team. New owner Steve Ballmer has added a new and invigorated sense of passion to this franchise and he hopes that this translates into a better playoff performance.

The Clippers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of last year’s playoffs. The team, after overcoming such emotional fatigue, fell flat in spite of the performance of Blake Griffin. The team has the necessary personnel and tools to win but they can’t seem to elevate their game to a whole ‘nother level.

This season, the Clippers will again heavily rely on the vastly improving game of Griffin and the play of Chris Paul. However, one of the keys for this team to raise their game is if they stay healthy as a unit.

San Antonio Spurs

For a franchise once labeled as old and boring, the Spurs have another opportunity to repeat as back-to-back champions. The Spurs have never repeated as champions and as how things look at the moment, they have a chance this season.

The Spurs retain their championship winning lineup and another year’s worth of championship experience. From the looks of things, only father time can slow the team down. The team has played in the last two NBA Finals carrying one of the older rosters in the league but with Popovich’s uncanny approach, he may opt to sit a lot of his older players especially during back-to-back’s to preserve their legs for the stretch run.

The team should look to run their offense through Tony Parker and last season’s Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard but maybe Pop has one last ace up his sleeve.

Questions and Answers 

Potential sleeper come playoff time? 

I really think the Pelicans have what it takes to make the Playoffs especially if Anthony Davis' game rises to serious heights. If the Pistons have to find a way to make Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond work together, the Pelicans have to find a way to mesh the talents of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, and Tyreke Evans. 

Bounce Brothers? 

Personally I feel both Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine are extremely athletic. The word talented still doesn't seem to fit with the two but this is going to be an exciting team over at Minnesota. 

Playoff prediction 

ALL teams that qualified for the post season will make it AGAIN this season. 

Lakers? 

Kobe's going to try to egg his team to another championship but they don't have the tools to win. Kobe's going out firing away.