2008-09 NBA Western Conference Preview: Lakers on top

Photo credit: Game Face

It's just another year of title contention for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Wendi Kaminski/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Ravi Shankar

For the first time ever, all eight playoff teams had 50 or more wins in the Western Conference last year.

That conference’s strength arguably wore teams down as they did battle in the playoffs, with eventual conference champion Los Angeles losing to Boston in the NBA Finals.

The following scouting report on the present competition in the Western Conference indicates that we can expect more of the same in the 2008-09.

Title contenders

The Los Angeles Lakers remain the favorite to win the West. The trade for power forward Pau Gasol (18.8 points per game) in February provided the inside scoring presence needed to free up superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant (28.3 ppg). Small forward Lamar Odom (14.2 ppg) and a healthy center Andrew Bynum (10.2 rebounds per game) will reinforce their inside strength.

However, the Lakers will have to compete with many other capable teams to reclaim the conference title. Among them is the Utah Jazz, led by point guard Deron Williams and his ability to distribute the ball (10.5 assists per game) to big men Carlos Boozer (21.1 ppg) and Mehmet Okur (14.5 ppg). Utah had the second-highest scoring differential (+6.9) in the West last season.

The New Orleans Hornets are well-positioned to repeat as champions of the NBA’s toughest division, the Southwest. All-NBA point guard Chris Paul led the league with 11.6 apg while also leading the team in scoring (21.1 ppg); power forward David West (20.6 ppg) anchors an athletic frontcourt that includes the league’s leading offensive rebounder, center Tyson Chandler (4.1 offensive rpg).

What the San Antonio Spurs lack in athleticism, they make up for in experience. The seasoned core comprised of power forward Tim Duncan (19.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg), point guard Tony Parker (18.8 ppg, 6.0 apg) and shooting guard Manu Ginobili (19.5 ppg) keep the Spurs in championship contention.

On paper, the Phoenix Suns could be one of the league’s best teams, with power forward Amare Stoudemire (25.2 ppg), point guard Steve Nash (16.9 ppg, 11.1 apg), and a deep supporting cast. However, the team has a lot to prove after getting steamrolled 4-1 by San Antonio in the first round last season.

Dark horses

The Dallas Mavericks are looking to regain their standing as a top contender in the West. Power forward Dirk Nowitzki remains the team’s go-to scorer (23.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg) with a reliable wingman in (Josh Howard 19.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg), while a mid-season trade brought back a familiar face in point guard Jason Kidd (9.5 apg).

Dallas’ division rival, the Houston Rockets, are hoping that newly acquired small forward Ron Artest (20.5 ppg, 2.3 steals per game in Sacramento) will bring both defense and offense to this half court-based team. Center Yao Ming (22.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg) and shooting guard Tracy McGrady (21.6 ppg) already provide a strong one-two scoring tandem.

The youthful Portland Trailblazers may be the only newcomer to next spring’s playoffs, and they have the talent to pull off a first-round upset. All-Star shooting guard Brandon Roy (19.1 ppg, 5.8 apg) anchors the backcourt, while power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (17.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg) will be joined in the frontcourt by rookie center Greg Oden, making a much-anticipated debut after missing a year due to injury.

Playoff hopefuls

The Denver Nuggets may find themselves the odd team out in this year’s playoff race. Though guard Allen Iverson (26.4 ppg, 7.2 apg) and small forward Carmelo Anthony (25.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) combine for one of the NBA’s top scoring duos, the departure of center Marcus Camby and his West-leading 13.1 rpg to the Clippers will be difficult to replace.

A year away

The Golden State Warriors just missed the playoffs last season despite amassing 48 wins. Now they’ll aim to retool with leading scorer and passer Baron Davis (21.8 ppg, 7.6 apg) now down south with the Clippers and shooting guard Monta Ellis (20.2 ppg) out for at least two months with an ankle injury.

The Sacramento Kings are also in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Since February, the team has traded point guard Mike Bibby and Artest. Shooting guard Kevin Martin (23.7 ppg) leads a team that will look for new scorers to step up.

The Los Angeles Clippers made some moves in the off-season to improve upon their 23 wins from last year. Though the departure of power forward Elton Brand (injured for most of 2007-08) will hurt, center Marcus Camby’s rebounding presence and Davis’ scoring and passing provide two much-needed upgrades.

Worst of the worst

The three teams likely to be in the basement of the Western Conference this year are all building young, exciting cores, but they all simply need more time to develop. The Minnesota Timberwolves are building around power forward Al Jefferson (21.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg) with point guard Randy Foye (13.1 ppg, 4.2 apg) and rookie center Kevin Love. The Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle Supersonics) are led by last year’s rookie of the year, shooting guard Kevin Durant (20.3 ppg). The team will need improvement from second-year small forward Jeff Green (10.5 ppg) and contributions from rookie point guard Russell Westbrook. The Memphis Grizzlies committed to rebuilding after sending Gasol to the Lakers. Small forward Rudy Gay (20.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg) will be flanked by second-year point guard Mike Conley and rookie shooting guard OJ Mayo.

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