Northwest Division
1. Utah Jazz- Playoff Spot
2. Portland Trail Blazers- Playoff Spot #7 seed
3. Denver Nuggets- Playoff Spot #8 seed
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
This is the weakest division in the Western Conference in terms of title-contending teams, but I see three teams making the playoffs. The Jazz, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets get the opportunity to beat up on the weak T-wolves and Thunder all season long and this will help them all get in. The Jazz return their nucleus ! for this season and still look like the class of this division. Deron Williams will officially reach superstardom this season. The Trail Blazers will finally get to see their #1 overall pick from last season in C Greg Oden. With Oden and Aldridge in the middle, and Brandon Roy outside this is a playoff team. The Nuggets have enough scoring with Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony to sneak into the playoffs once again. As for Minnesota and OKC, well they are clearly rebuilding and will be awful once again.
Pacific Division
1. ! LA Lakers- Playoff Spot #1 seed
2. Phoenix Suns- Playoff ! Spot #6 seed
3. LA Clippers
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Golden State Warriors
The Lakers are being picked by many to win the NBA Title this season with a healthy Andrew Bynum added to Kobe, Gasol, Odom, and co. I am not as much of a believer, but they will win the West. The Suns are still solid with Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Shaq and I expect to get into the playoffs. Expect Nash and Shaq to show their age at times this season, but if Amare is healthy he is an MVP candidate. The Clippers made a lot of moves getting Baron Davis and Marcus Camby, but health is an issue. This team is not there yet. The Kings and Warriors will be awful this season, plain and simple.
Southwest Division
1. Houston Rockets- Playoff Spot #2 seed
2. New Orleans Hornets- Playoff Spot #4 seed
3. San Antonio Spurs- Playoff Spot #5 seed
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Memphis Grizzlies
This division is extremely top heavy and boasts three of the NBA's top teams in Houston, New Orleans, and San Antonio. Any of these three teams can win this division, but I like Yao, T-Mac, and Artest is they stay healthy and Artest doesn't act up. The Hornets will continue to impress with Chris Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic, and co. The Manu Ginoblii injury will hurt SA early on, but they will rebound and make the playoffs. Dallas just seems to be in free-fall and I did not like the Avery Johnson firing. This team takes a step back under Rick Carlisle. The Gr! izzlies, well are still an NBA bottom-dweller.
