2007 NBA Western Conference Preview
(In predicted order of finish)
1. Dallas Mavericks
Coach: Avery Johnson (fourth season)
Last year: 67-15
Newcomers: SF Eddie Jones, SG Trenton Hassell.
Outlook: Mavs management needed to figure out why an otherwise successful team dropped its last two playoff series, but few changes were made over the summer. Maybe Dallas is just hoping to avoid Golden State in the postseason this time.
2. Utah Jazz
Coach: Jerry Sloan (20th season)
Last year: 51-31
Newcomers: SG Morris Almond, PG Jason Hart, PG Ronnie Price.
Outlook: PG Deron Williams and PF Carlos Boozer could be the league's next great inside-outside combination. It would help if SF Andrei Kirilenko returned to his old form and someone stepped up at shooting guard. Second-year swingman Ronnie Brewer was strong in preseason.
3. San Antonio Spurs
Coach: Gregg Popovich (12th season)
Last year: 58-24 (won NBA championship)
Newcomers: SF Ime Udoka
Outlook: The Spurs won four championships in the last nine years but have never repeated. The trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker is solid, but the supporting cast is starting to age. Bruce Bowen is 36 and Robert Horry is 37.
4. Phoenix Suns
Coach: Mike D'Antoni (fifth season)
Last year: 61-21
Newcomers: SF Grant Hill, PF Brian Skinner, SG Alando Tucker.
Outlook: There are definitely some issues here. SF Shawn Marion isn't happy and the Suns gave away backup center Kurt Thomas to save money. Phoenix will once again try to outrun the competition and hope no one gets suspended in the playoffs.
5. Houston Rockets
Coach: Rick Adelman (first season)
Last year: 52-30
Newcomers: PF Luis Scola, SG Mike James, SG Steve Francis, C Jackie Butler.
Outlook: Former Spanish league star Scola should put up some numbers in the post. But do the Rockets need another post scorer when they already have Yao Ming? And why in the world did they bring back Francis, who was a disaster in Orlando and New York?
6. Denver Nuggets
Coach: George Karl (fourth season)
Last year: 45-37
Newcomers: PG Chucky Atkins, C Steven Hunter.
Outlook: Will having Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony together in training camp help the Nuggets? Hard to say. PF Kenyon Martin is back after missing last season with a knee problem. But despite a $79 million payroll, Denver has no (true) point guard.
7. Golden State Warriors
Coach: Don Nelson (second season)
Last year: 42-40
Newcomers: SF Austin Croshere, PG Troy Hudson, PF Brandan Wright, SG Marco Belinelli.
Outlook: The Warriors had it rolling in last year's playoffs. So naturally, they decided to shake up the roster by trading Jason Richardson to Charlotte. Shooting guards Belinelli and Kelenna Azubuike have shown promise, but Baron Davis' health will be key.
8. Los Angeles Lakers
Coach: Phil Jackson (eighth season)
Last year: 42-40
Newcomers: SG Derek Fisher, PG Javaris Crittenton.
Outlook: The Lakers didn't make any of those significant changes Kobe Bryant demanded, but they do have PF Chris Mihm and SF Vladimir Radmanovic back from injury.
9. New Orleans Hornets
Coach: Byron Scott (fourth season)
Last year: 39-43
Newcomers: SF Morris Peterson, C Melvin Ely, SF Ryan Bowen, SF Julian Wright.
Outlook: Despite a rash of injuries last season, the Hornets fell just 3 games short of a playoff spot. Now they'll try to find some fans in New Orleans after playing in front of enthusiastic crowds in Oklahoma City the past two years.
10. Memphis Grizzlies
Coach: Marc Iavaroni (first season)
Last year: 22-60
Newcomers: PG Mike Conley, SG Juan Carlos Navarro, C Darko Milicic, SG Casey Jacobsen.
Outlook: Pau Gasol should be happy, since the Grizzlies acquired one of his best friends in Navarro. Conley and Milicic struggled during preseason, but SF Rudy Gay could be inching toward stardom.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Coach: Nate McMillan (third season)
Last year: 32-50
Newcomers: PF Channing Frye, PG Steve Blake, SF James Jones, PG Taurean Green, PF Josh McRoberts.
Outlook: During preseason, C LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 21.8 points and SG Martell Webster shot better than 50 percent from 3-point range. If that pace continues, the Blazers may not miss No. 1 pick Greg Oden, who won't play this season because of a knee injury.
12. Sacramento Kings
Coach: Reggie Theus (first season)
Last year: 33-49
Newcomers: C Mikki Moore, C Spencer Hawes, PG Orien Greene.
Outlook: If the Kings don't get better this season, they might as well get worse and aim for a higher draft pick. Mike Bibby is out 6-8 weeks with a hand injury, which should give 6-foot-7 PG Francisco Garcia a chance to run the team.
13. Los Angeles Clippers
Coach: Mike Dunleavy (fifth season)
Last year: 40-42
Newcomers: PG Brevin Knight, SF Ruben Patterson, SF Al Thornton.
Outlook: With Elton Brand out until at least January with a torn Achilles' tendon and Shaun Livingston likely to miss the whole season, the Clippers figure to jockey for lottery position. Thornton played well in preseason, and Corey Maggette could be gearing up for free agency.
14. Seattle Supersonics
Coach: P.J. Carlesimo (first season)
Last year: 31-51
Newcomers: PF Kevin Durant, SF Jeff Green, SF Wally Szczerbiak, PF Kurt Thomas, SG Delonte West.
Outlook: The Sonics have some nice building blocks in Durant and Green. But a lack of proven veterans will keep Seattle down.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves
Coach: Randy Wittman (first season)
Last year: 32-50
Newcomers: PF Al Jefferson, SF Antoine Walker, SF Gerald Green, PF Ryan Gomes, PG Sebastian Telfair, SF Corey Brewer.
Outlook: The Timberwolves probably won't get very far with Randy Foye and a bunch of Celtics rejects. If it's any consolation, Jefferson (17.9 points, 13.4 rebounds) did well in preseason.