NBA West seems ready for new powers to emerge

A changing of the guard in the Western Conference seemed very apparent during last year’s playoffs when the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers departed early.

So which is the team to beat this season?

Dallas is defending champion, but it let C Tyson Chandler, PG Jose Barea and SG DeShawn Stevenson walk away as free agents, while adding the aging Lamar Odom and Vince Carter.

Oklahoma City returns essentially intact, so the Thunder might qualify as the conference favorite. The chemistry between PG Russell Westbrook and SF Kevin Durant didn’t always seem promising last year, though.

Maybe Memphis is the team on the rise. The Grizzlies won 46 games, upset No. 1 San Antonio in the first round, then took the Thunder to seven games in the conference semis. Now Memphis will try to work SF Rudy Gay back into the lineup after he missed the postseason with an injury.

The Los Angeles Clippers already are creating some buzz with the addition of PG Chris Paul, SF Caron Butler and veteran Chauncey Billups, plus some nice improvement by C DeAndre Jordan. During 27 seasons in Los Angeles, the Clippers have finished ahead of the Lakers three times, so it can be done.

Meanwhile, the Lakers still have Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, while the Spurs move along with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

For surprise potential, consider Minnesota, which has some young talent and hired a proven team improver in coach Rick Adelman.

Denver also should be interesting after re-signing Nene and filling its cap space with low-priced options.