Western Conference Rankings by Division

SOUTHWEST

1. San Antonio Spurs: Added a more reliable perimeter shooter - Barry - to help T.Duncan.
2. Houston Rockets: Needed SF and PF so they added T.McGrady and J.Howard to help Y.Ming. This team became a three stage rocket.
   
3. Dallas Mavericks: Effectively swapped in Center E.Dampier and lost PG S.Nash. Assume the Dampier continues producing a 12/12 average and stays healthy. Without Shaq in the West, Dallas got stronger.
4. Memphis Grizzlies: B.Cardinal improves perimeter shooting. Needs upgrade at Center to match Dallas.
5. New Orleans Hornets: Unhappy B.Davis. This team would make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference but still would not sell out at home.

NORTHWEST

1. Minnesota T-Wolves: Returning the same good team with a minor addition: 2nd round PG selection from Gonzaga. Assume their Center plays marginally better than last year and note: No Shaq in LA.
2. Utah Jazz: Added PF C.Boozer and Center M.Okur. Rookie PF C.Humphries and SG D.Snyder will contribute just as PF Boozer and SG Wade thier first year. C.Borchardt, center from Stanford, broke a foot two years ago and then a wrist last year ending each of the last two seasons - this year he breaks nothing and contributes.
3. Denver Nuggets: Added K.Martin and C.Anthony is a year wiser. Assume the injury prone M.Camby gets injured and plays reduced minutes or misses some games this year.
4. Portland Trail Blazers: Added Nick Van Exel but lost Davis, a solid Center. Strong at SF and PF but S.Abdur-Rahim wants to leave while Z.Randolph has problems off court. Weak at Center position.
5. Seattle SuperSonics: Hard to call, PF N.Collison was injured last year and rookie H.S. center R.Swift may contribute. R.Allen V.Radmanovic and R.Lewis are solid.

PACIFIC

1. Sacramento Kings: Still a strong team.
   
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Much weaker without Shaq and unsure who will be starting PF. LA should switch coaches with Dallas and let Nelson play small-ball.
3. Golden State Warriors: Mullin dumps bad contracts and added defense. Added D.Fisher and already have S.Claxton at PG. Rookie PF A.Biedrins has a nose for playing in the paint including defense, while Centers Foyle and Davis will be good defenders but not scorers. The young core has to score more and defend: SF M.Dunleavy, SG J.Richardson, & PF T.Murphy - Assume they will or Mullin would have moved them. A team deep with defensive players: PG S.Claxton, SG M.Pietris and F E.Najera and veterans SG C.Cheney and PF C.Robinson and D.Davis. This is a great 2nd squad: PG-S.Claxton, SG-C.Cheney, SF-M.Pietris, PF-C.Robinson and C-D.Davis. BTW, the 2st team is D.Fisher, J.Richardson, M.Dunleavy, T.Murphy A.Foyle.
   
4. Phoenix Suns: Nash cannot play long minutes all season. A. Stoudemire gets better and Q.Richardson is an upgrade at SG. J.Vroman FP/C may be a rookie surprise.
   
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Good at Center PF and SF, weaker at PG and not deep.