Locked and loaded: NBA Western Conference preview

NBA training camps are starting soon and already there is substantial news to make an early assessment on next season’s top guns. While some teams made some off-season changes to help them rise up the standings, others have stood pat, feeling that no personnel changes were necessary. Barring any surprise stories (i.e. the 04-05 Sonics), here are my two cents worth on the Western Conference for next season.

Top 2 Teams

1. San Antonio Spurs – If only for the reason of being defending champions, they deserve to top the list. What was an already deep and talented team just got more potent with the additions of sweet shooting guards Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley. By addressing their most glaring weakness, the Spurs have to be extremely heavy favorites to repeat. I would be shocked if they didn’t. Their core group of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are still young and at the top of their game. By adding more talent without adding dangerously more ego, ala the 03-04 Lakers, last year’s best team just got a whole lot better.

2. Phoenix Suns – Losing two of their best shooters was huge, but they still have an All-Star trio of Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and reigning MVP Steve Nash. To help compensate for the holes vacated by Richardson and Johnson, Phoenix acquired guards Eddie House, Raja Bell and Boris Diaw, who will try to fill the holes by committee. The biggest reason why the Suns are still one of my favorites to be on top is because they have beefed up their frontline, which may be their ticket to getting past Duncan and the Spurs. They added grizzled veterans Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant to strengthen their center position. Stoudemire, who is only entering his fourth year in the league and is quickly becoming the most dominant player, can move back to his natural position at power forward. With Nash still running the show and Stoudemire and Marion still there to cash in on Nash’s feeds, the Suns are still potent enough to be number two in the west, which is where they were last year.

Other Contenders

Houston Rockets – As long as Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady are there, Houston will always be competitive. However, they still haven’t proven anything besides that they are talented. None of these two cornerstones have ever made it deep into the playoffs.

Sacramento Kings – They added two new weapons, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells, and still run one of the best and most exciting offenses in the league. They made it to sixth last year with less talent. The core of Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller are still together.

Dallas Mavericks – The Mavs may have released long-time captain Michael Finley, but they could afford it anyway. Even sans Finley, they are a perimeter-rich team with veterans Jerry Stackhouse, Keith Van Horn and Doug Christie and promising young talents Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels. Dirk has to prove that he can carry the team on his back if the Mavs are to break into the top three in the west.

Denver Nuggets – The Nuggets finished the season guns-a-blazin’ under Coach George Karl. They have been pretty quiet in the offseason, opting to keep a good team intact and grow together. Carmelo Anthony should rebound from a fairly disappointing sophomore season under the tutelage of Karl.

Cellar Dwellers

New Orleans Hornets – The Hornets don’t have much talent in their roster, apart from center Jamaal Magloire, who isn’t spectacular. Unless they can get another gtalent who can help them score, they’re going to be dead last in the West.

Portland Trailblazers – Unlike the Hornets, the Blazers have some talent in Zach Randolph, Darius Miles and Sebastian Telfair. The problem is, they are all too young or too selfish to carry a team. Apart from that, whatever depth they had last year (Nick Van Exel, Derek Anderson, Damon Stoudamire, Shareef Abdur-Rahim) have all gone to conteders.

Team To Watch

Golden State Warriors – The Warriors ended their season on a high note after acquiring All-Star point guard Baron Davis. With a roster stocked with young talent and a great point guard to lead the team, Golden State should have a reason to be optimistic.

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Erratum:

In my column entitled "Foreign Flavor," the office that made the trip of the foreign students possible is the Office of International Programs (OIP). ASEC is the organization they tap to help them in this endeavor. The ASEC member quoted in the article is named Pedrry Le Mar Cabiladas.

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For any comments, questions or complaints, please e-mail me at emailcarlramirez@yahoo.com.