NBA Preview: Southwest Division
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by The Beast
This is part four of a seven part, NBA Preview, where I will breakdown all six NBA divisions, the playoffs, and season awards. So without further ado here is the Southwest Division previews.
Once again, the San Antonio Spurs remain the favorites to win their fifth title of the Tim Duncan era. While they have never won back-to-back championships, the Spurs should be able to get it done this year. Duncan (pictured) remains one of the best big men in the league but it is his teammates that are making another NBA title even more likely. Last year's Finals MVP, Tony Parker, returns and continues to be one of the best playmakers in the game. What separates the Spurs from the rest of the competition is their defense. When the game gets close, they are able to get the necessary stops. Forward Bruce Bowen also remains the league's premier one-on-one defender. As long as they remain healthy, the Spurs should capture another NBA championship.
Despite a stunning first round loss to the Golden State Warriors, do not rule out the Mavericks' chances of winning this division and an NBA title. Head coach Avery Johnson has done an excellent job of getting this team to focus on the defensive end of the court. The entire nucleus of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry, returns to also give the Mavs one of the league's premier offenses. They will once again finish with one of the league's top records for the regular season, but Dirk and company will be judged on how they perform in the postseason. The expectations are high in Dallas and it's an NBA title or bust.
The Rockets would are the third best team in the Southwest Division, but don't worry Rockets fans; third place in this division is just as good as being a top five team. Their duo of center Yao Ming and shooting guard Tracy McGrady are good enough to get the Rockets into the playoffs by themselves but it is the supporting cast that will determine how far this team can get into the playoffs. Fortunately for them, they added some nice free agents to add to an already solid bench. Rafer Alston, Shane Battier and Steve Francis will provide veteran leadership and are expected to play major roles this season. What makes the Rockets even more scary is the hiring of former Sacramento Kings coach, Rick Adleman. As coach of the Kings, Adleman's teams led the league in scoring while averaging over 100 points per game. The Rockets have played well defensively but their offense has been largely inconsistent. Adleman brings experience and an offensive mind that should prove to be valuable come playoff time.
With the return of Chris Paul, the Hornets should compete with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors for the final playoff spots in the Western Conference. Paul is one of the league's best young point guards and he is capable of elevating his teammates' performances. Tyson Chandler continues to improve annually in addition to being one of the league's better defensive centers. Their frontline is good enough with Chandler, David West, and Peja Stojakovic, to compete with the Western Conference's top teams. If they can stay healthy, the Hornets should have an excellent chance at securing a playoff berth.
Last year, they really struggled and had one of the worst records in the league. The return of Pau Gasol should help this team escape the cellar, but a playoff run will depend on their young guys. Rudy Gay, Darko Milicic, and Mike Conley Jr., all must perform well if the Grizz are going to compete for the playoffs.
