Western Conference Preview

How will the Western Conference shape up this season? The Lakers have their bona fide big man back, Billups is a Nugget and Chris Paul is just amazing. Where do Duncan, Nash and Oden take their teams?

1. Los Angeles Lakers: With a healthy Andrew Bynum, the Lakers are the favorites to run away with the West this season. Kobe Bryant, the reigning MVP, is the single most determined player in the sport and he will be out to prove he can win a championship without Shaq. With players like Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic coming off the bench and playing every game like it is Game 7, this roster will put the team over the top.

2. New Orleans Hornets: Last year’s surprise team in the NBA, the Hornets are out to prove that it was no fluke. They’re armed with one of the most complete players in the league, Chris Paul, who is the orchestrator for this team and will lead them deep into the playoffs this season. A key for the Hornets, led by head coach Byron Scott, is to stay healthy. Peja Stojakovic, who has had an injury-plagued career, needs to find a way to stay healthy in order for this team to play well.

3. San Antonio Spurs: Led by Gregg Popovich, who has been head coach for 13 seasons, and his newly acquired Grizzly Adams beard, the Spurs seem to always be in the mix late in the season. Big man Tim Duncan can play both ends of the floor with anyone, and has weapons to work with in point guard Tony Parker and veteran Michael Finley. They will have to work extremely hard the first half of the season, as they will be without Manu Ginobili until mid-December.

4. Houston Rockets: The very controversial move of bringing in Ron Artest in the offseason will be the key to this team being able to finally get out of the first round of the playoffs. Superstar Tracy McGrady has been criticized for not playing well in the playoffs, but now the team has no excuse with a healthy Yao Ming and up-and-comer Luis Scola on court.

5. Utah Jazz: The Jazz is a team that goes wherever their superstar point guard Deron Williams takes them. If Williams can lead this team with the help of Carlos Boozer, a strong inside presence and Andre Kirilenko, a prolific 3-point shooter, the Jazz are capable of making a run deep into the playoffs.

6. Phoenix Suns: Last season the Suns made a deadline move to acquire big man Shaquille O’Neal, and it did not pay off, as they were ousted in the first round by the Spurs. First-year coach Terry Porter has a big challenge shifting this team from Mike D’Antoni’s system to his own, which will be led by two-time MVP Steve Nash.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: In a few years this young and very talented team could be winning championships, but for now they will be at the bottom end of the playoffs. With youngsters Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Fernandez and Greg Oden, this team has a ton of potential. However, they have to make due with an early injury to Greg Oden, which is the second in his young career.

8. Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets have had some serious chemistry issues over the past few seasons, trying to divide shots between two superstars, Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony. This would be a top-five team in the East, but unfortunately they play in the much tougher West, where they will have to make do with the eighth and final playoff spot for the second year in a row.

9. Dallas Mavericks: A once prominent team, the Mavericks have recently made some moves that have not made much sense. Last season they traded young point guard Devin Harris to the Nets, along with first round draft picks for Jason Kidd. The move didn’t work out, as they were ousted in the first round by the Hornets. The team revolves around superstar Dirk Nowitzki, but it will not be enough, as they will fall short of the playoffs.

10. Golden State Warriors: Another young team with a lot of potential, their superstar Baron Davis signed with the Clippers in the offseason. Led by Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington, this team will have to cope with missing Monta Ellis for a while because of a suspension.

11. Los Angeles Clippers: On paper this team looks very good, with Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Al Thornton and Chris Kaman. However, with Davis and Camby being injury-prone, this team is going to have to deal with a ton of adversity all year long.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves: Trying to move on into the post-Kevin Garnett era for this team has been quite difficult. They have some nice talent in big man Al Jefferson and Randy Foye, which will lead to this team winning about 15 games more than last season.

13. Sacramento Kings: Another team that has been falling for the past few years, the Kings will be at the bottom of the West for the second straight year. Led by head coach Kevin Theus and guard Kevin Martin, they will be a major winner come draft lottery night.

14. Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies used their draft pick last season on O.J. Mayo out of USC. He will one day have to develop into superstar-dom in order for this team to have a chance at going deep into the playoffs.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder: The change in city and name will not be able to help this team this season. The offense revolves around second-year player Kevin Durant, who in the next few years could become one of the better players in the NBA.