Pacific Division
1. Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni has the number one scoring team in the NBA. He’s scoring 110.8 points per game, with MVP Guard Steve Nash and Raja Bell in the backcourt. Up front are stars Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw and center Amare Stoudemire, who is healthy and plays like him. They lose Tim Thomas to the Clippers but get guards Jalen Rose and Marcus Banks back. Very deep bank with Leandro Barbosa and Kurt Thomas. The Suns can win the Western Conference.
2. The LA Clippers and head coach Mike Dunleavy added some muscle with Tim Thomas, but lost forward Vladir Radmonovic to the Lakers. The Clippers are a contender with Elton Brand leading the team with 19 points per game and 9.7 rebounds. Also up front is Thomas and center Zeljko Rebraca, who is out as of this update. In the back, they’re packed with veterans Sam Cassell, Cory Maggette and Cuttino Mobley, all scoring in double figures. If they stay healthy, the Clipps will do damage in the division.
3. The LA Lakers and head coach Phil Jackson added 3-point forward Vladmir Radmonovic, but lost forward Devean George to Dallas. Injuries have killed LA with center Chris Mihm out for the season and Lamar Odom out for 3-4 weeks. Forward Luke Walton has filled out nicely at 12.5 ppg, and guard Smush Parker is having a good year at 10.2 ppg. The Lakers are all about Kobe Byrant: 28 ppg, 114 assists, and 5 boards per game. The Lakers will not get out of the first round of the playoffs.
4. The Sacramento Kings and head coach Eric Musselman don’t have enough to compete. They lose guard Bonzi Wells to Houston, but sign forward John Salmons from Philadelphia. Point guard Mike Bibby is solid with 17 points per game and Kevin Martin leads the team with 21.3 points per game. In the frontcourt is defensive specialist forward Ron Artest 16.4 ppg and Kenny Thomas. Center Brad Miller is having a bad year of 8.3 points per game. and 6.2 boards, off the bench are forwards Shareef Abdur Rahim, Francisco Garcia and Corliss Williamson.
5. The Golden State Warriors and head coach Don Nelson have a high-flying offense with guards Baron Davis – 21 ppg, Monta Ellis – 17.6 ppg. and Jason Richardson 13.6 ppg. On the front court are Troy Murphy, Michael Pietrus and Mike Dunleavy off the bench. They lack internal talent, especially with Zarko Cabarkapa losing the last 25 games, and it’s day to day since 12/21/06. The Warriors can’t win on the road and won’t make the playoffs.