On June, 11–a day before Team USA’s first exhibition game against the Dominican Republic–Kobe Bryant claimed that his currently constructed team could take down the original 1992 Dream Team. Two weeks later this claim has changed from laughable to absurd.

While Team USA still remains the heavy favorite, there is also no way to deny that there are weaknesses. There is really only one true center on the team, Tyson Chandler, and he is offensively challenged to say the least. Because of this offensive ineptness, Chandler has only averaged 14 minutes through the first four games. Team USA’s strategy seems to be to go small with Kevin Durant, Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony handling the big man duties. While this has helped Team USA’s offense, their rebounding has suffered. Through four games Team USA has grabbed 161 rebounds, their opponents have grabbed 160. They’ve been out rebounded by both Great Britain and Brazil and were only +3 in rebounds in a six point win over the 3rd ranked team in the world, Argentina.

However, what makes Team USA the heavy favorites is the fact that they win nearly every other category. By going small, everyone on the court can both handle and pressure the ball. They’ve averaged just 11 turnovers per game while forcing 22.

Later today, Team USA faces their toughest challenge when they play Spain, the 2nd ranked team in the world. Spain can put more quality big men on the court then any team including Team USA. Their front line is anchored by Pau and Marc Gasol, both of whom are better then any big man on Team USA. They have NBA leading shot blocker Serge Ibaka coming off the bench. For Team USA to win, they’ll have to find a way to minimize Spain’s low-post advantage which likely means more minutes for Chandler. Whether they can win this way is yet to be seen.

Team USA needs to stop worrying about being better then a team that played 20 years ago and start worrying about how they can beat the team they’re playing later today.

In 2007 both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined forces with Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics, and what seemed to be a simple move to make their team stronger, the Celtics dramatically changed the NBA.  The Boston Celtics had arguably created the best starting line-up in the NBA, since the 1998 Bulls (remember this includes Rondo and Perkins) and the way they did it was like never before.

Most teams before had one or two strong players, and one of these was generally because one was drafted into the mix, like that of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James in Cleveland, but now a team was able to create its own all-star team, and they made it look easy.  The Boston Celtics went on to win the NBA title that year, and while they didn’t create any sort of legendary dynasty, like the Bulls in the 1990’s, they helped change the way teams went about creating their rosters.

Today we see teams like the Heat with Dwayne wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh, a line-up that is 3/5 the way to an eastern Conference All-Star game, and one that if I mentioned seven years ago, people would of laughed.  As the 2012 NBA Draft nears we see more an more teams then ever before making moves and trades in hope to build their very own “super-team”, whether it be the Nets trying to lure Dwight Howard along side Deron Williams, or the Knicks trying to get Steve Nash to an already failed attempt as a super team.

There is suddenly this perspective that the only way to win an NBA Championship is to create their very own All-Star team, which I feel in a lot of ways kind of ruins the NBA, its now like the ideas of role players is a  distant memory from the past, and realistically there are only a select few teams with that kind of money to create these teams.  Its no longer about a players skill and a teams chemistry like the past, its about what great players you can hopefully throw together and hope for the best.  I don’t even know what the need for a coach is for teams like the Heat, because their isn’t much strategy in “give Lebron the ball”, and if he isn’t open, “give it to Wade”.

I got into a debate with a friend the other day. It was on a subject I and everyone else has debated about too much: is Lebron James a clutch NBA player? The media and fans seem to think not. While it may look like it, the question can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. The perception of Lebron changes almost everyday depending on what happened in his last game. This isn’t what makes it difficult though. The problem is clutch has no standard definition when it comes to basketball. Is it putting up great stats in a big game? Is it hitting a last second shot? Is it not charging into the stands when a fan throws a beer at you? Is it avoiding a TV special to announce where you will take your talents? Is it not bringing guns into the locker room? Maybe it’s all these things, maybe it’s none of them.

The media seems to want to define it as hitting shots at the end of a close game. So when Lebron dropped 45 points and 15 rebounds on the Celtics in a must win Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, that wasn’t so much clutch as it was a great performance in a big game. Since everything in the NBA is defined by stats, clutch has to be held to the same standard.

For the sake of this argument lets define clutch as shots taken with under 5 seconds to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter or overtime. Let’s apply that only to star players starting in the 2000-01 season through February of the 2011-12 season. Using that formula, Kobe Bryant has hit more shots then anyone going 9-19. Carmelo Anthony is second at 6-15. Lebron James on the other hand, is 0-11. For these players, perception seems to fit perfectly with reality, but that is not always the case.

Kevin Durant is the three time scoring champion, but is just 3-23 in “clutch” situations. Sure, he’s made 3 more then Lebron, but he’s also taken 12 more. On the other hand, Rudy Gay is 4-7, better then guys like Dirk Nowitzki (4-12), Dwayne Wade (4-13) and Paul Pierce (2-9). Gay has never had the reputation as a clutch player, but according to stats he is. The bottom line is that “clutch” isn’t something based on numbers or reality. It’s based on perception and that will likely never change. Just know that reality and perception don’t always match up.

The Spurs have won 20 games in a row. They’ve won 31 out of 33. They are currently 10-0 in the playoffs. But what is so amazing about this run is how San Antonio has managed to stay under the radar throughout it. Maybe that’s because the Spurs themselves are so quiet. While teams like the Heat, Lakers and Knicks seem to be in the news everyday, the Spurs just continue to win. Where they play certainly has something to do with it, but its more then that. It’s a head coach who is able to communicate to his players that winning is all that matters. It’s star players like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker who understand it’s not that name on the back of the jersey that matters; it’s the name on the front.

Only three teams had ever won twenty games in a row before the Spurs recent streak: the 1972 Lakers who won an NBA record 33 in a row, the 2008 Rockets who won 22 in a row and the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks who won 20 in a row. The most the Jordan led Bulls and the Bird led Celtics ever won in a row was 18.

What’s so remarkable about the Spurs streak is when they’re doing it. The lockout shortened season crammed 66 games into 122 grueling days. It was supposed to all but eliminate veteran teams (just look at the Celtics limp their way through the Eastern Conference Finals). As if that wasn’t enough, the Spurs are doing this during the Playoffs. Sweeping a team once in the playoffs is difficult enough, winning 10 in a row? Nearly impossible. The longest win streak by a team in the playoffs is 12 (ironically by the 1999 Spurs). These Spurs still have a ways to go before this can be considered the greatest streak of all time, but at this point it doesn’t seem so far fetched.

Despite the Lakers outscoring the Nuggets by eight in the fourth quarter and despite 43 points from Kobe Bryant, the Nuggets found a way to stay alive in L.A. But was this loss actually a good thing for the Lakers?

On April 2, Metta World Peace’s elbow connected with James Harden’s beard in a move that would have made Hulk Hogan proud. He was suspended seven games by David Stern meaning he would miss the last regular season game along with six playoff games. Tonight will mark the last game of his suspension.

Once the Lakers win this series they’ll move on to play the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team the Lakers match up terribly with. The Thunder are one of the few teams that can deal with the size of the Lakers and no one on the Lakers can match up with Russell Westbrook. The Thunder also have Kevin Durant, the NBA’s three time scoring leader. Metta is the only Laker who has a chance of containing Durant.

Whether or not the Lakers win tonight, Metta will be back next game. Whether or not he can stay on the court is up to him.

One of the things I was looking forward to at the start of the season was watching the Thursday night antics of Inside the NBA on TNT with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and the one and only Charles Barkley. You just never know what will come out of Chuck’s mouth next, and last night was no exception.

After the Blazers eked out a win against the Nuggets in the nightcap game, Barkley referred to an earlier time where he said Kobe Bryant is one of the top 10 players in the history of the NBA. He took that a step further last night when he said he is now in the top 5 best players. Let’s take a look at his list:

5. Kobe Bryant
4. Wilt Chamberlain
3. Bill Russell
2. Oscar Robertson
1. Michael Jordan

Kenny Smith was surprised he picked Bryant over both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, but he just about flipped his lid when Barkley said he is better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He tried to persuade Chuck from saying Bryant was in the top 6 and Barkley didn’t budge at first. After the commercial break, however, he aptly changed his mind and said Bryant is in the top 6.

It seems to me that putting Kobe Bryant in the top 5 list of the best NBA players to ever play when he isn’t even done playing is premature. Barkley was a bit out of line in his declaration. He should have stuck with his first decision of putting him in the top 10.

To put him the top 5 while he is still playing does a great disservice to players that have come before him. I know Bryant has won five rings already, but let’s wait to properly evaluate him when his career is over. Heck, if he wins a couple more rings he could certainly move up that list, but for now, let’s not get too ridiculous. That’s why I love watching Inside the NBA. The things Barkley says are absolutely stunning.

Here’s my top 10:
10. Elgin Baylor
9. Moses Malone
8. Kobe Bryant
7. Larry Bird
6. Magic Johnson
5. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Bill Russell
2. Oscar Robertson
1. Michael Jordan

There are a pair of games on ESPN tonight that are sure to impress. The humiliated Bulls, who lost to the Knicks at home last night, travel to Boston to play the Celtics. In the night cap, Blake Griffin and the Clippers travel to the mile high city to play Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets. Both should be good games, but the one I wanted to see was the Heat going up against the surprisingly 4-0 Hornets. It will be interesting to see how the Heat match up with quite possibly the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul.

So without further ado, here are my picks for each of the 12 games on the Friday night slate.

Bucks over Pacers
Scott Skiles is having a hard time getting their opponents to fear the deer in this early season. They’ve stumbled out of the gate at 1-4 and are facing Granger and the steady 2-2 Pacers. I like the Bucks to get the road win against another East team who is still trying to find their way. Indiana looks pretty good though with the improvement of Roy Hibbert and the arrival of Darren Collison.

Magic over Nets
Stan Van Gundy’s crew is fresh off a butt-wooping they put on the lowly Timberwolves in which they scored 78 points by halftime. They get this win at home tonight over a Nets team that is still figuring out who they are with all of the new pieces.

76ers over Cavaliers
This was a tough one, but I’m going with the home team. I’m still waiting to see what Evan Turner has to offer this team. I had high expectations for him, but with Andre Iguodala still in Philly, it will be tough to figure out where he fits in on this team. Still, I like them over the reeling Cavaliers, losers of three straight after their opening win over Boston. Antawn Jamison is likely out but Mo Williams will play and start for the first time this year.

Bobcats over Pistons
Will this be the game where the Pistons get their first win? I don’t think so. After stumbling out of the gate a bit, the 1-3 Bobcats eked out a win against the Nets on Wednesday. I look for them to keep it going against the hapless Pistons.

Wizards over Knicks
I like the wiz kid, John Wall, to lead them to victory over the three-point happy Knicks who coming off a big win in the Windy City last night. This is the type of up and down game Wall should thrive in tonight. Don’t be surprised if he does a lot of the things he did against the Sixers on Tuesday where he almost got a triple-double.

Celtics over Bulls
Boston’s not good on back-to-backs. That was made evident in their loss to Cleveland after beating the Heat. Going on two days rest and a grind-out win over the Bucks, I think the Celtics get the win at home in a tightly contested battle of two top teams in the East.

Hornets over Heat
The undefeated “Nawlins” Hornets are at home for the slightly hobbled LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Chris Paul will impose his will whoever is guarding him. Which begs the question: who will that be? It should be interesting. On the flip side, who accounts for James and Dwyane Wade?

Hawks over Timberwolves
The Wolves are just bad. They’ve given up at least 100 points in each of their four losses, including 129 and 128 to the Heat and Magic respectively. The Hawks are undefeated at 5-0. They’ll easily win this one despite not having Marvin Williams.

Suns over Grizzlies
Steve Nash and the boys are coming off a close home loss to the Spurs. I think their bench gets it done against the Grizz with Zach Randolph questionable to return to the lineup.

Clippers over Nuggets
In the ESPN night cap game, I like the Clippers upsetting the Nuggets on the road. They played well against the Thunder a few nights ago and I think they will play well enough together to get this win. The Nuggets continue to be without post presence with the absences of Kenyon Martin and Chris Anderson. Griffin should be able to have a field day on the glass.

Warriors over Jazz
Golden State is a surprising 3-1 to start the season. They are at home for the Jazz, a team that just can’t win on the road. They do have an impressive road win against the Thunder, but they also got blown out by the Suns. Monta Ellis will continue his hot shooting streak in this one. I believe the Dubs get the upset win.

Lakers over Raptors
I don’t really have to explain this. Toronto is at the bottom of the East and L.A. is at the top of the West. It should be a blowout in a game where Kobe Bryant is done by the fourth quarter, maybe even sooner.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The 2010-2011 NBA season is finally upon us. After what seemed like the longest summer in recent memory with “The Decision” and everything else that transpired, it’s time to kick this thing off and see what’s what. There are three good games on the slate tonight. And yes, there is more than one game on tonight.

Let’s start with the highly anticipated regular season debut of the revamped Miami Heat facing off against the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing about LeBron James and the Heat in general. It sickens me that ESPN has dedicated an entire section of their site to this team called the Heat Index. Oh well. The media is the media.

Heat vs. Celtics
I like the Celtics to win at home tonight. Dwyane Wade hasn’t played with this team yet. Plus Mike Miller’s absence will be evident. It will definitely be tough for the Celtics to contain the Big Three, but no one else on the team is a major threat. The Celtics look even better than last year with the additions of Shaquille and Jermaine O’Neal as well as the return of Delonte West. Word is Shaq will be getting the start with Kendrick Perkins likely to be out until the All-Star break. Kevin Garnett and the crew are looking to stay healthy this year, something they struggled with last year at the tail end of the season.

Suns vs. Blazers
Aside from the two games on TNT tonight, we have Steve Nash and his crew against Brandon Roy and his medical staff. I felt bad for the Blazers last year with all of the injuries they had to endure. They can be a legitimate contender in the West this year IF they can stay healthy. Suspect number is and has been one Greg Oden. He’s played 82 total games in three years. When healthy, he can contribute significantly to this team. They put up a fight in the playoffs last year against the team they are facing tonight. The Suns Western Conference playoff days are certainly behind them with the departure of Amare Stoudemire. They will need Nash to play out of his mind and beyond his age (again) as well as a career resurrection out of Hedo Turkoglu to compete again in the cluttered West. I like the Blazers to win this one at home. Their size (assuming nobody gets hurt in the game) will be too much for the undersized run and gun Suns.

Rockets vs. Lakers
Opening night closes with the champion Lakers hosting the Houston Rockets. The Lakers will get their rings (well, except for Ron Artest) and banner to start the night, then will take the court to begin their title defense against a Rockets squad that is getting back a healthy Yao Ming. I haven’t seen Yao play in so long, I kind of forget his playing style. It will be fun to see him back on the hardwood once more. I’m also interested in seeing how new pieces Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, Theo Ratliff, and even Derrick Caracter fair in their first game as a Laker. I’m also looking forward to seeing how Kobe Bryant plays on achy knees. He said he’s only at about 60-70 percent to start the year. Tonight will be a hard fought, close game in which I think the Lakers win by one to three points. The Rockets have a chance to make noise in the West as well with a healthy squad.

The season is finally upon us. I’m excited to get it going. I’m excited to hear more words of wisdom from Charles Barkley. He’s such a nut-job. My Spurs don’t play until tomorrow, so tonight’s games will have to suffice for now. Who do you think wins tonight? What are you excited for the most this season? And please, keep the Heat and Laker championship comments to a minimum please!

Posted by Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Look at everybody’s NBA season forecast and you will be hit with a barrage of repetition. The Finals match-up is widely projected to be a two-team race, despite a number of teams making improvements. I don’t have to say the two squads, because you all more than likely know who they are. I’m here to provide an alternative opinion, and it’s an opinion I feel confident in. Here it is: neither the Heat nor the Lakers will make the NBA Finals this season.

Due to that last sentence, I imagine I have lost all of the Heat and Laker fan readers. Call me delirious, delusional, demented, I don’t care. It’s what I sincerely believe. Let me tell you why before I delve into the teams I expect to play for the title.

Why the Heat won’t play for Larry O’Brien Trophy
Ever since Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh have joined forces, people have been saying they are winning the championship. This was being said even when the Heat had four players under contract, including Mario Chalmers.

Outside of the big three, this team is unproven and inexperienced. Wade, Udonis Haslem, and Eddie House are the lone players on this team with rings. James, Big Z, and Mike Miller have playoff experience. That’s about it. Bosh hasn’t gotten out of the first round of the playoffs.

This team has yet to play together at full strength. The pre-season is a time where teams are fine-tuning their roster to figure out what pieces fit and how the team’s chemistry is coming along. That is being halted by James and Wade’s leg problems. And don’t forget about Wade’s injury-proneness. Who knows if he could miss significant time during the season? Nonetheless, this is playing time that is valuable to the future success of this team.

Basketball is a team sport. A lot of people seem to forget this. The bottom line remains for this squad: how far can the big three take us? That is what they have to fall back on. There is very little talent that will make a large impact outside of the big three. They are slow and undersized down low. That will be a problem against the Celtics and Magic. People seem to brush that aside. Mike Miller will get some open shots as a result of defenses collapsing on the big three, but that’s the limit of his effectiveness. And what about their point guard play? Neither Mario Chalmers or Carlos Arroyo are starting point guards in this league. In the end, will it matter with a team that has James and Wade?

I’m not discounting the possibility of the Heat making the Finals, I just don’t think they will. You can call me a hater if you want, but I’m voicing my honest and educated opinion. The East has improved. Don’t expect these other teams to lie down.

Why the Lakers won’t play for the Larry O’Brien Trophy
The Lakers are looking to three-peat for the second time in just over a decade. The fact that they are this position is a testament to the ownership and tough-mindedness of its players. So those of you thinking I’m a Laker hater, you could not be farther from the truth. I have nothing but respect for the organization.

Many believe a three-peat is inevitable. The same roster is returning sans Jordan Farmar. They have picked up Steve Blake to back up an aging Derek Fisher, Matt Barnes to aid in perimeter shooting and defense, and Theo Ratliff to contribute interior defense while Andrew Bynum misses more time. Those additions are all well and good, but are they enough to keep up with the ever changing landscape of the West?

The Lakers have a much better shot than the Heat do at making the Finals, simply because they are proven winners. However, things often do and can go wrong during the course of a season. Let’s look at a couple of things that could alter the Lakers trajectory.

First and foremost is injuries. Bynum will be out until December yet again and Kobe Bryant’s knees are not getting any better. Kobe is still a top-tier talent in this league, there’s no doubt about it. However, I think this is the year where his injuries finally catch up to him. He most likely won’t miss many games, but it could show in his performance.

Another factor that needs to be considered is the rest of the West. Many teams can and will challenge the Lakers for the West crown. Last year they got some balls to bounce their way. This year, those could easily bounce in the other direction.

Their once intimidating frontcourt will be less of a threat this year with so many teams stacking up in that regard. Bynum won’t be around most of the time to deal with them as well. The Spurs added Tiago Splitter for interior defense. The Blazers are hoping Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla can stay healthy to pair with Marcus Camby and LeMarcus Aldridge. The Rockets are getting Yao Ming back, for the moment anyway. The Mavericks have Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood. The chips are still stacked in the Lakers’ favor, but they might not get as lucky this time around.

As much as I don’t want to believe it, the Lakers are the favorites to represent the West for the fourth straight year, but anything is possible. I’m just not ready to hand it to them right now given their current state. I think the Lakers are in for a rude awakening.

My 2010-2011 NBA Finals Match-Up
Brace yourselves, because what you are about to read is considered outlandish and boneheaded by many. I believe the NBA Finals will be a between the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.

Now I know what you are thinking: “How could you possibly pick two of the oldest teams in the game to go all the way?” Simple! Because both of these teams are given no respect and love being in the positions they find themselves in.

Honestly, who in their right mind picked the Celtics to go to the Finals last year, especially after the train wreck that was their 54-game ending to their season. But sure enough, they made a run with their gritty defense and multiple weapons on offense. After all, this was supposed to be the year we get to see Kobe vs. Lebron! (Phooey!!!)

This year, they have added some big bodies to the frontcourt. And when I say big, I mean Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal. I know, they’re old. But you give these guys spot minutes to spell Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and Glen Davis and you’ve got a pretty formidable bench. You can also throw them at the Dwight Howard’s of the league. Their size advantage trumps any other team in the league. You better believe it will be an advantage against the undermanned Heat. As far as defending the Heat, they can play their normal tenacious team defense to try and limit at least one or two of the big three’s effectiveness.

Another underrated addition is the Delonte West signing. He will provide some great backup minutes to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. And don’t forget about Nate Robinson, who had a tremendous impact in the playoffs last year.

The Spurs are no strangers to proving everybody wrong. They are never the favorites to win. They have been dubbed as a boring team. They have had one of the best defenses in league history, let alone the last decade. They are too old to go far… On and on it goes.

Unlike their previous years after winning the 2007 title, the Spurs’ “old” big three have some much needed help. The Spanish League MVP Tiago Splitter has finally arrived to help Duncan down low with pick and roll defense, something that killed them against the Suns in last year’s sweep. Judging from his pre-season performances, DeJaun Blair has lived up to his nickname of the beast. He could win the most improved award. George Hill is another year wiser and has the opportunity to learn from Tony Parker. Richard Jefferson is poised to improve after last year’s dud. And, might I reiterate, nobody expects this team to be a player come May and June.

I expect a career year from Tony Parker. He spent most of last year hobbled by injuries. The previous year he averaged 22 points per game, the highest of his career. I believe he can supplant that number in a year where he is playing for a contract. He will surprise many.

The Spurs can be last year’s Celtics. A team no one expected to be relevant, but then, out of nowhere, they make a run and are playing for the championship. Who’s to say that can’t happen again with this improved team?

By now every reader probably thinks I’m an idiot. That’s okay. Maybe by June I will be proven wrong, or maybe even proven right! But for now, I like my picks, believe it or not. And believe it or not, the expected norm just might be thwarted by a bunch of grandpas with their leather belts bending over the kids to teach them a lesson.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The East is more lopsided than ever this year as the fringe contenders in the Hawks have been brushed aside for the Bulls. The primary contenders are said to be the Celtics, Magic, and Heat. In the West, seeds one through eight are much closer. Every Western Conference playoff team last year won at least 50 games. The Thunder, who were the eighth seed, provided a scare to the first-seeded Lakers, but the Lakers ultimately emerged victorious in the end, as we all know.

This year looks to be more of the same. However, some of the teams have dropped off a bit. It’s impossible to predict the seeding, especially if the race is as tight as it was last year. Let’s see how the West shapes up this year.

#8 New Orleans Hornets
I like this bunch. A lot of people don’t think this team as currently constructed and with the recent moves ownership has made can make the postseason, but I think they can sneak in. They are on of my three surprise teams to watch for this year. They’ve got a new coach in Monty Williams, who has served under Nate McMillan in Portland. They’ve added a couple of new pieces in attempts to entice Chris Paul to stay. Trevor Ariza, Marco Belinelli, Willie Green, and Jason Smith are all newcomers that figure to contribute. Washington rookie Quincy Pondexter might get some significant minutes as well. Marcus Thornton will continue to flourish with an outstanding floor general in Chris Paul leading the way. I just hope trading away Darren Collison was the right move. If Paul misses some significant time again, these guys are in trouble. The frontcourt tandem of David West and Emeka Okafor are solid. Look for Ariza to have a quality year now that he is in a familiar spot that he was in with the Lakers. The Rockets were asking him to create and score more than what was his comfort level. Paul is determined to succeed this year. This bunch sneaks in the playoffs with 46-48 wins.

#7 Denver Nuggets
This will be a tough year for this years’ Nuggets. They’ve had to deal with the constant barrage of Carmelo Anthony trade talks, not to mention the displeasure of J.R. Smith. Who knows if Melo will still be a Nugget past this year’s trade deadline, but as of now, it doesn’t seem like he wants to stick around for long. They could have made a move to improve their roster, but the only addition they added was Al Harrington. He’s fine and all, but he’s basically a Kenyon Martin clone, who has been battling injuries recently. Martin hasn’t been the same player of late. Chris Anderson will miss early time this season as well. The Nuggets look a little thin in the frontcourt, as Martin is scheduled to be out until December and Anderson will miss a couple of games to start the season. Nene and Harrington will have to step up this season and perform. This Nuggets team, as currently put together, doesn’t look like they can compete with the best of the West. Add to that Melo’s status in limbo and it results in a shaky season for this Nuggets team. Hey, at least they still have Chauncey Billups. They’ll stumble into the postseason with 48-50 wins.

#6 Utah Jazz
The Bulls practically gutted the Jazz roster. Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and Carlos Boozer have all been transferred to the Windy City. Not to worry, though. They picked up Timberwolves big man Al Jefferson to fill the void. The Jazz have a pretty favorable frontcourt lineup in Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Mehmet Okur. Millsap will have his time to shine at power forward now that Boozer is gone. Okur will be a nice bench piece to provide a spark. The Jazz stayed busy this offseason. They picked up Raja Bell, athletic swingman C.J. Watson from Golden State, and the ninth overall draft pick in Gordon Hayward. Jerry Sloan is one of the best coaches in basketball and he is the man to mesh these new pieces with the mainstays. I’m sure Deron Williams won’t miss a beat with the absence of Boozer by feeding two big bodies in Jefferson and Millsap. Hopefully Andrei Kirilenko can stay healthy as well. There’s now doubt the injuries to him and Okur hurt this team in the playoffs last year. The Jazz look strong again this year, and could finished higher in the West. I’ll give them 50-53 wins.

#5 Portland Trail Blazers
This squad is full of ifs. They have been for as long as they’ve had Greg Oden. He has been the butt of many injury jokes that also have people labeling him as a bust. While it’s too early to say that, he needs to start showing that he can play something close to a full season. He has played 82 games in the three seasons. Not good. On top of Oden’s injury woes, Brandon Roy had problems staying healthy when it mattered most during the playoffs last year. Joel Przybilla was also hurt, leaving them thin at center until they picked up Marcus Camby in a trade. Now, barring injury, the Blazers are in a position to compete with the Lakers. The only lingering problem is Rudy Fernandez. He wants out, and the Blazers have been moving sluggishly in trading him. His situation, among other things, has been a little confusing in the way they have been handled. Wesley Matthews was signed to a five-year $32 million deal. Nobody knows exactly how that happened. All in all, these guys should be pretty darn good IF they can stay healthy. They’ll win 50-54 games.

#4 Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs are masters of the regular season. They seem to be in the top echelon every year, then they flop in the playoffs. They got a couple of newcomers that could make an impact, but not a big enough one. New additions to the team include Tyson Chandler. I could see Kidd and Chandler hooking up on a couple of nice lob plays, similar to Chandler’s stint with Chris Paul and the Hornets. They also signed Ian Mahinmi away from the Spurs. The Mavs have the same core returning. They have their rock in Dirk Nowitzki, an aging yet still capable Jason Kidd, the sharpshooting ace in Jason Terry, the defensively minded Shawn Marion, and tough-minded scorer in Caron Butler. I’m afraid they are headed for similar results unless Dirk shows us all something we’ve never seen out of him, or if Mark Cuban can land Carmelo Anthony (ha, long shot). Dirk just hasn’t shown that he can be a featured player on a championship team. I really don’t see that changing this year. They’ll win 52-55 games, but after that, they’ve got some proving to do.

#3 San Antonio Spurs
The old guys from the Alamo City never seem to go away. This year, like many years, they are flying under the radar. Only this year I think they have the potential to dethrone the mighty Lakers. They just don’t want anybody to know about it. That’s right, I said it. Tim Duncan is still the core of the team. Tony Parker is playing with a chip on his shoulder in a contract year after a year in which he missed significant playing time due to injury. Manu Ginobili is still Manu. It’s the young core that I believe will propel these guys. An improving DeJaun Blair, who has been working on his all-around game, looks to contribute greatly this year. George Hill is coming off a year in which he finished second in the most improved player voting. He will only get better as time goes on and he gets more playing time. The arrival of the Brazilian big man in Tiago Splitter is the guy who will make the most difference. He is also the guy that Ron Artest knows nothing about. He will provide some much needed help on the defensive end in defending pick-and-rolls. Oklahoma State standout James Anderson looks to be a key contributor as well. I like the Spurs winning 52-56 games this year.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder
I almost put the Spurs in this spot, but in the West, anything can happen. The Thunder have been raved throughout this offseason as the team to challenge the Lakers out West. I’m not sure they are at that level yet. Yes, they did scare the champs last year in the opening round. One thing is certain, Kevin Durant is ridiculously talented. Not one person can deny him that. His range is unbelievable for a player of his size. Th Thunder return was largely the same roster, and for good reason. Both Durant and Russell Westbrook are better for their time in the FIBA games this summer. Look for Westbrook to have a breakout type of year. I like this young group. I’m looking to see the improvement from James Harden and Jeff Green as well. They are going to need those two, among others, to step up and support Durant and Westbrook. I like the Thunder this year, but I’m not sold that they can beat the Lakers. They will win 52-56 games this year.

#1 Los Angeles Lakers
You can pretty much pencil the Lakers as the first seed in the West. That is, unless Kobe Bryant’s body finally collapses and he has to sit out some games. The same core is returning with the addition of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff. Andrew Bynum still can’t get healthy. He’ll sit out until at least November, according to him. What else is there to say? The Lakers are the champs until someone knocks them off. The West is not as one-sided as people have been pegging it to be though. There are other teams that can defeat them in a seven game series, now let’s see if they can. The Lakers roll into the playoffs with 56-60 wins.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network