</p> The Southwest division is the strongest in the NBA, everyone in that division is capable of making the playoffs. A Southwest team has come out of the Western Conference the past three seasons. Before this off-season it was a battle between San Antonio and Dallas for the division title but now the Rockets have made great strides to improve and are being considered championship contendors by many fans. Personally, I think the division will still be a battle between the Spurs and Mavericks with the Rockets not far behind them. I've been saying for some time that the Hornets will grab the 7th seed and could have this past year if injuries had not hurt them a great deal. As for the Grizzlies, it is clear that they'll have a better season than the one they had in 06-07 but I don't see the playoffs in their sights right now. </p> </p> As for the division winner I'm going to say it will be the Mavericks again. Despite a dissapointing end to the season, this team is still just as powerful and now have added veteran shooter Eddie Jones and could be bringing in Chris Webber who would make their 5 rotation much stronger.</p> So, in summary, here's my division prediction:</p> </p> 1. Dallas Mavericks</p> 2. San Antonio Spurs</p> 3. Houston Rockets</p> 4. New Orleans Hornets</p> 5. Memphis Grizzlies</p> --</p> What do you think will happen? </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'> 1. Dallas Mavericks</p> 2. San Antonio Spurs </p> 3. Houston Rockets</p> 4. New Orleans Hornets</p> 5. Memphis Grizzlies</div></p> I think this will be the way it works out too barring a major injury.</p> -Petey</p> </p>
1. Houston Rockets2. San Antonio Spurs3. Dallas Mavericks4. Memphis Grizzlies5. New Orleans Hornets</p> Don't sleep on the Grizzlies. They have Lowry/Conley at point guard, Gasol the entire year, Rudy will be making the 2nd year jump, Darko is in the building, and Navarro got brought in at guard. They will beat out the Hornets for 4th place IMHO!</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'> 1. Houston Rockets2. San Antonio Spurs3. Dallas Mavericks4. Memphis Grizzlies5. New Orleans Hornets</p> Don't sleep on the Grizzlies. They have Lowry/Conley at point guard, Gasol the entire year, Rudy will be making the 2nd year jump, Darko is in the building, and Navarro got brought in at guard. They will beat out the Hornets for 4th place IMHO! </p></div> </p> I disagree, the Hornets nearly made the playoffs last season despite Peja being out nearly the entire season and being ravaged by injuries to other players such as their star, Chris Paul. They also made a key addition in Morris Peterson, last season the Hornets were very weak at the 2 position, Mo Pete will be a great fit on the Hornets. Also, don't forget that Paul, Chandler, and West are all young they'll only get better this up-coming season. </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'>I want to say the Rockets, just because of Adelman.</div> </p> agreed. and wells will actually play.
I think the rockets have a fair chance to win the division. The Spurs are going to start to show some rust sooner or later. I dont know if itll happen just yet but its going to soon.
Memphis is a much more versitle and athletic team than New Orleans. Adding to that, we have a great mixture of vets and young guys. I expect Memphis to atleast be 4th in the division.</p> 1.San Antonio</p> 2.Dallas</p> 3.Houston</p> 4.Memphis</p> 5.New Orleans</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphology)</div><div class='quotemain'> Memphis is a much more versitle and athletic team than New Orleans. Adding to that, we have a great mixture of vets and young guys. I expect Memphis to atleast be 4th in the division.</p> 1.San Antonio</p> 2.Dallas</p> 3.Houston</p> 4.Memphis</p> 5.New Orleans</p></div> </p> The Hornets had 39 wins last year with Chris Paul fighting injuries and Peja Stojackovic out the entire year, I believe that David West (or Tyson Chandler) also had a big injury earlier in the season, the team has an extremely deadly young PG who will only continue to improve, Tyson Chandler who's changed his game since he came over from the Bulls, David West has played terrific basketball the past couple of seasons, they've got one of the best shooter in the NBA in Peja Stojackovic, and now their SG hole has been addressed with the addition of Mo Pete. Memphis will get better but I personally think Hornets are going to make the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed. </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphology)</div><div class='quotemain'>Memphis was plagued with alot mroe injuries than New Orleans was....</div></p> </p> They weren't 'that much' more injury plagued, New Orleans has a much more talented squad and I can't see the current Memphis squad beating them unless Navarro's scoring ability transfers to the NBA quickly. </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think the rockets have a fair chance to win the division. The Spurs are going to start to show some rust sooner or later. I dont know if itll happen just yet but its going to soon.</div></p> I think this is spot on. Mavs have a lot of talent and they do play defense. I wouldn't count them out. Yao has to stay healthy for Houston to take the next step.</p> </p> </p>
1. Dallas Mavericks2. San Antonio Spurs3. Houston Rockets4. New Orleans Hornets5. Memphis Grizzlies</p> I think barring major injury, Houston has a great chance at edging San Antonio in the regular season this year, but San Antonio is still the larger threat in the postseason. I'll play it safe and stick with San Antonio at 2, but I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Houston gives them a tight battle throughout the entire season.</p> I think Memphis is a lot better than their record showed last year as well. Like Mempology mentioned, they were one of the teams that was shafted with injuries all year long, and they had a difficult time adjusting to the coaching change. I think they will give New Orleans a run for their money, but in the end I think New Orleans' veterans will push for a playoff spot.</p> I pretty much agree with everything GArenas has been saying, although I think the battles might be a little tighter.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane)</div><div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think the rockets have a fair chance to win the division. The Spurs are going to start to show some rust sooner or later. I dont know if itll happen just yet but its going to soon.</div></p> I think this is spot on. Mavs have a lot of talent and they do play defense. I wouldn't count them out. Yao has to stay healthy for Houston to take the next step.</p> </p> </div></p> Let's also not forget that Houston lost their defensive guru in Tom Thibodeau, who left for Boston and has produced some of the best team defenses of the past five years. Van Gundy is also a defensive specialist, and of course he is gone as well. Hopefully Houston can keep their defensive mindset while buying into Adleman's high-tempo freestyle offensive schemes, but it remains to be seen. </p>
The Mavericks have the best regular season roster, and the Spurs aren't as concerned with regular season placement as you'd think...people complained so much about them last year they said they were "done"...the Rockets should be a lot better, I expect it to be a close three horse race, but in the end, the Mavericks are more a regular season giant then the Spurs or Rockets as of late.
I'll rank them like this in the regular season</p> 1. Dallas</p> 2. Houston</p> 3. San Antonio</p> </p> In the playoffs</p> 1. Houston</p> 2. San Antonio</p> 3. Dallas</p> </p> I just feel like Houston and San Antonio have to conserve their star players for them to be 100% effective in the playoffs.</p> If Houston doesn't make a huge leap forward this June, I'll be shocked. Yao has to be the dominant player he should be.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'> I'll rank them like this in the regular season</p> 1. Dallas</p> 2. Houston</p> 3. San Antonio</p> </p> In the playoffs</p> 1. Houston</p> 2. San Antonio</p> 3. Dallas</p> </p> I just feel like Houston and San Antonio have to conserve their star players for them to be 100% effective in the playoffs.</p> If Houston doesn't make a huge leap forward this June, I'll be shocked. Yao has to be the dominant player he should be. </p> </p></div> </p> agreed. also, McGrady can't do it all alone. He needs SOME help. plus, Bonzi could help out and put in some good numbers (like he did with Adelman in Sac), and I believe Scola could help this team out with their current lack of big men. Mike James is a slight upgrade over Alston as well, so I think the Rockets have made enough improvements to at least get them past the 1st round.
