LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The reigning Western Conference champions have only gotten better over the off-season with the return of center Andrew Bynum. Featuring one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, look for the Lakers to put up huge numbers game in and game out. Defense is really the only issue with the team, but the rumors of a possible Lamar Odom for Shawn Marion swap would provide a quick fix and would certainly solidify Kobe Bryant and the Lakers' position as the team to beat in the West -- looking to make another run to the NBA Finals.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Hornet's point guard Chris Paul may very well be the league's most dynamic player. He averaged more than 20 points and 10 assists per game last season and don't look for him to slow down at all over the 2008-09 season. The addition of James Posey also gives the Hornets more depth off the bench, along with the veteran experience he brings with his two Championship rings. With the Hornets' premier perimeter shooting and the development of Tyson Chandler as one of the league's best defensive centers, they are here to prove last season's playoff run wasn't a fluke.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
With the addition of Ron Artest, who's shown surprising promise in the preseason, the Rockets have one of the strongest starting-five in the game. That is, if they can stay healthy. Yao Ming has had season-ending injuries for the past three seasons, and Tracy McGrady has become one of the league's most injury-prone players, averaging just over 60 games in the past three years. But if they can stay healthy then you can't overlook the promise for the Rockets, who went on a 22-game win streak at one point last season.
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz have a very young, very offensive-minded team that has been one of the most overlooked in the NBA. There are two issues hampering the interior scoring machine, however. All-Star point guard Deron Williams will be out for at least the first two weeks of the season with an ankle sprain. Also, with eight free-agents-to-be, the Jazz can only hope that contract issues won't become distractions throughout the season. As long as Williams bounces back and the potential free agents aren't already looking for their 2009 homes, then the Jazz should be back into the playoff mix for the third season in a row.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Considering the trend of the past decade, with the Spurs winning a championship every other year, the Spurs should be a lock for the 2009 title, right? Well, age may finally be catching up to the Spurs. Tony Parker is the only starter on the team who is under the age of 30. That, along with the fact they will be without All-Star Manu Ginobili for the first two months of the season, bumps them down some in the increasingly competitive West. Even still, their playoff experience, and Tim Duncan's uncanny ability to win, still makes them a threat to win it all every year.
PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns can put points on the board; we know this. The big question whether the offense will be able to make up for the non-existent defense that has allowed more than 100 points per game for the past four seasons. The release of head coach Mike D'Antoni (who fled to the New York Knicks) in favor of the more defensive-minded Terry Porter shows signs they are trying to fix this trend. But how much will his new coaching strategy affect the Suns' run-'n-gun offense? The player who can ultimately determine their success is center Shaquille O'Neal. They don't need him to put up huge offensive stats. As long as he's able to get up and down the court, pull in rebounds and maintain strong interior defense, the Suns may finally be able to be a Finals contender.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
The Trailblazers have two things going for them: they have size and they have youth. Each position's starter is at least an inch taller than the league average, and they sport the second-youngest team in the league. But these two strengths are also preventing expectations from getting too high for Portland. The team is designed as almost an exact replica of last seasons' Bulls, who came in with youth and grand expectations, but wound up with a mediocre 33-49 record. As long as Greg Oden lives up to the hype and can stay healthy, he, along with the supporting cast of Brandon Roy and Spanish standout Rudy Fernandez, could establish the Trailblazers as a legitimate threat in the West.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
No team made as many effective off-season moves as the Clippers. In signing point guard Baron Davis, power forward Marcus Camby and forward Ricky Davis, along with bringing in first-round draft pick Eric Gordon, the Clippers bulked up their lineup for the 2008-2009 season. Although they had to say goodbye to All-Star Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, their new roster has more scoring potential. Baron Davis comes to L.A. with something to prove, and he and the Clippers are looking to shake up the hierarchy in the West, knocking off the issue-ridden Dallas Mavericks for the final playoff slot. �
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