2011-2012 NBA Western Conference Preview

Here are my 2011-2012 NBA Western Conference rankings, listed in the order of where I believe each team will finish.

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Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Drafted: Reggie Jackson
Additions: Lazar Hayward
Losses: Robert Vaden, Byron Mullens, Nate Robinson

It's their time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are primed to make a huge jump in the Western Conference this year, thanks in part to last year's midseason addition Kendrick Perkins. Perkins brings toughness and attitude to a team of young and relatively inexperienced players.

Last year's scoring champ Kevin Durant will continue to be one of the league's top players. What remains to be seen is how well he and Russell Westbrook can balance out their touches. Durant should be shooting the ball much more than Westbrook, but Durant has to do a better job of getting open. A good amount of Westbrook's attempts occur when a play breaks down and he has to create a shot.

James Harden has the potential to be this year's Sixth Man of the Year. His ability to come off the bench and provide the Thunder with another scoring threat when Durant or Westbrook are out could prove to be the difference for OKC.

Thanks to the rushed schedule, teams like the Lakers, Mavericks, and Spurs will have to rest their stars occasionally, paving the way for this young Thunder team to finish atop the West.

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Dirk Nowitzki

2. Dallas Mavericks

Drafted: None

Additions: Brandon Wright, Vince Carter, Delonte West, Lamar Odom, Sean Williams

Losses: Caron Butler, J.J. Barea, Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler, Rudy Fernandez, Corey Brewer

Dirk Nowitzki finally has his first championship. Now he will have to try and defend it without Tyson Chandler.

The man who was credited with changing the culture in Dallas is now in a Knicks uniform, and the Mavs won't have much time to adjust before they are thrust back into their title defense. J.J. Barea, Caron Butler, and Peja Stojakovic have been replaced with Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, and Delonte West. Odom will join Jason Terry off the bench in what might be the best 2nd unit in the league.


Age will be a concern for Dallas. Jason Kidd has had trouble defending quick point guards for a few years now, and the numerous back to back games that are on the schedule won't help. The Mavericks will need to use their depth to grind out victories when their stars need a rest, but I think they'll be up to the challenge.

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Rudy Gay

3. Memphis Grizzlies

Drafted: Josh Selby

Additions: Jeremy Pargo, Quincy Pondexter

Losses: Ish Smith, Shane Battier, Greivis Vasquez

Memphis ended the season strong (to say the least) last year by upsetting the #1 seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round. They did so without Rudy Gay, and now coach Lionel Hollins will have to figure out how to re-insert Gay into the lineup without disrupting the balance that was so effective last season.

The duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are going to cause problems for  opposing team's frontlines. Both players are wide bodies who clean the glass and control the paint. Their physical presence, along with the continued development of Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo, should be enough for Memphis to build upon last year's late season success and become an elite team in the Western Conference.

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Blake Griffin

4. L.A. Clippers

Drafted: Trey Thompkins, Travis Leslie

Additions: Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups, Reggie Evans, Chris Paul

Losses: Craig Smith, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman

It almost feels blasphemous to rank the Clippers ahead of the Lakers, but with the additions of Chris Paul, Caron Butler, and Chauncey Billups, the Clippers look like the best team in L.A.

Blake Griffin is an absolute monster down low, and now that Paul is in town to provide him with easy looks, Griffin should almost certainly become one of the best big men in basketball. DeAndre Jordan will see his points per game go up as well.

The Clippers plan to start Chauncey Billups at shooting guard and bring Mo Williams, Randy Foye, and Eric Bledsoe off the bench, although one of them could be moved for some backup interior help.

No matter where they finish at the end of the season, the Clippers now have the foundation to build an electrifying team that may very well overtake the Lakers as the best show in town.

(Getty Images)Mike Brown
"Stern vetoed the Chris Paul trade? Good one Jerry. What's next, we're going to trade Lamar Odom to Dallas for cash?"

5. L.A. Lakers

Drafted: Darius Morris, Andrew Goudelock, Ater Majok

Additions: Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy

Losses: Shannon Brown, Lamar Odom


It's pretty remarkable how much losing Lamar Odom can impact the Laker's chances of being an elite team, but the fact is that no one on the roster can replace what Odom brought to the table. His versatility will be sorely missed, especially considering Andrew Bynum's injury history.

They do still have Kobe Bryant, and when you have him, there's always a chance. Bynum's role in the offense will probably expand this year, thanks to new head coach Mike Brown's new system.

The Lakers did make some nice acquisitions, but as is, this team just doesn't look good enough to be a serious contender. Even with Odom they got swept out of the second round. I really can't see them going far with the roster they have now.

If they can pry Dwight Howard away from Orlando however, it'll be a different story.

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Nene

6. Denver Nuggets

Drafted: Kenneth Faried, Jordan Hamilton

Additions: Andre Miller, Rudy Fernandez, Corey Brewer

Losses: Melvin Ely, Gary Forbes, Raymond Felton, Michael Ruffin


The Nuggets actually played better once they shipped Carmelo Anthony to New York last year, and I expect that trend to continue. Young players Ty Lawson, Danillo Gallinari, Aaron Afflalo and rookie Kenneth Faried will combine with veterans like Andre Miller, Nene, and Al Harrington to form a pretty  solid roster. The lack of a true star is combatted by a strong sense of team play and ball movement; the Nuggets should continue to get up and down the floor.

In this shortened season depth is important, and Denver has just enough of it to remain a competitive and (come playoff time) dangerous team. Wilson Chandler is expected to return from overseas sometime in March, and when he does, the Nuggets will only pick up steam.

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Wesley Matthews

7. Portland Trailblazers

Drafted: Nolan Smith, Jon Diebler

Additions: Kurt Thomas, Jamal Crawford, Craig Smith, Raymond Felton

Losses: Rudy Fernandez, Brandon Roy, Andre Miller

Even without Brandon Roy, the Portland Trailblazers have a great shot of making the playoffs and making some noise in the Western Conference this season.

Newly acquired point guard Raymond Felton and third year man Wesley Matthews are going to help take pressure off of LeMarcus Aldridge, who's emergence as a top big man last year will draw him double teams every time he touches the ball. 

The Blazers brought in one of the league's best sixth men in Jamaal Crawford. They also bolstered their backcourt by drafting former Duke Blue Devil Nolan Smith. With the high energy of Gerald Wallace and the contributions of Nicholas Batum off the bench, the Blazers have a roster worth reckoning with.

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Manu Ginobili

8. San Antonio Spurs

Drafted: Kawhi Leonard, David Bertans, Cory Joseph, Adam Hanga

Additions: T.J. Ford

Losses: George Hill, Antonio McDyess

The aging Spurs are going to have a rough time with this year's compressed schedule.

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili will have to sit on the second half of back to backs later in the year to keep them fresh. This means that Tony Parker will see his role in the offense increase and that Richard Jefferson will need to use his athleticism to help shoulder the scoring load.

The Spurs traded George Hill for rookie Kawhi Leonard on draft night. He is an intriguing player, and considering Spurs GM Rodeny Buford's track record, Leonard will likely make an impact.

San Antonio always goes as far as Duncan and Ginobili's bodies are able to carry them, and this season, they may not be able to carry them very far.

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Jarrett Jack

9. New Orleans Hornets

Drafted: None

Additions: Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman

Losses: Chris Paul, David West, Aaron Gray, Willie Green

I think the Hornets handled the Chris Paul trade the right way. They received a nice package of players for Paul, and even though it wasn't quite what they would have gotten from the Lakers and Rockets, Eric Gordon is going to be an elite guard very soon. Al-Farouq Aminu is another great young piece, and Chris Kaman provides a savvy post presence (not to mention an expiring contract).

Jarrett Jack now gets a chance to run his own team, but will he be up to the challenge? He's shown flashes of great play throughout his short career. If he can play at a high level, he'll help shorten the rebuilding process for New Orleans.

Losing Paul and David West is going to be tough to swallow, but I think the Hornets will be surprisingly good.

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Luis Scola

10. Houston Rockets

Drafted: Marcus Morris, Nikola Mirotic, Chandler Parsons

Additions: Jeremy Lin, Samuel Dalembert, Jonny Flynn

Losses: Chuck Hayes


Yao Ming's retirement certainly hurts the Rockets, and Samuel Dalembert won't be able to replace him. Kevin Martin, Kyle Lowry, and Luis Scola will be the players that Houston has to count on for offense, and while that certainly isn't something to sneeze at, Houston doesn't have too much else on it's roster.

The team is full of young players like Terrence Williams, Chase Budinger, Goran Dragic, and rookie Marcus Morris; all players with potential, but they will need time. Martin's scoring ability should be able to keep them afloat, but Houston likely won't be surprising anyone this year.

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Marcus Thornton

11. Sacramento Kings

Drafted: Jimmer Fredette, Tyler Honeycutt, Isaiah Thomas

Additions: Chuck Hayes, Travis Outlaw, John Salmons, J.J. Hickson

Losses: Samuel Dalembert, Beno Udrih, Omri Casspi, Marquis Daniels, Darnell Jackson, Pooh Jeter


The Kings are one of the most interesting teams of the year, thanks mostly to Jimmer Fredette (or as many like the call him, the NBA's version of Tim Tebow). Fredette joins a talented backcourt of Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, and John Salmons. Between the four of them, Sacramento should have no trouble scoring points.

Add in DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, and J.J. Hickson, and you're looking at a team that'll be dangerous in a few years. Just not quite yet.

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Stephen Curry

12. Golden State Warriors

Drafted: Klay Thompson, Jeremy Tyler, Charles Jenkins

Additions: Kwame Brown, Ish Smith, Dominic Mcguire, Brandon Rush

Losses: Vladimir Radmanovic, Reggie Williams, Louis Amundson, Jeremy Lin, Charlie Bell


Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are both still in town for the Warriors, and that is the reason that they will likely miss the playoffs yet again. New coach Mark Jackson will try not to let that happen, and he believes strongly in keeping both Ellis and Curry together.

David Lee, Andris Biendrins, and newcomer Kwame Brown will try to control the paint as best they can, but Golden State would be better served by moving Ellis for some help down low. Rookie guard Klay Thompson could then see increased minutes in Ellis's place, and the Warriors could move forward.

As it is now, Golden State appears to be at an impasse. Their only saving grace is their ability to handle the compressed schedule, but I still can't see them winning many games.

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Alec Burks and Enes Kanter

13. Utah Jazz

Drafted: Enes Kanter, Alec Burks

Additions: Earl Watson, Josh Howard, Jamaal Tinsley

Losses: Ronnie Price, Mehmet Okur

The Jazz are building for the future and are loaded with potential. Their young core of Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, Paul Milsap, Gordon Hayward, and Derrick Favors looks promising, but immediate success is not likely.

Devin Harris and Al Jefferson are the veterans on the team, and that's saying something. This team is young. They'll use this season as a learning experience, and like many other young teams in the West, not win many games in the process.

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Marcin Gortat, Channing Frye, Steve Nash, Jared Dudley, and Grant Hill

14. Phoenix Suns

Drafted: Markieff Morris

Additions: Sebastian Telfair, Shannon Brown, Ronnie Price, Marcus Landry

Losses: Vince Carter, Zabian Dowdell, Mickael Pietrus


Poor Steve Nash.

I admire his loyalty, but man, if he doesn't request a trade this year, he'll never win a championship (and probably never even make the playoffs again). The Suns will have a chance every night as long as Nash is on their roster, but they need to either pull off a miracle trade to give Nash some help, or ship him out and start to rebuild.

Even if Nash does request a trade, he'll deny it publicly. I don't think any of us can imagine a season full of SportsCenter Nash trade demand updates.

This team is a long cry from the exiting, run and gun Suns team of the Amare' Stoudemire era. Now, it's the Jared Dudley, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez era. Yikes.

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Kevin Love

15. Minnesota Timberwolves
Drafted: Malcolm Lee, Derrick Williams

Additions: Brad Miller, Robert Vaden

Losses: Sebastian Telfair, Lazar Hayward

Here comes Ricky Rubio.

The Spanish sensation will be handed the reigns to the Timberwolves, and fellow rookie (and #2 overall pick) Derrick Williams should help Rubio become accustomed to the NBA quickly.

Rebounding machine Kevin Love will return, as well as former #2 overall pick Michael Beasley. Minnesota shouldn't have too much trouble scoring points. Their defense is what's suspect. Rubio, Love, Beasley, and Williams are all sub-par defenders. Darko Milicic actually was an elite shotblocker last season, but Minnesota will need a lot more than that to be competitive.

They should be fun to watch though.