1. Lakers - Still stronger than anyone else in the west. Might cruise a few games, but need to stay motivated to compete with Heat. Fisher is at the end of his career, but they brought in Blake, and Artest has earned respect with the group.
2. Jazz - Deron Williams is hungry. Al Jefferson is hungry. Miles continues to improve. Fess will keep people out the paint when he plays. The X-factor, as always, is AK. If the Jazz can get reliable perimeter shooting and some defense from Miles and Hayward, they should improve or at least stay steady with last-year's team. Hopefully, Hayward has as good a rookie year as Matthews did. They need to add a wing who can shoot though. Wait til they add Tomic in a year.
3. Dallas - Chandler and Haywood offer inside defense. Dirk is Dirk. The problems are that Kidd is at the end of his career, Terry has lost a step, Marion isn't consistently effective, and Butler--while a nice offensive player--doesn't play much defense. The team barely got the 2-seed last year and should take a half-step back while they transition to more minutes for Roddy Beaubois.
4. Denver - Carmelo plays well, but the team leader is really Billups who is on the downside of his career. Martin remains injurred. Nene and Birdman also limit their front court. They're a team that's peaked and is sliding back a little.
5. Oklahoma City - Needed Durant to lead the league in scoring to make the playoffs. They're a tough, scrappy team with length. They're maturing, but they still don't have much inside game.
6. San Antonio - Tim Duncan is slowing down, but the season will depend on Manu, who was out for much of last year. Parker and Hill will split time until one of them is moved. They're still a solid, well-coached veteran team who knows how to win games.
7. Houston - Has Yao back and veteran players in Kevin Martin, Shane Battier, and Aaron Brooks. Patterson will make an impact as a rookie, but I see them winning 48 - 50 games.
8. Portland - Gains more minutes for Camby. Oden expected to come back at some point. Otherwise, not sure how they improve from last year.
9. Phoenix - Takes a step back losing Amare unless Lopez takes a big step forward. How much longer can Nash keep it up, or Grant Hill, or Jason Richardson for that matter. They went on a hot streak after the All-Star break last year. Were in 7th place otherwise. Edit: Well, if they can work Turkoglu in, they could make the play-offs.
10. New Orleans - Chris Paul is back, pushing a patched-together team to 45 wins.
