2008-2009 NBA Preview: Northwest and Pacific Divisions

West

With the season already starting, we're just going to give some quick predictions.

Northwest
1. Utah Jazz
2. Portland Trail Blazers
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Minnesota T-Wolves
5. Oklahoma City Thunder

Pacific
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Golden St. Warriors
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Sacramento Kings

NBA Power Rankings

Here's TSF's NBA Power Rankings as of 12/11.

1. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have been impressive even without Tim Duncan. Manu Ginobli is looking to be the sixth man of the year as he scored 37 points twice in back to back wins over the Mavs and Jazz. The Spurs have been themselves lately, playing team basketball, winning, and holding opponents to 92.5 ppg, plus they're on a 5 game winning streak and have won 11 of their last 12.

2. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have just about dominated in all of their games. It seems Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen are always on their games and even if one or two of them are off, they still have the 3rd. Also, I should mention those 3 are all in the top 35 for points in the league.

3. Phoenix Suns

The Suns rank in the top 10 of the league in ppg (2), FG% (2), and spg (6). Steve Nash has been incredible once again with his 17.9 ppg and 12.3 apg.

4. Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard has been a monster and good thing he's on my fantasy team; He's 10th in the league in ppg (23.5), 2nd in FG% (.614), 1st in rpg (15.0), and 3rd in bpg (2.9). Four of the Magic's six losses are against the Pistons, Suns (2), and Spurs.

5. Utah Jazz
Utah has had no trouble scoring so far thanks to Carlos Boozer, who is averaging 25.1 ppg. Deron Williams is also an emerging top NBA PG. Big road games coming up against Phoenix and Portland.

6. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have won 8 of the last 10 games and are shooting the ball pretty well lately. Rip Hamilton has finally found his shooting touch and this team looks like their same olf selves again. The defense has been pretty stout giving up only 91.9 ppg.

7. Dallas Mavericks
I don't really like the Mavs right now. I don't know, maybe it's because of personal reasons or maybe it's because they lack a defense... That's the question that's been barring Avery Johnson, can he get his team to play some D so they can win a title? Giving up 100.1 ppg and 45.7 FG% won't cut it in the west.

8. New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets have been a little bit of a surprise thus far. They don't give up a lot of points and they can shoot the ball pretty well. Also, I heard Chris Paul is pretty good (21.0 ppg and 9.8 apg)...

9. Los Angeles Lakers
I will give the Lakers the nod over the Nuggets because of their two wins over them. It seems Kobe's grievance for Andrew Bynum is over. As long as Kobe stays healthy, this team will be a playoff contender.

10. Denver Nuggets
Allen Iverson has been tough lately and has been scoring from all over (put up 51 on the Lakers). We all know this is a very good offensive team, but it's the defense they need to improve in order to get over the hump (102.1 PA/G).

Right around the corner...
Rockets, Warriors, and Raptors.

2007 NBA Predictions

West

Northwest

1. Denver Nuggets

A very talented team is poised to make a run at an NBA Championship. This team is ready to compete with San Antonio, Dallas, and Phoenix. Carmelo Anthony is one of the best scorers and players for that matter, in the NBA. If Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin can stay healthy, I have a feeling they will be one of the best.

2. Utah Jazz

Deron Williams is looking to be a great PG in this league and is surrounded with some pretty good talent. As long as Carlos Boozer stays healthy they should be a contender. But they also need more consistent play from Andrei Kirilenko.

3. Portland Trail Blazers
Portland is a very young team and should be playing for next year. With Greg Oden out, LaMarcus Aldridge will have to pick up the slack in the middle. Jarrett Jack is still an iffy point guard. Brandon Roy is a solid player, but I think they are another year away from being a good team.

4. Seattle Supersonics

They lost Rashard Lewis, their main scoring threat. It will be interesting to see how Kevin Durant performs. I say give him a year to build some mass before he becomes a key player for the team; but hey I've been wrong before.

5. Minnesota T'Wolves

I think the Wolves benefited a lot with the Garnett trade. They got some great young talent to help the franchise out, but it may take two or three seasons to get the franchise back on the map.

Pacific

1. Phoenix Suns

I feel this is the most talented team in the NBA. They will obviously be one of the best again. Steve Nash will put up amazing stats. Shawn Marion is Shawn Marion. Amare Stoudemire should be 100% after the off season. Boris Diaw was out of shape last season and wasn't impressive at all; he could be a key for them to make the Finals.

2. Golden St. Warriors

The Warriors are looking for even more after a solid playoff run last season. Baron Davis can hold his own now and is a great point guard. Monta Ellis turned a lot of heads last year. Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington were two other important parts in the playoff run as well. With balanced scoring and good defense, I expect this team to keep surprising people.

3. Los Angeles Lakers
As long as you have Kobe Bryant on your team you will always be a playoff contender. Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, and Derek Fisher will look to provide Kobe with help again. But the main component here is Andrew Bynum; Will he live up to what Kobe expects of him?

4. Los Angeles Clippers

The play of Corey Maggette and Cutino Mobley will be huge if they want to make the playoffs. I also think Al Thorton will start and be a great attribution to the team. It's just too bad this team doesn't have Elton Brand.

5. Sacramento Kings

This team is getting rather old and they probably should look to adding some younger talent soon.

Southwest

1. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are my favorite to win the title again and continue the dynasty. Tony Parker is just a dazzling play maker and Tim Duncan is the best big man in the league still. They're a championship team because of their defense and most importantly they play as team, unlike most NBA teams.

2. Dallas Mavericks

Avery Johnson has done a great job on the defensive side with this team. They had a letdown losing to the Warriors in the playoffs. Dirk will finally try to lead this team to a championship.

3. Houston Rockets
It's too bad the Rockets play in the best division. They would probably win any other division in the league, except for probably the Pacific. Rafer Alston is a good point man and can make the plays when needed. Tracy McGrady is a stud. They have the ingredients to win a title with a good point man, and shutdown defender ( Shane Battier), a dominating big man (Yao Ming), and a long range shooter in Luther Head.

4. New Orleans Hornets

With the return of Chris Paul I am expecting them to make the playoffs. Tyson Chandler has improved and is great on the defensive side. David West is a force inside. Luis Scola will probably be rookie of the year. Peja Stojakovic will be a big part in how this team fares. Also, a good bench should improve their playoff chances.

5. Memphis Grizzlies

They weren't a good team at all last year. A healthy Pau Gasol will help. But they need more help then that.

Western Playoff Predictions

Suns over Hornets
Spurs over Warriors
Nuggets over Jazz
Rockets over Mavs

Suns over Rockets
Spurs over Nuggets

Spurs over Suns

NBA Finals

Spurs over Celtics

The Spurs are back to back for the first time ever because of 3 things; Defense, Coaching. and team play.

Spurs and Cavs advance

The San Antonio Spurs closed out the series Friday night with a 114-106 victory of the Phoenix Suns.

Manu Ginobili (inset) lead the way for the Spurs with 11 of 27 shooting from the field and finished with 33 points and 11 rebounds.

Once again, the Spurs looked impressive in a win without swing man Robert Horry. You should be hard-pressed not to have the Spurs as your NBA champion right now.

As for the Suns, Amare Stourdemire tried to make a statement as he lead all scorers with 38 points and 12 rebounds of his own.

This was an entertaining series to watch. Seems like these two teams have started a rivalry now after this controversial series.

Both teams seem to hate each other more than ever and I am sure we will be seeing more from both of them in the near future in the post-season. I am sure this will end up being the best series of all the playoffs once it is all said and done.

San Antonio will host the Utah Jazz on Sunday in the opening game of the Western Conference finals. It's the Spurs' third trip to the conference finals in the last five years and they won the title the other two times.

Now to the east, the Cleveland Cavaliers topped the New Jersey Nets 88 to 72 as Lebron James continued to impress with 23 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds. Donyell Marshall (I have his autograph) provided a spark off the bench with 18 points.

The Nets couldn't get things going and had a rough 4th quarter as they shot a lowly 13% from the field. Jason Kidd put up 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists and Richard Jefferson scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the loss.

Cleveland won the series 4-2 and heads to Detroit on Monday night for its third appearance in the conference finals and the first since 1992.

Conference Finals Predictions

Spurs over the Jazz in 5
Cavs over the Pistons in 7

Suns look done and Bison inching closer to deal with Florida

Game 5 of the series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns continues tonight. Game 4 was awfully ugly as 3 players have been suspended due to some altercations in the game. Robert Horry has been suspended 2 games for his hard flagrant foul on Steve Nash and elbow to Raja Bell. Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw are out for tonight's game after leaving the vicinity of the bench during the incident.

I may be a Spurs fan, but I think the suspensions of Stoudemire and Diaw are definitely unnecessary and wrong. I don't think they left the bench to get at Horry. I believe they did it because that was their star player who Horry completely took out. The rule was designed for guys coming off the bench meaning to throw punches; which wasn't the case for Diaw or Stoudemire.

Rules are rules, yes they did break one, but I think this is a dumb rule by the NBA and it needs to be changed. Look how much this will effect the series. I gotta believe the Spurs will win game 5 now. The Suns had some momentum after their game 4 win and now these suspensions will no doubt change the outcome of this series.

As for Horry, his suspension is well-deserved. His cheap shot to Nash was definitely un-called for and his elbow to Raja Bell finalizes the 2 game suspension. He just lost his head. But his suspension won't effect the Spurs as drastically as the Suns.

Do you think the suspensions were handled well and fairly?

NDSU oh so close to deal
A report from the Fargo Forum states that North Dakota State is close to signing a contract that would have its men’s basketball team play two-time defending national champion Florida next season.

“We are on the very, very ending stages of negotiations,” said Bison head coach Saul Phillips. “I’m confident it will get done. It’s a matter of sending and revamping faxes to each other.”

Phillips is working with a sports marketing group based in New Jersey that plans to host the Blue Ribbon Classic – a five-team round-robin tournament that will be held at multiple locations.
In a span of two weeks, the Bison would play two high-major teams on the road. Phillips confirmed that would include a game at Florida, which won the 2006 and 2007 NCAA tournaments. The Bison would also play a mid-major team on the road and would host a mid-major team.

In other notes, the Mid-Continent Conference has announced a name change which will now be the Summit League.