NBA PREVIEW – Part II

As promissed here is the second part of the NBA 2009-2010 season preview. This time we'll talk about western teams. So here is:

DALLAS MAVERICKS

I expect them to be a better team this year with the addition of Shawn Marion and they may even make some noise during the regular season, but have no chances of making the finals. The biggest story this season, will be how Mark Cuban will react to the idea of not been the most eccentric owner in the league because of Nets’ Russian billionaire. How fun if every week they start doing one crazy thing after another to outduel each other. That probably won’t happen, but sure would be fun.

DENVER NUGGETS

They start this season one more time as a team to make it far. They have all the offensives weapons, but defense needs to improve or they’ll be nothing more than a playoffs team. If they have any intention of getting the ring, other than defense, Carmelo needs to prove he can be a dominant player through the playoffs and come up big in the finals minutes of the big games. For us Brazilians the story will be a country man finally with a chance of making the All-Star Game. Yao is hurt, Shaq is gone, Howard is east... I’m just saying it’s possible. Making or not it’s up to his performance and Denver’s trough the season.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Even Don Nelson knows his team won’t make it to postseason. Just make sure you catch some Warriors games to check out the development of Anthony Randolph, and Stephen Jackson seeking to takeover the Technical Fouls Title away from Rasheed Wallace.

HOUSTOUN ROCKETS

They won’t have the two biggest stars on the team, but that isn’t news for them or anyone. Don’t rule them out yet. This team is well coached and do all the little things, especially on defense. I’m also pretty sure Shooting Guards and Small Forwards won’t be too happy to face Battier e Ariza together. Since most of the offense studs in the league play these two positions you get why they’ll fight for a playoffs spot.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

They couldn’t win a game against a WNBA team last season and the consolation prize was Griffin with the number one pic in the draft. As for this season though, if I’m not crazy, they have a legit chance to make the postseason. Why? Baron Davis is back in great shape, two of the best youngs stars in the league in Thortnon and Gordon, Camby and Kaman controlling the ring and the previous mentioned number one player in the draft. Clipperland may be back to the party in April. They are the first surprise of this season, the next one is coming soon.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

We have a saying in Brazil that says you shouldn’t make changes in winning teams. They traded a SF that could play some offense and is a tough defender (Ariza) for a SF that can play some offense and is a tough defender (Artest). Why messing with a winning formula by adding the craziest player to ever play in the NBA? Didn’t Ariza gave them exactly what they needed, solid D and clutch 3 point shooting? Name one team that made conference finals with Artest on the roster. I don’t know, but I think coach Jackson will be regretted by February.

PS: How f^*#*$/# amazing would be a 30 for 30 special showing the interaction between NBA’s biggest Ego and NBA’s biggest maniac?? How much you’d pay to hear what Kobe’s gonna say to Artest after he tries to make the winning 3 point shot against Celtics or Cavs on national TV. Can you imagined how Artest will react?? Please ESPN, please?? Make this happen!!!

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Oh, the Grizzlies?? This is a sad on for me. I used to like them. Mayo and Marc Gasol had good rookie seasons, Rudy Gay is a underrated player that would grow a lot in a big team, but they are not the team for Allen Iverson. Like every other Iverson fan, I had a tough time last season. AI was in the middle of a really bad situation for him and yet he managed to find a worse place. Iverson it’s a competitor and this team ain’t going nowhere, he needs the ball in his hands as the biggest young star in the team in Mayo, he can’t play over 40 minutes anymore and this team asks him just that. It’s all wrong and I just wait him to give us the great individual performances from the past. After all is said and done this will probably be the end of his career and this wasn’t the way things should go for a player this special.

MINNESOTTA TIMBERWOLVES

We want Rubio!!!!

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

This is the season Chris Paul saves Okafor career. He can even make All-Star on Paul’s back. The team is good, but seems a step behind NBA elite. They should play for a second round in the playoffs and that´s it.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDERS

This is the season the world will be introduced to Kevin Durant. I’m talking about getting to know how good this guy is. He’s been incredible so far, only few people noticed because of his team. This season though, he’s getting All-Star love, All-NBA first team considerations and people will finally discover that´s a team playing for OKC. Why?? He’s been growing before our eyes (check his numbers), he already was one of the best in the league last season (check again), he’s not the only young star growing on that roster, and remember, summer of 2010 made half of the league mediocre and they don’t even care about that. And that’s why I’m putting the Thunders as the biggest surprise this year and predicting at least 38 wins for them.

PHOENIX SUNS

The team won’t make far and Stoutdemire is so gone. If Nash lives after this season too, than they’ll start rebuilding. Note to Suns manager: Look for some D.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Good young team but their biggest offseason acquisition (Andre Miller) was so wrong for them. They could use a big scorer at Small Forward. Oden's kness will play a big role in their future too. And that’s not even a big problem as rumors says coach and team didn’t ended well last year. If they don’t start winning right from the beginning than McMillan may be gone through the season.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

This team’s too talented, too experienced, have a great coach, the best player of the last 10 years and just got stronger and younger adding Jefferson. They even got lucky by having rookie DeJuan Blair falling in the draft right into their roster. What’s missing? Right now it seems easier for me to hook up with Hayden Panittieri than Duncan, Manu e Parker playing a whole month together without one of them getting hurt. But if they do, watch out rest of the league.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

One of the most intriguing teams in the league. Why?? Cause the Malloofs brothers must have a killing 10 years plan to take over the league. Cause that’s the only explanation I found for a team to suck this much, for so long, and don’t make a effort to get somewhere. Maybe they know something about a 9 years old phenomenon even better than Lebron and are building and saving for him. I don’t know, but it’s the only explanation I found for them.

UTAH JAZZ

Every year I pic the Jazz to make the finals but I won’t be fooled anymore. I love Williams game and if he doesn’t make to All-Star Game this season than the US government should begin investigating this. The guy is clear among the 3 best PG in the NBA and never made the game. That’s just as crazy as it is unfair. But one thing I’ve learned this past years is Carlos Boozer will never lead a team toward the ring. Not while he’s more comment about renovating his contrac, trying free-agency, and things like that, than about his game. Sometimes it’s more about wanning it the most , than been the most talented.

Playoffs teams in some order:

Mavericks, Nuggets, Clippers, Lakers, Hornets, Blazers, Spurs, and Jazz.

Conference Finals: Lakers X Spurs (It will be a heath matter, so probably LA in six games)