Utah Jazz
Very simple... more MVP-caliber from Deron Williams. They've won some big games this season, Jerry Sloan may finally get his elusive Coach of the Year Award, and the Jazz may just break into the upper echelon of title contenders in the West, along with the Lakers, Spurs and Mavs.
Oklahoma City
To find their defensive prowess they've lost since last year. Durant is still scoring and Russell Westbrook has made the jump into the 'Top PG In the League' conversations but they won't seriously contend in the West without playing some defense. They currently sit 16th in defensive efficiency giving up an average of 103.8 points per 100 possessions (accounts for pace of play) - that puts them just behind the Nets. Compare that to their main Western Conference foes: Dallas (6th) at 100.0; San Antonio (8th) at 100.7; LA Lakers (10th) at 102.0.
Denver Nuggets
Some sort of closure to the Melodrama currently enveloping their day to day activities. At this point it's fairly clear they are going to trade him. It may be for picks and Derrick Favors, or it may be for Gallinari and Fields, but either way Nuggets fans have to be rooting for a resolution to come soon.
Portland Trail Blazers
What can you say about injuries for this team over the years? At this point Blazers fans need to be wishing for an entire new training staff, possibly that of the Phoenix Suns, who have resurrected the careers of Shaq and Grant Hill among others.
Minnesota Timberwolves
How about the coaches vote Kevin Love into the All-Star Game? He's got A LOT of tough competition in the West behind Dirk, Durant, Duncan, Melo, Gasol and Blake Griffin but get a look at these stats. He's shooting 45.5%, averaging a 20.8 ppg and 15.5 rpg, and he's currently 7th in John Hollinger's PER ranking. He's also 2nd in overall Rebound Rate (% of missed shots that a player rebounds), behing only Reggie Evans. Evans has played half as many games as Love and plays 8 fewer minutes per game when he does play.
LA Lakers
For Laker fans it's all about winning championships and the best way for them to win one this year is to have a healthy Andrew Bynum in the lineup reducing the work load and minutes for Pau Gasol. Just having Bynum active for games provides a huge boost for Gasol and obviously any Finals match up with the Celtics will hinge on interior strength.
Phoenix Suns
Quick history lesson. The 2004-2005 Suns consisted of the following in order of minutes played that season:
Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Quentin Richardson, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa. They won 62 games and finished first in the West, led the league in scoring and ushered in the '7 Seconds or Less' era. They went on to lose in the Conference Finals to the Spurs. Steve Nash is currently the only player from that group still on the team - that's how many roster iterations they'e made the last six years. I know Amare just left this past summer, but year and year they seem poised to really make a jump before shaking things up - think Shaq, the latest Vince Carter/Hedo deal with the Magic. Taken individually the moves seem to have made sense at the time, but overall Suns fans need to hope for some consistency and a true vision for this team moving forward, especially as Nash moves on or retires in the coming years.
Golden State Warriors
Another team that kind of got their gifts early this year with new ownership. They have a slew of injuries that aren't allowing them to play up their full potential this season, but things are looking bright for the Warriors moving forward. Plus, one of their fans got this as another early present.
LA Clippers
Year after year... same old story for Clips fans... a new owner.
Sacramento
How about the team staying in town? One of, if not, the worst team in the league right now is still looking for a new permanent home. Rumors have surfaced for months about them potentially leaving Sacramento if they can't get a new arena deal done. Hard to believe this team was competing toe-to-toe with the Lakers at the beginning of the decade.
San Antonio
No team has a more pleasant and unexpected start to the season. With the league's best record and a mere three losses going in to Christmas, the Spurs have taken back their spot among the league's elite. But these aren't your same old Spurs, winning with Tim Duncan and defense. They're still led by Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, but they've reinvigorated their bench with young role players and are pushing the ball. They're currently 12th in pace but are leading the league in offensive efficiency at 110.7 points per 100 possessions. Spurs fans should hope for more of the same in the New Year.
Dallas Mavericks
A lot of people have been surprised by the Mavs this season but not me. I predicted they'd vault to the near top of the conference and lose in the Conference Finals to the Lakers. Although, their place in the standings isn't surprising to me, they have still impressed with their style of play and bench contributions. It just seems like they need one more championship caliber piece at the two-guard spot. Maybe that piece if Richard Hamilton??
New Orleans Hornets
The darlings of the first two weeks of the season have fallen from grace lately. But just like the Kings, what Hornets want the most is to know the team will remain in town. Although they don't need a new arena in NOLA, they do need new ownership that is committed to keeping the team in town. Hopefully, David Stern can find someone willing to do just that.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been the exact opposite of the Hornets, starting miserable slow at 3-11 before winning 10 of their last 14 games. They're steadily climbing up the standings in the West and should compete for the 7th or 8th seed in the West. Amid the tragic news about Yao's foot injury, this could still be a successful season in Houston. That's what they're hoping for at least.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies need some consistency. Rudy Gay is actually playing up to his $80 million contract, and they are trying to put pieces around him by signing Mike Conley to an extension. They just need to stop playing to the level of their competition. Among their 12 wins this season they count the Heat, Mavericks and Lakers, but among their 17 losses they have the Warriors, Wizards, Cavaliers and Nets.
Golden State Warriors
Another team that kind of got their gifts early this year with new ownership. They have a slew of injuries that aren't allowing them to play up their full potential this season, but things are looking bright for the Warriors moving forward. Plus, one of their fans got this as another early present.
LA Clippers
Year after year... same old story for Clips fans... a new owner.
Sacramento
How about the team staying in town? One of, if not, the worst team in the league right now is still looking for a new permanent home. Rumors have surfaced for months about them potentially leaving Sacramento if they can't get a new arena deal done. Hard to believe this team was competing toe-to-toe with the Lakers at the beginning of the decade.
San Antonio
No team has a more pleasant and unexpected start to the season. With the league's best record and a mere three losses going in to Christmas, the Spurs have taken back their spot among the league's elite. But these aren't your same old Spurs, winning with Tim Duncan and defense. They're still led by Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, but they've reinvigorated their bench with young role players and are pushing the ball. They're currently 12th in pace but are leading the league in offensive efficiency at 110.7 points per 100 possessions. Spurs fans should hope for more of the same in the New Year.
Dallas Mavericks
A lot of people have been surprised by the Mavs this season but not me. I predicted they'd vault to the near top of the conference and lose in the Conference Finals to the Lakers. Although, their place in the standings isn't surprising to me, they have still impressed with their style of play and bench contributions. It just seems like they need one more championship caliber piece at the two-guard spot. Maybe that piece if Richard Hamilton??
New Orleans Hornets
The darlings of the first two weeks of the season have fallen from grace lately. But just like the Kings, what Hornets want the most is to know the team will remain in town. Although they don't need a new arena in NOLA, they do need new ownership that is committed to keeping the team in town. Hopefully, David Stern can find someone willing to do just that.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been the exact opposite of the Hornets, starting miserable slow at 3-11 before winning 10 of their last 14 games. They're steadily climbing up the standings in the West and should compete for the 7th or 8th seed in the West. Amid the tragic news about Yao's foot injury, this could still be a successful season in Houston. That's what they're hoping for at least.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies need some consistency. Rudy Gay is actually playing up to his $80 million contract, and they are trying to put pieces around him by signing Mike Conley to an extension. They just need to stop playing to the level of their competition. Among their 12 wins this season they count the Heat, Mavericks and Lakers, but among their 17 losses they have the Warriors, Wizards, Cavaliers and Nets.
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