Pacific Division Preview

November 7, 2007
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1. Phoenix Suns

Phoenix have had 17 seasons of 50 wins or more in their 38 years of existence, yet have never won an NBA championship. This could be the year they breakthrough and take it to the next level.

Phoenix came out of the offseason on the plus side with the addition of Jalen Rose and Grant Hill and two athletic rookies, D.J. Strawberry and Alando Tucker. The Suns are arguably the most efficient offensive machine in the league and Coach Mike D'Antoni also has players with a lot of character. That's a big plus come playoff time.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Look for the Los Angeles Lakers to finish with just about the same record as in 2006-2007. Kobe Bryant is the best player in the league and Derek Fisher was a nice pickup, but as a backup, not the starting point guard.

Signing Fisher and bringing back free agents Luke Walton and Chris Mihm was the extent of the activity from beleaguered General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Coach Phil Jackson is going to have to hope for improvement from Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar if his Lakers are going to advance to the playoffs for the third straight season.

3. Golden State Warriors

Golden State fans have to be wondering whether last season's magical run was a fluke or a sign of things to come.

Coach Don Nelson is keeping his fingers crossed that Baron Davis stays healthy, Stephen Jackson stays sane and Matt Barnes shoots 36.6 percent once again from three-point land.

The Warriors are going to miss Jason Richardson, but they did add a pair of potential studs in Marco Belinelli and Brandan Wright.

4. Sacramento Kings

Rookie coach Reggie Theus is going to have his hands full turning things around in Sacramento. The Kings' record in 2006-07 declined for the fifth season in a row since their trip to the conference finals in 2002 and was their worst since 1997-98.

The Kings play with just one basketball, like the rest of the teams in the NBA, and that's not enough for Ron Artest and Mike Bibby, who have yet to learn to share.

Theus inherits a team with bad contracts and bad personalities. Those cowbell-clanging fans at Arco Arena have just one thing to look forward to: a lottery pick in the 2008 collegiate draft.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

Can the Los Angeles Clippers survive without All-Star Elton Brand? The answer to that question is a resounding NO. It's going to be a long season for Los Angeles' other team.

Brand ruptured his left Achilles' tendon during a routine workout in early August. That relegates the Clippers back to the lottery and the Pacific Division basement.

Coach Mike Dunleavy must now rely on Corey Maggette as his go-to guy, who will be looking to post some big numbers to take with him on the free-agent market. However, Maggette and Dunleavy have had their differences in the past.