nkdlunch
07-23-2009, 12:25 PM
http://mvn.com/fantasynbazone/2009/07/after-receiving-a-ton-of.html
Los Angeles, San Antonio, Denver: Who Is The Best In The West?
Discuss
By Brandon Ribak
After receiving a ton of reads and responses to my "Beast of the East" article that I published yesterday, I have decided to move onto the wild wild west and discuss the top three teams in the Conference and the reasoning behind it.
After winning the championship last season, the Los Angeles Lakers headed into the offseason with all the confidence in the world to make a repeat during the upcoming 09'-10' season.
With the loss of Trevor Ariza, the signing of Ron Artest, and Lamar Odom's status literally up in the air, are the Los Angeles Lakers the guaranteed one seed in the West?
Let's take a look.
The Lakers starting lineup will look a little something like this next season,
Derek Fisher at the point, Kobe Bryant at the two, Ron Artest at SF, Pau Gasol at the four, and Andrew Bynum as the starting center.
With or without Lamar Odom, the Lakers starting five is arguably the most powerful lineup in the entire league, clearly isolating themselves at the cream of the crop from the rest of the Western Conference.
Assuming Odom does re-sign with the Lakers (there are reports that LA and Odom are back in contract talks), LA instantly separates their organization from every other team in the entire league with the strongest roster in the NBA.
As defending champions, they certainly deserve the gratitude and respect to rank as No. 1.
But with the addition of another superstar (Ron Artest) to add onto a team that already has the best overall player in the league, arguably the best "second best player on a team" in Pau Gasol, the extreme potential of 7-footer Andrew Bynum, and the versatility of Lamar Odom if he re-signs; can the Lakers already be projected to win the championship before the offseason even ends?
LA ranks as the best in the west.
With that said and done, who holds the two seed in the Western Conference, San Antonio or Denver?
Aside from letting Dahntay Jones walk and acquiring UNC point-guard Ty Lawson, the Nuggets roster is virtually the same as last years.
Billups, 33, will be entering his 13th season in the league and injuries will inevitably be a concern. (Good thing they have Ty Lawson).
Along with Billups, there will be tons of concern regarding to whether or not Denver's big man can remain healthy all season long.
Nene enjoyed a breakout year last season, playing in the most games of his career since the 03'-04' season. During that span, the big fella went down due to various injuries, proving that he will be a major question mark for the Nuggets during next season.
Kenyon Martin is another player that has had the injury bug, never playing in more than 77 games during his 9 year career.
With injuries aside, the Nuggets have a very solid lineup, but is that enough to compete with the Spurs and Lakers? - I think not.
The number two seed in the West goes to the San Antonio Spurs.
With a boatload of experience and the veteran swagger that this team is build off of, the Spurs have the best chance in the West to contend against the Lakers during the upcoming season.
With the acquistion of swingman Richard Jefferson, the signing of Antonio McDyess, and the drafting of rookie DeJuan Blair, the Spurs are finally back to their 06'-07' championship form.
Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker each possess that championship caliber, along with their Hall of Famer head coach Gregg Popovich, that is so crucial for winning games, especially come playoff time.
Once R-Jeff builds enough chemistry and finds his role on the team, he could quite possibly emerge as that missing piece to the Spurs puzzle.
A player of his type has the true ability to fit in well with any team that he joins, and with a coach like Popovich, that should not be a problem whatsoever.
Aside from the starters, McDyess, Blair, and Mason Jr. will bring extreme intensity off of the bench, something that was clearly missing from the Spurs during last season.
But the ultimate concern for the Spurs will be whether or not Ginobili can remain healthy not just throughout the season, but during playoff time as well.
When Manu is on the court he makes the Spurs team better as a whole. He has the talent to take over games, score the big basket, and bring his team to victory, the only question is, will he be physically able to do it?
Los Angeles, San Antonio, Denver: Who Is The Best In The West?
Discuss
By Brandon Ribak
After receiving a ton of reads and responses to my "Beast of the East" article that I published yesterday, I have decided to move onto the wild wild west and discuss the top three teams in the Conference and the reasoning behind it.
After winning the championship last season, the Los Angeles Lakers headed into the offseason with all the confidence in the world to make a repeat during the upcoming 09'-10' season.
With the loss of Trevor Ariza, the signing of Ron Artest, and Lamar Odom's status literally up in the air, are the Los Angeles Lakers the guaranteed one seed in the West?
Let's take a look.
The Lakers starting lineup will look a little something like this next season,
Derek Fisher at the point, Kobe Bryant at the two, Ron Artest at SF, Pau Gasol at the four, and Andrew Bynum as the starting center.
With or without Lamar Odom, the Lakers starting five is arguably the most powerful lineup in the entire league, clearly isolating themselves at the cream of the crop from the rest of the Western Conference.
Assuming Odom does re-sign with the Lakers (there are reports that LA and Odom are back in contract talks), LA instantly separates their organization from every other team in the entire league with the strongest roster in the NBA.
As defending champions, they certainly deserve the gratitude and respect to rank as No. 1.
But with the addition of another superstar (Ron Artest) to add onto a team that already has the best overall player in the league, arguably the best "second best player on a team" in Pau Gasol, the extreme potential of 7-footer Andrew Bynum, and the versatility of Lamar Odom if he re-signs; can the Lakers already be projected to win the championship before the offseason even ends?
LA ranks as the best in the west.
With that said and done, who holds the two seed in the Western Conference, San Antonio or Denver?
Aside from letting Dahntay Jones walk and acquiring UNC point-guard Ty Lawson, the Nuggets roster is virtually the same as last years.
Billups, 33, will be entering his 13th season in the league and injuries will inevitably be a concern. (Good thing they have Ty Lawson).
Along with Billups, there will be tons of concern regarding to whether or not Denver's big man can remain healthy all season long.
Nene enjoyed a breakout year last season, playing in the most games of his career since the 03'-04' season. During that span, the big fella went down due to various injuries, proving that he will be a major question mark for the Nuggets during next season.
Kenyon Martin is another player that has had the injury bug, never playing in more than 77 games during his 9 year career.
With injuries aside, the Nuggets have a very solid lineup, but is that enough to compete with the Spurs and Lakers? - I think not.
The number two seed in the West goes to the San Antonio Spurs.
With a boatload of experience and the veteran swagger that this team is build off of, the Spurs have the best chance in the West to contend against the Lakers during the upcoming season.
With the acquistion of swingman Richard Jefferson, the signing of Antonio McDyess, and the drafting of rookie DeJuan Blair, the Spurs are finally back to their 06'-07' championship form.
Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker each possess that championship caliber, along with their Hall of Famer head coach Gregg Popovich, that is so crucial for winning games, especially come playoff time.
Once R-Jeff builds enough chemistry and finds his role on the team, he could quite possibly emerge as that missing piece to the Spurs puzzle.
A player of his type has the true ability to fit in well with any team that he joins, and with a coach like Popovich, that should not be a problem whatsoever.
Aside from the starters, McDyess, Blair, and Mason Jr. will bring extreme intensity off of the bench, something that was clearly missing from the Spurs during last season.
But the ultimate concern for the Spurs will be whether or not Ginobili can remain healthy not just throughout the season, but during playoff time as well.
When Manu is on the court he makes the Spurs team better as a whole. He has the talent to take over games, score the big basket, and bring his team to victory, the only question is, will he be physically able to do it?