NBA Western Conference

For the first time in 14 years, the Minnesota Timberwolves are headed to the playoffs. 

Facing a win-or-go home showdown against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, the Timberwolves stepped up and snapped the NBA's longest active postseason drought with a 112-106 overtime win at Target Center. 

The Timberwolves win the race for the last spot in the playoffs! https://t.co/IoqXuGPmAb

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 12, 2018

The Timberwolves are now locked into the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets following the New Orleans Pelicans' win over the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder's win over the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Karl-Anthony Towns put forth a tone-setting performance on the biggest stage of his career, and he finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds in a toe-to-toe tilt with Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who was downright dominant in his own right. 

A one-man wrecking crew Wednesday evening, Jokic piled up a game-high 35 points and 10 boards. He also erupted for 17 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting in the third quarter to help the Nuggets hang around despite repeatedly misfiring on open three-point attempts. 

Jamal Murray added 20 points, including the game-tying shot with 1:59 remaining in regulation. 

However, the Nuggets moved away from what was working, ran three straight plays for Jokic with a chance to take the lead and came up empty on each attempt. 

https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/984259492568358913

The last one, which came on an inbounds pass with 4.4 seconds remaining, saw Jokic float to the corner before getting stripped by Taj Gibson to send things to overtime: 

When the extra session rolled around, it was all Jimmy Butler. 

In his third game back from a knee injury, Butler fought his way through some obvious fatigue and dropped a team-high 31 points, seven of which came in overtime. 

"We brought this organization, this city, back where it needs to be," Butler told Fox Sports North after the win. 

Now freed from the burden of a postseason drought that had come to define them, the Timberwolves can set their sights on playing the role of spoiler against the West's No. 1 seed. 

Get the popcorn ready, NBA fans. Lonzo Ball is going to play.

The rookie sensation made the bold claim that he was ready to go for the Los Angeles Lakers' season opener against the L.A. Clippers Thursday night after practicing in full Monday.

The team was taking it slow with his return from an ankle injury by holding him out of its last four preseason games, but there was no way he was going to miss his first real regular-season game.

"No, I'm playing," Ball said, per ESPN's Law Murray. "For sure."

So what makes the season opener so special? 

"It's the opener," Ball said. "That's all there is to it. Gotta get a win."

While the Lakers are ready to let Ball back on the court, coach Luke Walton noted that the No. 2 overall pick showed a little rust in his return to scrimmaging.

"Lonzo showed why he's going to be really good," Walton said. "But he also showed that he's been out for a couple of weeks with some of the turnovers that he had."

For his part, Ball agreed with his coach's assessment.

"Definitely a little rusty," Ball said. "I had a lot of turnovers today. But like I said, as long as I'm ready for Thursday, that's all that matters. ... My wind is not that bad to be honest. ... A couple of passes I usually make were short today. But I'll be ready for Thursday."

Now that everyone knows Ball is suiting up, the other lingering question is this: What sneakers will he wear to start his career?

The answer to that question won't be answered until Thursday night, but Walton just wants whatever shoes Ball chooses to be supportive.

"As long as the shoes are strong enough to support, he's going to wear what he wants," Walton said. "They're shoes, he should be fine. Guys used to play in Chuck Taylors and played entire NBA careers. Unless there's like an actual, something wrong with the way they're made—the stitching where it just rips out, which I haven't seen happen—I think he should be able to wear what he wants."

          

Lakers Didn't Reach Contract Extension With Julius Randle

The Lakers could not come to an agreement on a contract extension with Julius Randle before Monday's deadline, sources told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Both sides had "cordial conversations," but no deal was made due to impending cap issues, per Shelburne.

As expected no extension expected w/ Lakers & Julius Randle today. Team had cordial conversations but everyone understands cap space issue

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 16, 2017

Randle, who broke his right leg in his first NBA game as a rookie, will become a free agent next summer.

Although the Lakers are clearly interested in keeping the 22-year-old power forward, they have a logjam of great young talent and are focused on what could be a huge year in free agency.

Obviously, they have eyes for Paul George and there are rumors that LeBron James might enter the fray, so they're keeping their options and salary cap open for right now.

Since Randle has been making strides as a player, averaging 12.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game over the past two seasons, there's a good chance they match any offer sheet he receives in July.

           

Andrew Bogut and Randle Both Inactive For Opening Night

The Battle for Los Angeles will be exciting, but the Lakers will be short a few soldiers.

Ball is back in the lineup, but Andrew Bogut and Randle are both inactive for opening night against the Clippers at Staples Center, according to Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet:

Julius Randle, Andrew Bogut inactive for opening night, as per NBA email sent to all teams. Neither practiced today for Lakers.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 16, 2017

Randle went out in the team's final preseason game against the Clippers after holding the right lower side of his back. He is listed day-to-day and was restricted to getting shots up and half-court work at practice with an intercostal strain between his ribs.

With Randle out, that takes the guesswork out of filling that last starting spot. Larry Nance Jr., who has played well alongside Brook Lopez, will get the nod.

Bogut, who had visa issues keep fans from seeing him take the court during preseason, is recovering from a groin strain. 

Now that James Harden and Paul George both play in the Western Conference, their paths will soon cross.

George joins Carmelo Anthony and Harden's old teammate, Russell Westbrook as the Oklahoma City Thunder look to eclipse Harden's Houston Rockets in the standings.

Before the NBA stars compete on the court, Bleacher Report pitted their respective sneakers against each other. Does the Nike PG1 or Adidas Harden Vol. 1 get the edge? 

For the most part, the 2000's belonged to the teams in the NBA's Western Conference. The NBA Finals were never an issue, it was the winning team from the Western Conference Championship compared to the Eastern Conference Championship that usually became the next champion.

Most fans regarded the Western Conference finals as the true NBA Finals. They thought little about the teams from the East, and for the most part their feelings were correct because Eastern Conference teams were not on the same level as teams in the Western Conference.

I will go out on a limb and bet that most people forget that teams such as the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets all reached the NBA Finals within the last ten years.

The Boston Celtics began the turnaround in the East, and although the Los Angeles Lakers are the two-time defending champions, I truly feel as if there are actually stronger teams in the Eastern Conference.

I know that it may sound foolish, but overall, I would fear more teams in the East than I would in the West.

We have seen a balance of power in the NBA, and it can all be attributed to the Celtics three-and-a-half years ago. In their own way, they began the trend of teams acquiring a version of a "Big Three" to compete for multiple championships.

Celtics' general manager Danny Ainge said that he had a plan when he started running the team. For awhile, this plan may have seemed like trying to lose as many games as possible because he traded away some of his better players and seemingly received nothing in return.

But it all came together over the summer of 2007. After failing to win the NBA Draft Lottery, which could have netted the team either Kevin Durant or Greg Oden, Boston went for broke.

First, they traded their fifth pick (which, coincidentally, was Jeff Green—who they reacquired yesterday) and a package to the then Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) for Ray Allen. The Celtics also dealt many of their younger superstars, including Al Jefferson, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett—a move that Celtics fans are still thanking Kevin McHale for.

The rest, as they say, is history. Boston won the NBA championship the following season and returned to the NBA Finals last season, only to lose to the Lakers in seven games.

Yes, the Lakers are in the West and I am fully aware of that fact. They do have quite an impressive trio of their own in Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. And while I would not worry too much about the regular season and their recent struggles, this team does not look like they have the confidence and swagger that has brought the last two titles to Los Angeles.

While you could still argue that the Celtics and Lakers are destined to meet once again in the NBA Finals, I strongly believe that the biggest threats to dethrone these teams reside in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

I understand that the San Antonio Spurs have the best record in the league. They are a very strong team who has championship experience, but I do not see this team being a title contender.  Maybe it is their age or maybe it is that they lost to some of the top teams in the East, but as the playoffs progress, I see this team collapsing when they have to play games without much rest.

The Dallas Mavericks are also a strong team. They will probably finish as the No. 2 seed in the west, but this is another team that is always strong in the regular season, yet for one reason or another they fail in the postseason.

The Thunder actually got stronger yesterday by finally adding the size inside that they have been in dire need of. Durant is one of the best players in the game and Russell Westbrook is also a threat. Though this team has the talent, they may lack the needed experience to make it deep into the payoffs.

And sure, the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trailblazers and Memphis Grizzlies are all capable of giving the top teams a run for the money, but as the seasons change, these teams will get weaker with the influx of power heading to the Eastern Conference.

The Miami Heat put together perhaps the best offseason of any franchise in history. By having Dwyane Wade convince LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join him in South Beach, which is becoming the new pattern in the NBA, for better or worse, it immediately gave the team the opportunity to compete for multiple titles for many years to come.

The Bulls are building their team around one of the best players in the game in Derrick Rose. Joakim Noah is developing into a legitimate big man, and the addition of Carlos Boozer was huge this past summer. Noah has been hurt and Boozer is certainly injury prone, so it would not surprise me at all if the Bulls put on a full court press for a marquee free agent over the next couple of seasons.

The New York Knicks are in the middle of putting together their own power trio. They signed Amar'e Stoudemire this past offseason with the hopes that they would be able to bring in a pair of All-Stars to surround him with, and they completed the next step this past week by trading for Carmelo Anthony.

That means Chris Paul may be next, unless Deron Williams does not get enough talent brought in to give him a chance to compete with the New Jersey Nets.

The Orlando Magic are still a very tough team and know how to win the playoffs. They know that their window is closing quickly, especially if Dwight Howard opts to sign elsewhere in a couple of seasons. But for now, with Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas to go along with Howard and Jameer Nelson, the Magic have the necessary depth to advance in the postseason.

As of right now, there are 10 teams in the Western Conference with a winning record, in comparison to just six in the Eastern Conference. I know that to some that may debunk my theory, but I still feel as if the tougher teams are in the East.

So while the West may still be deeper, teams such as the Bulls, Knicks, Magic and even Atlanta Hawks could now give any of the teams out west a run for their money. The Bulls hold victories over the Thunder, Mavericks and Lakers. The Magic and Knicks also handed the Spurs a pair of losses. The East is officially back.  

That has not been said for quite some time now, basically since the days of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

The league has come a long way since then. Some will still argue that the West is the best. But the East is a beast once again.

If you aren't convinced quite yet, just give it some time. Wait until after the 2011 and 2012 NBA seasons, when players such as Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph, David West, Steve Nash, Kevin Love, Caron Butler, Andrew Bynum and Andrei Kirilenko can become unrestricted free agents. I can just imagine some of the teams in the east who are already preparing to assemble their new dynamic trio.

After all of the offseason hoopla in the National Basketball Association, the first quarter of the season is over. What better way to summarize the action than with some premature All-Star selections?

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PG Derrick Rose, CHI

Blossoming in his third year out of Memphis, D-Rose has spurred Chicago into East contention without the help of the injured Carlos Boozer—who was supposed to make the Bulls title contenders. Rose leads all point guards in PPG (24.9), towering more than five points over the next closest challenger.

SG Dwyane Wade, MIA

While Wade’s production has come down significantly from years past—due to the additions of LeBron James and Chris Bosh to the Heat—he is still the leader amongst shooting guards in points (21.7) and hauls in nearly seven rebounds a game. Rather impressive for a guy who has to give up the rock to King James and Bosh for the better part of the game.

SF LeBron James, MIA

After an early season “hangover”, as Ohioans like to call it, James seems to have found a rhythm with his squad, averaging a solid 25 PPG over the last five contests, including a 38 spot against his former team on prime time television. Not to mention he’s still the most athletically gifted player in the league.

PF Amare Stoudemire, NYK

My choice for MVP of the first fourth of the NBA season, Stoudemire has walked the walk for the once-lowly Knicks. After being signed to a mega-contract this offseason, Stoudemire promised change in the Big Apple. His 25.3 PPG and 9.0 RPG have propelled the team to a respectable 13-9 record.

C Dwight Howard, ORL

Just as Kobe Bryant is assured his annual starting spot on the All-Star team, Howard is still the smart choice at center in the East. Similar to Bryant, Howard has a younger player at the same position breathing down his neck for conference dominance, but just like Monta Ellis with Bryant, Joakim Noah just is not at Howard’s level of intimidation and supremacy.

SECOND TEAM                                                            

PG Rajon Rondo, Boston                                                   

SG Stephen Jackson, Charlotte                                             

SF Danny Granger, Indiana                                               

PF Kevin Garnett, Boston                                                

C Joakim Noah, Chicago  

THIRD TEAM

PG Raymond Felton, New York

SG Ray Allen, Boston

SF Luol Deng, Chicago

PF Josh Smith, Atlanta

C Al Horford, Atlanta            

WESTERN CONFERENCE                                       

PG Russell Westbrook, OKC

This was an extremely tough choice due to the amazing year that Deron Williams is also having, but Westbrook is truly an unceasing playmaker. He leads point guards in the West in points (23.7) and rebounds (5.5), and dishes out 8.6 assists per game. Oklahoma City is a solid 14-8 with Westbrook running the backcourt.

SG Kobe Bryant, LAL

There are some who still believe Kobe is the best player in the game. Well, who else would you want in the fourth quarter? Black Mamba is still posting 26.5 PPG, second best in the West and not too shabby for a 32-year old.

SF Kevin Durant, OKC

Durant is perhaps the most talented player in the West. An NBA-leading 27.4 PPG is impressive considering teammate Russell Westbrook has stolen much of the offensive glory this year. Durant is a gamer, too; after a slight knee problem that held him out for two games, he went off against Golden State (28 points) and Chicago (29), as if he had never left.

PF Kevin Love, MIN

Definitely the biggest surprise of the 2010 season. Love and his buddy Michael Beasley are the best forward combination in the league. Who could have seen that statement coming back in August? Love’s consistency is incredibly superb, and he nabbed a 30 point, 30 rebound game against the Knicks in November—the first time that’s happened in the NBA in 28 years.

C Al Jefferson, UTH

Ironically, Jefferson was transplanted from that now-vaunted Minnesota front court this offseason to the Utah Jazz. Always hailed as an extremely talented prospect, Jefferson had a couple All-Star caliber seasons while wearing a Timberwolves uniform, and could very well make his first appearance in the West’s red threads this February. Averaging 16.6 PPG to go along with 8.8 RPG.

SECOND TEAM                                                           

PG Deron Williams, Utah                                              

SG Monta Ellis, Golden State                                                            

SF Carmelo Anthony, Denver                                                

PF Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas                                                

C Tim Duncan, San Antonio    

THIRD TEAM

PG Chris Paul, New Orleans

SG Manu Ginobili, San Antonio

SF Rudy Gay, Memphis

PF Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

C Emeka Okeafor, New Orleans

The New Orleans Hornets are off to a 3-0 start in the 2010/2011 season and looking nothing like the team from last year or even the one that just finished the preseason with a 1-7 record.

Something about them shows that this is a much different team then last year and also that there seems to be a bit more stability then the team new coach Monty Williams was trying to put together a couple weeks ago. They are playing better, transitioning smoother, and just an all around improved team.

And it's all because of the line-up.

Williams has finally found a rotation that truly works for the Hornets, but it helps that there were finally some personnel changes during the offseason. The starting line-up so far has consisted of Chris Paul (obviously), David West, Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza and Marco Belinelli.

If you've been watching the Hornets for the past few seasons then one noticeably name absent from a starting spot is that of Peja Stojakovic, and rightfully so.

This is in no means meant to downplay the heart or talent or Peja, but his play has been very inconsistent and his health has been deteriorating every single season. Coming off the bench and giving 15-18 minutes a game is the perfect role for him.

It allows him to come in and maybe drain a few clutch three pointers or hit some foul shots late in the game while not having to play defense for long periods of time. Let's face it, we all know that defense was never his strong suit.

In steps Trevor Ariza who plays the small forward spot a bit better then Stojakovic and is better on the defensive side of the ball. Ariza's addition to West and Okafor in the front court gives New Orleans a very formidable starting three that can hold their own with about anyone in the NBA.

The bench isn't exactly too deep here, but Williams has learned how to use the talents and minutes of D.J. Mbenga, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Jason Smith very well. Alone, none of them are anything to write home about. But used sparingly and with some combination of starters, and they provide some productive time on the floor.

Not to mention that it never hurts having Chris Paul getting the ball to you.

Speaking of Paul, he now has a great array of talent around him in the backcourt that will make things easier on him. Having missed much of last season due to injury, the talents of then rookies Marcus Thornton and most notably Darren Collison came to light. They filled in very nicely and kept the Hornets season afloat, but Paul's presence was sorely missed.

His return though made point guard Collison expendable and away he went in an offseason trade with the Indiana Pacers. Many fans wondered if this was just asking for trouble in case Paul had to miss (knock on wood) substantial time yet again. Had New Orleans place themselves in a huge hole?

Actually, no. They improved their position with the Collison trade as in came Belinelli, Willie Green, and Jerryd Bayless. All three of these guys can not only pass and defend well, but they've got a good outside shot which also helps fill in the void of three-point shooting when Stojakovic isn't on the floor.

We can't forget about Thornton either, who is improving with every single game. He's already averaging 11.7 points per game coming off the bench and playing just at 20 minutes. This is all on 52 percent shooting mind you.

Four Hornets are averaging double-digits in points and all but two on the entire roster are playing at least ten minutes a game, which goes to show you that coach Williams is using his entire bench and keeping defenses guessing.

He's doing that by utilizing the talents of each player when they would be most effective even if it means his starting center (Okafor) is only getting 25 minutes per game. Even Paul is only averaging only 35 minutes a game, and we all know that we've seen him play well into the forties on countless occasions.

That's what depth and proper player alignment will allow you to do and Williams is doing it well in his first ever stint as head coach in the NBA.

In order for this team to make the playoffs and compete in the very tough Western Conference, 45 wins if not at least 50 is going to be absolutely necessary. The Hornets 3-0 record is a great way to make a statement and show that they are legitimate and mean business.

Their victories weren't over basement teams either. Well, that is if you consider the Spurs, Nuggets and Bucks to all be scrubs, but I highly doubt you do. If the Hornets keep this pace up, then not only would coach Monty Williams be looking at a "Coach of the Year" title, but maybe even an NBA one as well.

Read more from Danny Cox at Examiner.com.

The Western Conference has been the most dominant conference in the NBA for years, but after an offseason filled with transactions, that power has now shifted to the East.

Will the West, and by West, I mean the Los Angeles Lakers, be able to make a three-peat this season?

Let’s cut to the chase to find out.

 

NBA Primetime’s Western Conference Preseason Rankings

 

1. Los Angeles Lakers- Last season record (57-25)

The back-to-back defending champs just so happened to improve on its only weakness this offseason, the bench. Steve Blake and Matt Barnes should provide the Lakers with plenty of spark off of the bench, keeping LA on top of the West until  proved otherwise.

 

2. Oklahoma City Thunder- Last season record (50-32)

Kevin Durant has officially entered super-stardom in the NBA, but the rest of Oklahoma City’s roster must step up if they want any chance at rising to the one seed in the West. Regardless, the Thunder have a young core with massive upside (which is why they rank where they currently do).

 

3. Dallas Mavericks- Last season record (55-27)

Dallas is stacked with seven-footers, high-profiled players, and a franchise player who signed a contract extension this offseason. The Mavericks always enter every season as one of the elite teams in the West, but a strong playoff run is never definite.

 

4. San Antonio Spurs- Last season record (50-32)

The championship core is still intact, although a serious decline is approaching for Tim Duncan. The Spurs have assembled a solid group of youngsters (Hill, Blair, Splitter) over the years and it seems like their opportunity to step up is looming.

 

5. Denver Nuggets- Last season record (53-29)

With Carmelo Anthony still a part of the Nuggets roster (at least until the trade deadline), Denver will remain as a top competitor in the West. George Karl is back, Al Harrington will fill in for Kenyon Martin, and if everything goes well, the Nuggets should clinch another 50-win season.

 

6. Portland Trail Blazers- Last season record (50-32)

Both Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are tip-toeing into their prime and if 22-year-old Greg Oden can manage to stay healthy for an entire season (unlikely), the Blazers have the weapons (Wesley Matthews, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller) to make a run for the title.

 

7. Utah Jazz- Last season record (53-29)

Al Jefferson was a great addition to the team, especially after Carlos Boozer decided to sign with the Bulls. The Jazz have talent, but it seems like its never enough to pass the second-round hump with Los Angeles in the way.

 

8. Phoenix Suns- Last season record (54-28)

Phoenix will in no way, shape, or form, repeat last season's performance; but as long as Steve Nash is on the court dishing out the rock the Suns should be in contention for a playoff spot.

 

9. Houston Rockets- Last season record (42-40)

Yao will return to the court this season, but plenty of questions surround the 7-foot-6 center. With Aaron Brooks leading the way for Houston, and Kevin Martin easing into his role, the Rockets will fight for a playoff seed, just like Phoenix.

 

10. New Orleans Hornets- Last season record (37-45)

Trevor Ariza is now apart of the team, Marcus Thornton should continue to improve, and Emeka Okafor could be in for a breakout season. Is a playoff seed a possibility for Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets?

 

11. Memphis Grizzlies- Last season record (40-42)

Memphis lacks depth since the majority of the team is built up of inexperienced young guns (only five players on the team are above the age of 28). Their starting five is solid with potential to get better, but a playoff appearance is against the odds.

 

12. Los Angeles Clippers- Last season record (29-53)

Good news is Blake Griffin will be on the court this season. Bad news is head-coach Vinny Del Negro criticized Baron Davis for reporting to training camp out of shape (and already has a few nagging injuries). The Clippers will need B-Diddy at his all-time best if they want to see even a small chance at reaching the postseason.

 

13. Golden State Warriors- Last season record (26-56)

New ownership + new head coach = better record this season? David Lee will quickly make his presence as one of the best big men in the Western Conference and the Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis duo should uplift Golden State to 30+ wins this season.

 

14. Sacramento Kings- Last season record (25-57)

Sacramento is another very young squad that has a chance to improve upon last seasons performance. They drafted a few solid big men and acquired seven-footer Samuel Dalembert this offseason. In addition, franchise player Tyreke Evans should be able to elevate his overall game to the next level.

 

15. Minnesota Timberwolves- Last season record (15-67)

Michael Beasley stated the the Timberwolves are the team to beat this season. After losing Al Jefferson (the team's best player) and failing to win more than 30 games in a season since the 06-07 year, it’s very tough for many to believe Beasley. Maybe next year, but probably not.

 

For more of Brandon’s content be sure to check out NBAPrimetime.com and follow him on twitter @_nbaprimetime

The Phoenix Suns gave the Los Angeles Lakers all they could handle before eventually falling in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals, as the Lakers went on to claim their third conference crown in as many years.

The Lakers appear to be in position to make it four in a row unless some team in the West can prove it has the right balance of size, defense, scoring, and chemistry to unseat Los Angeles.

The task will be formidable because the two-time defending champion Lakers actually improved in the offseason by addressing the need for help at the point guard position and depth in the backcourt.

It's a difficult proposition, but not an impossible one, and if someone does find a way to expose the Lakers' weaknesses, it will likely come from a group that includes Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Portland.

The Suns lost star forward Amar'e Stoudemire to the New York Knicks in free agency, and although Hedo Turkoglu and Hakim Warrick should help alleviate some of the pain from Stoudemire's loss, it's unlikely they can replace his impact in the lineup.

Al Jefferson has the potential to be an upgrade over the departed Carlos Boozer in the Utah Jazz's lineup, but the loss of Wesley Matthews and Ronnie Brewer means Utah must replace two of their best perimeter defenders.

The Houston Rockets are always a dangerous opponent for the Lakers, but the uncertainty surrounding the health of center Yao Ming leaves a hole in the middle that Los Angeles will easily exploit.

Even a healthy Yao would find it hard to operate against a front line consisting of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and the newly acquired Theo Ratliff.

Throw in Matt Barnes for good measure, and the Lakers have length and depth all over the court, and can match the defensively-minded Rockets blow for blow in that category also.

On paper, the Dallas Mavericks would seem to be the best counter for the Lakers because they can match Los Angeles in terms of depth, skill, and chemistry.

Dirk Nowitzki is one of the few players the Lakers will face who is capable of creating the types of mismatches the Lakers usually subject opponents to, because his size allows him to shoot over smaller defenders.

The acquisition of Tyson Chandler from the Charlotte Bobcats gives the Mavericks another seven-foot player to pair with center Brendan Haywood on a Dallas front line that can match the Lakers in size.

Jason Kidd may not be as quick as he once was but he remains among the elite players at the point guard position, and age has not bothered his extraordinary vision in the open court. 

Caron Butler and Shawn Marion provide the Mavericks with athleticism and good defensive play, while Jason Terry leads a group of reserves who are every bit as talented as the Lakers.

But the question about Dallas has never been talent.

The Mavericks have always had championship caliber teams dating back to their NBA Finals team of 2006, but they have yet to show the heart and consistency needed to win at the highest level.

Each year, weary Mavericks fans hope for a different result, and each time they are faced with the same outcome. Although this team has the ability to compete with the Lakers, history tells a different story.

The Denver Nuggets faced some of the same consistency issues that plague the Mavericks, and an injury to Kenyon Martin and head coach George Karl's cancer didn't help their situation.

Denver has a superstar in Carmelo Anthony, and one of basketball's best big-game players in Chauncey Billups. Newly acquired Al Harrington should also provide immediate scoring help.

The Nuggets have always managed to be their own worst enemy however, and most observers expect Denver to implode as soon as the pressure begins to mount in the postseason.

Utah's Deron Williams almost single-handedly eliminated Denver in last season's playoffs, and although Martin and NeNe are strong post defenders, the Lakers' size advantage would wear them down over the course of a seven-game series.

The San Antonio Spurs remain a threat despite constant murmurs about their age, and Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are still one of the better trios in the NBA.

All three players have slowed down, but Duncan is still arguably the top power forward in the conference, and when healthy, Ginobili and Parker can still cause nightmares for opposing defenses.

The Spurs' experienced trio is surrounded by an eclectic and deep cast of supporting players that include 6'11" newcomer Tiago Splitter and rookie James Anderson as well as second-year player Dejuan Blair.

San Antonio has experience in Antonio McDyess and an above average backup point guard in George Hill.  The only thing that could prevent the Spurs from challenging the Lakers is their inability to stay healthy.

Health seems to always play a factor for the Spurs, and if they can't escape the regular season intact, there is little chance they could mount a charge for the Western crown.

The Portland Trail Blazers are another team that looks good on paper, but the oft-injured Greg Oden and the recent knee injury to star guard Brandon Roy have cast doubt over next season.

If Roy does return healthy and Oden can somehow make it through a season, Portland has a strong roster with the underrated LaMarcus Aldridge and the experienced Andre Miller as two of the feature attractions.

Wesley Matthews provides scoring punch and defensive help for a team that could be a real threat in the West if they can overcome the same injury problems that hampered the Spurs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the most intriguing Western Conference contenders, and a dark-horse favorite to reach the conference finals this season.

Many people were impressed with the Thunder's gritty first-round performance against the Lakers last season, and some felt the series could have gone differently if superstar Kevin Durant could have played a little better.

The Thunder pushed the Lakers to six games in what was mostly a tight series, and displayed the type of heart that championship teams are built on in the process.

Before the Thunder can dream of a coronation ceremony, there are some basic things to consider about last season's loss to the Lakers, and some very valid points which may tip the scales against Oklahoma City.

The Lakers' size has been a prevailing theme throughout this article, and Los Angeles dominated the Thunder on the boards despite a knee injury to Bynum early in the series.

The Thunder have decent size in Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka, and Nenad Krstic, but the Lakers can match Oklahoma City's size; none of the Thunder's players are as talented as Odom, Bynum, and Gasol.

Barnes serves as an alternate defender to Ron Artest, and the combination will trouble Durant, although another 35 percent effort during the course of a series is unlikely.

The Thunder could possibly sneak past some of the more talented teams in the West and meet the Lakers in the conference finals, but if both teams are healthy, Los Angeles should prevail due to experience, talent, and depth.

The Western Conference may be an improved conference next season, but unless the Lakers fall victim to injury, a fourth straight league crown is firmly in their sights.

Whenever I go to my local park to play basketball, inevitably I always see the same two guys there. Their names are Mike and Mike (not the same ESPN radio personalities); I would guess they are in their mid-50s, both have grey-ish hair, and they like to yell at each other a lot.

I dread playing them.

For one thing, they run set plays, which usually consist of running around in circles, setting picks, and shooting mid-range shots. Whether it’s 2-on-2 or 5-on-5, they usually win—and they have 30 some years on me.

It dawned on me while playing them recently that being an old basketball player isn’t a bad thing at all. In this day and age, certain words like “youth” and “potential” are looked at with much positivity. Why don’t we hear about the “experienced” or “wise” anymore? It might be because they’re boring, or the mere fact that the young beating the old at a game they’ve been playing before they were born is an exciting prospect.

That’s why it continues to baffle me as to why major media outlets are continually leaving a team like the San Antonio Spurs out of the title picture. They’re called “over the hill,” “beat up,” or just simply not up to the high level of competition out West. It’s just comfortable to hop on this bandwagon that suddenly appeared about five or so years ago.

It was especially tempting when Richard Jefferson failed to implement himself successfully into the team’s half-court offense last year, and the club looked like a dead meat seventh seed going in against the high-octane offense of the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

What was the outcome of the series?

Spurs in 6.

Granted, the Spurs couldn’t keep up with the Phoenix Suns in the second round (in hindsight, when a team is shooting that well against average to above-average defense—who can? The same Suns team who swept the Spurs in the second round looked lost against the Lakers in the Conference Finals during the first few games—I’m looking at you, Channing Frye), but they had already proven to everyone that their title chances weren’t done just quite yet.

Let’s be honest, the 2009-2010 Spurs never got it really together. Tony Parker was in and out of the lineup constantly, Manu Ginobili wasn’t the same player after Dirk Nowitzki accidentally broke his nose in Game Three of the first round, and Tim Duncan never got consistent rebounding and scoring help from his other man in the post.

So why will the 2010-2011 San Antonio Spurs be a heavy favorite out West right next to the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks?

Well, there are a few reasons why.

First, Tony Parker took the summer off to completely heal his nagging ankle injury. Spurs fans never saw the explosive Parker last year. You can bet, however, that in his contract year, he will be back with a vengeance, especially considering the emergence of George Hill as a playmaker in the first round against the Mavs.

Plus there's the fact that if Parker loves San Antonio as much as he says he does and he wants to keep his starting job, he’s going to really work hard to keep that spot, in addition to getting a new contract with the team.

Secondly, the Spurs still have two of the best players in the game. Bad knees didn’t slow Tim Duncan down from having another solid season, and even if Manu’s nose is longer than it was before after his latest injury, what he did in the second half of last season was MVP-caliber stuff. It doesn’t matter that both of these guys might only have a few years left in the league, they will always be feared by any opposition.

Thirdly, Richard Jefferson doesn’t have the weight of a gigantic contract weighing down his confidence anymore. It would be an understatement to say Jefferson didn’t play well last year. Some of that applies to some of the bonehead plays he made, but a majority of it had to be attached to the fact that RJ really, really wanted to fit in. But he never fully grasped the Spurs' very detailed playbook and was scared to try to just play his game once in a while.

Now, with the Spurs inking him to a four-year extension, RJ can rest assured that the club still has confidence in his playing abilities, and for this reason, many Spurs fans believe Jefferson will be much improved over last season.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, the Spurs did add some young guns next to those aching legs. Tiago Splitter, one of the best big men in Europe, is a 25-year-old, long-armed, smart-shooter, who looks a little like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV, and will give Gregg Popovich a well-rounded, good passing big man in the post to put next to Tim Duncan.

The team also added James Anderson in the draft with the 20th pick, and also signed Gary Neal from their summer league team. It’s safe to say Roger Mason Jr. won’t be back after his disastrous season, which included a ridiculous trade request, as well as him trying to play with an injured shooting hand, the latter of which resulted in some of the worst shooting in the playoffs.

While Anderson and Neal won’t be anything spectacular, they’re both well-skilled perimeter shooters who instantly improve one of the Spurs' weaknesses from last season—three-point shooting. Don’t forget about the maturation of George Hill and DeJuan Blair (a fan favorite) as well.

Will the Spurs be 2010-2011 NBA Champions? It’s very hard to say at this point.

The Los Angeles Lakers got stronger by adding Steve Blake (an improvement over a suddenly turned-off Jordan Farmar), Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff to the fold.

The Mavericks also upgraded their center position by ditching the plodding Erick Dampier for the giant wingspan of one Tyson Chandler, while also keeping Dirk Nowitzki for the remainder of his career.

The Lakers, Mavs, and Spurs will all jostle to represent the West in the NBA Finals next year, with once powerhouses like the Jazz, Suns, and Blazers struggling to stay where they were last year.

Being an old NBA team is looked upon with much dismay by many people, and numerous personalities have already written the Spurs off and said “it’s time to rebuild.” But this team continues to show that even if they might have a few guys over 30 and show signs of weaknesses during certain segments of the regular season, the NBA is all about who comes together and makes the biggest run at the right time.

You can bet the Spurs will be right in the mix of things when the playoffs begin in mid-April next year.