The Southwest division is, without a doubt, the best division in the NBA. These teams do not lack star power, and also feature some of the deepest teams in the league. Aside from the Mavs, each team in this division will likely surpass the 50 win plateau, and the top three teams(Spurs, Rockets, and Grizzlies) could very well threaten the 60 win mark. Like last year, all five teams in the division could end up making the playoffs, but it will be much more difficult with the emergence of teams like the Utah Jazz that will look to improve on a solid finish to their season last year and contend for the 8th seed.
**New Acquisitiion
5. Dallas Mavericks
PG: Deron Williams(Injured-Calf)**
SG: Wesley Matthews(Injured-Achilles)**
SF: Chandler Parsons(Injured-Knee)
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia**
Bench: JJ Barea, Devin Harris, Jeremy Evans, Charlie Villanueva, Samuel Dalembert
KEY LOSSES: Tyson Chandler, Monta Ellis, Al Farouq-Aminu
Player to Watch: Wesley Matthews
The Dallas Mavericks have apparently hit the end of the line in terms of championship contention. Missing out on Deandre Jordan crushed any hopes of one final playoff push with Dirk Nowitzki. The signing of Jordan was replaced by the signing of Zaza Pachulia, who now takes over at center for Tyson Chandler, who is now in Phoenix. Monta Ellis is gone as well, replaced by Wesley Matthews, who is attempting to come back from an Achilles tear that essentially cost the Blazers their season. Matthews’ health, along with the health of newly acquired point guard Deron Williams and returning small forward Chandler Parsons, will go a long ways towards determining whether or not this team makes the playoffs. The bench is by far the least talented in the division, and one of the worst in the Western conference for teams that are on the bottom tier of the playoff picture. In the West, having a good to great bench could be the difference between making the playoffs and winning a series or two, and sitting on the couch watching other teams vie for an NBA title.
4. New Orleans Pelicans
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Tyreke Evans(Injured, Out 6-8 weeks)
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Omer Asik(Injured-Calf Strain)
BENCH: Nate Robinson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Dante Cunningham, Ryan Anderson, Alexis Ajinca
KEY LOSSES: NONE
Players to Watch: Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon
The Pelicans will be an exciting team to watch this season. For one they have one of, if not the best, all around player in the entire league in Anthony Davis. Davis teams up with Omer Asik to form one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league. The biggest key for New Orleans will be to avoid injuries, something they have already been hit with before the season has even begun(Tyreke Evans). Jrue Holiday was injured throughout the year last season, but when healthy has proven that he can be a middle to upper tier point guard. Eric Gordon is another injury concern, as he consistently misses games due to knee injuries. In short, a relatively injury free season could very well result in a top 6 finish in the Western Conference for the Pelicans, a big step for the 8th seed from a season ago.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
PG: Mike Conley
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Zach Randolph
C: Marc Gasol
BENCH: Beno Udrih, Matt Barnes, Tony Allen, Jarnell Stokes, Brandan Wright
KEY LOSSES: NONE
Player to Watch: Jeff Green
The Memphis Grizzlies stood pat after a successful season a year ago, only adding one significant player in Matt Barnes, who fits perfectly into the style of play that this team plays. This is a defense first team that needed to get better offensively, particularly behind the 3 point line. Instead, they went out and got yet another defensive minded player that cannot shoot 3s well in Barnes. For this team to make a leap in the standings, they will need Jeff Green to improve on a pretty disappointing season a year ago when he was traded from the Celtics. Green only averaged 13ppg after coming over from Boston, but did shoot 36% from the three point line, something he will have to emulate this, or improve on, in 2015 for this team to threaten a Top 3 seed in the conference.
2. Houston Rockets
PG: Ty Lawson(Possible Suspension)**
SG: James Harden
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Donatas Montiejunas(Injured-Back)
C: Dwight Howard(Injured-Back)
BENCH: Patrick Beverley, Corey Brewer, Sam Dekker, Terrence Jones, Clint Capela
KEY LOSSES: Josh Smith
Player to Watch: Ty Lawson
Ty Lawson could be the missing piece for a Rockets championship run. Though his acquisition makes the team stronger, the other teams vying for top positions in the playoffs also got better, and in the case of the Clippers and Spurs, much deeper than Houston. James Harden seems motivated once again to carry a large portion of the workload for this team, but Lawson will help take some of the pressure off of him. Dwight Howard looks to be healthy, or at least healthier, than he was last season when he missed half of the team’s games. Dwight’s health as well as the health of Donatas Montiejunas, an up and coming power forward from Lithuania who is coming off of back surgery, will go a long way towards determining whether this team is the 4th or 5th seed, or a Top 3 seed in the Western conference playoffs.
1. San Antonio Spurs
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge**
C: Tim Duncan
BENCH: Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Anderson, David West, Boris Diaw
KEY LOSSES: Tiago Splitter, Corey Joseph, Marco Belinelli
Player to Watch: David West and LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge was the prize of the free agent class this past summer. Adding him to an already formidable team, as well as the acquisition of David West, does not bode well for the rest of the Western Conference. The Spurs stumbled in a classic first round series with the Clippers, but are ready to make a deep, Spurs like run towards the NBA finals. Not only is this team more talented than last season, but they are also deeper. Tiago Splitter, traded to Atlanta, was replaced with David West, who could prove valuable as a piece to regularly spell Tim Duncan throughout the season, keeping him fresh when the playoffs come around. Don’t be surprised if the Spurs win over 60 games, but also don’t fret if they are in the mid 50s, since, as we all know, the Spurs are built for the playoffs.
The San Antonio Spurs, after briefly giving up control of the division to the Rockets last season, will once again gain control of the best division in basketball and will likely ride that success to a deep run in the postseason.