2009 NBA Preview: Southwest Division
NBA October 22nd. 2009, 5:30pm
One division a day leading up to opening night next Tuesday. Previously: Atlantic Division, Central Division, Southeast Division.
San Antonio Spurs
Question mark: Will Manu’s ankle hold up? How will he respond to his first season as a pro?
Also worth worrying about: Tim Duncan will be 34 around playoff time.
Improvements: Got tougher at PF (McDyess). Got younger insider (Blair). Got more athletic on the wing (Jefferson).
Orlando East?: The Magic made a run last year with Dwight Howard at center surrounded by four shooters who can also take you off the dribble. Could the Spurs do the same thing with Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason, Tony Parker, and Ginobili? Heck, you could toss Michael Finley and Matt Bonner in there, too.
Music: Sure feels like it, right?
Stab at the record: Is Richard Jefferson worth a 10-win improvement? He’ll help enough that we’ve got the Spurs winning 64 games.
Playoffs: 1st seed in the West. NBA Finals.
Dallas Mavericks
Question marks: What does 36-year-old Jason Kidd have left in the tank? How many bodyguards with Mark Cuban have when the Denver Nuggets come to town?
Also worth worrying about: The days of Kidd triple doubles are drawing to an end. Assists and rebounds were down last year. He’ll cede more minutes to Jose Juan Barea, which isn’t a bad thing.
Division of the hot girlfriends: Richard Jefferson is always pulling tail. We’ll get to Marko Jaric’s wife in a moment. Well, here’s the NSFW playboy spread of Kidd’s girl, Hope Dworaczyk.
Like: The idea of Kidd running the break, JT spotting up for three, and Howard and Marion filling the lanes. Imagine they’ll go small frequently. Could be an exciting team to watch.
Music: For Dirk’s ex-fiancee, who was never pregnant, but is in jail.
Stab at the record: Let’s give ‘em one win, from 50 in 2009 to 51 in 2010.
Playoffs: Certainly. Hosting a 1st round series will be a challenge, though.
New Orleans Hornets
Question marks: Is Julian Wright ready to break out? Can they run as much with Okafor?
Also worth worrying about: If there’s another step back, will Chris Paul still be happy?
Like: Getting a local kid, Marcus Thornton. Think he eventually could be a starting SG in this league.
Music: Because that’s what CP3 does?
Stab at the record: After a 49-win season, we think there will be some regression. Not enough to miss the playoffs, but five fewer wins.
Playoffs: Yes. Barely. 7th or 8th seed.
Houston Rockets
Question marks: Where will the points come from? Who sits when T-Mac returns? Or do you just trade McGrady?
Also worth worrying about: Putting the ball through the basket.
Did you know: Their three leading scorers will not play for at least the first 30 games. We’d be stunned if this team averages more than 95 points a game.
We Think: Giving Trevor Ariza 5-years, $33 million was way too much damn money. He’s a real nice complimentary player; he’s not a No. 2 or even No. 3 scorer.
Music: Nice to meet you, too.
Stab at the record: With the talent overhaul will come losses. Many. We’ll project a cliff dive from 53 wins to 33 wins.
Playoffs: No.
Memphis Grizzlies
Question mark: Who leads a team full of egos and ballhogs?
Reason to attend games: To see if Iverson-Mayo get along or fight for shots; Adriana Lima in the stands.
On Paper: The franchise has never had more talent. Conley is on the rise. Mayo and Gay have All-Star potential. Randolph can be a 20-10 guy. Gasol has 18-10 potential, and Thabeet could lead the league in blocks as a rookie. And then there’s one of the best guards in league history, Allen Iverson.
Worst Case Scenario: Randolph pollutes budding young talent like Thabeet, Conley and Gay. Iverson’s attitude hinders Mayo’s progression.
Music: Who will it be?
Stab at the record: Wins from 07-09: 22, 22, 24. Baby steps. We’ll go with 28 this year.
Playoffs: Think 2011.
65 Responses to “2009 NBA Preview: Southwest Division”
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October 22nd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I’m movin to The Alamo in a few weeks, I hope I run into Mrs. Parker.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
They’re about to make me watch this entire recruiting program to see what Irving is doing aren’t they?
John Wall might be ineligible? NO SHIT.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I doubt that’s something Pop would do much of. And health is a bigger key than RJ for the Spurs.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Kyrie Irving going to ….. DUKE! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Hopefully this keeps Barnes away from UNC at the least, and at the best gives Duke it’s best recruiting class in a long, long, time.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I can’t believe that you actually see the Spurs beating the Lakers. Richard Jefferson? Hater?
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Is the Irving thing official? If so, Hell yeah!
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Bsanders: No more Chicago?
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
He just announced on ESPN U. Said it wasn’t really a choice, he already made up his mind, just didn’t want the guy who reported it early to get the satisfaction.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Question mark: Has Manu’s bald spot gained enough steam to call for one of those infomercial spray cans?
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Awesome. Best class in a long time. I was worried about recruiting taking a hit when Dawkins left.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
i now know how it feels to be a grizzly fan. theres no hope this year. absolutely none. that should be good enough for 43 wins.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
YES, he played a great role in LA. Guys like Ariza aren’t the same without a complimentary superstar with a good offense. I like him defensively thought, but if you can’t score consistently in the NBA, you are not worth a contract.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
someone on that team has to take 20-30 shots a game
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
According to TBL, San Antonio and Orlando are both #1 seeds in the East.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
i think the rockets proved how scrappy they can be against the lakers without yao and mcgrady. they’ll hover about .500
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
above*
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Texas is getting the number one seed in the Midwest USA though.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Iverson and Thabeet will be wearing shades for all Memphis home games.
That team will actually be fun to watch, what a mess of characters.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
If basketball was played with 3 basketballs, than Memphis would be the #1 seed coming out of the West.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
He’s a rookie?
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Mole, sorry about not answering earlier. I’m going to the open practice tomorrow…supposedly Irving might make an appearance to help push Barnes into the fold. Either way, should be pretty fun.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
2008 eFG
Ariza .511
Kobe .502
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Comparing Ariza to Kobe is awesome. Go look at Ariza’s numbers again.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:37 pm
you’re a basketball fan. presumably you read/have an opinion on the division. and that’s your comment? that’s your thought on the SW? a two letter slip-up?
douche.
i couldn’t find what the o/u for wins for houston is. i’d take the under, perhaps heavy.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I assumed you had a brain and weren’t so biased against the Lakers. Sorry, that’s my mistake.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
SM’s stats actually support the statement that he quoted. I don’t know if he intended to do that or not though.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I think you look pretty today TBL.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
TBL has it out for houston teams.
first time i ever saw him call someone a name. color me shocked.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Fuck Duke.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Good for you Lamar, don’t take no shit from nobody. TBL, you’re going to let this punk get away with that? What’s the world coming to?
This immediately came to mind.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Yea, i wasn’t sure about what he meant. My bad if that’s the case.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I moved from Chicago a few months back, made a pit stop in the Quad Cities, which was terrible. My bro-in-law is assistant principal at a high school in northern San Antonio, I’m gonna teach English there for a year while I finish up my master’s online. Not sure where I’ll head then, but I don’t like to stay in one spot for more than a year or two.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
plow through some texas state coeds in san marcos
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
That’s a lot of moving. Are you David Banner?
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Nah, I just figure one of these days I’m gonna settle down with a female and that’ll be it as far as seeing different areas of the country. Still haven’t lived in the Pacific Northwest or the South. Not really motivated to live in the South.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
bsanders got hoes in different area codes.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Just saw “Where The Wild Things Are”. Pretty good. There was a trailer for “The Blind Side” and I wanted my money back the second I heard Sandra Bullock try on a southern accent, and because I had to see Phil Fulmers face for .5 seconds.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
don’t become a teacher statistic.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
re: Ariza. I think playing in a certain system is much better than playing with superstar players. Ariza has been fairly erratic in his career though in playoffs he someone developed an insane 3pt shooting. I would rather Ariza taking 10 shots per game over Artests 15 per game.
Lakers 1 seed and in finals. SA is good, but is has nothing to do with RJ who is not worth anything close to 10 wins by any conceivable measure
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I’m not sure what that means exactly, but I’m only teaching high school for a year.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
This sounds like one of those Mighty Ducks/Hard Ball scenarios where the kids grow on you and then you become a lifer.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
One of the funniest movies I have ever seen.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Damn a bunch of NY Times editor’s in here
/how to poke fun at TBL
//killing him on transposing the east/west is very d-bagtastic.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
most random ending
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Oh I doubt it, I’m pretty cynical and uncaring.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
plus i think you need a drinking or gambling problem
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I heard they made this a little spooky? Is that the case? It’s my 3.5 year old boy’s favorite book, but I’m hesitant to take him to the movie, would you recommend it for a youngin?
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I can’t wait for you to teach one of my kids! ha
He does. Both. And crack.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Damn, your 3.5 year old boy’s THAT into the evolution of NFL pass protection. Sweet. All I’ve heard is something about a scene with Sandra Bullock, a kitchen knife and a white dress.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
bbryan – It has some parts where it can be scary for a kid. However, I think younger kids generally wont get what’s going on. Maybe I’m not giving kids enough credit, idk. It’s nothing like the book, it’s a lot darker.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Goddamn I couldn’t imagine having to shape my movie viewing habits around a child.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
i hope the patriots put up 60 on the bucs across the pond. fuck this london bullshit
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I thought he made an an honest mistake. Supposed he copied East preview’s format and forgot to overwrite the “1st in East. NBA Finals.” he had for the Magic.
I highly doubt anyone else thinks the Spurs can win over 55 games. Too old, 50% of the team is injury prone. RJ scored when he was the only option.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
i rewatched rambo, commando, predator and terminator when i was a child
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm
you’re a basketball fan. presumably you read/have an opinion on the division. and that’s your comment? that’s your thought on the SW? a two letter slip-up?
I assumed you had a brain and weren’t so biased against the Lakers. Sorry, that’s my mistake.
Sorry Big Guy, but we had to uninvite you to TBL’s dinner party. Run along now to Chuckie Cheese. We left a special gift for you and a $20 free play card at the front desk. It’s 7:30, time for bed.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
don’t become a teacher statistic.
I’m not sure what that means exactly,
I think he means don’t put your teacher “P” into a student’s “V” (or “M” or “A”, for that matter).
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
1st seed in the West. NBA Finals.
L O L
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
lakers championship to lose. i would fucking love for cleveland to win the title JUST to see what lebron does.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Gotta lightweight case of both of em.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
lakers championship to lose.
/This.
Lakers will win no less then 66 games.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
That’s one way to teach the alphabets.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
you could always go A to M
/piss poor humor
//texansfan being texansfan
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
It does suck mole. it is even harder with the music.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:53 am
I wonder if the Yankees playoff success has anything to do with these previews. kind of weak this year