3009 Pacific Division Preview (168 views)

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This is part two of a three-part series on the divisions that matter in TMBSL this season - Central, Midwest, and Pacific

1. Vancouver Grizzlies

Projected Starters:
C Emeka Okafor
PF Darall Imhoff
SF Donyell Marshall
SG Marques Johnson
PG Brian Winters

Bench:
SF/PF/C Derrick Favors
PF/C Mike Green
PG/SG Sebastian Telfair

Biggest Addition:
Darrall Imhoff
Johnny High

Biggest Loss:
Jay Humphries

GM Druce's strength since his championship run has been Emeka's development and his knack for finding middle of the draft rookies or castoffs from other teams and plug them in as solid contributors. Sebastian Telfair is his first, and he shocked me with his level of contribution. Derrick Favors was a second. Darrall Imhoff appears to be a third such player that could be a big contributor.

GM Druce has a solid team but I don't understand why he seemed so confused about why he wasn't more elite last season. His best all around-player is a center, which might be the least valuable position in the league (although everyone would love to have Emeka Okafor on their squad). His two "star" wings are efficient, but neither players scores more than 23 ppg on a season. I'm not sure if Winters or Telfair is the answer at this point for a championship squad, and the PF position is a little bit like the PG position in KC-Omaha. There are a handful of capable players for the position, but no clear starter. This team could also use some more three-point shooting as their wings are not really floor spacers despite shooting efficiently. Don't get me wrong, I think this is still a very good team that I think can win the division, I just don't think it has the firepower to make it through the gauntlet of the Western Conference playoffs.

Moving forward, this team still has a lot to be happy about. It has one star and two quality bigs on rookie contracts, a young PG who still needs some work in Telfair, and two quality wing players on long-term deals.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Projected Starters:
C Eric Montross
PF Glenn Robinson
SF Bernard King
SG Sidney Moncrief
PG Charlie Ward

Bench:
PF/C Kim Hughes
PF/C Tree Rollins
SF/PF Mitch Kupchak
PG/SG/SF Campy Russell
SG Morris Claxton

Biggest Addition:
Tree Rollins

Biggest Loss:
Junior Bridgeman

The Lakers are pretty much back with a similar unit to last season after the Dr. J - Bernard King trade. I don't like this team as much as I did with Dr. J and I think with increased strength in this division, the Lakers might be struggling to hit 50 wins. I think they'll still compete for the division though. The west is tough will so many quality teams. Maybe I'm underrating Bernard King, but I just don't have much faith in him and Big Dogg to shoulder some of the load from Ward and Moncrief. To Buster's credit, he does have exceptional depth with this roster and should be able to weather injuries to anyone but Ward pretty well.

Moving forward, this team has a lot of potential with Charlie Ward and Sidney Moncrief in tow. I just really dislike Bernard King and Glenn Robinson on those contracts. They are solid contributors but I don't like the idea of building a team around them as two of my three highest paid players. However, if anyone can make it work, it's Buster.

3. Phoenix Suns

Projected Starters:
C Hakeem Olajuwon
PF Cliff T. Robinson
SF Shaun Livingston
SG T.R. Dunn
PG Earl Manigault

Bench:
PF/C Broderick Van Exel
SG/SF/PF Mel Bennett
SG/SF M.L. Carr
SG Robert Hawkins
PG Travis Mays

Biggest Additions:
T.R. Dunn
Hakeem Olajuwon

Biggest Loss:
Bob Lanier
Al Jefferson

This is an interesting team. Ank is handicapping his team a couple of games by starting Earl Manigault at PG instead of Livingston, but I'm sure they'll have the talent to get it turned around. This team features two very capable bigs, and exciting young PG, and a couple of options on the wing for efficient scoring. They will definitely be competing for the playoffs and may be in them depending on Livingston's development. One question mark I do have about him is that his preseason defense showed as B- while moved to PG, so is his perimeter defense going to be cause for concern against playoff teams with the likes of Charlie Ward, Alvin Robertson, David Thompson, John Wall, and John Williamson. Ank will likely make a move early in the season to put himself clearly into contention for a shot at the division in my opinion.

Moving forward, Ank has two quality bigs under contract, a good young PG, a great deal in T.R. Dunn, and the assets to go get the last piece he needs to complete the puzzle. I have faith that Ank is about to assemble his best team in 4.0 this season or next.

4. Seattle Supersonics

Projected Starters:
C James Donaldson
PF Robert Parish
SF Bobby Jones
SG Terence Stansbury
PG Al Skinner

Bench:
PF/C Elmore Smith
SG/SF Nate Williams
PG Gus Williams

Biggest Addition:
Nate Williams
More bench depth - Turpin, Smith, Bridgeman, Nate Williams, Gus Williams

Biggest Loss:
Bill Laimbeer

This is going to be a similar team that the Sonics have been in recent years - a stingy defensive team that would be really really good if it could score more efficiently. James Donaldson is going to shoulder some of the burden from Bill Laimbeer leaving, and while he isn't as good, it should hurt them too bad. If Stansbury can bounce back, this team has a chance to make a little more noise. However, with Parish, Bobby Jones, and a less efficient Stansbury, it's just hard to see this team shooting better than 44-45% which is tough considering all the potent offenses out west. They will be a good team and even could compete for the division, I just don't see them having the upside of some of the other teams.

Moving forward, Stansbury just signed to a very friendly deal but the rest of the key pieces are starting to come due for new contracts. This team is at a crossroads where Yawn can either keep an aging core together by resigning Parish, Jones, and Skinner or deciding it's time to retool.

5. Golden State Warriors

Projected Starters:
C Bill Laimbeer
PF Josh Smith
SF Monty Williams
SG Michael Jordan
PG Don Buse

Bench:
PF/C Carlos Rogers
SF Gerald Glass
SG Dave Jamerson
PG Lancaster Gordon
SF Willie Burton (???)
PG Delonte West (???)

Biggest Addition:
Michael Jordan
Bill Laimbeer
Don Buse

Biggest Loss:
If Trofie doesn't trade any of Devine's young players back

I'm still not sure how all the pieces will fit together in Golden State with Devine making mention of a trade-back with Milwaukee to reacquire Josh Smith and Carlos Rogers. I don't know if Burton or West are coming back as well yet. Still, Devine made a big splash in free agency with MJ and Laimbeer and a solid trade for a good championship-pedigree PG in Don Buse. He still has a handful of young talents to dangle as well. As of now, I would project he be fighting for a bottom seed, but I could also see him making a move to launch himself into the fight for the division title. If there is no trade-back for his young talents, expect to see Meriweather at PF and May at SF.

Moving forward, he's in a really good position so long as he can get those young guys back from trof and find a suitable replacement for Don Buse after this season or next. His days of playing at a high level are probably close to over. MJ and Laimbeer will keep his head above water so long as he has a quality replacement here. I think Josh Smith also has the potential to develop into a good defensive PF. If he doesn't get guys like J-Smoove, Burton, and West back from trofie, I think his future is a little less peachy.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

Projected Starters:
C Kevin Willis
PF Seth El-Amin
SF Leon Douglas
SG Bo Kimble
PG Jerry West

Bench:
SG/SF/PF/C Tom Barker
PG Rumeal Robinson

Biggest Additions:
Kevin Willis
Leon Douglas
Jerry West
Tom Barker

Biggest Loss:
None

This team has some very nice pieces but I don't think it will end up making the playoffs this season. I don't think Bo Kimble continues to score at the same pace with other people to take shots and Jerry West might still be a little too raw as a ball-handler to carry this team to the playoffs. Willis will probably shoot too much and inefficiently and hurt their offense. I think playing Barker in a super-sub role is an interesting decision though, we'll see how it plays out. I think this team is barely on the outside looking in at the end of the season.

Rumor now has it though that Leon Douglas is the player moving to Minnesota on Day 60. Could there be a Douglas for Swen Nater swap? If so, I think this team gets even worse. If it's a better player like Lonnie Shelton, this team may have a shot at breaking into the last playoff seed.

Moving forward, Bo Kimble and Jerry West have the potential to be a devastating duo, GM Dirt just needs to be steady and surround them with quality complimentary talent.

7. Portland Trailblazers

Projected Starters:
C Clifford Rozier
PF Patrick Patterson
SF Lionel Simmons
SG Xavier Henry
PG John Barnhill

Bench:
Nobody worth noting

Biggest Addition:
None

Biggest Loss:
Pick in 3008 Lottery
Mickey Johnson
Robert Hawkins

This is a bad team. After a very good start to 4.0, Duc's inability to pull the trigger on a risky deal to improve his team (and likely his very busy schedule) led to his gradual decline and eventual trade of franchise cornerstone Bill Walton. Lionel Simmons and Xavier Henry are the future, and that's not a very bright one. Neither appears to be cut out to be a starter on a contender in the future.

Moving forward, it's going to be tanking time for the Blazers for the next couple of seasons.

[Lazy Pete]

Nice. Think the Suns may end up as the best team in the division by the end of the season, but probably will be in too big of a hole out of the gate to win the division.

[Buster 5000]

The 4 time reigning champs are putting this square in the middle of the bulletin board.

But for real I won't be surprised if my team takes a step back this year. Really need Ward and Moncrief to take the next step and turn into superstar level players.

[Mad King]

Rumor of Douglas going to Minne is false. Not making the playoffs this year would be perfect since I own my pick this year.

[kn88]

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