Believe
it or not, we are just over two months away from the tip off of the NBA season.
I know it seems like just yesterday that the Heat won the title, but with the
Olympics breaking up the offseason for NBA bettors, we are just seven weeks
away from the start of the preseason.
You can access my Eastern Conference
predictions here, but for now, let’s take a look at which teams I think will
shape out the playoffs in the west for 2012-2013 and who to lock in your NBA picks.
Los
Angeles Lakers
We all
knew that the Lakers were going to go all in for the last two seasons of Kobe
Bryant’s contract, but they exceeded a lot of expectations with their offseason
so far. Steve Nash was the first to come over, and now Dwight Howard will be a
Laker. They did all this without giving up Pau Gasol. Along with Bryant, this
team should be the undisputed leader in the West.
Oklahoma
City Thunder
Even
though the Thunder just locked Serge Ibaka to a long-term deal, I still think
the Lakers will be the better of the two for the next few seasons. The Thunder
will challenge the Lakers very well this season, but I can’t see them beating
them in a seven game series. I think losing in the Finals like they did will
have them motivated. However, for the regular season, the Lakers will be the
best team so look for the best price now.
San
Antonio Spurs
The
Spurs were tied for the best record in the league last season, and if they can
get anywhere close to that this season, they will be right in the thick of
things in the West. They brought back several key players, but it isn’t like
Greg Popovich to care too much about playoff seeding, rather than rest and
health.
Los
Angeles Clippers
For a
minute there, it looked like the Clippers were becoming the better Los Angeles
team. Not so fast say the Lakers. Either way, the Clippers finished fifth in
the West last season, and I think they’ll move up one spot. However, if Chris
Paul decides to go elsewhere, things could get dicey.
Memphis
Grizzlies
The
Grizz will hopefully be healthier than they were this past season, but with the
core group of guys they sport, I see no reason why they should fall too far
down the West. They are a good team, and they will likely stay in the 4th
through 6th range.
Denver
Nuggets
Now
that the Nuggets got Andre Iguodala, they look like a damn good team on paper.
They just resigned Javale McGee, and with Danillo Gallanari and the rest of
their crew, they are going to be a fun team to watch. They could potentially be
a sleeper in the West.
Dallas Mavericks
The West
got a lot better this offseason, and while I think the Mavs got better, I don’t
think they are going to be a title contender once again. OJ Mayo and Darren
Collinson are great, but I just don’t see them having enough to get to a high
enough seed to where they don’t get knocked out by any of the top three teams
in the West in the first round.
Golden
State Warriors
The 8th
spot will be wide open, and I think there will be about four teams vying for
the spot. However, at this point, I think the Warriors have to be penciled in.
They have Andrew Bogut now, along with David Lee and Richard Jefferson. If
Stephon Curry can be healthy all season, they will almost be a lock to make the
playoffs.
Good Luck with all your bets...roll on the new NBA Season!