Before anything else, I'm inviting everyone to catch me on Lifestyle Network's Clash of the Toque-en Ones Final Showdown on November 30, from 4 to 8 pm at the Rockwell Tent.
The Fifty Peso Previews are heading out West and let's take a look at the Southwest division.
Major Additions: Tyson Chandler
Major Subtractions: None
The Mavericks are a veteran, talented team. Yet again. The problem is, the Mavs have been talented and competitive every year, but never close to winning a title save for their one blown chance against Miami in 2006. The team will lean again on Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, but the two vets need massive stepped up play from new addition Chandler, Caron Butler and Shawn Marion and a concerted effort on defense to challenge with the big boys. From the looks of things, though, it will be a tough grind.
Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (2nd round)
Houston Rockets
Major Additions: Brad Miller, Courtney Lee
Major Subtractions: Trevor Ariza
The Rockets were cautiously optimistic to start the year, what with their starters relatively healthy. While there are now injuries to starters Yao Ming and Aaron Brooks, neither is expected to miss much of the season. If they get relatively healthy again, the Rockets can start building on the camaraderie they sorely missed in the early games and be quite a handful for other NBA teams. Look for the gritty Rockets to contend for the playoffs, even if they are a couple of men down.
Fearless Forecast: Bubble Team (8th seed or eliminated in regular season)
Memphis Grizzlies
Major Subtractions: Ronnie Brewer
The Grizzlies surprised everyone last year with their improvement and that led to management deciding to lock up their players, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley, in particular, hoping another year will lead to another leap in the standings. The Grizzlies will benefit from their familiarity, but they also need more maturity, which they may get if Coach Lionel Hollins gets his way. That will mean plenty of trouble for other teams and a possible playoff spot for the Memphis team, a first since the Pao Gasol era.
Fearless Forecast: Bubble Team (8th seed or eliminated in the regular season)
New Orleans Hornets
Major Subtractions: Darren Collison
Just this summer, franchise player Chris Paul unexpectedly asked to be traded, saying he didn't see the Hornets being serious about winning. The statement had everyone in New Orleans scrambling but their relatively low budget netted them Bellineli and Ariza, hardly big pieces you associate with championship help. Lo and behold, new coach Monty Williams, working well with a revitalized Chris Paul got the Hornets to a blazing 8-0 win loss start. Now that the playoffs are not an impossibility, the Hornets have to hope for two things. One the Hornets stay injury-free and the teams keeps buying into Williams' strategies. That way, Paul will put his trade request behind him.
Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (2nd round)
San Antonio Spurs
Major Additions: Tiago Splitter
Major Subtractions: Roger Mason, Jr.
The Spurs' Big Three of Tony Parker, TIm Duncan and Manu Ginobili, who have been aging and/or hampered by injuries, are relatively healthy this season and the Spurs are looking dangerous again. The question now is how dangerous they will become as they wait on George Hill and Richard Jefferson to become consistent with the contributions. When they do, no one in the West will want to meet them in the playoffs yet again.
Fearless Forecast: At least Conference Semi-finals
photos courtesy of sports.yahoo.com, nbadunkers.com and opposingviews.com
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