Volume 67, Issue 4  

Western Conference
 

1. Sacramento – Assuming they can avoid Webber’s off-court distractions, they should cruise to the league’s best record.  If Mike Bibby plays like he did against L.A., they are just too good to lose.
2. Dallas – Moneybags Mark Cuban will throw caution and the luxury tax to the wind in his effort to reach the level of the Kings and Lakers.  In the regular season they might be the best team in the league, but don’t be surprised by another big trade before the deadline.
3. L.A. Lakers – The usual worries about Shaq’s health or Kobe’s team-play will be forgotten by New Year’s, but even Robert Horry’s miracles won’t keep the team up with a much-deeper Kings squad.
4. San Antonio – The forgotten member of the NBA’s elite, Duncan will have one more shot to win one for David Robinson before the Admiral hangs them up.
5. Minnesota – KG’s all-around play will keep this team in the 50-win range, but a lack of everywhere-talent will cost them against the league’s best.  The Wolves desperately need a shake-up – can’t something be done with the Blazers?
6. Portland – Talent is already overflowing in Portland.  The problem is ego and personality, and adding Jeff McInnis doesn’t help that.  Unloading some big names for team-players would help in the win-column and the salary-cap.
7. Seattle – Dropping Vin Baker was addition by subtraction.  But the question still remains – what is Gary Payton feeling like today?
8. Utah – If the team avoids the mistake of dealing Malone, they’ll make it back to the playoffs one more time.  It doesn’t make logical sense, but picking against them hasn’t worked for twenty years.

9-14. The L.A. Clippers are only playing for contracts.  Anyway, the Clippers’ futility is as sure a bet as the Yankees winning the … oh, wait.  Houston will be dangerous with a healthy Steve Francis and a tall Yao Ming.  The question is if they have enough talent to crack the top eight.  Phoenix continues to sink.  Remember when Tom Gugliotta and Penny Hardaway were All-Stars?  Why are they still paid like it?  Memphis has an exciting star in Gasol, but they had one in Abdur-Rahim and he never won any games for them either.  Golden State and Denver are already eliminated from the playoff race.  It will be a long time before they are a serious challenge to anyone.

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