NBA Southwest Division Preview

By Jimmy Boyd
The state of Texas will rule the Southwest this season. I like the Spurs to regain bragging rights over Dallas and for the Rockets to have their best season during the McGrady/Yao era. Chris Paul will make plenty of noise across the league as he quickly reaches elite point guard status and without Gasol for a good chunk of the season, Memphis won’t make it out of the basement.
San Antonio Spurs: I know the Mavs made it to the NBA Finals, but I like San Antonio to win the Southwest over Dallas with a healthy Tim Duncan. Duncan battled a foot injury nearly the entire season last year. He will be determined to get the Spurs back to the Finals to get a crack at his fourth ring. Tony Parker had a break out season and if he can continue to improve his passing, he can be one of the game’s top point guards. Ginobli is the X-factor. If he can stay healthy, he gives the Spurs the energy that makes them a championship team.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk had his best season in his professional career but it ended on a sour note with a loss to Miami in the Finals. I like Jason Terry at the two-guard, but Devon Harris is too inconsistent at the one. Stackhouse and Diop are the only help off the bench. Tim Duncan dominating Dampier and Diop will be the difference in this rivalry this season.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets will join the all-Texas party at the top of the division. Yao came on strong down the stretch averaging 25.7 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game after the All-Star Break. Combine that effort with a healthier Tracy McGrady and the Rockets may finally have the duo they were hoping for this season. Shane Battier is a good fit, he will be able to guard the other team’s best player which was a job that McGrady often had to endure.
New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul may be the best pure point in the NBA next to Steve Nash. He will make everyone else on the Hornets better. The Hornets will pose some problems for some veteran teams as they run very well. Bobby Jackson is very good in transition as is Desmond Mason and Tyson Chandler. Chandler will help boost interior defense and rebounding. Stojakovic’s impact is still to be determined. But we know that Chris Paul will definitely get him open looks.
Memphis Grizzlies: With Gasol out until January, Memphis will start the season in the cellar and never climb out. Mike Miller’s shooting percentage will dive as he becomes a default first option. We’ll see what Stromile Swift is really made of this season. We know he can run and jump out of the gym, but we don’t know if he can be an scorer in this league. With a pair of aging guards in Stoudamire and Jones, the Grizzlies are in NBA purgatory. They’ll probably need an overhaul following this season because I don’t see this team with this personnel challenging in one of the NBA’s toughest divisions.
Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm
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