Western Conference Predictions

Ranking the teams in the order I think they will finish the season out:

1) Phoenix Suns - Expected NBA champions will run to the title.
2) Dallas Mavs - Another disappointing season with no title?
3) San Antonio Spurs - Defending champs will fall short as they get outrun.
4) Denver Nuggets - Melo and AI's first full season together should be a treat.
5) Houston Rockets - Success of this team will rise and fall with Yao Ming. New coach Rick Adelman may help.
6) Utah Jazz - Tough to place them 6th, especially after the Jazz' great playoff run last year.
7) Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe's still the man, but that's all the Lakers have when it comes to playoffs.
8) New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul and company finally break into the playoffs, but will get bounced out 1st round.
9) Golden State Warriors - Losing J-Rich makes them miss the playoffs, just barely.
10) Sacramento Kings - They might barely be in the mix for the final playoff spot in the West, but don't have enough to hold their own with the top dogs.
11) Seattle Supersonics - Durant is going to have a special year but it won't be enough to make the playoffs in rebuilding year 1.
12) Memphis Grizzlies - Still a young talented team looking to build its core. Gasol's return will help but not enough.
13) Portland Trailblazers - Team will miss Greg Oden who hasn't played a single regular NBA game yet. Roy and co. will show promise for the future title runs.
14) Los Angeles Clippers - Without Elton Brand this team's gonna be at the bottom.
15) Minnesota Timberwolves - They were bad with KG last year and will be the worst without him this season as they struggle to find identity.

The 4 through 6 spots are tough to call with the Jazz, Rockets, Lakers and Nuggets probably all jockeying for those spots. Overall the West looks tough again this year and the Spurs will have to really bring it to defend their title.