Tuesday, October 31st, 2006 at 5:43 pm  |  12 responses

The SLAM NBA Preview: Pacific Division

SLAM’s official predictions for the 2006-07 NBA season…

by Lang Whitaker

A few years ago, I came up with the idea of running individual NBA team previews on The Links, and having each team’s preview written by a fan of that team. Nowadays, all the fans have their own blogs, and every NBA site (including ours, thank you) has been having fans/bloggers review their team’s chances for the upcoming year.

So in order to flip the script a little, I’m going to do quick NBA previews for each division. I wrote a gargantuan NBA preview in SLAM 103 (on newstands now!), and I’m using the illustrations from that issue here (drawn by the terrific Mike T).

If you want to read my full predictions and thoughts you’ve gotta go buy the magazine. But here’s how I ranked them and why.

Today, the Northwest Division…

How I picked it in the magazine:
1) Phoenix Suns
2) Los Angeles Lakers
3) Los Angeles Clippers
4) Golden State Warriors
5) Sacramento Kings

Why I picked them that way:
For some reason, you readers think I hate Steve Nash and the Suns; I can’t tell you how many angry emails I’ve received from Suns fans, accusing me either of dissing or hating on the Suns. I like watching the Suns, though, and I like Steve Nash, and I think the Suns are going to win a ton of games again this season. I still don’t believe they can make it all the way through the postseason playing a slower brand of ball, though, especially with Amare still hobbled. Regular season? They’re tough to beat. Postseason? I don’t think they’re winning a title as long as they’re trying to just outscore everyone.

For some reason, you readers think I hate Kobe Bryant and the Lakers; I can’t tell you how many angry emails I’ve received from Lakers fans, accusing me either of dissing or hating on the Lake Show. And…well, enough of that. Thing is, I don’t really hate the Lakers, or even Kobe for that matter. I just don’t like watching them play the way they played 82 games last season, with Kobe taking all the shots. What I did like was watching their postseason run, when they played team basketball and shared the rock. Will that continue this year? I think so.

The Clips shocked the world last season, and this summer they re-signed Sam Cassell and then gave big money to Tim Thomas. I think they’ll still be a good team, but this year everyone will be watching out for them and not taking them lightly. I think they’ll make the Playoffs, but it won’t be a runaway like last year.

Golden State is one of the teams I called a “Wild Card Squad” in the magazine: There’s no telling what they’ll do. I wouldn’t be surprised if they win 45 games, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they win 25 and Nelly quits by the end of the year. I’m putting them fourth to play it safe.

The Kings really aren’t that bad a team, but they’re in a stacked division. Maybe next year.

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  • Marcel Mutoni Posted: Oct.31 at 5:51 pm
    sorry about the hate mail i sent your way, Lang. I’ll try to cut down this year.

  • Ajpenny Posted: Oct.31 at 5:58 pm
    Chapelle Show Flash Back….
    And “Sports Hater of the Year” award goes too…. “Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate……”

  • Ajpenny Posted: Oct.31 at 6:04 pm
    Real Talk –
    At a recent b-ball tournament on the sidelines between games a debate started on the sidelines amongst the players. “Could Kobe have scored 81pts in the mid to late 80′s”. It seemed 2 key points were, *the amazing athleticism of today’s players compared to those of past (Favor Kobe) *The talent level of the league then and now (Favor NBA 85 to 89) Finally rule changes, mainly hand checking, (Favor NBA 85 to 89)

  • Ray Allen Posted: Oct.31 at 6:59 pm
    The Suns are awesome but they always get beat int the playoffs

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Oct.31 at 7:45 pm
    lakers finish better than clippers? that should shut up the Lang Haters. i on the other hand don’t think lakers will finish ahead of paperclips. unless sam’s pulling another stunt like he did in ‘Sota, though he doesn’t have his running mate who needs 8 mil to feed his fam this time.

  • Max Airington Posted: Oct.31 at 10:25 pm
    That tounge I put in your mailbox can hardly be considered ‘hate mail’. Don’t be such a girl.
    But I’ve made a resolution to be a more sober Lakerfan this year. That ’06 rollercoaster was too much for me. I’ll be content with the second round. Nash better not win another MVP, but I do think he’ll get a chip…

  • will Posted: Oct.31 at 10:30 pm
    This isn’t listed in the NBA category… (in Uncategorized, The Links by Lang Whitaker, Columnists, Feature Too)

  • will Posted: Oct.31 at 10:35 pm
    wow, all five of these teams look pretty solid. The only result that would surprise me would be if phoenix ends up last in the division. Otherwise, any other regular season ranking at the end of the season looks plausible at this point…

  • FLUXLAND Posted: Nov.1 at 4:51 am
    No way Nash ever wins the chip, Max! He bailed from the Mavs for $.. and he could have had that chip last year. Sorry, mate!

  • ziad bastami Posted: Nov.1 at 7:02 am
    well well well, some respect to kobe finaly! the lakers in second and 5th or 6th in the west! nice~! but still i see the additon of tim thomas to cliptown is dangerous to the standings of this division, surely the suns are the toughest, with the return of the balck jesus, amare, hopefully as fit as he used to be, well, sure in this division the kings are the clowns but they aint for the last place in the west! tough, but still possible! the west has only one weak team in the blazers, but, all others are playoff contender! spurs, suns, nuggets, mavs, lakers, houston, clippers, grizz, jazz, hornets, sonics, wolves, warriors,kings,blazers! not that from the jazz down the diffrence is wide! no maybe a single game, i see in the west the place that is safe, the 3rd, for the nuggets, who are the nets of the west, they are guaranted to keep this place, not a step forward neither back ward!

  • ziad bastami Posted: Nov.1 at 7:12 am
    and yes last year mvp should have been waring the number 8! this year it should be 24! if kobe multiply his scoring by 3 as he did for his number, well, we are waiting for a wilt chamberlain kind of season! why not! kb step it up! be the kobe that we all know you are! untill the lakers find someone other than you to win them games, go ahead take 100 shots, but win, win, win! it is the reason they compete! right! if you have a master weapon you have to use it! i really don t understand! if he scores a 50 he is selfish, if he scores 24, he did not do his job! he did not step up! what!? leave the man alone, enjoy his presence while you can, later he would be of, and you kobe haters, will start eating your nails in regret! peace kobe 8, 24, even 69 as long as u are playing as you are, don t worry, there are people who knows who you are, and how hungry you are to win! respect!

  • Jin Posted: Nov.1 at 5:56 pm
    No way in hell will the Clips end the season below the Lakers. Lang, you need to put that pipe down…

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