NBA Pacific Division

(Note - to see the official InsideHoops predictions, check the site.)

Golden State Warriors
The Warriors will pick up the pace, but still struggle in the standings.  When the Warriors signed former Charlotte Hornets' head coach Dave Cowens to lead the team in the 2000-2001 season they took a step in the right direction.  Cowens is a hard-nosed, defence-first type of coach who should get the best out of this young group of players.  Unfortunately for Golden State fans, Cowens doesn't have anywhere near the talent level he led in Charlotte, so don't go ordering your Warriors playoff t-shirts just yet.  Expect the Warriors to take advantage of their young legs by extending their defence to 94-feet,
which should suit players like the talented Larry Hughes.  Hughes looks set for a break-out season and will team with Antawn Jamison to form the focal point of the Warriors' offence.  Expect the Warriors to catch a few teams napping and increase their win total this season but a playoff berth is still a long way off.  Any team that has Yinka Dare on their roster at the start of the season is looking for miracles.
Projected finish: Sixth in the Pacific

Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers' young guns give reason for hope but little else.  For those of you predicting that the Clippers' young nucleus of Lamar Odom, Darius Miles and Keyon Dooling will lead the hapless Clips to the promised land, you're getting a little ahead of yourselves.  Indeed, the Clippers probably have more talent on their roster than they ever have, but talent doesn't always lead to more wins in the NBA (just ask the Nets).  Very few young teams ever seriously challenge for a playoff spot and even fewer advance deep into the Playoffs.  And the Clips are so young this season that they're looking to second-year pro Odom to provide the team with on-court leadership.  The average length of NBA experience on their current roster is barely two years. Without the addition of a few veterans to help this team through the lows of an NBA season, they remain fragile, to say the least.  New coach Alvin Gentry is the classic NBA retread and LA fans can look forward to the Clippers once again battling it out with the Warriors for last place in the Pacific.
Projected finish: Last in the Pacific

Los Angeles Lakers
The champs are new and improved but still failed to keep up with the Blazers in the off-season.  Lakers fans can quit complaining already.  You finally have that power forward you've always wanted to team with the Big Aristotle.  LA are banking on the fact that Horace Grant, acquired over the Summer for the disgruntled Glenn Rice, still has some juice left and will be revitalised by being reunited with coach Phil Jackson and former Magic team-mate Shaquille O'Neal.  The only problem is, Grant is coming off the worst season of his career since his rookie year and at age 35 is not getting any younger. Certainly Grant is an upgrade at the four spot and, if the troubled Isiaih Rider pans out at shooting guard, the Lakers could well repeat.  The Lakers do after all still have a big guy called Shaq in the middle and the still improving Kobe Bryant as his sidekick.  However, have the Lakers got enough to secure the home court advantage throughout the Playoffs?  With the Blazers also in the Pacific Division, don't bank on it.
Projected finish: Second in the Pacific

Phoenix Suns
The Suns will start to set unless Jake proves to be better than Eurotrash.  What the hell were the Suns thinking?  A franchise that has consistently remained competitive over the last few years give up their starting center, Luc Longley, and all the get back is Chris Dudley and what will amount to a late first round draft pick?!  Sure, they also gained what, in the modern NBA, is considered even more valuable in cap room for next season but Chris Dudley!  Let's hope for Phoenix's sake that the Colangelos know something that we don't.  First round draft pick Iakovos "Jake" Tsakalidis will get the chance to play almost immediately, especially considering that Dudley has averaged a foul every four and a half minutes of play over his career.  Phoenix still boast a strong front court that includes Jason Kidd and Penny Hardaway, but without someone to anchor down the middle Phoenix can't expect to make much noise in the West. If Jake doesn't have jack then look for the Suns to be a first round wash-out.
Projected finish: Fourth in the Pacific

Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers will take out the West and win their second NBA Championship.  Despite the buzz around the Lakers now that they
have acquired Horace Grant and Isiaih Rider, Portland had by far the more productive off-season.  Faced with losing power forward Brian Grant to free agency, they managed to swing a deal which brought them All-Star Shawn Kemp and then picked up blue-collar rebounder Dale Davis from Indiana.  Portland are now equipped with the tools to beat the champs and should do so. Their one question mark remains over just who on such a deep team will emerge as the go-to scorer in the clutch.  After his performances last year, there should be little doubt that Rasheed Wallace must be cast into this role and the sooner the better.  Now, if Scottie Pippen can just convince Kemp to join him for conditioning drills...
Projected finish: First in the Pacific

Sacramento Kings
The Kings will slip as Chris Webber looks for a new home.  If off-court distractions can derail veteran NBA teams, imagine what they can do to a young team like the Sacramento Kings.  With Kings' power forward Chris Webber one of the most sought-after of next year's free-agent crop and speculation already running high that Webber will jump ship, it will difficult for the Kings to keep their focus on-court this season.  On the face of it, the Kings look to have strengthened
themselves in the off-season.  The pick-up of shooting guard Doug Christie and point guard Bobby Jackson should give them increased scoring in the backcourt.  However scoring was never an issue for the Kings last season and the loss of inside player Corliss Williamson should provide opposition teams with one more hole in the Kings' porous defence through which to drive.  Look for the Kings to hover around the .500 mark and again make the Playoffs but without homecourt advantage in the post-season, this team will be one and done.
Projected finish: Fifth in the Pacific

Seattle SuperSonics
Sonics are a team on the improve with Ewing on board, but still need greater bench production to make a championship run. Don't believe what the Knicks fans have been telling you.  I mean, if you believed everything they said, then Don Nelson would still be coaching there with five or six championship rings to his name by now.  So when they tell you that Patrick Ewing was holding the Knicks back last season, don't believe a word of it.  Ewing is still one of the league's elite pivotmen and, as a jump-shooting center, still has a couple of productive years left in him.  Sure he won't win any personality awards but last time we checked this wasn't a prerequisite for winning in the NBA.  With a starting line-up of Ewing, Vin Baker,
Ruben Patterson, Brent Barry and Gary Payton, the Sonics are stronger than last season and their win-loss column should reflect this.  Unfortunately their bench is pretty bare and without some moves to bring at least two or three experienced NBA back-ups on board, Patrick will retire without a championship ring.
Projected finish: Third in the Pacific
 

Oct, 2000
InsideHoops.com

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