I didn't expect anything less from this douche bag http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...lug=sk-westrankings092806&prov=yhoo&type=lgns The Mavericks are the defending Western Conference champions, and they have to feel good about finally dethroning their nemesis – San Antonio. But after blowing a 2-0 Finals lead – and a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead over Miami in Game 3 – the Mavs have plenty to ponder as they enter this season. Did they blow their best chance at a ring? Because making it back to the Finals isn't going to be easy. The Spurs will be as strong as ever, the Suns and Clippers are poised for a breakthrough, and a host of talented teams throughout the West figure to give Dallas all it can handle in the regular season. In fact, it's easy to make the case that 14 of the conference's 15 teams are good enough to make the playoffs. (Sorry Portland.) With that in mind, the Mavericks may suffer from an early season hangover as they take on their daunting task. Still, Dallas won the West a year ago with a terrific playoff run and beat the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 7 of the conference semifinals. That alone earns the Mavs the No. 1 spot. ADVERTISEMENT 1. Dallas Mavericks – Avery Johnson instilled a defensive mindset that his team desperately needed. The Mavs' depth and versatility and the brilliant play of Dirk Nowitzki gives them a great chance to get back to the Finals. 2. San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan should be much healthier than last season when he struggled with a foot injury. The Spurs usually bounce back strongly from playoff defeats, and this year should be no exception. 3. Phoenix Suns – Can Amare Stoudemire return to his once-dominant self? If not, Steve Nash will have a big load on his shoulders. Again. 4. Los Angeles Clippers – Elton Brand became a full-fledged star last season. He headlines one of the most talented teams in the league. 5. Los Angeles Lakers – Does Kobe Bryant have enough help? Vladimir Radmanovic will shoot the ball well, but he needs to rebound to help solve L.A.'s interior woes. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Randy Foye and Mike James will add some much needed fire to the Wolves. They could be just what Kevin Garnett needs to help turn around this team's fortunes. 7. Sacramento Kings – Eric Musselman replaces Rick Adelman, and he'll place more emphasis on defense. The Kings will have to replace Bonzi Wells' offense, though. 8. Houston Rockets – Will the Big Two stay healthy? Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady have more help, but it always comes down to their physical status. 9. New Orleans Hornets – An offseason spending spree has Hornets fans buzzing (sorry). Chris Paul will lead an explosive attack. 10. Utah Jazz – The Jazz are slowly building a nice foundation, but Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko must stay healthy. 11. Denver Nuggets – This team was a mess by the end of last season, and George Karl has some issues to deal with. But Carmelo Anthony's performance for Team USA at the world championships bodes well for the Nuggets. 12. Memphis Grizzlies – Pau Gasol's injury changes everything because the Grizzlies run everything through him. They'll have to survive the first few months of the season without him, but by then, it could be too late. 13. Golden State Warriors – Don Nelson is back and Bay Area fans are pumped. But Nellie will have to work some magic because the Warriors' roster hasn't changed from last season's 34-win team. 14. Seattle SuperSonics – The real question isn't whether the Sonics will make the playoffs. It's whether they'll stay in Seattle. 15. Portland Trail Blazers – Brandon Roy is a nice-looking rookie, but he's joining the worst team in the West. The Blazers are still in the dreaded "rebuilding" mode.
If that really is updated to reflect last night's developments, then all I can say is "wow". Lakers @ 5 and Wolves @ 6.
From yesterday. Kerr is the same one that said Kaman is almost as good as Yao. Kerr also called Yao a Chinaman. I don't pay much attention to his columns at all.
Steve Kerr has always been a Rockets hater, so you guys should have known that by now...this article isn't even worth talking about.
btw Kerr's a dumb***.. he needs to get off MJ's groin area. Rockets need to move up into top 4 or 5 atleast and Hornets need to move up into the top 8 for sure.. Kings need to drop down to atleast 10th and Lakers will be 7th or 8th, Interchangeably with Hornets.
Like it or not, his assessment is correct. The biggest question mark will be if Yao and T-Mac can stay healthy. If they do, their stock will rise, accordingly.
i don't care where he ranks us even though i think he's incredibly wrong. i do have a problem with his, "but it always comes down to their physical status." last year was a fluke. yao ming has been an iron man as far as games played in his career and tracy has been above average in games played. right now they are both completely healthy.
Kerr is correct in that they have a bunch of question marks but 8th place is a bit harsh. They should be better than Minny and Sac and at the very least even with the Fakers er Lakers. Actually, they are closer to the Clippers at 5 than the Lakers because they now have 3 proven scorers compared to the Kobe Show.
This has nothing to do with Steve Kerr's like or dislike of the Rockets. It has everything to do with his absolute ineptitude as a sportswriter. His role on the Bulls never required him to know anything about basketball. So he never learned anything about basketball and shows it to us every week.
even before the signing we were better than kings,twolves and lakers and possibly clippers..oh well them hate as they say Loved by few Hated by Many
that pretty much applies to every team out there...look s#!t happens as do injuries. if Kerr's buddy "Timmy" went down with an injury the previous season he'd still rank them near the top the next season and proclaim it was a fluke injury. he's just being an a$$ in this article. we've known about tmac's back way b4 we even considered trading for him. he most likely will never play an entire season but when he's on the court great things happen. Yao's injury was the fluke. Kerr's just a giant dousche bag.