Western Conference

It took just about all 82 games to figure out, but here he how the final seeding ended up for the Western Conference:

1. San Antonio Spurs

• Last season: Lost to the Phoenix Suns in the Conference Semi-Finals
• This season: Best start in franchise history and had the best record in the league until the very last game of the season. (The Bulls ended up 62-20 and the the Spurs ended up 61-21.) However the team lost six in a row this season for the first time since the Tim Duncan era.  The Big 3 of Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili spent much of the season healthy, but all suffered injuries toward the end of the season. Duncan missed 4 of the 6 games of the losing streak. Ginobili hyper-extended his elbow at the 2:14 mark of the first quarter of their season finale against Phoenix on Wednesday.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

• Last season: NBA Champions
• This season: Went 17-1 immediately following the All Star break, but then lost 5 in a row and barely beat out the Junior Varsity Spurs squad and needed overtime to beat the Sacramento Kings in their season finale.
• Notes: I can’t help but wonder if the Lakers will be able to “turn it on” for the playoffs. One last match up with the Spurs on Tuesday, could be a potential Western Conference Final preview. However, the Spurs have the #1 seed locked up and Coach Gregg Popovich chose to rest his starters. Lost Andrew Bynum to a hyper-extended his surgically repaired knee in Tuesday’s game versus the Spurs. Bynum suffered a bone bruise and is expected to available for game one of the first round.

3. Dallas Mavericks

• Last season: Lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round
• This season: Re-signed Dirk Nowitzki after some speculation following the early and unexpected playoff exit at the end of the 2009-10 season. The Mavericks lost Caron Butler to a knee injury in early January and Coach Rick Carlisle says a first round return for Butler is highly unlikely. The Mavs have not beaten a Western Conference playoff team since January 19.
• Notes: Despite being the third best team in the West, behind the Spurs who have been having a franchise season and the defending champions, it seems as though Mavs fans have given up on the post season. A recent article in the Dallas Star-Telegram pegs the Mavericks as “an aging team trying to slap together one last miracle run for Dirk Nowitzki.” Could it be true? A series of playoff runs in the 00s, including 2006 playoffs when they were up 2-0 on the Heat, shows the Mavericks as a team built only strong enough for the regular season. You know what they say, always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Last season: Lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round
• This season: The acquisition of Kendrick Perkins at the trade deadline seems to have given the Thunder the inside presence they were lacking. Despite the top 3 teams going through their own struggles, the Thunder have won 16 of their last 20 games. Proving that this young team is one that could cause problems for some of the older teams in the West. (Side note: After watching the All Star game, my roommate and I now randomly scream out “Durantula!” ) This team is scary as they are young and up and coming. They have a long time to be a powerhouse in the Western Conference.
• Notes: Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl hopes to avoid the hot Thunder and play the Mavericks in the first round. The team has won 5 in a row and looks to make it 6 as they play the Milwaukee Bucks in tonight’s season finale.

5. Denver Nuggets

• Last season: Lost to the Utah Jazz in the first round
• This season: The team spent most of the season dealing with the “Carmelo drama.” Most people might have expected a complete collapse after losing their franchise player, but the Nuggets are 17-4 since the trade. The Nuggets and the Thunder are playing well going into the playoffs and whoever makes it to the second round will prove to be a tough opponent.

6. Portland Trailblazers

• Last season: Lost to the Phonenix Suns in the first round
• This season: LaMarcus Aldridge was probably the biggest All-Star snub this season. Despite having only Marcus Camby being the only player on the team with deep playoff experience, this team will be bothersome to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Do not be surprised if this is the team in the Western Conference to pull the upset.
• (Side note: When was the last time Greg Oden did anything to be effective? Besides as a bench warmer? The man made $6.7 million this year doing nothing. I know, I know he’s injured, but he will always be one of those players we’ll wonder, “what if?”)

7. New Orleans Hornets

• Last season: Did not qualify for the playoffs
• This season: Started out just as hot as the Spurs with a 12-5 record through November, but went through at 7-9 slump in December and their play has been so-so ever since. A perennial favorite in the Western Conference since Chris Paul joined the team, this season has been slightly better than last.
• Notes: Owner George Shinn gave up control of the team to the NBA shortly after the season started, leaving many to wonder if we’ll be looking at the Kansas City Hornets in a couple of seasons.

8. Memphis Grizzlies

• Last season: Did not qualify for the playoffs
• This season: Ended with a record of 46-36, improving 6 games in the win column from the 2009-10 season.
• Notes: The Grizzles are 0-12 in the playoffs, having been swept by the Spurs, Suns and the Mavericks in the first round. After a four year absence in the playoffs, the Grizz are making a return. Even though they are the eighth seed, the Grizzles are not to be taken lightly this year. They split the season series with both the Spurs and the Lakers and won the series against the Mavericks, 3-1.

Here’s what I think will happen: Spurs, Lakers, Nuggets, Trailblazers make it out of the first round, though not without a fight. If any of these series go less than 6 games, I’ll be surprised. Trailblazers and Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and then the Spurs to play whoever comes out of the East. Could I be wrong about the Spurs? Sure, but as a life-long fan, I have to believe.