The NBA's Southwest Division has been traditionally strong with presence of the Texan triumvirate that are the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. But with the emergence of the Memphis Grizzlies as the defensive powerhouse and the solid offseason acquisitions done by New Orleans Pelicans, it's not crazy to think that all five teams in the division may play deep into April this coming season.
San Antonio Spurs
Last season: 58-24, Western Conference Champion, Lost to Miami Heat 4-3 in the 2013 NBA Finals.
Projected Starting Five: Point guard Tony Parker (20.3 ppg, 7.6 apg, 52.2 percent FG), shooting guard Danny Green (10.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 42.9 percent 3s), small forward Kawhi Leonard (11.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.7 spg), forward/ center Tim Duncan (17.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.7 bpg), forward/ center Tiago Splitter (10.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 56.0 percent FG).
Key Additions: guard Marco Belinelli (free agent, Bulls).
Key Losses: Gary Neal (free-agent, Milwaukee Bucks), assistant coach Brett Brown (Hired as head coach by Philadelphia 76ers), assistant coach Mike Budenholzer (Hired as head coach by the Atlanta Hawks),
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich, four-time NBA champion, 905-423 coaching record.
Things to Watch : The core group of Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan are aging as seasons pass by. However, the Spurs' Big 3 proved once again that age is only a number after reaching the NBA Finals last season. Though their heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat would surely haunt them throughout their campaign this year, the Spurs are still expected to contend for the NBA championship this spring.
The signing of Marco Bilinelli was a nice move from the team's front office team, but look for the Spurs to make some moves before the midseason trade deadline.
Memphis Grizzlies
Last season: 56-26, Reach the Western Conference Finals but lost to San Antonio Spurs 4-0
Projected Starting Five: point guard Mike Conley (14.6 ppg, 2.17 spg, 6.0 apg), shooting guard Tony Allen (8.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 spg), small forward Tayshaun Prince (10.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg), power forward Zach Randolph (15.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.4 apg), center Marc Gasol (14.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg).
Key Additions: forward Mike Miller (free agent, Heat), center Kosta Koufos (trade, Nuggets), guard Nick Calathes (trade for rights, Mavericks), guard Jamaal Franklin (draft, San Diego State).
Key Losses: Coach Lionel Hollins (contract not renewed), forward Darrell Arthur (trade, Nuggets) guard Tony Wroten (trade, 76ers).
Head Coach: Dave Joerger, first season with Grizzlies, first in NBA.
Things to Watch: The departure of coach Lionel Hollins could hurt the Grizzlies this season. Though Dave Joerger has been around during the Grizzlies' playoff runs for the past three years, Hollins' ability to keep his team focus and motivated will surely be missed.
Shooting is the primary reason behind the Grizzlies' disappointing stint in the Western Conference Finals. With the Spurs clogging the lane inside, the Grizzlies have no option but to bank their luck on their unreliable outside shooting game. The return of former Sixth Man of the Year winner Mike Miller solved this problem, but the Grizz's season will entirely depend on the performance of Tyshaun Prince, who saw his numbers dropped since he was traded to Memphis.
Dallas Mavericks
Last season: 41-41, missed the postseason.
Projected Starting Five: point guard Jose Calderon (11.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 7.1 apg), shooting guard Monta Ellis (19.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.0 apg), small forward Shawn Marion (12.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.4 apg), power forward Dirk Nowitzki (17.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), center Samuel Dalembert (6.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.4 apg).
Key Additions: guard Calderon (free agent, Pistons), shooting guard Ellis (free agent, Bucks), center Dalembert (free agent, Bucks), forward/center DeJuan Blair (free agent, Spurs) guard Devin Harris (free agent, Hawks), guard Wayne Ellington (free agent, Cavaliers).
Key Losses: guard O.J. Mayo (free agent, Bucks), guard Darren Collison (free agent, Clippers), forward/ cemyerElton Brand (free agent, Hawks), center Chris Kaman (free agent, Lakers).
Head Coach: Rick Carlisle, sixth season with Mavericks, 12th season overall; 520-366.
Things To Watch: The reign of Dirk Nowitzki as the Mavs' primary scorer may come to an end with the arrival of Monta Ellis. Hampered by knee problems, the 35-year old Nowitzki couldn't carry his team back to the playoffs by himself. Ellis is a player capable of scoring at least 20 or more points consistently. However, his erratic field goal shooting is certainly an issue of concern for the Mavericks, who used to boast one of the most efficient offense in the league.
Jose Calderon gives the Mavs a solid pass-first point guard, though they need to have better help on defense, as the backcourt duo of Ellis and Calderon is not the best combination to defend opposing guards. If Dirk plays at least 75 games this season, the Mavericks would surely have a better chance in returning to the postseason.
New Orleans Pelicans
Last Season: 27-55, missed playoffs.
Projected Starting Five: point guard Jrue Holiday (17.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 8 apg), shooting guard Eric Gordon (17 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.3 apg), small forward Al-Farouq Aminu (7.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 apg), power forward Anthony Davis (13.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.8 bpg), center Greg Stiemsma (4.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg).
Key Additions: guard Holiday (trade, 76ers), guard Tyreke Evans (trade, Kings), guard Anthony Morrow (free agent, Mavericks) center Stiemsma (free agent, Timberwolves).
Key Losses: Guard Greivis Vasquez (trade, Kings), Center Robin Lopez (trade, Trail Blazers), guard Roger Mason Jr. (free agent, Heat).
Head Coach: Monty Williams, fourth season with Pelicans (formerly called the Hornets), fourth season overall; 94-136.
Things To Watch: Anthony Davis is expected to have a monster season in his second year as a pro. Davis has already proven that he can dominate in several games last season and it's just a matter of maintaining consistency for him in order to become a full-fledged star. All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans are certainly upgrades in their backcourt, but the Pelicans will surely missed Vasquez, who really played well with Davis last year. This team is pretty stacked from the point guard to power forward positions, but the need to trade for a defensive center is very much needed for them to become a playoff contender.
Houston Rockets
Last season: 45-37, lost to Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 in first round.
Projected Starting Five: point guard Jeremy Lin (13.4 ppg, 3 rpg, 6.1 apg), shooting guard James Harden (25.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.8 apg), small forward Chandler Parsons (15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.5 apg), power forward Donatas Motiejunas (5.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.2 bpg) , C Dwight Howard (17.1 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 2.4 bpg).
Key Additions: Center Howard (free agent, Lakers), Center Marcus Camby (free agent, Knicks), Forward Ronnie Brewer (free agent, Thunder),
Key Losses: Forward Thomas Robinson (trade, Blazers), Forward Royce White (trade, 76ers).
Head Coach: Kevin McHale, third season with the Rockets, fifth season overall; 118-124.
Things To Watch Out: Pressure is the name of the game, and the pressure is on Dwight Howard to prove to everybody that he made the right decision. Howard turned down the fame and fortune of Los Angeles to give himself a chance to win a title alongside budding superstar James Harden in Houston. And after a strong season last year that saw the Rockets take former NBA Finalists the Oklahoma City Thunder to a surprising and grueling six game series in the first round, the Rockets are coming in with high expectations after landing the NBA's premier center, arguably the best big man to fill the center's role since Hakeem Olajawon. The Howard-Harden duo will surely create all sorts of troubles for opposing teams, but the success of the team may depend on the improvement of point guard and fan favorite Jeremy Lin, as well as their bench. Of course, a trade that would land them an All-Star-caliber power forward would certainly speed up the process for them to be a legitimate title contender, if they have the assets to trade for one.
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