[DCowboysGal]

I think the West is incredibly deep this year and at least 12 teams are playoff-material

1. San Antonio - still have big 3 with Parker, Duncan, and an improving Ginobili - D-stopper B. Bowen is back
2. Denver - best 3-man rotation in the league at the PF/C spot in Martin-Nene-Camby - will sign a shooter like Piatkowski or stopper like Hassell for the SG spot to round out a great starting 5 - Andre Miller will be an All-Star and leader in assists with so many guys to pass to now
3. Sacramento - Christie fading and Divac might be gone but team still has strong frontline with Brad Miller, Webber and young PF/C D. Songalia
4. Utah - One of the strongest teams in the West defensively with a frontline of Okur, Boozer, and AS Kirilenko - Giricek improving every year as a perimeter shooter - young and athletic team - PG's Arroyo, Lopez, and Williams fast and good - great depth in Harpring, Humphries, Lopez, Williams, Snyder et al. - J. Sloan Coach of the Year
5. Dallas - If DAL can sign a center, might have the deepest roster in the league and would move up a spot or 2 in these rankings
6. Houston - McGrady-Yao duo unstoppable - Howard decent third scoring option at PF but soft on D beside unphysical Yao - SF and PG spots weakest in conference with an aging J. Jackson and career backup T. Lue respectively - little depth other than PF M. Taylor
7. Phoenix - Question at C but PG Nash, SF AS S. Marion, SG J. Johnson/Q. Richardson, and PF A. Stoudemire awesome core 4
8. Minnesota - Age at PG and SG will catch up to them - Cassell and Sprewell won't be able to keep up defensively with younger backcourts in conference - will lose defensive stopper at SG/SF in Hassell - still weak at C - little depth otherwise even if they Hudson

9. LA Lakers - Like PHO, questions at C - Odom might also be too frail to play PF against likes of Duncan, B. Miller, Stoudemire etc. - C. Butler plateaued after great rookie season - K. Bryant has reliable 2nd scorer in Odom and possible 3rd in Butler - team will score lots, give up lots of points - if team lands a C, they're in ahead of PHO and MIN
10. Memphis - Still weak defensively at PF and C - overloaded with SG/SF's - team still not sold on J. Williams at PG and might start the defensively superior E. Watson
11. Portland - Decent frontline in Ratliff, Zach Randolph and D. Miles - Abdur-Rahim likely gone - PG shorty Telfair another T. J. Ford in the making - questionable depth
12. LA Clips - No Kobe or Ely - will probably match PHO offer for Q. Rich - Richardson, Brand, Maggette core still young and good - Kaman improving - virtually no depth with Drobjnak, House, Dooling etc. gone