The NBA season is starting up soon and here is a look ahead at the Southwest Division and a preview of what teams like the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans could do this year. Last season all the teams made the playoffs and this year that could happen again.
All of the teams made improvements and added to their rosters, but some did better than others. The Rockets won the division last year a game ahead of San Antonio and Memphis, while the Mavs were fourth and the Pelicans fifth. This year the teams all should be in contention for the playoffs and the top three should be in the mix in the top half of the west.
The Rockets made a run to the west finals and while they return James Harden and added Ty Lawson, this division is the Spurs to lose. The Spurs signed LaMarcus Aldridge and brought back Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and that should give the team the depth and frontcourt they need to make a run. The Big 3 is back with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker and that should be enough for a division title. Houston will be right in the mix again and Harden could win the MVP this year after coming in second last season.
The Mavericks nearly made a huge splash with DeAndre Jordan, but they couldn't get that deal completed before the center bolted back to the Clippers. The team added Zaza Pachulia in a trade and also signed JaVale McGee and Samuel Dalembert to help make up for that loss. The team signed Wesley Matthews and they have Chandler Parsons looking to get healthy and once those two are 100 percent, the Mavs will be much improved. But the health of those players is a major question to start the season.
The Grizzlies signed back Marc Gasol and with Mike Conley still running point, the team has two of the best players in the division. Memphis is deep and once again they will be a team to be reckoned with. The Pelicans took a step to the playoffs last season and this year they should be in the mix again. The team has Norris Cole back and with Anthony Davis getting his contract extension, the team can build around him for years. Expect Davis to be in the MVP conversation this season.
Prediction: Spurs win division. Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Mavericks finish in that order. Spurs, Rockets, Grizz make playoffs, Mavs and Pelicans battle for bottom spots, one likely makes it. Also: Anthony Davis finishes in top five of MVP voting.
