All Things Basketball with GD - 2021-22 NBA Western Conference predictions

The All Things Basketball with GD podcast - 2021-22 NBA Western Conference predictions

Show Notes:

NBA Western Conference predictions (00:25)

Southwest Division

1) Dallas Mavericks - Jason Kidd coaching Luka Doncic should be interesting; is the Luka/Kristaps Porginzis rift over? new: Reggie Bullock, Moses Brown, Frank Ntilikina

2) Memphis Grizzlies - health of Jaren Jackson Jr key to their success; can guys like Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson & Brandon Clarke improve? new: Steven Adams, Jarrett Culver; rookies: Ziaire Williams

3) San Antonio Spurs - does Greg Popovich stay in SA? team is in rebuild mode it seems; can Keldon Johnson grow his game; solid backcourt of Dejounte Murray & Dwayne White; new: Doug McDermott, Bryn Forbes, Thaddeus Young, Zach Collins; 

4) New Orleans Pelicans - Zion Williamson's foot a concern; who runs the point: Devonte Graham, Tomas Santoransky, Kira Lewis Jr?; new: Jonas Valanciunas; rookies: Trey Murphy III

5) Houston Rockets - a rebuild taken place here; is Kevin Porter Jr & rookie Jalen Green the future backcourt? what to do with John Wall? who's your SF: Eric Gordon, Jae'Sean Tate, Kenyon Martin Jr; new: Daniel Theis; rookies: Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba, Josh Christopher

Northwest Division

1) Utah Jazz - managing Mike Conley's hamstring all season; the challenge of finishing atop the West; new: Hassan Whiteside, Rudy Gay; rookies: Jared Butler

2) Denver Nuggets - relying on the combination of Monte Morris & Facundo Campazzo holding down the PG spot until Jamal Murray returns from his ACL injury; contributions from Aaron Gordon in his 1st full season in Denver; new: Jeff Green; rookies: Nah'Shon (Bones) Hyland

3) Portland Blazers - will CJ McCollum or Damian Lillard remain in Portland? health of Justuf Nurkic; monitoring Chauncey Billups 1st year as coach; new: Cody Zeller, Ben McLemore

4) Minnesota T-wolves - Karl Anthony Towns/D'Angelo Russell duo taking the team to the next level? can both Anthony Edwards & Malik Beasley co-exist in this offense? new: Patrick Beverly

5) Oklahoma City Thunder - who will be the foundational pieces to surround Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Luguentz Dort, Darius Bazley, Theo Maledon, Aleksej Pokusevski? rookie: Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aaron Wiggins

Pacific Division

1) Los Angeles Lakers - looking to put it all together after a complete overhaul; can Russell Westbrook & LeBron James co-exist as ball-dominant players?; new: Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, DeAndre Jodran, Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington, Kent Bazemore, Trevor Ariza

2) Golden State Warriors - pick contingent on Steph Curry's health; getting back Klay Thompson also key for them; new: Andre Iguodala, Nemanja Bjelica; rookies: Jonathan Kuminga; Moses Moody

3) Phoenix Suns - load managing CP3 throughout the season; will the impasse on DeAndre Ayton's rookie extension have any effect? new: Javale McGee; Elfrid Payton; Landry Shamet

4) Los Angeles Clippers - will be without Kawhi Leonard perhaps for the season; need guys like Marcus Morris, Terrance Mann, Ivan Zubac & Reggie Jackson to step up in supporting Paul George; new: Eric Bledsoe; rookies: Keon Johnson, Brandon Boston Jr

5) Sacramento Kings - a team on the rise but in a tough division; what will Marvin Bagley III bring to the team?; new: Tristan Thompson, Alex Len

PLAYOFFS: UTA, LAL, DEN, PHO, GSW

PLAY-IN: MEM, LAC, POR, SAS

CONFERENCE CHAMPS: LAL

DARK HORSE: PHO, GSW

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