NBA 2007-08 Season Preview: Southwest Division

The Mavericks and Spurs were the two best teams in the western conference overall and were ranked one and two accordingly. San Antonio had better luck as they won the NBA Championship while Dallas got stunned in the 1^st round to say the least. Houston was good as well as they also made the playoffs but New Orleans and Memphis were just horrific. To not beat around the bush, they sucked big time. This season will see a slight difference as to who is on top and who isn't. Analyzing and thinking about the new season, it will be something to see who gets to go where and possibly wild cards teams.

San Antonio Spurs

They won the NBA Championship just last season and were ranked the #2 seed due to a new playoff rule where the team with the best wild card record could get a higher seed depending on if they have a better record than another division winner. That being said, it would be no surprise for them to really be a challenge for the division crown and possibly going back to the finals. Duncan has done well for the team and has stepped up when needed. Look for him to be able to help propel the Spurs to win the division this time around on the road to repeating as NBA Champions.

Projected Finish: 1^st

Dallas Mavericks

Knowing full well what happened last season, they had everything going. In the regular season, this team was untouchable. The Mavericks were looked at major favorites to go straight to the NBA Finals due to the impressive playing but it couldn't be done. In what would be considered a major upset, they got knocked out by the #8 seed Golden State Warriors, a team that was expected to get beaten with ease but didn't happen. They choked and that was it. It will be competitive but with the slight slip, look for Dallas to settle for 2^nd but it will be a very close division.

Projected Finish: 2^nd

Houston Rockets

Houston is in one of the toughest divisions in the west so a 3^rd place won't mean anything bad. Sure, they may not win the division but it's going to be a long road for them to do so but an easy road for a post-season wild card spot. Yao is on the team and he's right now going to help this team as will McGrady but will that be enough? That's another story. Don't expect them to be miserable as they will do well this year but as far as the division, it will be a shock if they can pull it off and get to the next round in the post-season.

Projected Finish: 3^rd

New Orleans Hornets

New Orleans only has the Saints to celebrate at this time and the Hornets aren't exactly going to be very good. They're in the Western Conference so they have to do better and be more aggressive than they've been as of late. Without team chemistry, they'll continue to flounder and not even make a dent or a mark to go to the next level. They won't finish last but right now the key to this team is find a direction and go forward instead of going in a negative manner.

Projected Finish: 4^th

Memphis Grizzlies

They had three years of the post-season and couldn't win a game in that area. Now they go back to their losing ways back when they were in Vancouver. It is as if the team has a lack of a long-term plan as far as being a good team. While they may have potential, it doesn't bring in the fans. Potential doesn't guarantee success in anything; it is a matter of true desire of what they really want. Thinking closely on this situation, it would seem to be impossible for them to really put it together just like that after having a really bad season. If Memphis doesn't find out who they are this season, it will be bad for them so don't expect much especially coming out of this division.

Projected Finish: 5^thWith all that being said, this season for this division doesn't seem to have much in the way of change but it will have competition. It will be a three-team division to see who wins it and who doesn't in the very end. As this season marches on, it will be decided who survives and who doesn't. Coming up next will be the Northwest Division and then the Western Conference Wild Cards.