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Western Conference Bubble Teams Pt. 3
Which Western Conference teams are ready to move up? Which ones failed to make the necessary moves over the summer? Training camp is nearly upon us, so we'll break down the bubble teams in this HOOPSWORLD exclusive!
NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Hornets have approached this season with an air of confidence unbecoming of a team that finished the 2006-07 season with a record of 39-43. The reason, however, is obvious. Prior to the start of last season most pundits picked the Hornets to be a playoff team, and only a rash of injuries prevented them from living up to that perceived potential.
The Hornets were thought to be big winners in last summer's free agency sweepstakes, having landed Peja Stojakovic for what is likely to be the rest of his career. Unfortunately, he missed all but 13 games due to a back injury and has yet to pay the benefits the Hornets were looking forward to. In addition, the Hornets lost Chris Paul for 18 games, Bobby Jackson for 26, David West for 30, and Cedric Simmons for 39. In short, they spent the entire season waiting for a rash of health that would never arrive.
This season should be different. Everyone's healthy going into training camp and the team has added Mo Peterson to help fill some holes if injuries strike again. Peterson is a valuable locker room presence, a veteran with playoff experience, and he can play three positions if need be. He isn't a flashy player, but he was one of the more coveted free agents on the market this summer for all of the intangibles he brings to the table.
Does standing pat save adding one veteran give the Hornets enough of an edge to make the playoffs? It's easy to make that argument. Chris Paul will be even better than he has ever been, Stojakovic will be back with a vengeance, and the city of New Orleans will bring them a welcome that will surely inspire the team to help take their fans' minds off of the tragedy around them (still improperly aided by our government). The only thing standing between this team and a playoff berth is the improvement of the rest of their conference. Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Houston, and Utah would seem to have the top five playoff spots all locked up. The battle for the remaining three spots will be vicious, indeed. Bill Ingram
Los Angeles Clippers: Despite last season’s disappointment, the Los Angeles Clippers expected to come back strong and compete for a playoff spot in 2007-08… that was until Elton Brand tore his Achilles’ tendon in August. The injury was nothing short of a catastrophic blow for a team still trying to prove they’re for real, and one has to believe their chances of making the playoffs this season in a very tough Western Conference are remote at best.
That said, the Los Angeles Clippers have plenty of talent on their roster in Corey Maggette, Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Tim Thomas, and Chris Kaman. The team also introduced veterans Ruben Patterson and Brevin Knight into the fold along with rookies Al Thornton and Jared Jordan, who by the way was the best point guard in Orlando’s Pre-Draft Camp last May.
For the Los Angeles Clippers to have any chance, Sam Cassell has to stay healthy this season. While Elton Brand was no doubt phenomenal during the Los Angeles Clippers’ magical playoff run two years ago, it was Sam Cassell who was the catalyst. His clutch shooting and confidence was contagious, and last season the Los Angeles Clippers missed Sam Cassell’s swagger down the stretch as he was out of the lineup due to injury (he only played in 58 games in 2006-07). With Elton Brand on the shelf, though, this is going to have to be the year of the Chris Kaman… Chris Kaman. The Clips gave him a lot of jack just prior to last season, and he had a sub-par year. He will have to pick up the scoring slack with Elton Brand out this season for the Los Angeles Clippers to truly compete.
Patterson should help LA defensively, but he’s a guy who has worn out his welcome during previous stops. If Patterson’s happy with his playing time, he’ll be a good addition for the Los Angeles Clippers. However, if he starts getting cranky, things may not end well.
Knight will provide a nice veteran presence for the team and is one of the game’s better assist men. However, he has also had a history of injury, and with Sam Cassell getting up in years and Shaun Livingston’s future still uncertain, rookie Jared Jordan had better be ready to step in and contribute.
The reality of the situation is that teams don’t replace players like Elton Brand. He’s been a 20-point and 10-rebound player his entire career, and even if the Los Angeles Clippers replace his numbers in a platoon format, it will be very hard – if not impossible – to replace the impact he has on a game-to-game basis. If the Los Angeles Clippers played in the East, they’d have more than a puncher’s chance of making the playoffs. However, making the playoffs this year in the Western Conference will be an extremely tall order. Travis Heath
TIMBERWOLVES: Certainly, it is odd to believe the Timberwolves improved their cause by losing a player of Kevin Garnett’s stature, but that just may be the case. The problem? This overall improved Minnesota team must still have countless factors go in their favor, as well as some dumb luck to return to the playoffs in 2007-08.
In order for this young team to achieve a playoff berth, head coach Randy Wittman must determine a consistent rotation and individual player roles as soon as possible. If Minnesota begins the year with a slow start out of the gate, that may already be too late. Seemingly, the younger players this team has acquired all seem willing to step up or step back and accept whatever role they are given.
What should be interesting to watch is whether or not the veterans bring the younger players down this season. Ricky Davis made it clear at the end of last season he is not willing to accept a sixth man role at this stage in his career, so how will Davis - as well as Mark Blount - react if coming off the bench is what Randy Wittman deems best for the team?
Juwan Howard has requested a trade and, although the request was given respectfully and quietly, how much will Howard’s heart be in “teacher” mode to the Wolf Cubs if no trade is consummated? Will veterans Trenton Hassell and Marko Jaric sit quietly at the end of the bench for the entire season without becoming indignant?
The Timberwolves are using the 2007-08 season to find the players who will step up and become the team’s cornerstones to compliment Al Jefferson for the next decade. Randy Foye has a great opportunity ahead of him this year, as do Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Corey Brewer, Craig Smith, Rashad McCants…and even Sebastian Telfair and Chris Richard.
Who will accept the challenge? Stephen Litel
SACRAMENTO: The Maloof Brothers made two significant offseason moves to help return the Kings back to respectability after one season removed from the postseason. But unfortunately neither of these transactions centered around the two players whose futures remain uncertain in Sac-town.
Mike Bibby and Ron Artest are no strangers to the rumor mill this summer and have each taken their share of spins. The Cleveland Cavaliers have courted Bibby hard since last season's trade deadline according to published sources and the New York Knicks continue to contemplate bringing back Artest, a Queens, New York native.
The reality is neither player is going anywhere despite speculation at least one will be shipped out of town before long. Without Bibby and Artest in the fold, you can forget about being a Western Conference bubble team. The Kings would instantly deflate.
Reggie Theus, who was one of the offseason additions, has already said Mike Bibby will determine his own minutes and Ron Artest will do his thing no matter what. Kevin Martin, one of the most efficient players in the league, returns after posting career numbers. If Theus can get this trio to respectively share the ball, the Kings won't have to endure another 49 loss season.
But by far the best move Sacramento made this summer was signing free-agent Mikki Moore from the New Jersey Nets. He had a career-best season in points, rebounds, and minutes played and essentially saved the kind of season the Nets had after injuries ravished their frontline. Moore is a human can of Red Bull, all energy with no off switch, and is sure to be a crowd favorite at Arco Arena. Rookie center Spencer Hawes, the 10th overall pick this season out of Washington, will also bring size and a defensive presence to the paint for a team that desperately needs both.
There was talk around the league last season that the Kings locker room was in a constant state of disarray but with Reggie Theus and Mikki Moore on board, that environment is about to change. Yet in the end, it will take the combination of Mike Bibby and Ron Artest to lead Sacramento back to the postseason and depending if trade rumors persists, it could be a long journey. Wendell Maxey
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