NBA Pacific Division preview: Kobe Bryant vs. the world
Team to beat: The Los Angeles Clippers might have the best 1-2 punch in the NBA in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, and they continue to add depth around those two every offseason. New backup center Spencer Hawes will compete with teammate Jamal Crawford for the sixth man of the year award. Small forward is an issue, but the Clippers have enough talent to defend their title.
Key story line: Kobe Bryant is angry. In his eyes, he has been disrespected by everyone around him. He seems almost healthy after missing all but six games last season. No one knows what to expect out of the Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard at 36. The Lakers have a weak roster, but Bryant won't go down quietly.
Five best players:
- Clippers PG Chris Paul
- Clippers PF Blake Griffin
- Warriors PG Stephen Curry
- Kings C DeMarcus Cousins
- Suns PG Goran Dragic
Sleeper: At 48-34 last season, the Phoenix Suns were one of the best teams ever to miss the playoffs. They fortified in the offseason, added Isaiah Thomas for a sixth-man role, bolstering a dual-point guard system. Eric Bledsoe signed on for five years, and his health could take the Suns up a level. They went 27-13 when he started last year.
Breakout star: Klay Thompson's name kept coming back up in NBA news over the offseason, first because the Golden State Warriors weren't willing to trade him for Kevin Love, then for his big performances for Team USA, then in the discussion of the best backcourts in the NBA. He's not Curry's equal in their Splash Brothers partnership, but he does play a huge role with his defense and spot-up shooting.
Best newcomer: Since Thomas stayed within the division (traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Suns), this spot goes to Lakers point guard Jeremy Lin. He never fit well with the Houston Rockets and gets a chance to play a supporting role for Bryant on a team starved for offensive production. He's a streaky scorer, but "Linsanity," when he rose to fame with the New York Knicks in February 2012, wasn't that long ago.
Prediction: The Clippers will edge the Warriors for the division title, with both making the playoffs. The Suns could squeak in, too, or they could be left out again if the magic wears off. The Kings and Lakers, though, will be among the West's worst teams.