NBA Pacific Division Season Preview, Odds & Rankings

WESTERN CONFERENCE – PACIFIC DIVISION

Golden State Warriors

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 1

Scorecast Win Prediction – 59

The Year That Was: 58-24, NBA Champions.

Worth Noting: Is this the last year of the dynasty with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson likely hitting free agency next summer? That is the headline to keep you interested throughout the year but in reality the warriors got better in the offseason adding DeMarcus Cousins, who signed a one-year deal. He’s recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in January and expected to be fit by late December.

Key Stat: 4. The number of Championships the Warriors are chasing in 5 seasons.

1966. Year that the facility now known as Oracle Arena opened. It’s the oldest arena in the league and will close this season. Chase center promises to open in 2019 and be the best facility in Basketball.

Roster In’s & Out’s

• STAY1: Jordan Bell, Quinn Cook, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Damian Jones, Shaun Livingston, Kevon Looney, Klay Thompson.
• IN2: DeMarcus Cousins (NOP), Marcus Derrickson (R), Jacob Evans (R), Jonas Jerebko (UTA), Damion Lee(ATL), Alfonzo McKinnie (TOR).

OUT4: Chris Boucher (TOR), JaVale McGee (LAL), Zaza Pachulia (DET), David West, Nick Young.

L.A. Lakers

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 3

Scorecast Win Prediction – 51 – Best Sportsbet

The Year That Was: 35-47.

Worth Noting:  They added a player you may have heard of by the name of LeBron James at the bargain price of $153 million for four seasons. James, who played a league-high 3,948 minutes last year (counting postseason) turns 34 on Dec. 30. They also added the electric Rajon Rondo and have a young core with a season of minutes under their belt.

Key Stat: 48.5. The betting line on the Lakers’ projected number of wins. The last time one of James’ team failed to win 50 games was 2011-12 when Miami went 46-20. By the way was he won his first title that year.

Roster In’s & Out’s

• STAY1: Lonzo Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac.
• IN2: Michael Beasley (NYK), Isaac Bonga (R), LeBron James (CLE), JaVale McGee (GSW), Svi Mykhailiuk (R), Rajon Rondo (NOP), Lance Stephenson (IND), Moritz Wagner (R).

OUT4: Thomas Bryant (WAS), Luol Deng (MIN), Tyler Ennis, Channing Frye (CLE), Andre Ingram, Brook Lopez(MIL), Gary Payton II, Julius Randle (NOP), Isaiah Thomas (DEN).

L.A. Clippers

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 21

Scorecast Win Prediction – 36

The Year That Was: 42-40.

Worth Noting: The Clippers are back to being L.A.’s Bridesmaid at least for this season and in all likely the next 4. The trio of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan has been blown up and the club is stockpiling money in the hopes of being a major player when next summer’s free-agency opens. Which is when you should check back.

Key Stat: 22.4. Scoring average for Lou Williams, who became the first player to win Sixth Man of the Year for two teams (Toronto, 2014-15). He is a must starter and look to see that average increase in 2018/19.

Roster In’s & Out’s

• STAY1: Avery Bradley, Danilo Gallinari, Montrezl Harrell, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Milos Teodosic, Sindarius Thornwell, Louis Williams, Patrick Beverley (NG), Tyrone Wallace (NG).
• IN2: Ángel Delgado (R), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (R), Marcin Gortat (WAS), Luc Mbah a Moute (HOU), Johnathan Motley (DAL), Jerome Robinson (R), Mike Scott (WAS).

OUT4: Sam Dekker (CLE), Jawun Evans, Wesley Johnson (NOP), DeAndre Jordan (DAL), Austin Rivers (WAS), C.J. Williams (MIN).

Phoenix Suns

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 24

Scorecast Win Prediction – 33

The Year That Was: 21-61, worst record in the league.

Worth Noting:   The Suns fired general manager Ryan McDonough a week before the season started, which is almost always a sign of disater or a trade falling short. McDonough drafted Arizona center Deandre Ayton with the first overall pick and traded for Villanova swingman Mikal Bridges, another lottery pick.

Key Stat: 24.7. Points per game last season for Devin Booker. In July, Booker signed a five-year, $158 million extension and is coming off Hand surgery. Expect that number to fall with the introduction of Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson.

Roster In’s & Out’s

• STAY1: Dragan Bender, Devin Booker, Tyson Chandler, Troy Daniels, Josh Jackson, Davon Reed, T.J. Warren.
• IN2: Ryan Anderson (HOU), Trevor Ariza (HOU), Deandre Ayton (R), Mikal Bridges (R), Isaiah Canaan, Jamal Crawford (MIN), Richaun Holmes (PHI), George King (R), De’Anthony Melton (R), Élie Okobo (R).

OUT4: Marquese Chriss (HOU), Jared Dudley (BKN), Shaquille Harrison, Danuel House, Brandon Knight(HOU), Alex Len (ATL), Elfrid Payton (NOP), Alec Peters, Tyler Ulis (CHI), Alan Williams (BKN).

Sacramento Kings

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 30

Scorecast Win Prediction – 21

The Year That Was: 27-55.

Worth Noting: The Kings are extremely young, but they do posess talent. Just not enough yet to run with the big boys in this conference. “It’s a season where we’re going to commit to playing even more young guys than we have in the past,” coach Dave Joerger said. “It’s an opportunity for guys to develop and it’s an opportunity for the organization to evaluate long-term which guys will still be considered a core guy two, three, four years from now.” Point guard De’Aaron Fox and big men Marvin Bagley III and Harry Giles (all under 21)  should be big parts of the rotation, along with Justin Jackson (23) and Buddy Hield (24). Check back here in 2019/20

Key Stat: 103.4. Estimated number of points per 100 possessions last season. Only Phoenix (103.5) was worse.

Roster In’s & Out’s

• STAY1: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Willie Cauley-Stein, De’Aaron Fox, Harry Giles, Buddy Hield, Justin Jackson, Kosta Koufos, Skal Labissiere, Frank Mason III, Zach Randolph, Iman Shumpert.
• IN2: Marvin Bagley III (R), Nemanja Bjelica (MIN), Yogi Ferrell (DAL), Wenyen Gabriel (R), Ben McLemore(MEM).

OUT4: Bruno Caboclo, Vince Carter (ATL), Jack Cooley, Nigel Hayes, JaKarr Sampson, Garrett Temple (MEM).