NBA South West Division Season Preview, Odds & Rankings

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Houston Rockets

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 5

Scorecast Win Prediction – 56

The Year That Was:65-17, won division, lost to the Warrior’s in seven games in conference finals.

Worth Noting: James Harden is coming off a career season he needs to maintain that pace if not improve if they are to go one better this season. The health of Chris Paul is always a worry come playoff time and curiously signed Carmelo Anthony (to the veterans’ minimum) with the hope he can get them over the hump. The loss of Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson also take’s away to of there deep threats.

Key Stat: 25. Number of All-Star selections for Anthony (10), Chris Paul (9) and reigning-MVP James Harden (6), who are ALL pursuing their first title.

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, Gerald Green, James Harden, Nene Hilario, Chris Paul, P.J. Tucker, Zhou Qi (NG).

IN: Carmelo Anthony (OKC), Michael Carter-Williams (CHA), Marquese Chriss (PHX), Gary Clark (R), Vincent Edwards (R), James Ennis (DET), Isaiah Hartenstein (R), Brandon Knight (PHX).

OUT: Ryan Anderson (PHX), Trevor Ariza (PHX), Tarik Black, Markel Brown, R.J. Hunter, Aaron Jackson, Joe Johnson, Luc Mbah a Moute (LAC), Chinanu Onuaku.

New Orleans Pelicans

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 13

Scorecast Win Prediction – 41

The Year That Was: 48-34, lost to Golden State in five games in the second round after an impressive round 1 victory and sweep of Portland.

Worth Noting: They lose DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo and gain Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton. Rondo was nothing short of epic in the playoffs last season and a big loss on the floor. Payton and Randle’s number’s are flattered by playing big minutes in losing teams. It was the first playoff series win in Anthony Davis’ now seven-year career. Getting Payton allows Jrue Holiday to remain as the two-guard, where he flourished last season but wont be receiving bullets from Rajon Rondo.

Key Stat: 12.6. Minutes per game last season for Jahlil Okafor, who is trying to resurrect his career in New Orleans and perhaps replace Cousins.

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: Ian Clark, Anthony Davis, Cheick Diallo, Solomon Hill, Jrue Holiday, Frank Jackson, Darius Miller, Nikola Mirotic, E’Twaun Moore.

IN: Trevon Bluiett (R), Wesley Johnson (LAC), Jahlil Okafor (BKN), Elfrid Payton (PHX), Julius Randle (LAL), Kenrich Williams (R), Troy Williams (NYK).

OUT: Alexis Ajinca, Charles Cooke, DeMarcus Cousins (GSW), Jordan Crawford, DeAndre Liggins, Emeka Okafor, Rajon Rondo (LAL).

San Antonio Spurs

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 15

Scorecast Win Prediction – 40

The Year That Was: 47-35, lost to Golden State in five games in the first round.

Worth Noting: The Spurs add four-time All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan in the Kawhi Leonard debacle. DeRozan played nine years in Toronto and initially felt betrayed by the Raptors, who had assured him he was not being traded. Starting point guard Dejounte Murray tore the ACL in his right knee in the preseason and first-round pick Lonnie Walker tore his meniscus and will be out for at least another month. Manu Ginobili retired and Tony Parker signed with Charlotte and Danny Green went with his buddy Kawhi. Who is this team?

Key Stat: 7. Number of teams former Villanova star Dante Cunningham has been with in 10 NBA seasons (Portland, Charlotte, Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Brooklyn, San Antonio).

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY1: LaMarcus Aldridge, Davis Bertans, Bryn Forbes, Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay, Patrick Mills, Dejounte Murray, Derrick White.

IN2: Marco Belinelli (PHI), Dante Cunningham (BKN), DeMar DeRozan (TOR), Drew Eubanks (R), Chimezie Metu (R), Jakob Pöltl (TOR), Quincy Pondexter, Lonnie Walker (R).

OUT4: Kyle Anderson (MEM), Matt Costello, Manu Ginóbili, Danny Green (TOR), Darrun Hilliard, Joffrey Lauvergne, Kawhi Leonard (TOR), Tony Parker (CHA), Brandon Paul.

Dallas Mavericks

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 20

Scorecast Win Prediction – 35

The Year That Was:24-58. One to forget for Mark Cuban

Worth Noting: The Mavs and are in full rebuilding mode, despite Dirk Nowitzki’s coming back for his 21st season. They have an interesting rookie in Luca Doncic, who was the EuroLeague regular-season and Final Four MVP last season for Real Madrid. DeAndre Jordan signed in the offseason, three years after backing out of a handshake deal. They wont be the worst but far from the best.

Key Stat: 31.1. Dennis Smith (15 ppg.) had a decent rookie year, but his three-point shooting percentage needs to improve if he is to take the next step this season.

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: José Juan Barea, Harrison Barnes, Maxi Kleber, Wesley Matthews, Salah Mejri, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Powell, Dennis Smith Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith (NG).

IN: Kostas Antetokounmpo (R), Ryan Broekhoff (R), Jalen Brunson (R), Luka Doncic (R), Devin Harris (DEN), DeAndre Jordan (LAC), Daryl Macon (R), Ray Spalding (R).

OUT: Kyle Collinsworth, Seth Curry (POR), Yogi Ferrell (SAC), Aaron Harrison, Doug McDermott (IND), Johnathan Motley (LAC), Nerlens Noel (OKC).

Memphis Grizzlies

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 28

Scorecast Win Prediction – 24

The Year That Was: 22-60.

Worth Noting: The Grizzlies went from 43 wins to 22 in a record slide, but retained J.B. Bickerstaff, who took over when David Fizdale was canned. They drafted Big Ten defensive player of the year Jaren Jackson with the fourth overall pick and national defensive player of the year Jevon Carter with the 32nd pick. They are old and have little to no shooting power to backup their impressive defense.

Key Stat: 11. Number of seasons Mike Conley and Marc Gasol have been teammates.

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: Dillon Brooks, MarShon Brooks, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, JaMychal Green, Chandler Parsons, Ivan Rabb, Wayne Selden, Andrew Harrison (NG).

IN: Kyle Anderson (SAS), Jevon Carter (R), Omri Casspi, Jaren Jackson Jr. (R), Shelvin Mack (ORL), D.J. Stephens, Garrett Temple (SAC), Yuta Watanabe (R).

OUT: Mario Chalmers, Deyonta Davis, Tyreke Evans (IND), Myke Henry, Omari Johnson, Jarell Martin (ORL), Ben McLemore (SAC), Kobi Simmons.