nba western conference southwest division

#NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION SERIES#

The result was Memphis holding its opponents to a league-best 90.0 points per game last year. Tony Allen at shooting guard is one of the most well-respected defensive wings in the league, and the veteran Tayshaun Prince added a little extra defensive zeal at the 3 after he was traded at the deadline from Detroit last year. At the point, Mike Conley not only scored 14.6 points per night last year but also added 6.1 assists and 2.17 steals. Their starting five is as solid as any around the league, led by a bruising pair of bigs up front in Marc Gasol (14/1 ppg, 7.8 rpg), the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Zach Randolph (15.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg). With another year of experience under its belt, this squad certainly has an opportunity to do just that.

#NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION SERIES#

The Grizzlies came up one series short of the NBA Finals last year, and their entire group is back to try and take that next step. Losses: Darrell Arthur (trade), Donte Greene (trade), Tony Wroten (trade), Fab Melo, Austin Daye Expect them to be in West’s top four when we enter the postseason.Ģ012-13 Record: 56-26 (2nd Southwest Division, 5th Western Conference-Lost Western Conference Finals to Spurs 4-0)Īdditions: Kosta Koufos (trade), Josh Akognon (waivers), Mike Miller (free agent), Tony Allen (re-signed), Jon Leuer (re-signed), Jamaal Franklin (draft), Janis Timma (draft) While a return to the NBA Finals will be a tough road, this squad continues to find a way to win. San Antonio lost sharpshooter Gary Neal in the offseason but added Marco Belinelli to fill that role, and in the starting lineup Danny Green will add that long-range punch on a nightly basis. Kawhi Leonard put up 11.9 points and shot 49.4 percent from the field last year, and at 22 years old during the Finals he showed incredible poise and maturity beyond his years (11.8 ppg & 8.9 rpg against Miami). The core three of Tim Duncan (17.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg), Tony Parker (20.3 ppg, 7.6 apg) and Manu Ginobili (11.8 ppg, 4.6 apg) are still intact, and the re-signing of Tiago Splitter at the 5 was a major offseason priority (10.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg). So forgive us if we’re expecting another ageless season out of the Spurs in 2013-14. Had it not been for a miracle finish by the Heat in Game 6, San Antonio would be raising another banner this autumn. This past year, San Antonio raised the ante once again by reaching their first NBA Finals since 2007 and narrowly missing out on the franchise’s fifth championship. Gregg Popovich’s club has won at least 50 games in 15 of the last 16 seasons, with the lone exception being the lockout-shortened year of 1998-99 when the club went 37-13 and won the NBA title. Conventional wisdom would suggest a decline was imminent two or three years ago. The ageless wonders in San Antonio have been so good at continuing their success, we’re well past the point where we’re surprised they continue to do what they do.

Losses: Tracy McGrady (retired), DeJuan Blair, Gary Neal 2012-13 Record: 58-24 (1st Southwest Division, 2nd Western Conference-Lost NBA Finals to Heat 4-3)Īdditions: Marco Belinelli (free agent), Jeff Pendergraph (free agent), Manu Ginobili (re-signed), Tiago Splitter (re-signed)

Nba western conference southwest division