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Pacific preview: The Lakers and the losers

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Charley Rosen

Charley Rosen is FOXSports.com's NBA analyst and author of 17 sports books, the current ones being Bullpen Diaries: Mariano Rivera, Bronx Dreams, Pinstripe Legends, and the Future of the New York Yankees and Crazy Basketball: A Life In and Out of Bounds.

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Updated Oct 15, 2009 12:11 PM ET
     
 
Of all the NBA's sectional groupings, the Pacific contains the least intra-divisional competition. The constituents include a high-flying championship squad bent on repeating, one team that's treading water, and three bottom-feeders.

Golden State Warriors

Strengths: A bunch of guys who are liable to explode for 30 points in any given game — Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette and Anthony Morrow.
The golden shooting stroke of rookie Stephen Curry. Andris Biedrins' energetic rebounding and defense. The phenomenal off-the-bench intensity of Ronny Turiaf. Weaknesses: Maggette only has eyes for the basket. The absence of a post-up scoring threat. Except for Biedrins, a minimal team presence on defense. The distraction created by Jackson's discontent. The problem of shot distribution. Nellie's mind games that have both created and exacerbated the turmoil that has plagued the team since his second-coming on the scene. Prognosis: How low can they go?

Los Angeles Clippers

Strengths: Baron Davis' amazing one-on-one skills. The distances Marcus Camby can come in order to attack opponents' shots. The coming of age of Eric Gordon. Blake Griffin's powerful athleticism. Chris Kaman's rebounding and shot-blocking. The quickness of Sebastian Telfair. The power in the paint supplied by Craig Smith. Brian Skinner's Technicolor beard and stubborn defense. Weaknesses: Unless Ricky Davis rises from the near-dead, the Clips will lack a dependable wing scorer. Baron Davis' lax defense. Camby's penchant for taking bad shots. The unavoidable rookie sins that Griffin will commit. The predictability of Kaman's offense. Since B. Davis is a scorer at heart, and Telfair has limited shooting range, plays miserable defense and makes mucho mistakes, the team lacks a true point guard. Prognosis: The Clips will surely improve on the measly 19 wins they garnered last season, but 30 "dubs" seems to be the best they can accomplish.

Los Angeles Lakers

Strengths: Kobe Bryant, by far the best player alive. With his intelligence and specific skills, Pau Gasol is a perfect fit in the triangle offense. The incredible versatility of Lamar Odom. Ron Artest's stonewall defense and insistent offense. Besides Robert Horry, over the course of the past dozen or so seasons, has anybody made more clutch shots than Derek Fisher?
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Andrew Bynum's phenomenal upside — primarily his great hands, and the shot-swatting and soft-shooting that often result. The team's determination to successfully defend its championship status. Phil Jackson's unique genius to motivate his players and to make beneficial in-game and between-game adjustments. Weaknesses: Kobe's tendencies to wander too far on defense, and to take quick shots that abort the offense. Odom's persistent lack of focus. Never a speedster, Fisher has increasing difficulty keeping opposing points in front of him. The chances of Do-Ron-Ron becoming Don't-Ron-Ron, both on the court and off. Bynum's downside — hesitation caused by confusion, taking bad shots, committing too many fouls, and refusing to accept responsibility for his own failings. The questionable point-guard situation behind Fisher. Prognosis: Anything short of another title would be a dire disappointment.

Phoenix Suns

Strengths: The genius-level basketball IQ of Steve Nash, and his prestidigitations thereof. The mid-range shots and guard-like quickness of Amare' Stoudemire. Leandro Barbosa's ability to operate at warp speed. The savvy and stability of Grant Hill. The streaky shooting of Jason Richardson. Channing Frye's marksmanship. With the return to a jailbreak-up-tempo game plan, the players are happier than they've been since Mike D'Antoni skipped town. Weaknesses: The soft defense played by Nash and Stoudemire. Stoudemire's need for more touches than he deserves. Barbosa's inability to make sound decisions. The one-dimensional aspect of Frye's game. The occasion just last week of Hill's 37th birthday. Prognosis: The more shots Nash is forced to take, the more games the Suns will lose. In any case, Phoenix will remain stranded in Lottery Land.

Sacramento Kings

Strengths: The slick-quick point production of Kevin Martin. The take-no-prisoners aggressive play of Andres Nocioni. In Tyreke Evans, the Kings seem to have a top-of-the-line rookie. The continued development of Spencer Hawes. Jason Thompson is capable of being a solid role player. Weaknesses: No defense from anybody. Francisco Garcia's fractured arm. The main reasons why Martin is so frequently injured are his fragile physique and his marshmallow-soft skills. The fact that too much money and too much game time were given to Beno Udrih, who at best is a journeyman point guard. Prognosis: Will battle New Jersey to avoid having the best chance to obtain the league's top draft pick in next June's lottery.
Tagged: Baron Davis, Robert Horry, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Suns, Beno Udrih, Pau Gasol, Marcus Camby, Kings, Stephen Jackson, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers

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