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2014-15 NBA preview: Pacific Division
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 10/22/2014  at  12:00:00 PM
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StatFox concludes its run of previewing all six NBA divisions before the regular season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Last up is the Pacific Division, which the Los Angeles Clippers won by six games last season.

PACIFIC DIVISION

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

2013-14 SU record: 54-35 SU (60.7%), 8th in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 47-40-2 ATS (54.0%), 6th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Pacific Division: 2-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 Western Conference: 12-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 28-to-1

GUARDS
New head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t figure to tweak this system much, so expect STEPHEN CURRY to keep doing his thing. He’s added elite playmaking skills to his already outstanding deep shooting . . . The Warriors are reluctant to part with KLAY THOMPSON in part because of his three-point shooting, but mostly because of his defensive value alongside Curry . . . SHAUN LIVINGSTON will back up both guard spots. He’s also the only proven point guard on the roster besides Curry . . . BRANDON RUSH will look to revive his career in Oakland. He’ll have to prove his knees are healthy enough before he earns a rotation spot . . . It’s a make or break year already for NEMANJA NEDOVIC, who was severely overmatched as a rookie.

FORWARDS
ANDRE IGUODALA is a defensive specialist and no more than a role player on offense. His main job is to take some of the playmaking duties away from Curry . . . Kerr seems resigned to the fact that he’s stuck with DAVID LEE. He has some value on offense, but remains one of the league’s worst defensive frontcourt players. Expect him to lose some minutes under Kerr . . . HARRISON BARNES will play a bit of power forward in some small lineups, but mostly he’ll play a wing spot. Barnes will have to regain his confidence early if he’s going to be an impact sixth man . . . Kerr has hinted at a bigger role for DRAYMOND GREEN, who will play some stretch-4 this year . . . MARREESE SPEIGHTS gives them an offense-only big man off the bench.

CENTERS
Kerr has hinted at a bigger offensive role for ANDREW BOGUT. But monitoring the Aussie’s minutes may be the bigger goal, to ensure he’s actually available for the postseason . . . Back-up center FESTUS EZELI should be ready to return from his knee injury, though he was having shin problems during Summer League.

StatFox Take: The Warriors brought in Steve Kerr to replace Mark Jackson, which should give them a more structured offense. Shaun Livingston should give this team the lift off the bench that it was missing when Jarrett Jack left town. They’ll be the Clippers’ main competition for winning this division. They also have an outside shot at winning the West, but not so much an NBA title.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

2013-14 SU record: 63-32 SU (66.3%), 3rd in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 50-44-1 ATS (53.2%), 8th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Pacific Division: 1-to-2
Odds to Win 2014-15 Western Conference: 19-to-4
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 10-to-1

GUARDS
Head coach Doc Rivers pretty much hands the offense over to CHRIS PAUL, who is very much in his prime. He has a chance to lead the NBA in assists and steals again . . . He was banged up during the regular season, but J.J. REDICK fit nicely next to Paul when healthy . . . JAMAL CRAWFORD will reprise his sixth-man role. He can still fill it up, though he’ll lose a bit of playing time if Redick stays healthy . . . JORDAN FARMAR is still hanging around L.A., this time to back up Paul. He’ll run point for the second unit . . . C.J. WILCOX is arguably the best shooter in the rookie class, but he’s not guaranteed to grab a rotation spot.

FORWARDS
He still has flaws in his game, but BLAKE GRIFFIN continues to evolve into a more complete player. His improved shooting, both mid-range and at the line, is a testament to that . . . The Clippers failed to land an upgrade at small forward, so MATT BARNES might be the starter by default again. He’s a good glue guy, though his streaky shooting is a frustration . . . The Clippers retained GLEN DAVIS in free agency. "Big Baby" can do some damage against opposing second units during the regular season.

CENTERS
Rivers made DeANDRE JORDAN into a full-time player last season. He’s a rim protector and rebounder who has made some strides defending in space, but there’s a reason the Clippers spent on another big man . . . SPENCER HAWES gives them a different look at the 5-spot, and he can play alongside Jordan as a floor-spacer as well.

StatFox Take: One of the Clippers’ main issues last season was a lack of backup big men, but they’ve more than solved that by bringing in the versatile Spencer Hawes. Blake Griffin has had yet another year to develop, and this team has its sights on winning an NBA championship. They’re a solid pick to win the West and crazier things have happened than them winning an NBA championship.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

2013-14 SU record: 27-55 SU (32.9%), 25th in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 40-39-3 ATS (50.6%), 11th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Pacific Division: 75-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 Western Conference: 100-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 150-to-1

GUARDS
At 36 and coming off multiple injuries, it seems unlikely that vintage KOBE BRYANT will ever return. Still, he’ll get to the line enough to be among the league’s scoring leaders . . . JEREMY LIN will start and be useful when his streaky shot gets hot . . . NICK YOUNG demanded the Lakers re-sign him, and what Swaggy P wants, Swaggy P gets (after L.A. struck out on every free agent). He'll miss the first couple weeks of the season as he recovers from thumb surgery . . . XAVIER HENRY will try to establish himself as a deep threat off the bench . . . JORDAN CLARKSON is the kind of big guard they’ve paired with Bryant over the years. He could be a year or two away from contributing . . . STEVE NASH is out for the season with a back injury. He’s likely played his last game as a member of the Lakers.

FORWARDS
You know it’s been a rough offseason when CARLOS BOOZER, who no contending team wanted, is your prize. He’s still a zero at the defensive end, but Boozer can shoot from mid-range and could see more minutes in a thin L.A. frontcourt . . . WESLEY JOHNSON gives them a spot-up shooter on the wing who brings some defensive versatility . . . They’ll probably pair Boozer and teenager JULIUS RANDLE together often. The rookie has drawn comparisons to Zach Randolph . . . RYAN KELLY is a serviceable stretch-4 for the second unit.

CENTERS
JORDAN HILL will see time at the 4 and 5 spots. His per-minute rates are strong, but his stamina is not . . . C’mon, who doesn’t like ED DAVIS? . . . The Lakers will likely use Boozer, Hill and Davis as undersized centers, because entering the year they only have lead-footed ROBERT SACRE as a true 5. He’s not a candidate to play more than 20 minutes per night.

StatFox Take: The Lakers are likely heading towards the lottery, but Kobe Bryant isn’t going to let that happen without a fight. He is the driving force that is pulling this team in the wrong direction. He wants to contend for a championship, but everything about this roster screams rebuild. They have no chance to win the Western Conference or an NBA championship.

PHOENIX SUNS

2013-14 SU record: 48-34 SU (58.5%), 10th in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 52-29-1 ATS (64.2%), 1st in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Pacific Division: 14-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 Western Conference: 50-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 100-to-1

GUARDS
This is GORAN DRAGIC’s team, and he’ll continue to thrive in head coach Jeff Hornacek’s up-tempo system . . . ERIC BLEDSOE’s contract extension took longer than planned, but both sides are happy it’s done. Durability is a concern, but he’s an explosive scorer who can defend, and a fringe All-Star when he’s healthy . . . They do have a logjam in the backcourt with ISAIAH THOMAS coming in. Thomas would likely become a high-energy sixth man, a role he’s better suited for than a starter . . . GERALD GREEN will see solid minutes considering he can play both wing spots. The question is whether the vastly improved three-point shooting was for real . . . It’s a developmental season for 20-year-old rookie TYLER ENNIS . . . ARCHIE GOODWIN will need to polish both his point-guard skills and his shooting.

FORWARDS
MARKIEFF MORRIS was a highly effective stretch-4 with the second unit last season, and he could be in for a full-time role now that Channing Frye is gone . . . Retained as a free agent, P.J. TUCKER will continue to be a glue guy in the starting five . . . MARCUS MORRIS has fallen behind his twin brother in the rotation. He’s more of a ’tweener who doesn't quite fit in that stretch-4 role . . . Rookie T.J. WARREN fits Hornacek’s system and should have his way with opposing bench players. He’s a below-the-rim, mid-range shooter with limited upside, but crafty enough to pile up points against second-unit talent. He'll miss the first two weeks of the season with a fractured thumb . . . ANTHONY TOLLIVER gives the Suns some depth at the 4-spot, and he fits the system with his long-range shooting.

CENTERS
MILES PLUMLEE is the best option in an underwhelming rotation in the middle. He’s an energy guy who does little else . . . He lost his rookie season, and ALEX LEN is still in the developmental stage. His upside is much higher than Plumlee’s, and he might get minutes because of his screening and defensive mobility.

StatFox Take: The Suns kept their core intact from last season, while also adding some nice talent in the draft. Phoenix just barely missed the playoffs last season, so expect this team to be right there competing for the eighth seed once again. The Suns are a few big pieces away from being a contender in the Western Conference or for an NBA championship though.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

2013-14 SU record: 28-54 SU (34.1%), 24th in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 38-42-2 ATS (47.5%), 20th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Pacific Division: 75-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 Western Conference: 175-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 400-to-1

GUARDS
With Isaiah Thomas out, DARREN COLLISON steps in at the point. He looked good backing up Chris Paul in L.A. and will benefit from a wide-open offense. But it's not clear if can he handle full-time minutes after flopping as a starter in Dallas . . . BEN McLEMORE has to get it going early if he’s going to keep his starting job. There’s raw talent, but McLemore has a reputation for fading into the background, and was wholly unimpressive last season . . . NIK STAUSKAS will push McLemore for minutes immediately. He’ll be overmatched defensively at times, but he can shoot it and moves the ball well offensively . . . It seems like RAY McCALLUM will be a solid enough back-up point guard for the next few years . . . RAMON SESSIONS will push Collison for minutes and could eventually unseat him as the Kings’ starter.

FORWARDS
RUDY GAY is a low-efficiency player who needs the ball in his hands, but head coach Michael Malone seems willing to let him do his thing . . . Power forward is a black hole in Sacramento. JASON THOMPSON might open the season as the Kings' primary 4, though he struggled mightily in his first season under Malone . . . DERRICK WILLIAMS has never shed that ’tweener label. The team will try to milk some second unit productivity out of him . . . REGGIE EVANS will continue to turn flopping into an art form. An obnoxious art form . . . CARL LANDRY is a question mark as he works his way back from a torn meniscus . . . Tell the world OMRI CASSPI is coming home.

CENTERS
He made some real strides under Malone last year, and DeMARCUS COUSINS’ improved shot selection has finally made him one of the league’s better big men. He spends much less time floating on the perimeter hoisting contested 18-footers.

StatFox Take: The Kings brought in Nik Stauskas, which was a questionable move considering they have Ben McLemore playing the same position. Losing Isaiah Thomas was also a head scratcher, but this team should be improved from last season. Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins should have both done plenty of maturing with Team USA this summer. This team will not, however, be a contender to do anything outside of maybe stealing the eighth seed in the West.

All NBA Previews

ATLANTIC Division
CENTRAL Division
SOUTHEAST Division
NORTHWEST Division
SOUTHWEST Division
PACIFIC Division

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