How Will The Pacific Division Play Out Next Season?

Ti Windisch

Feb 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives in between Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) and guard Darren Collison (7) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

So last season wasn’t great for the Sacramento Kings, clearly. But one highlight of the year was the Kings finishing fourth in the Pacific Division. Why was that a highlight? Because the once high and mighty Los Angeles Lakers were the only team to finish below the Kings.

When I noticed that little bright spot of the Kings’ year, it had me thinking about how the Pacific Division would play out this season. So I decided to use my powers of prediction (that probably will end up terribly wrong, but hey, shooters shoot) on Sacramento’s division and

gues

predict the order the five Pacific teams will end up in, along with their records.

Some hints before we get going: the Kings are neither first or last, and the order is not the same as last season because that would be boring and I don’t like boring. I also don’t believe the teams will end in the same order, so that made this an easy rule to follow.

Anyway, let’s get started with the worst of the bunch and work our way towards the top of the Pacific Division:

Next: Lackluster In Los Angeles?

Mar 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) on the bench the second half of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Staples Center. Lakers won 93-85. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

5th Place – Los Angeles Lakers – 23-59

I think the Lakers will get (slightly) better, but not good enough to make it out of the cellar and certainly not good enough to make the playoffs. Los Angeles has some good pieces in Kobe Bryant, D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle but without depth or cohesion I wouldn’t expect many wins.

I’m sure Kobe wants a competitive team and he continues to talk about his high expectations for the team, but that’s just who he is. I don’t think his optimism will transform the stark Los Angeles roster into a good team, but they should show some positive signs for the future at least.

Having D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle healthy (hopefully) for this season is the main reason for my projected (slight) improvement in Los Angeles, but they’ll both go through some lumps considering their young age. Plus the rest of the West is really tough, so any more than 25 wins would be spectacular for the Lakers this year.

Sorry, Kobe.

Next: Deserted In Fourth Place

Mar 2, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) dribbles the ball past Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

4th Place – Phoenix Suns – 36-46

Let’s be honest–the Morris situation(s) in Phoenix have been really, really ugly this offseason. Teams going though that kind of turmoil usually don’t do well, plus it appears the Suns will be without their best player in Markieff Morris. Despite his seemingly-terrible attitude, Kieff can ball and will be missed on the court.

On the flip side, the Suns did add Brandon Knight and Tyson Chandler, which helps. But Knight is a true point guard going to be played out of position, and Chandler is old. This team is going to take a while to find itself if it does at all, and it’s going to cost Phoenix a lot of wins.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Suns make a bit of a resurgence late in the season (unless more roster moves are made) once the team starts to gel, but I just don’t see them holding up well against the competition.

If the team had managed to snag LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency this team would have a completely different outlook, but the Suns came up short and will spend yet another season around the middle of the pack.

Next: Stuck In The Middle With Sacramento

April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the basketball against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

3rd Place – Sacramento Kings – 40-42

Is this optimistic? Maybe. But I never write anything I don’t believe, and I do think there’s a good chance the Kings have a good season. DeMarcus Cousins is on the verge of another Shaq-like season and the rest of Sacramento’s team is good but not great, which is how I see the Kings doing this season.

Let’s be honest, to most good teams 40 wins isn’t even good. But to the Kings, who haven’t managed even 30 wins since 2008, 40 wins would be absolutely fantastic. And I see it happening. The additions of some solid players like Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli, Seth Curry, Duje Dukan, Kosta Koufos and Willie Cauley-Stein among others have me thinking the Kings are ready to finally start getting some wins and out of the lottery.

I don’t see any of these first three teams making the playoffs, no matter what order they fall in, but out of them Sacramento has the best chance. It’ll take a lot more than 40 wins though, seeing as unfortunately Sacramento doesn’t play in the Eastern Conference.

Now let’s move on to the two strongest teams in the Pacific Division, who will certainly be in the postseason.

Next: The Not-Terrible Los Angeles Team

Nov 26, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) forward Blake Griffin (32) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

2nd Place – Los Angeles Clippers – 60-22

The Clippers finally have a bench, and they’re going to be terrifying this season. After almost disastrously losing DeAndre Jordan in free agency, the Clippers lured him back and also grabbed Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith to bolster their bench, which was essentially non-existent last season.

Like Los Angeles itself, the Clippers are totally stacked with star power. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are amazing players, and now that they can actually get some rest without having abhorrent reserves come in and blow almost any lead they should be ready for the best season in Clippers’ history.

Despite managing a terrific 60 wins, I just can’t see the Clippers overtaking the Golden State Warriors. That being said, Paul, Griffin and company will be great this season. Watch for Los Angeles to finally make a deep playoff run this season, now that their Big Three will be together (with bench help) for the next few years.

Next: The Warriors Are The Golden Standard

Jun 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) holds up the trophy during the Golden State Warriors 2015 championship celebration at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

1st Place – Golden State Warriors – 62-20

Stephen Curry wasn’t wrong when he said it’s funny that the Warriors aren’t title contenders. After their dominant season last year, it certainly seems possible that Golden State manages to win back to back titles. Having the Cleveland Cavaliers as favorites does make more sense however, just because the Eastern Conference presents an easier path to the NBA Finals.

That being said, I still see the Warriors as the best team in the Pacific Division, the Western Conference and the NBA. Curry and his splash brother Klay Thompson along with Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and a bevy of other good players make Golden State the team to beat in the West.

I don’t see them having quite as dominant of a regular season this time around, just because they were historically great last year. But they’re going to keep winning nearly every home game and most of their away games next season–they have great players and a great coach in Steve Kerr, and that’s why I have them remaining at the top of the Pacific Division.

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Ti Windisch