Monday, October 27, 2008

NBA 2008-2009 Season Assessments - Western Conference

We're back with Part 2 of our earlier post of our season assessments for the NBA. We've covered the Eastern Conference, so let's now cover the Western Conference, where many feel the NBA Champs will reside this year.

This listing provides NYSTOM's take on the MVPM (most valuable player per minute), LVPM (least valuable player per minute), his sleepers on each team and starters. Let us know what you think.


Legend:
Most value per minute/least value per minute = only regular rotation guys; doesn’t include guys who rarely or never get off the bench
NYSTOM sleeper candidates = players who will have significantly better stats than last season
NYSTOM starters = *not* necessarily the best players at each position for each team, but instead a projection of who will start the most games over the course of the year and/or will be starting by the end of the year, for whatever reason (e.g., injuries and decisions by teams to get more firepower off of bench)


Dallas Mavericks:
MVPM---Gerald Green, Dirk Nowitzki, Brandon Bass
LVPM---Juan Jose Barea
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Josh Howard
NYSTOM starters---Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Erick Dampier, Jason Kidd, Gerald Green


Denver Nuggets:
MVPM---Carmelo Anthony, Nene Hilario, Kenyon Martin
LVPM---Allen Iverson
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Dahntay Jones
NYSTOM starters---Kenyon Martin, Carmelo Anthony, Nene Hilario, Anthony Carter, J. R. Smith


Golden State Warriors:
MVPM---DeMarcus Nelson, Al Harrington, Kelenna Azubuike
LVPM---Anthony Randolph
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Stephen Jackson
NYSTOM starters---Al Harrington, Kelenna Azubuike, Ronny Turiaf, C. J. Watson, DeMarcus Nelson



Houston Rockets:
MVPM---Carl Landry, Yao Ming, Luther Head
LVPM---Rafer Alston
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Luther Head
NYSTOM starters---Carl Landry, Ron Artest, Yao Ming, Aaron Brooks, Luther Head


Los Angeles Clippers:
MVPM---Mike Taylor, Paul Davis, Al Thornton
LVPM---DeAndre Jordan
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Paul Davis
NYSTOM starters---Steve Novak, Al Thornton, Paul Davis, Mike Taylor, Eric Gordon


Los Angeles Lakers:
MVPM---Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar, Pau Gasol
LVPM---Coby Karl
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Trevor Ariza
NYSTOM starters---Pau Gasol, Luke Walton, Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar, Kobe Bryant


Memphis Grizzlies:
MVPM---Darrell Arthur, Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick
LVPM---Kyle Lowry
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Rudy Gay
NYSTOM starters---Darrell Arthur, Rudy Gay, Darko Milicic, Mike Conley, O. J. Mayo


Minnesota Timberwolves:
MVPM---Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Randy Foye
LVPM---Mark Madsen
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Mike Miller
NYSTOM starters---Kevin Love, Corey Brewer, Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Mike Miller


New Orleans Hornets:
MVPM---Chris Paul, David West, Melvin Ely
LVPM---Devin Brown
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Melvin Ely
NYSTOM starters---David West, Peja Stojakovic, Melvin Ely, Chris Paul, Rasual Butler


Oklahoma City Thunder:
MVPM---Nick Collison, Kevin Durant, Johan Petro
LVPM---Desmond Mason
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Kevin Durant
NYSTOM starters---Chris Wilcox, Jeff Green, Nick Collison, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant


Phoenix Suns:
MVPM---Amare Stoudemire, Alando Tucker, Steve Nash
LVPM---Robin Lopez
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Grant Hill
NYSTOM starters---Amare Stoudemire, Alando Tucker, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash,
Leandro Barbosa


Portland Trail Blazers:
MVPM---Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden
LVPM---Ike Diogu
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Channing Frye
NYSTOM starters---LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, Greg Oden, Steve Blake, Brandon Roy


Sacramento Kings:
MVPM---Kevin Martin, Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes
LVPM---Donte Greene
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Spencer Hawes
NYSTOM starters---Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia, Brad Miller, Beno Udrih, Kevin Martin


San Antonio Spurs:
MVPM---Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Ime Udoka
LVPM---Bruce Bowen
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Ime Udoka
NYSTOM starters---Tim Duncan, Ime Udoka, Fabricio Oberto, Tony Parker, Michael Finley



Utah Jazz:
MVPM---Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer
LVPM---Kyrylo Fesenko
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Kyle Korver
NYSTOM starters---Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer

Do you agree or disagree with these rankings? Post your comments.

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