The Pacific Division has to be the most exciting in the NBA. You have the reigning champions, two other contenders, the Lakers (the only team popular enough to for the national media to report on after every one of their games) and the Kings. And like every season for like the last decade, this may be the one Sacramento really breaks out. Or, at least that would be possible if they weren't in such a tough division.
There was a time not too long ago when I advocated the Kings being thrown out of the league (for a season), but now must admit that they have one of the more intriguing rosters out there. And I'm actually debating whether to put them at the top of this list, where scrubbiest comes first. But after a bit of contemplation, I must start off with:
1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Yes, I'm basically predicting that the Lakers will be the worst team in the Pacific. And I double that hedge if they actually do something as dumb as trade for Kyrie Irving. But the difference between LAL and other garbage teams is that, no matter how much the media tries to spin it otherwise, the heart of their issues is not in the roster (even though this one looks worst than last year). The problem is rather their playing style.
All the Lakers needs to do to immediately become one of the best teams in the NBA is (#1) hope that AD stays healthy and (#2) make sure either he or Lebron is in the post during every single offensive possession. Instead, there were games last season where AD didn't even play, and during offensive sets LBJ, ever the psuedo-PG, like never even stepped inside of the key or past the 3-point line. He'd put up something like 45points(!), but the Lakers, as usual, would lose.
And that's how you know that Lebron has in fact aged. Back in the days, he used to punish defenders from all around the court. But now, it's almost like he doesn't want to make any contact whatsoever.
2. SACRAMENTO KINGS
The fact that the Kings at least look competitive at the beginning of every season means that they have a competent braintrust, even if they aren't necessarily gurus. But this season I must say, their roster is looking damn compatible.
Sabonis, imo, is like the best PF in the league. You have him playing alongside Richaun Holmes, a complementary type of bigman, which should be a perfect pairing.
Then you had De'Aaron Fox hopefully healthy enough to play alongside Davion Mitchell. I, for one, am a Mitchell fan. He looks like a grownass man and was kinda old for a rookie these days, but just a rookie he was last season, even though he was the Kings best player at times. And I think the reason he kinda slowed down as the season progressed is because he wasn't being afforded the type of love he deserved, actually being one of the best rookies in what proved to be an extraordinary class. And he and Fox should give defenses fits.
Then finally there's Harrison Barnes, the all-around glueman who helped the Warriors dynasty win their first championship. He's someone that opposing defenses can never forget is on the court.
I saw the Kings play a couple of times last season, before they got Sabonis, and it was like one of those 'they're missing just one two or players' type of scenarios. Well they went out and got some, even having a respectable bench. So this is one of the few cases these days where I'd say that the coach / medical staff may be the X-factor.
3. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Kawhi Leonard has become the Ben Simmons of the West. Like there's always supposed to be something wrong with him, but what it is exactly no one seems to truly know, and it's like there's always rumors that he's coming back during any given period.
Any team with a healthy Kawhi (if such a thing still exists) is, imo, a contender, and this even includes the likes of the present-day Spurs. Meanwhile, he's on one of the deepest teams in the NBA. And like there's no squad who's spirit I admire more than the Clippers. That's the perfect place for a prideful, spurned superstar like John Wall. And even last season, well, I wouldn't be surprised if the powers that be helped out the Timberwolves a bit. Like Paul George has to be like the most-resilient player in NBA history.
So the only reason I'm not calling these dudes champions really is because I'm not convinced Kawhi is going to play throughout. Nor do I necessarily believe the NBA wants them to win right now.
2. PHOENIX SUNS
Speaking of teams whom I'm not convinced the NBA wants to win, the Suns have to be at the top of that list. This is some shit I've been yapping about since the 2021 Finals. With Kawhi Leonard hurt, this is the best all-around team in the NBA. If anybody can give the Warriors a run for their money, it's the Suns. But it's like, I mean who knows. Maybe the reins will be lifted this season.
1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
I was actually kinda shocked the Warriors won last season. They were my sentimental favorites but lucked out especially by facing the Mavs - the team with arguably the weakest frontline in the entire NBA - in the WCFs. And the funny thing about is that this offseason the Warriors lost three rotation players, including a couple of semi-starters, got no one especially notable in the return but still, as a testament to their depth, are the team to beat. It's almost like the Splash Bros + Draymond are now action movie stars - a team that's supposed to be too old to compete, but then it's like how on earth do you stop them once they get hot?
The good news is that it's going to be harder for Steve Kerr to rationalize benching Jonathan Kuminga now. The further good news is that Damian Lee and Juan Toscano-Anderson both got out of there, hopefully to teams that will give them regular playing time. It would have been cool if they stuck around, because by all means the old dogs are going to get hurt sometime during the course of the season, and the Warriors will once again have to rely on their young core. But if James Wiseman is healthy then the second unit, in theory, should be set.
CONCLUSION
I'm not sleeping on the Warriors this season. Their talent and overall depth is just as impressive as any other team, even the Clippers or Suns. But if Kawhi "Splashproof" Leonard is actually healthy, I'd go with an LAC prediction.
As for the Kings, I can't really tell how good they'll be, but they do have one of the best combinations of youth + veterans out there. And with the Lakers, it's like I can't force LBJ to play in the post. He's currently the oldest player in the NBA who like actually plays. In other words, he's paid his dues. So as is tradition, the fortunes of LAL once again lie in the hands of their superstar center. Too bad though that now the fact that they invested in one with major health issues has come back to haunt them.
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