Father Meets Son

In honor of the recent signing of Prince Fielder to his father Cecil's former team, the Detroit Tigers, we look back at father-and-son combos who were employed for the same team, whether together or in different periods.

Baseball

Bobby and Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

Felipe and Moises Alou, San Francisco Giants

Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr., Seattle Mariners

Cal Ripken Jr. and Cal Ripken Sr., Baltimore Orioles

Tony Gwynn Sr. and Tony Gwynn Jr., San Diego Padres

Basketball

Rick and Jon Barry, Golden State Warriors

Rick, Jon and Brent Barry, Houston Rockets

Henry and Mike Bibby, New York Knicks

Ron and Ronnie Brewer, Chicago Bulls

John Lucas II and John Lucas III, Houston Rockets

Mike Dunleavy Sr. and Mike Dunleavy Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

Ice Hockey

Mark, Gordie and Marty Howe, Hartford Whalers

Emile and Pierre Bouchard, Montreal Canadiens

Scotty and Stan Bowman, Chicago Blackhawks

Bill and Kevin Dineen, Philadelphia Flyers

Ken Hodge Sr. and Ken Hodge Jr., Boston Bruins

Peter and Paul Stastny, Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise

A son following the footsteps of a father is a good thing, but playing for one of his father's former teams is quite honorary and distinctive. For Prince Fielder, equaling, if not surpassing, his father Cecil's accomplishments in Detroit is a challenge that is hard to resist. Winning a World Series title is an even bigger task. Oh well, good luck for Prince and his Detroit career. 

Animals in Pro Sports (Part 2)

Every professional sports team has a monicker to identify with. So I decided to do teams with animal names first because they seem to be easily identifiable.

6. Underwater Animals

San Jose Sharks

Miami Dolphins

Miami Marlins

Tampa Bay Rays

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks' logo since 1997 has been a whale coming out of a 'C' hence its inclusion. These creatures' distinct features include gills (except for dolphins and whales), fins and tails used for swimming. Such characteristics enable them to live underwater their entire lives, hence the 'cool colors' featured in each of these logos such as teal, green and blue. 

7. Beasts of Burden

Chicago Bulls

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Sabres

St. Louis Rams

Milwaukee Bucks

Dallas Mavericks

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

In the case of the Mavericks and Texans, their representations of a horse and a bull, respectively, are meant to be synonymous with Texas's ranching industry. These animals, whether wild or domestic, are the only ones with hooves which aids them in either walking, running or even climbing in some species. In the case of the Rams, Bucks, Bulls, Bills, Sabres and Texans, a horn/antler signifies defense and protection against opponents, which is also an intimidation factor to say the least.

8. Reptiles

Arizona Diamondbacks

Toronto Raptors

The reptiles first evolved from fish during the Mesozoic period, most of them as gigantic creatures known as dinosaurs. They became extinct towards the end, but some smaller species remain. Their characteristics include rough scales and cold-blooded demeanor. 

9. Insects

New Orleans Hornets

The only team represented with an insect is the New Orleans Hornets. Insects have three distinct body parts: the head, thorax and abdomen. Some also have stinging mechanisms, antennae, scaly wings and compound eyes.

In our next installment, we look at teams with a patriotic theme.

Animals in Pro Sports (Part 1)

Every professional sports team has a monicker to identify with. So I decided to do teams with animal names first because they seem to be easily identifiable.

1. Bears

Chicago Bears

Chicago Cubs

Boston Bruins

Memphis Grizzlies

Menacing and fierce, the bear roams the North American forests and mountains. When cornered, they will attack without warning. Bears also hold mythical significance in fairy tales and in children's stories. In sports, however, a team named after a bear signifies intimidation and fear to others, although you may ask the Cubs' 108-year World Series drought or the Bears' only Super Bowl win in 1985, in which you may say, 'they're big, but slow.'

2. Wild Cats

Detroit Lions

Detroit Tigers

Carolina Panthers

Florida Panthers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Charlotte Bobcats

Minnesota Wild

Cincinnati Bengals

Nashville Predators

A cat has nine lives, hence the nine teams named after cats. In the case of the Predators and Wild, they don't necessarily belong here, but because their logo evokes the shape of a cat's head, they belong in the discussion. Dangerous and intimidating, these wild cats are hunters whose eyes spell danger to other animals. These animals have whiskers that are excellent prey detectors, and their strong teeth aid themselves in hunting prey.

3. Wild Dogs

Minnesota Timberwolves

Phoenix Coyotes

Only a few species of wild dogs exists around the world, hence the lack of professional dog teams in the U.S. and Canada. A dog, when cornered, signals a bark or a howl as a means of protections. They have a keen sense of smell, and in the case of wild dogs, are fierce hunters in groups. 

4. Birds of Prey

Philadelphia Eagles

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Falcons

Seattle Seahawks

These birds are capable of hunting, thanks to their strong talons and bills that are specific to the job. I did not include the Chicago Blackhawks because the team was named after a Native American named Chief Black Hawk, hence the Native American head logo.

5. Other Birds

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Orioles

Pittsburgh Penguins

Arizona Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

Toronto Blue Jays

Anaheim Ducks

They may not be as intimidating as the birds of prey, but they surely don't lack in fighting spirit. They are either a source of local or national pride, or a source of curiosity. The Ducks were named after a 90s sports movie, while the Penguins were named after their former arena the Civic Arena, which is nicknamed The Igloo. The Cardinals of Arizona and St. Louis formerly belonged to the same owner back in the 1920s.

We look at other teams with animal names in the next installment. 

NBA's First Coaching Casualty

If you recall my previous post regarding coaching changes, then you may as well relate to this latest piece of information. Just this morning, the Sacramento Kings fired head coach Paul Westphal after two-plus seasons. It was another episode of the Kings' recent misadventures, a team that hasn't seen playoff action since 2006 and was so close from moving to Anaheim at the end of the 2011 season. This despite boasting a promising core of stars with 2010 Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, center DeMarcus Cousins and guard Jimmer Fredette.

'Til We Meet Again: Paul Westphal

It all began Sunday night when Westphal sent Cousins home after he reportedly asked for a trade, which the center's agent refuted. The Kings did win against the Hornets that night, then a few days later lost badly to the Grizzlies, and then the Nuggets on back-to-back nights. Before the third game in three nights, at home against the Bucks, Kings owners Gavin and Joe Maloof broke the news on Westphal's firing. Keith Smart, who was fired as Warriors head coach in the summer, took his place and coached the team to a come-from-behind win over the Bucks, after which Cousins hugged Smart. Cousins, who had a history of on-court and off-court outbursts, hopes that Smart would be a better communicator than Westphal. 

As for Westphal, famous for playing and coaching in a pair of triple-overtime NBA Finals games with the Suns, good luck on your future endeavors. 'Til we meet again.

Winners of 2011, Major Pro Team Sports

As we continue to look back at 2011, here are the year's winners:


*Note: Only the major awards will be emphasized. Any minor awards will be omitted.


Sports


NFL
Super Bowl Champion: Green Bay Packers, NFC
Super Bowl Runner-Up: Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC
Regular Season MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots
Off. Player of the Year: Tom Brady, Patriots
Def. Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu, Steelers
Off. Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, Rams
Def. Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Lions
Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Lions
Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Vick, Eagles
Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick, Patriots
Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Pro Bowl MVP: DeAngelo Hall, Redskins


NBA
NBA Champion: Dallas Mavericks, West
NBA Runner-Up: Miami Heat, East
Regular Season MVP: Derrick Rose, Bulls
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Magic
Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Most Improved Player: Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Bulls
Executive of the Year: Gar Forman, Bulls; Pat Riley, Heat
Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom, Lakers
Sportsmanship Award: Stephen Curry, Warriors
Citizenship Award: Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace), Lakers
Finals MVP: Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
All-Star Game MVP: Kobe Bryant, Lakers


NHL
Stanley Cup Champion: Boston Bruins, East
Stanley Cup Finals Runner-Up: Vancouver Canucks, West
Presidents' Trophy: Vancouver Canucks, West
Hart Trophy: Corey Perry, Ducks
Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas, Bruins
Calder Trophy: Jeff Skinner, Hurricanes
Adams Award: Dan Bylsma, Penguins
Ross Trophy: Daniel Sedin, Canucks
Masterton Trophy: Ian Laperriere, Flyers
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Doug Weight, Islanders
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Martin St. Louis, Lightning
Executive of the Year: Mike Gillis, Canucks
Norris Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings
Lindsay Award: Daniel Sedin, Canucks
Selke Trophy: Ryan Kesler, Canucks
Jennings Trophy: Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider, Canucks
Plus-Minus Award: Zdeno Chara, Bruins
Richard Trophy: Corey Perry, Ducks
Messier Award: Zdeno Chara, Bruins
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: Tim Thomas, Bruins
Conn Smythe Trophy: Tim Thomas, Bruins
All-Star Game MVP: Patrick Sharp, Blackhawks


MLB
World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals, NL
World Series Runner-up: Texas Rangers, AL
Regular Season MVP
AL: Justin Verlander, Tigers
NL: Ryan Braun, Brewers
Cy Young Award
AL: Justin Verlander, Tigers
NL: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
Rookie of the Year
AL: Jeremy Hellickson, Rays
NL: Craig Kimbrel, Braves
Manager of the Year
AL: Joe Maddon, Rays
NL: Kirk Gibson, Diamondbacks
Championship Series MVP
AL: Nelson Cruz, Rangers
NL: David Freese, Cardinals
World Series MVP: David Freese, Cardinals
All-Star Game MVP: Prince Fielder, Brewers


Soccer


Europe
UEFA Champions League Champions: FC Barcelona, Spain
UEFA Europa League Champions: FC Porto, Portugal


England
Premier League Champions: Manchester United FC
FA Cup Champions: Manchester City FC


Germany Bundesliga Champions: FC Borussia Dortmund


Spain La Liga Champions: FC Barcelona


France Ligue 1: FC Lille


Italy Serie A: AC Milan


Other Leagues
MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy
WNBA: Minnesota Lynx
Euroleague: Panathinaikos

The (Other) Championship Teams of 2011

On the flip side, there were teams that underachieved the most in 2011. We look back at the 'other' champions in 2011.

Carolina Panthers

2-14 (.125)

Before drafting Cam Newton in the spring, the Panthers won only twice in the 2010 season (ended Jan. 2, 2011, thus part of our 2011 in review). Bad offense, as well as an equally mediocre defense, were trouble spots in the Panthers' season. Their most impressive win was a 19-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Week 15, but their most depressing defeat was a 34-3 loss to the then-defending champion Saints on Week 9. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

17-65 (.207)

For all of Kevin Love's double-double streaks and All-Star appearances, the Timberwolves looked atrocious in 2011. Kurt Rambis's modified triangle proved to be a bad fit from the start. The defense was atrocious, even if their offense was decently good. Their most  impressive win was a 129-95 shellacking of the equally mediocre Cavaliers post-LeBron James, while their most depressing defeat was a 128-86 thumping by the Magic, which set the franchise's worst defeat. The Wolves need to put this season behind them after hiring Rick Adelman as their coach and convincing Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio to come to Minnesota. 

Edmonton Oilers

25-45-12 (62 pts., .378)

They hope that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the return to the Gretzky-era blue and orange will bring the Oilers back to respectability and eventually glory. But before that, the Oilers had the least points of any NHL team that season. They are 28th in both goals scored and goals allowed, as well as the fourth-worst power-play and second-worst penalty kill unit in 2011. Their most impressive win was a 5-0 shutout of the Maple Leafs, while their most depressing defeats were a 2-8 loss to the Rangers and a 1-7 loss to the Hurricanes. 

Houston Astros

56-106 (.346)

Houston, we have a problem! The Astros' 2011 season saw them lose 100 games for the first time in their 49-year history. They traded the bat of Hunter Pence to the league-leading Phillies and the speedy cleats of Michael Bourn to the Braves in midseason, obviously looking to rebuild the team. An ownership situation that wasn't solved until after the end of the season as well as the rumors of moving to the American League were distraction points for the disgruntled fan base. Offensively they had the fifth-fewest runs, the fifth-lowest runs per game, and the second-fewest home runs, while defensively they had the third-highest ERA, the third-highest runs allowed per game, the third-highest runs allowed, and the second-highest home runs allowed. The only positive was that they're 10th in batting average, with Minute Maid Park being a 'hitter's park'. Their most impressive wins were a pair of 11-2 wins over the Cubs and Rockies, while their most depressing loss was a 3-19 defeat to the Rockies. After the season it was announced that Jim Crane purchased the Astros from Drayton McLane, and agreed to move the team from the National League Central to the American League West in 2013. Hope the transition to a DH game where pitchers don't need to bat will be helpful for the Astros in 2013. 

What these teams need to do is to improve in 2012. Hope the lucky ball will bounce your way. 

The Championship Teams of 2011

It's hard to imagine but 2011 is about to wrap up. But before it ends, we look back at the ultimate championship teams of 2011. 

Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl Champions - February 2011

Yes, a team solely owned by the people of Green Bay, Wisconsin won it all in 2011. The NFL's ultimate prize, the Super Bowl, was won for the fourth time by the Packers, previous winners in 1967, 1968 and 1997. They went 10-6 in the 2010 regular season, then defeated the Eagles, the Falcons, and the Bears in the NFC playoffs before beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Aaron Rodgers was superb in winning the game's MVP, while Mike McCarthy joined Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only Packers coaches to win the Super Bowl. The season that followed saw the Packers win 13 in a row before losing to the Chiefs in Week 15. They have a huge chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs by virtue of earning the top seed in the NFC playoffs at the beginning of 2012. 

Dallas Mavericks

NBA Champions - June 2011

Before the drama that was the NBA lockout, the Dallas Mavericks celebrated the team's first championship in its 31-year history by defeating the Miami Heat in six games of the NBA Finals. The Mavericks were seeded third in the West, then defeated the Trail Blazers, the Lakers and the Thunder before engaging the powerful Miami Heat in a rematch of the 2006 Finals. The Heat brought title-hungry stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade but their combination wasn't enough as equally-starved all-stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd delivered key plays to finally put Dallas on top. Nowitzki earned the NBA Finals MVP as Mark Cuban finally earned the championship he envision upon purchasing the Mavericks in 2000.

Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Champions - June 2011

The Boston Bruins were under the radar as their fellow football, baseball and even basketball counterparts from Boston won championships in the 2000s. Worse, they haven't even won it all since 1972. But in 2011, the Bruins finally joined the party as they defeated the Canucks in seven games of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins were Northeast Division champions and the third seed, and with the exception of a sweep against the Flyers, the team whom they were defeated after leading 3-0 the previous year, they were pushed to a Game 7 against the Canadiens, the Lightning and the Canucks, before pulling through. Goaltender Tim Thomas was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP, and also winning the Vezina Trophy as the best netminder. Thomas's .938 SV% is an NHL record. After a slow start in October to start the 2011-12 season, the Bruins would lose only once in a shootout and twice in regulation through December 26 as they sat atop the Eastern Conference.

St. Louis Cardinals

World Series Champions - October 2011

The Cardinals were considered the underdogs heading into the NL postseason, having finished as the Wild-Card. But they managed to beat the NL East champion and 102-win Phillies in the Division Series, then defeated the NL Central champion Brewers in the Championship Series. In the World Series, they managed to earn the home field advantage by virtue of the NL's win in the All-Star game. After trailing 3-2 to the Rangers, the Cardinals won a 11-inning thriller in Game 6, then followed up with an equally entertaining Game 7 to win their 11th World Series. David Freese won both the NLCS and World Series MVPs, while Tony La Russa retired a champion. 

Congratulations to the champions of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB in 2011. Good luck on next year's voyage. 

The Return of the NBA (Southwest Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We finally preview the Western Conference Southwest Division.

Dallas Mavericks

57-25 (3rd in West, NBA Champions)

The Mavericks climbed the NBA mountain in 2011. But now the pressure to repeat is even higher, having lost Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea. They were fortunate to add Lamar Odom and Vince Carter, but losing their best defensive center will be a big blow to the team. Brendan Haywood is too slow defensively, so let's hope Sean Williams provide the D off the bench. The keys to the Dallas repeat will be on Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion, and if Roddy Beaubois rediscovers his 2010 form, he'll provide a terrific backup to Kidd and Terry. Delonte West is a slower upgrade from Barea, but is a terrific offensive player. For this Dallas team, they need to mesh fast if they were to repeat as champions. 

Houston Rockets

43-39 (9th in West, missed playoffs)

The Rockets were the only Southwest team to miss the playoffs, yet still finished with a winning record. With Yao Ming retired, the Rockets now have to rely on Jordan Hill, Hasheem Thabeet and newly-acquired Samuel Dalembert to fill Yao's shoes. Luis Scola is an All-Star in the making, while Kyle Lowry broke out after Aaron Brooks was traded. Lowry will be backed up by Goran Dragic and Jonny Flynn, who need to be more assertive in passing the ball. Kevin Martin remains the leading scorer, and should continue so. Chase Budinger and Courtney Lee provide the outside touch, and Patrick Patterson an able backup to Scola. For Kevin McHale, this will be a tough job for him sustaining Houston's momentum, so good luck. 

Memphis Grizzlies

46-36 (8th in West, lost to Thunder in 2nd round 4-3)

The Grizzlies surprised the NBA by upsetting the top-seeded Spurs in Round 1, then pushed the Thunder to the limit before folding, an impressive playoff run for this group. Zach Randolph should remain consistent, while Marc Gasol needs to translate a contract renegotiation to an improved All-Star type of performance. Darrell Arthur, however, is lost for the season, so a lot will be expected on Randolph and Gasol, unless Dante Cunningham proves himself. A healthy Rudy Gay is needed to put the Grizzlies to a better position to contend. OJ Mayo is better suited as a sixth man, while Sam Young would work well as a starter. Tony Allen changed the defensive intensity of the Grizzlies, and he should continue providing the same this season. This should be a breakout year for Memphis, or else. 

New Orleans Hornets

46-36 (7th in West, lost to Lakers in 1st round 4-2)

Label this as a rebuilding season. Losing Chris Paul would hurt the Hornets, but now they look to start over. Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Gordon have to adjust quickly to the Big Easy. Emeka Okafor will remain the starting center, but now has to move on from receiving most of Paul's passes, which will now be done by Jarrett Jack, Gordon and Quincy Pondexter. Marco Bellinelli and Trevor Ariza need to get open outside, and Carl Landry to assert himself inside. The Hornets will start over, no matter what.

San Antonio Spurs

61-21 (1st in West, lost to Grizzlies in 1st round 4-2)

The Spurs are too old, and it showed in the first-round upset by the Grizzlies. Unless RC Buford is willing to rebuild the team, the Spurs will not be in the conversation for an NBA championship. Tim Duncan is 35, and no longer possessing the instinct to play inside. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is showing wear and tear at season's end, and they need help. They lost George Hill, and they need Gary Neal to be pass-first and shoot-second. If your name is T.J. Ford, he may not be a terrific passer; Corey Joseph should learn more about passing. Richard Jefferson loaded up for one more year, but he needs help from Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and James Anderson. As for Duncan, better use Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner even more, the latter needs to crash the boards more often, to give Duncan rest. Either a short playoff stint or nothing at all will be the Spurs' fate at season's end. 

The NBA season gets underway on Christmas Day, with a five-game slate to begin the season:

12 nn ET: Boston @ New York

2:30 ET: Miami @ Dallas

5:00 ET: Chicago @ L.A. Lakers

8:00 ET: Orlando @ Oklahoma City

10:30 ET: L.A. Clippers @ Golden State

So good luck to the 30 NBA teams in the 2011-12 NBA season. 

The Return of the NBA (Pacific Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We now preview the Western Conference Pacific Division.

Golden State Warriors

36-46 (12th in West, missed playoffs)

Mark Jackson, an untested coach, begins his first season on the bench. The Warriors still have the exciting players that translate to sellout crowds. The question is, will it translate to a playoff berth? Is Mark Jackson a well-deserved hiring? We'll see. For now, though, the Warriors' fortunes will rely on David Lee, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry; if healthy and together, they're exciting to watch. Rookies Klay Thompson and Jeremy Tyler will be keeper for the season. Dorell Wright broke out big after spending six years in the Miami doghouse, and is expected to provide outside scoring once more. The center position will be a problem for the Warriors, as Kwame Brown and Andris Biedrins are inconsistent and injury-prone. For Mark Jackson, it will be a challenging season to prove his coaching mettle. 

Los Angeles Clippers

32-50 (13th in West, missed playoffs)

Chris Paul to the Clippers should raise the expectations for this laughingstock franchise on the other side of the Staples Center. Blake Griffin was a box office hit, earning an All-Star nod, a Slam Dunk title, and Rookie of the Year. Now on Year 2, the Blake Show needs to shoot more and dunk less, if he were to succeed in the NBA. Paul, Chauncey Billups and Mo Williams play the same position, but Paul has a great chance of taking the starting job and Billups a backup role, with Williams taking the shooting guard duties instead. While DeAndre Jordan played well as a starting center, he needs to be more assertive in the paint to be effective, as well as boxing out more often. Caron Butler will start slow after a severe knee injury ended his season early, but when healthy, he's a dangerous scorer in the wings. The time is now for the Clippers. Missing the playoffs will be a failure for this year's crew. 

Los Angeles Lakers

57-25 (2nd in West, lost to Mavericks in 2nd round 4-0)

The Lakers enter the new season with so many questions. Are they too old? Are they fragile? Are they too dysfunctional? They lost to the eventual champions Mavericks in a sweep, then Lamar Odom bolted to those same Mavericks. Phil Jackson retired, and Mike Brown takes over in a new Lakers era. Kobe Bryant will begin the season in pain, and may remain so until the season ends. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum underachieved in the playoffs, so how will they redeem themselves? As for Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest), will his name change translate to a better performance? Derek Fisher needs more rest now that he's 37, so Steve Blake needs to play more and be efficient. Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy act as two different versions of Odom, the perimeter dude and the paint dude. This group, however, will take time to mesh, so a short playoff run is a mere achievement for this year's Lakers.

Phoenix Suns

40-42 (10th in West, missed playoffs)

Like the Lakers, the Suns are facing questions of age. Steve Nash is 37, so he needs more rest than ever. Ditto 38-year old Grant Hill, though he had been playing consistently since coming to Phoenix. Ronnie Price played well as Deron Williams' backup in Utah, but now he needs to play more minutes while Nash is on the bench. Hakim Warrick didn't exactly replaced Amar'e Stoudemire, yet he played well off the bench. Robin Lopez, however, needs to get back to his 2010 playing level, or else Marcin Gortat will overtake him as a starting center. So is Channing Frye, who needs to rediscover his shooting touch from 2010. While Jared Dudley will continue pouring threes and Shannon Brown leaping on bigger opponents, the Suns will be on the bubble between making and missing the playoffs. A 33 or 34-win season is a realistic goal. 

Sacramento Kings

24-58 (14th in West, missed playoffs)

Simply put, the Kings regressed from 2010. Hopes of a better season crashed because of Tyreke Evans' injuries, DeMarcus Cousins' outbursts, and rumors of relocation to Anaheim. For now, the Kings remain in Sacramento, but for how long? If Jimmer Fredette becomes a box office sensation at Power Balance Pavilion, it may help, but this Kings team is too young and playoff contention is still a long shot. Evans needs to rediscover 2010, while Cousins should start playing right inside. Chuck Hayes needs to take care of his heart, period. There's not much to discuss about this Kings team, so the playoffs is out of the question. 

We'll preview the Southwest Division on our next post.

The Return of the NBA (Northwest Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We now preview the Western Conference Northwest Division.

Denver Nuggets

50-32 (5th in West, lost to Thunder in 1st round 4-1)

First full year of post-'Melo era, and the Nuggets are in a troubled spot. Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler are in China and couldn't get out. Even though the Nuggets played better following the Anthony trade last season, George Karl knew he'll have his hands full with a decimated roster. And while they added Andre Miller to provide stability at the point, expect Ty Lawson to blossom even further at the one. They need to have big games from Danilo Gallinari, Chris Andersen, Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington and late additions Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer to keep in pace with Dallas, Oklahoma City, the Lakers and now the Clippers. Bringing back Nene is a huge plus, but translating it to an improved performance remains the question. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

17-65 (15th in West, missed playoffs)

Kevin Love became an NBA All-Star by virtue of 53 straight double-doubles. But he found no support and the Timberwolves frequently stumbled that led to Kurt Rambis's dismissal and Rick Adelman's arrival. The Wolves now had to leave that behind and start over. Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio was exceptional in Spain. But is he as good as advertised in Minnesota? Rubio's arrival sparks a lot of hype and hope for a struggling franchise, and teaming up with an up-and-comer like Love, the Wolves seem to head in the right direction. New addition J.J. Barea and incumbent starting guard Luke Ridnour will provide Rubio with a lot of guidance at the one. Rookie Derrick Williams needs to mature fast, while Michael Beasley, Anthony Tolliver and Anthony Randolph need to step up to lessen Love's burden. Brad Miller will be a great insurance policy for Darko Milicic. The Timberwolves' playoff chances will be a long shot, but they have a bright future ahead of them.

Oklahoma City Thunder

55-27 (4th in West, lost to Mavericks in West Finals 4-1)

Now a member of the NBA elite, the Thunder need to take advantage of their aging foes if they want to take it a step further. As always, Kevin Durant is exceptional, while Russell Westbrook is steadily maturing. Kendrick Perkins did not necessarily provided the defensive edge when he arrived, but after a lengthy offseason losing weight, it looks as if the now-260 pounder is ready to crash the boards with authority and provide defensive intimidation to foes. James Harden is poised for a breakout year, while Serge Ibaka will continue to help Perkins crash the boards. While Sam Presti didn't make headlines in the preseason, this Thunder team seem to be learning fast and growing together, and if they reach the NBA Finals, it will be a great accomplishment to this maturing team.

Portland Trail Blazers

48-34 (6th in West, lost to Mavericks in 1st round 4-2)

Injuries did not stop the Trail Blazers from reaching their third straight postseason, but they enter the new season minus their leader Brandon Roy, who retired due to bad knees. The status of Greg Oden remains uncertain; his career now jeopardized with the possibility of retiring as well. This Blazers team played well when adversity was at an all-time high, but without Roy, a playoff berth seem like a long road to take. Jamal Crawford is not Brandon Roy, he's more of a perimeter scorer. Wesley Matthews definitely broke out and he's a lock at the two. Nicolas Batum had a career season as well and needs to be more productive this year. While LaMarcus Aldridge assumes to leadership role, the question is, is he ready? And the age of Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby is a problem spot at center, which means they need more from Chris Johnson and Craig Smith to add muscle down low. Raymond Felton needs to have steady averages if he's going to stay long in Portland.

Utah Jazz

39-43 (11th in West, missed playoffs)

This is the first full season of the post-Jerry Sloan era, and the Jazz once again enter the rebuilding phase. They had a great shot of making the playoffs in February, before Sloan's resignation and the Deron Williams trade sent the Jazz down. The recipients of the Williams deal in Devin Harris and Derrick Favors played well, but not well enough. Al Jefferson did have a decent season in Utah, while Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles had breakout seasons. But the team needed youngsters such as Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter to grow fast in order to provide some depth. Tyrone Corbin will now employ a new system, but the question is, will this team accept the new philosophy? This Jazz team will be a 25-27 win team this season, a long shot for the playoffs.

We'll preview the Pacific Division on our next post.