Despite making the playoffs, New Orleans finished last in the Division this past year, but I see those rankings looking a whole lot different next year.
I might sound insane, but I have a legitimate case for New Orleans winning the division next season. Granted, many, many things will have to fall in place for this to happen, but I feel like I have some plausible situations that could work out perfectly for New Orleans.
What I'm going to do is give a prediction for Houston, Memphis, San Antonio, and Dallas as to why those teams will not be able to win the division and at the end I will give my explanation for why I believe New Orleans can actually win the Southwest.
The Houston Rockets "Big Three" will implode on itself.
Ever since acquiring Dwight Howard to go along with James Harden, Daryl Morey has been on a long search for that third star (even though I think Chandler Parsons was that player). He has now, supposedly, found that player in Ty Lawson, the previous Denver PG who was most recently arrested for his second DUI. I think Lawson is a great point guard who is completely capable of running a offense, however, he does have a alcohol problem that apparently has not been resolved and could most likely be poison to a otherwise stable Houston locker room. With a unstable locker room and a even more unstable point, I see Houston imploding and having to go back to Patrick Beverly at PG. Not a happy ending for Daryl Morrey who will have to continue his long search for that third star.
Father Time will finally catch up to Zach Randolph
Zach Randolph has had it too good for too long. Since the 2003 season, Randolph has averaged above 15 points per game, but at 34 years old I'm going to predict that streak will finally end. Randolph has been the face of this team for some time now and has the biggest scoring load put on him because of poor wing scoring and a lack of 3 point scoring. He and Marc Gasol are one the best front courts in the league, but without Zach not being the same, I don't see this team going very far
San Antonio's new front court won't work out.
I have been a critic of this move since it came to fruition. Lamarcus Aldridge is a fantastic player and a star in this league but I don't see him working out at all this season. The reason? Tim Duncan. As it stands, the Spurs will be starting Tim Dincan at center, and that is a terrible decision to me. I just don't see a 40 year old man playing out of position at center being successful against better, stronger centers in this league. Aldridge and Leonard will carry the load offensively, but without a strong defensive presence in the middle, I don't see this team making big waves in the western conference.
And don't even pretend David West will make a big difference either.
Dallas simply won't be able to keep up with the rest of the conference.
Those three players above will be starting next season for Dallas.
Do I need to say more?
Sorry Mavs, there's always next year!
Just kidding, but with only Chandler Parsons and Dirk carrying the load offensively, and Wesley Matthews coming off a very serious knee injury, this team will seriously struggle next year against better western conference teams.
With all that happening, New Orleans will be the last team standing in this division and take the crown for the first time since 2007.
I strongly believe the impact Alvin Gentry will have on this team will be invaluable. His impact may even have the same effect it did on Golden State. The Bird Writes recently released an article on how Gentry could turn Tyreke Evans into a star. I completely bought it. Do you know why? Because of what he was able to do with Klay Thompson. In 2013, Klay Thompson was a nice young player, but at the same time he was shaping up to be a above average shooting guard. That season he posted a PER of 14.3. The next season, under Gentrys system, his PER raised to 20.8 and he had become a perennial All-Star. Who's to say this new System can't have the same effect on Tyreke. Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday will be the next players to be hugely effected by this new style, and maybe Jrue can unlock that untapped potential, and become the all-star he was known as in Philadelphia. While coaching in Phoenix, Gentry turned Goran Dragic into the player we have today by teaching him to be himself on the court and not worry about being someone else (Steve Nash, the man he replaced), and maybe he can replicate that magic with many other players on this roster. Anthony Davis will be Anthony Davis and he can be great in any system and will continue to be this teams offensive and defensive carrier. I'm still a little foggy on how Omer Asik can fit into this system but I have heard the reason Gentry couldn't take Phoenix past the conference finals is because of the lack of interior defense, and maybe Gentry had learned his lesson and took the safe route by signing Omer Asik. Let's hope no injuries take place and my predictions become true, because if so, it becomes New Orleans division to lose.
BY HUNTER HELMS