NBA-Brief profiles of Western Conference teams
Oct 24 (Reuters) - Following are brief profiles of the 15 teams in the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Western Conference ahead of the 2013-14 season.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
DENVER NUGGETS
Founded: 1967
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Brian Shaw
2012-13 record: 57-25 (Finished second in division, lost to Golden State in first round of playoffs)
The Nuggets have a new look with coach Brian Shaw but with the departure of swingman Andre Iguodala the outlook is tempered.
Defense likely will be stressed more and point guard Ty Lawson, the team's leading scorer last season, will need to adjust quickly to coach Shaw's brand of ball.
Denver can still be a talented, athletic team, especially when Italian forward Danilo Gallinari recovers from knee problems. The addition of scoring guard Nate Robinson from Chicago should also help.
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MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Founded: 1989
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Rick Adelman
2012-13 record: 31-51 (Finished last in division, did not make playoffs)
The Timberwolves may have more depth, but whether they can stay healthy will be key to ending nine consecutive seasons of playoff frustration.
Former All-Star forward Kevin Love appears ready to go after playing in just 18 games last season and new guard Kevin Martin may help outside shooting woes. Nikola Pekovic had a breakout season at center last year and Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio returns as playmaker.
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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Founded: 1967
NBA titles: 1 (1979 as Seattle SuperSonics)
Head coach: Scott Brooks
2012-13 record: 60-22 (Won division, defeated Houston in first round of playoffs, lost to Memphis in second round)
The Thunder should be in the mix for best in the West again, but will need guard Russell Westbrook fully recovered from a knee injury.
Kevin Durant is always one of the league's top scorers and best players, but he and Westbrook will need help inside from key defender Serge Ibaka. Oklahoma City also must find a third scoring threat now that Kevin Martin has left.
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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Founded: 1970
NBA titles: 1 (1977)
Head coach: Terry Stotts
2012-13 record: 33-49 (Finished fourth in division, did not make playoffs)
The Trail Blazers have beefed up their bench to help support All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and league rookie of the year Damian Lillard at point guard. If the newcomers can come through, that could mean a playoff spot for Portland.
The additions - power forward Thomas Robinson, shooting guard C.J. McCollum, center Robin Lopez and guard Mo Williams - all should help the Trail Blazers, who must improve their defense and three-point shooting.
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UTAH JAZZ
Founded: 1974
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Tyrone Corbin
2012-13 record: 43-39 (Finished third in division, did not make playoffs)
Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Mo Williams are all gone, leaving it up to forward Derrick Favors and center Enes Kanter to lead the rebuilding. But the re-emergence of the Jazz will not come overnight.
Rookie Trey Burke was being counted on to take over at point guard before breaking a finger that will sideline him eight to 12 weeks. Forward Gordon Hayward could emerge as the team's top scorer after averaging 14.1 points last season.
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PACIFIC DIVISION
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Founded: 1946
NBA titles: 2 (1975, 1956 as Philadelphia Warriors)
Head coach: Mark Jackson
2012-13 record: 47-35 (Finished second in division, surprised Denver in first round of playoffs, lost to San Antonio in second round)
With center Andrew Bogut healthy again, outside shooter Stephen Curry among the NBA's best and the addition of former All-Star forward Andre Iguodala, the Warriors should be on their way to the playoffs again.
Curry and Klay Thompson give Golden State one of the league's top backcourt combinations, but the Warriors need help inside on defense and must hope for solid play on offense from center David Lee, the team's top rebounder and second leading scorer behind Curry, and forward Harrison Barnes.
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Founded: 1970
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Doc Rivers
2012-13 record: 56-26 (Won division, lost to Memphis in first round of playoffs)
The best team in the West added a new coach in former Boston Celtics mentor Doc Rivers and signed top player Chris Paul to a new deal.
The Clippers also brought in guards J.J. Redick, Darren Collison and Reggie Bullock, swingman Jared Dudley, center Byron Mullens and forward Antawn Jamison to play with Paul, fellow All-Star Blake Griffin and sixth man Jamal Crawford.
If the chemistry is there, it should be a combination that shakes off last season's first-round playoff loss and goes deep into the postseason.
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Founded: 1947
NBA titles: 16 (2010, 2009, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1982, 1980, 1972, 1954, 1953, 1952, 1950, 1949)
Head coach: Mike D'Antoni
2012-13 record: 45-37 (Finished third in division, swept by San Antonio in first round of playoffs)
Dwight Howard is gone and that may help the Lakers in the long run, but this season could be another trying one.
The aging backcourt of Kobe Bryant, who is working his way back from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Steve Nash must carry the team along with Pau Gasol up front.
Swingmen Nick Young and Wesley Johnson and guard Jordan Farmar should help a team in transition.
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PHOENIX SUNS
Founded: 1968
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Jeff Hornacek
2012-13 record: 25-57 (Finished last in conference, did not make playoffs)
The sun will not shine often on Phoenix's NBA team as new coach Jeff Hornacek tries to rebuild a franchise that hit rock bottom in the West last season.
Slovenia guard Goran Dragic put up good numbers last year and Eric Bledsoe, who has All-Star potential, has been brought in to work with him. Otherwise there will be lots of new faces as the Suns stockpile draft choices for the future.
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SACRAMENTO KINGS
Founded: 1945
NBA titles: 1 (1951 as Rochester Royals)
Head coach: Mike Malone
2012-13 record: 28-54 (Finished fourth in division, did not make playoffs)
Behind a new ownership group, coach and the NBA's commitment to remain in Sacramento, the Kings can turn their attention to trying to win more games.
Center DeMarcus Cousins, the leading scorer and rebounder, remains the face of the team. But number two scorer Tyreke Evans has been replaced by Greivis Vasquez and forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute should help the Kings be more competitive.
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SOUTHWEST DIVISION
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Founded: 1980
NBA titles: 1 (2011)
Head coach: Rick Carlisle
2012-13 record: 41-41 (Finished fourth in division, did not make playoffs)
Aging mainstay Dirk Nowitzki will have some new help as the Mavericks make a bid to return to the playoffs.
Monta Ellis, Minnesota's leading scorer last season, has arrived along with outside shooter and playmaker Jose Calderon and center/top defender Samuel Dalembert. Forward Shawn Marion likely will be the other starter.
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HOUSTON ROCKETS
Founded: 1967
NBA titles: 2 (1995, 1994)
Head coach: Kevin McHale
2012-13 record: 45-37 (Finished third in division, lost to Oklahoma City in first round of playoffs)
Optimism is running high thanks to the Rockets landing Dwight Howard. Fans are hoping the arrival of the former unhappy Laker to play with talented guard James Harden, point guard Jeremy Lin, forward Chandler Parsons and others will mean more playoff time.
How deep the run might be rests on the group finding chemistry and keeping Howard happy.
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Founded: 1995
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Dave Joerger
2012-13 record: 56-26 (Finished second in division, beat Los Angeles Clippers in first round of playoffs and Oklahoma City in second before being swept by San Antonio in the conference finals)
After a franchise record 56 wins in the regular season, the defensive minded Grizzlies are ready to brush aside the loss to San Antonio in the conference finals. Their aim is another big year under new coach Dave Joerger.
Zach Randolph, the team's top scorer, and Marc Gasol lead a strong interior game with Mike Conley the playmaker. Guard Tony Allen is a strong defender and small forward Mike Miller adds a veteran presence.
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NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Founded: 1988
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Monty Williams
2012-13 record: 27-55 (Finished last in division, did not make playoffs)
With a new nickname, the Pelicans are hoping of flying a bit higher but slipping out of last place in the Southwest may be a challenge.
New acquisitions Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans give New Orleans a solid pair at guard to go with forwardsAnthony Davis and Ryan Anderson and shooting guard Eric Gordon.
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SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Founded: 1967
NBA titles: 4 (2007, 2005, 2003, 1999)
Head coach: Gregg Popovich
2012-13 record: 58-24 (Won division, swept Los Angeles Lakers in first round of playoffs, beat Golden State in second round and swept Memphis in Western Conference finals before losing to Miami in seven games for NBA championship)
The heartbreak of last year's NBA Finals behind them, the aging Spurs could easily challenge for the title again.
Much will depend on whether Tim Duncan, at age 37, can maintain his high level of intensity and the fitness of fellow thirtysomethings Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Forward Kawhi Leonard is rapidly developing and with improvement from a solid bench, the Spurs could go far. (Compiled by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Steve Keating and Frank Pingue)
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