By Andrew Stefanilo
The Southwest Division in the Western Conference may be the most competitive division in the NBA this year.
So far, the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are dominating, as expected. But the last three teams in the division are also playing well and can’t be counted out this early in the season.
The fact that the Dallas Mavericks are in third place with a 13-8 record is just one example of how deep this division truly is. They’re followed by the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans at 9-10. The Pelicans may tail off a bit but right now, this division is very close, and don’t expect the Grizz to remain under .500 for much longer.
The Spurs will likely win the division. There’s too much chemistry with this team that the Rockets just don’t have yet. Kawhi Leonard is on the rise and with leaders like Tony Parker and Tim Duncan still doing their part, this team could make another run and will likely earn a top three seed in the West.
With Dwight Howard working with James Harden and a solid surrounding core, anything can happen with the Rockets. Because the west is so competitive and tight, Houston could end up getting as low as a No. 5 seed come playoff time with teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors in the mix.
The Rockets are too talented not to earn a playoff spot, but we saw how the L.A. Lakers did with an “All-Star Team” in 2012.
Surprising everyone right now are the Mavericks. With an aging Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs got some help by signing Monta Ellis this offseason. Ellis isn’t known for his defense, but his skills with the ball make this team much more versatile offensively. They may not have the makeup of a finals contender, but they’ve surprised us thus far and will likely earn a later seed in the conference.
The last two teams are what really separate this division from the rest. The Grizzlies have been a solid team over the years but didn’t really make many changes to get better this offseason in terms of their roster. The Pelicans are young and talented, but with former No. 1-overall pick Anthony Davis sidelined by injury, they could fade a little bit over the next few weeks.
Memphis got swept last year by the Spurs in the conference finals after a strong run. It will be tougher for this team to get back in the playoffs let alone back to the conference finals with such a load of competitive teams out west, but once Marc Gasol returns to team up with Zach Randolph down low, this team could find their mojo once again.
Sharp-shooting power forward Ryan Anderson, the team’s leading scorer with just over 20 points per game, has been a nice complement to wing players Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans as well as the aforementioned Davis. If this young, talented team can make a push for the playoffs there’s no telling what could happen. This year might be the year they make a splash and put their name on the map for next year.
The Southwest Division will offer some of the most drama this year. With all five teams being talented and off to solid starts, anything can happen. As the season goes on, the Pelicans and Grizzlies may gradually move further away from success, but don’t forget Memphis has been a formidable opponent over the years and New Orleans is on the rise.
The Spurs and Rockets are considered legitimate title contenders. There’s no telling what Mark Cuban could have up his sleeve for the Mavericks when the trade deadline approaches, especially if they find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
In any case, this divisional race is one to watch the rest of the season.