TWTWTNBA: The Southwest Division All-Star Roster Pool

All-Star Voting for the Starters ended on Sunday, with the final ballot numbers to be released on Thursday in TNT at Madison Square Garden (Friday for those in the Motherland). Heat vs Knicks being the reason why Ernie and his crew will be in Broadway instead of their cushy Atlanta studios. A week after that, the All-Star Reserves are to be named.

Now, if the Southwest Division were to set up an All-Star team of their own, this would be their logical pool of candidates:

Dallas Mavericks - Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki, Caron Butler

Houston Rockets - Kevin Martin, Luis Scola

Memphis Grizzlies - Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol

New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul, David West, Emeka Okafor

San Antonio Spurs - Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan


Based from this, I believe this would be their roster composition.

Coach: Gregg Popovich - Pop reinvented how the Spurs roll this season unlike before, now using its speed.

Starters:

Guard: Chris Paul - Arguably the best amongst all the point guards out there, although there are still concerns regarding that huge knee brace that he has on.

Guard: Manu Ginobili - With Duncan slowing down / aging gracefully, this is now Manu's team.

Forward: Rudy Gay - Has taken the next step. He's Memphis' go to guy in the clutch. Could have had the Game-Winner-Of-The-Year if not for the Tyreke heave.

Forward: Dirk Nowitzki - We credit him for the great start Dallas had this season. Also the reason why the Mavs have slumped as of late, due to his injury.

Center: Zach Randolph - He's averaging 20-10 again, proving the previous season was not exactly a fluke.


Reserves:

Guard: Tony Parker - Free from Eva's grasp, he's the straw that stirs the uptempo Spurs.

Guard: Kevin Martin - The perennially underrated small-school standout is probably one of the most efficient players in the NBA. Might be the personification of what Daryl Morey wants in his version of Moneyball.

Forward: Luis Scola - He's Mr. Do It All for Houston. No Yao, he took on his load and then some.

Center: Marc Gasol - Surely, the Pau Gasol deal giveaway killed Chris Wallace's reputation, but the Wendigo has proven to be a positive for the Grizzlies

Forward: Tim Duncan - Slowly descending into the graceful exit mode that David Robinson took in the latter stages of his career.

Forward: David West - Can't let a fellow Jesuit alum down. (He's from Xavier). Has the numbers to back it up, too.

Guard: Jason Kidd - Because he might be one ahead of his time back in the day, with all the quality point men prevalent in the Association right now. It's hard to imagine an All-Star game without J-Kidd's flashiness. (although that time is coming soon)


Inactive Roster:

Center: Emeka Okafor -  Arguably one of the best Centers on the Western Conference ballot.

Guard: Caron Butler - Was on his way to possibly his last big payday before he innocently got injured to (in all likelihood) end his season.

Guard: Jason Terry - The former Sixth Man of the Year winner has ably stepped up in both Dirk and Caron's absence.

TWTWTNBA: Western Conference Christmas / New Year Wish List

It's the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 and we already know the good, the bad and probably the ugly in the current 2010 season. So, it is appropriate to compose the not-so-weekly-post that I do. The center of conversation would be what Santa Stern would give to the teams in theory for Christmas? Or what would their New Year's resolution would be? Here's a small sample size.

The West on a Tier - An Alternative Look at the Western Conference

You have seen the Pacific, Northwest & Southwest Divisions as previewed by someone. Time to put in my two cents on the picture.

Yes, I know the season has started. Been a little busy. And as per someone's wishes, the Miami admiration / bashing via the one-off posts will be kept at a bare minimum.

Here we go.

1st Tier: The Champs

Los Angeles Lakers

What I Like: Adding Steve Blake, Theo Ratliff and Matt Barnes is certainly a huge upgrade.

What I do not Like: Injury woes with Andrew Bynum still dogging them.

The one key factor: Pau Gasol. He's gonna carry this team (especially early on) with Kobe taking it nice and easy due to his knee issues. I think he will be in the 20-10 range this season.

2nd Tier: The Wily Veterans

Dallas Mavericks

What I Like: Having Tyson Chandler to lob to for Jason Kidd. Dirk being Dirk. Mark Cuban. The possibility of Mavs games at the Jerryworld.

What I do not Like: Kidd is 38. He's reduced to shooting threes at this point.

The one key factor: Do the veterans still have it in them? They always seem to come up short. Dirk has logged in a lot of minutes as well and can he withstand the long season (although he did not participate in Istanbul).

San Antonio Spurs

What I Like: They are the most fundamental team on earth. They'll bore you to death.

What I do not Like: Injury concerns with Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

The one key factor: DeJuan Blair as the starting center of the Spurs. Timmy D's is in the downward slope of his career. He needs to help him carry the weight, so to speak.

Utah Jazz

What I Like: How the Jazz stole Al Jefferson the way the Lakers stole Pau Gasol. A stud PG in Deron Williams. Jerry Sloan still coaching the pick & roll.

What I do not Like: The hole in their shooting guard position, because Portland millsap'd Wesley Matthews after his playoff performance. All up to CJ Miles and Raja Bell.

The one key factor: Whether AK-47 will return to his peak form. If not with the Jazz, he's a good expiring contract to use as an asset.

3rd Tier: The Wildcard

Oklahoma City Thunder


What I Like: Pretty much everything. I got a mancrush on this team, have to admit.

What I do not Like: They don't have a savvy veteran leadership who would say, "I've been here before." Does Mo Pete apply in this case? Law of averages? (They were pretty much injury-free last year.)

The one key factor: Can they handle the pressure of being one of the top teams in the conference? Lots of eyes are on them. Will they live up to the expectations? Remember, they were one-and-done last time.

4th Tier: Central Question Marks

Portland Trailblazers

What I Like: Brandon Roy. Their head coach Nate McMillan. The mix of good veteran leaders and youngsters.

What I do not Like: Greg Oden going the Sam Bowie route. And he did the Brett Favre (even though he predated it). The lingering row between Miller and Roy.

The one key factor: Injuries have kowtowed their chances to succeed the past few seasons, especially last year. I know Sam Presti has seen what the Blazers have gone through, because what Portland was before, Oklahoma City is now.

Houston Rockets

What I Like: Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks shooting lots and lots of FT attempts. That and Luis Scola.

What I do not Like: None, really. But if pressed, probably the Chinese obsession in All-Star voting.

The one key factor: What Yao Ming can do in 24 minutes/game. Career wise, that would be translating into 14-7 with 1 blk.

Denver Nuggets

What I Like: The altitude factor. Chauncey Billups. The promise of Ty Lawson. The Fight against Cancer by George Karl.

What I do not Like: The atrocious neck tattoos on Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen.

The one key factor: The Carmelo situation, also known as the white elephant in the room. Everything follows once that is settled. Could last as long as Lebron's.

5th Tier: Good, but not THAT Good

Phoenix Suns

What I Like: Alvin Gentry's version of the SSOL. Steve Nash. Jared Dudley. Josh Childress. Sideshow Mel a.k.a Robin Lopez. Alvin Gentry's daughter (she's an avid tweeter.)

What I do not Like: Too much wings, which may result in Hedo playing PF. God held him.

The one key factor: As always, the medicine men of the Suns. Grant Hill was finally healthy. Imagine that.

New Orleans Hornets

What I Like: Current GM Dell Demps used to play in the Philippines as a reinforcement. The Skip Prosser connection (CP3 / David West)

What I do not Like: Still bogged down by bad contracts (although not as much as before). Marco Bellinelli starting alongside CP3. I still remember Marco as the Summer League stud.

The one key factor: How Monty Williams fares in his head coaching debut. I think I still have his NBA trading card. My how old I am.

6th Tier: On the Cusp

Los Angeles Clippers

What I Like: Admittedly biased, I like almost everything with them. Starting with Blake Griffin.

What I do not Like: Knowing that the Clipper malaise is just around the corner, waiting and waiting. Losing Steve Blake to the other side of Staples.

The one key factor: Baron Davis. All I ask him is to Getcha Head in the Game. And stay healthy, too.

Memphis Grizzlies

What I Like: How these guys can go up and down the court and showcase their athleticism.

What I do not Like: They'll be making a lot of financial decisions this coming offseason, starting with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Still think they overpaid Rudy Gay.

The one key factor: Will Mike Conley be the PG that can run this team? They need a capable PG to run an offense.

Sacramento Kings

What I Like: The young cast of characters. The uptempo nature of Paul Westphal.

What I do not Like: Logjam with Cousins, Dalembert, Landry, Thompson at the bigs and Garcia, Greene, Casspi at the wings.

The one key factor: #Reke4ROY is over. What's the next step for Tyreke? His development will determine if they would be able to go up to the tier above within the next two years.

7th Tier: Needs Reimaging

Golden State Warriors

What I Like: Steph Curry, who is one of the smartest young studs out there. The fans who stood by with this team even when they stink, and out here, there are a lot of people I know who trace their links to the Bay Area who love them as well.

What I do not Like: How this team is really that bad defensively. Dorell Wright starting at the 3. Monta Ellis, because he really is overrated.

The one key factor: How Keith Smart will do in his first head coaching job. Will he keep the Nellieball concept? Based from how things are, he just might.

Minnesota Timberwolves

What I Like: As a Clipper fan, having their first round pick in 2012 (Thank you, Marko). Kevin Love.

What I do not Like: David Kahn running this franchise, knowing Stephen Curry could have made wonders.

The one key factor: The potential of Michael Beasley could be realized. Or it could set them back so far...

TWTWTNBA: Western Conference Semis assessment

All Four teams have been identified, so let's see how they will roll:

1. Los Angeles vs 5. Utah (as of this writing, Series favors Los Angeles 2-0)

1st round assessment: Lakers held off a feisty Oklahoma City that is really a year ahead on their time table. Jazz took advantage of an already headless team in Denver that lost a key big man for a game.

Key people to watch: No Memo and (so far) no Kirilenko are ailing the Jazz, so the efforts of their unheralded draft finds (Wesley Matthews, CJ Miles and Paul Millsap) will the measuring stick. They have competed, in spite of Kyrylo Fesenko. On the other hand, Andrew Bynum needs to show those double-double nights like what he just pulled in Game 2 to quell those Chris Bosh rumors.

Prediction: Lakers in 6. Memo's absence is really telling for Utah. Again, Phil is 45-0 when winning Game 1. With their Game 2 loss, that is 16 straight now for the Jazz at Staples. But like OKC, this team is a feisty bunch that plays hard and shows effort. The anti-Sheed team, so to speak.

3. Phoenix vs. 7. San Antonio (as of this writing, Series favors Phoenix 2-0)

1st round assessment: Phoenix took advantage of Brandon Roy's injury, ousting them in 6. Dallas, on the other hand, just did what Dallas always does. Spurs now 11-1 in the 1st round.

Key people to watch: Can George Hill provide the same oomph like the first round. Also, the nose strap that holding on Manu's nose needs to do its job. Channing Frye played well in Game 2. He needs to do that to free up the lanes for the likes of Sparty's J-Rich and old man Grant Hill. Oh and we need to share some love to the JMZ. (Jared Dudley)

Prediction: Spurs in 7. Amidst all the things, I trust in the Pop way of things when it comes to the Spurs vs Suns. All I know, something happens when it is Los Spurs vs Los Suns.