Thats just it, Dirk can't score 40 on the Rockets, he had trouble getting 20+ in the playoffs. If the Rockets hadn't been so slow on the perimeter last year they would have easily won that series, anyway the Mavs are on the way down. As for Van Exel, we'll see, he has a history of creating alot of animosity in locker rooms and Finley is old, and never much liked to play defense anyway, now he specializes in the olay type defending, we'll see how well that sits with Popovich.
The Suns are going to have to play real hard not to get in a huge hole right out of the gate, and even when Amare returns (maybe 4monthes if he's extremely luckly), there isn't a real good history for players after his type of injury, Chris Webber, Alan Houston, basic gimps. Combining that with the departure of Joe Johnson, and the Suns pretty much had the worse offseason ever.
The East really is the Heat, Pacers, and Pistons and then everyone else. We'll see if LeBron can really elevate a team this year. The West is pretty wide open, say what you will about the Spurs, but they still have Rasho Nesteravic(sp?) in the middle, and Bruce Bowen trying to shoot on the perimeter, they're very beatable. Plus Manu Ginobili's flops where so ridiculious in the finals last year I thought I was watching the Stockton/Malone Utah Jazz games for awhile. If there's one thing I can't stand in basketball its people falling down acting like they got hurt, leave that for the European Football players, and Jr. Highschool hockey teams.
The West seems to have the Spurs, Rockets, Mavs, and maybe the Suns on top, but the other four teams will be really interesting. I loved the way Seattle played last year, but they didn't really seem to get better, perhaps worse? And how is it that Denver had the 7 seed? I'm sure George Karl will have them competing for atleast a top five seed. Memohis has alot of players that don't stink, but no one who is really good. Minnesota has the best player on the planet, but then who? Marko Juric, and Wally Szerbiak. The Kings will probaly do as always, win a ton of games in the regular season, and then get beat up by a tougher more physical team in the playoffs. And to make matters worse they went and got Bonzi Wells. Whats really crazy is I see Golden State really doing well this year