West power rankings

1 DALLAS

'06-07: 67-15

Dirk Nowitzki lost himself in Australia after the Mavs went from 67 victories to first-round playoff losers. The bet here is they're both back in a big way.

2 PHOENIX

'06-07: 61-21

Shawn Marion is in a contract year, Steve Nash turns 34 in February and the time is ticking. Adding Grant Hill is the X factor.

3 SAN ANTONIO

'06-07: 58-24

The Spurs have been the league's best over the past decade, but they haven't yet won back-to-back titles. Nobody's more efficient than dull Tim Duncan.

4 DENVER

'06-07: 45-37

A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, the Nuggets will benefit from a full season together following the Allen Iverson trade. Carmelo Anthony just might be ready to blossom into a bona fide superstar and the league's leading scorer.

5 UTAH

'06-07: 51-31

Up-and-comer Deron Williams tutored under Jason Kidd with Team USA. Uh-oh. Will Andrei Kirilenko and Jerry Sloan make peace?

6 HOUSTON

'06-07: 52-30

The Rockets hired Rick Adelman to nurture Yao Ming's high-post passing, but that also takes the big lug away from the hoop. The trade for rookie PF Luis Scola got big summer buzz, but why would savvy the Spurs just give the Argentine to a division rival?

7 NEW ORLEANS

'06-07: 39-43

The Hornets call New Orleans home again for good, just in time for electric PG Chris Paul to return to good health in the same season the All-Star Game comes to the Big Easy.

8 GOLDEN STATE

'06-07: 42-40

Can the Warriors sustain last season's playoff magic for an entire season? Nobody's got more guards. Remember the name Marco Belinelli.

9 L.A. LAKERS

'06-07: 42-40

Showtime! This year promises to be more soap opera than season, unless the Lakers make like the Timberwolves and deal their superstar.

10 MEMPHIS

'06-07: 22-60

Rookie Mike Conley starts the season as the understudy to Damon Stoudamire. Pau Gasol must rediscover his passion and health and newcomer Darko Milicic gets perhaps his best (last?) chance to prove he isn't a draft bust.

11 SACRAMENTO

'06-07: 33-49

Mike Bibby will miss as much as the first two months because of a thumb injury and Ron Artest is suspended for the season's first seven games. Reggie Theus takes over as coach.

12 L.A. CLIPPERS

'06-07: 40-42

Elton Brand is out until February, Shaun Livingston is gone for the season and Sam Cassell is almost 38. The good news: Rookie forward Al Thornton has the talent and opportunity to surprise for Rookie of the Year.

13 WOLVES

'06-07: 32-50

Yes, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, etc., aren't rookies, but so much youth and unfamiliarity with their other new, young teammates is not a winning combination.

14 PORTLAND

'06-07: 32-50

TV execs scrambled to reschedule national telecasts when No. 1 pick Greg Oden was lost for the season following knee surgery. Injuries to Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge during the preseason raises the question: What else can go wrong?

15 SEATTLE

'06-07: 31-51

Kevin Durant, almost everybody's pick but ours for Rookie of the Year, will shorten the Sonics' five-year plan, but not by all that much.

JERRY ZGODA