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?