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2014-15 Pacific Division Preview

By: Dennis Rogers

The Pacific Division produces some of the best highlight plays with some incredible young talent. Can the lightening quick point guard duo of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe propel the Suns to the playoffs? How is Kobe Bryant going to come back from his injury? Is Steve Kerr going to transform the Splash Brothers (Steph Curry and Klay Thompson) into a legit title contender? Can DeMarcus Cousins transform his great play from Team USA into being one of the most dominate players in the NBA for the Kings? And is Steve Ballmer going to love Larry at the end of the season?

I asked four national NBA writers their thoughts on the Pacific Division for the 2014-15 season.

1. Best offseason move in the division:

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN.com

This is surprisingly hard in the Pacific Division this year because the biggest free agent signings -- Isaiah Thomas in Phoenix, Shaun Livingston in Golden State and Spencer Hawes with the Clippers -- are mainly guys who were added to fill specific roles, not carry or transform their new teams. The biggest offseason trade -- Jeremy Lin to the Lakers -- might end up becoming the best offseason move if he can have a bounce back year. But honestly, the offseason move that will have the most impact is probably the Warriors replacing Mark Jackson with Steve Kerr. How that team responds to losing a popular coach is critical to how this division shakes out. 

Marc Spears, YAHOO Sports

The best move was the Warriors didn't trade Klay Thompson. What he gives them and the future he has, would have been a tremendous loss.

Steve Kyler, Basketball Insiders

The Pacific Division didn’t have a lot of splashy moves this summer. Steve Kerr being named head coach of the Golden State Warriors might have been the splashiest move.  Doc Rivers agreeing to a multi-year extension with the Los Angeles Clippers was huge as well. The Los Angeles Lakers landing Carlos Boozer was a quality player move.  With the bulk of the splashy moves taking place elsewhere, the Pacific was relatively quiet this year. The top free agent addition might be guard Isaiah Thomas signing a multi-year deal with  the Phoenix Suns or the Clippers signing Spencer Hawes to a multi-year deal.

Sam Amick, USA Today

It’s two moves, really, both of them by the Clippers and both of them forever tied together. Steve Ballmer’s record-setting purchase of the franchise not only provided the clean slate that was so badly needed but led to the five-year extension for coach/top executive Doc Rivers that never would have happened if Donald Sterling wasn’t forced out. Bravo on both fronts.

2. Best 1-2 punch in the division:

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN.com

Blake Griffin and Chris Paul really settled into a comfort zone and figured out how to mesh their games last year. Both are great play-makers who are at their best with the ball in their hands. One of the biggest accomplishments in Doc Rivers first year was to get them to trade off in that role. 

Marc Spears, YAHOO Sports

That is a good one. You have two top duos with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul in LA and Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in the Bay Area. I would give the nod to BG and CP in this one. 

Steve Kyler, Basketball Insiders

Clippers guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin are easily the top tandem in the division, as both are bona fide MVP candidates that thrive off each other’s game. They’ll have competition in this category as Golden State’s Steph Curry and Klay Thompson continue to improve. Fresh off of a gold medal win at the FIBA World Cup, their chemistry and ability to score from the outside is pretty special.

Sam Amick, USA Today

The Warriors’ “Splash Brothers” of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are coming on strong, to be sure, but the Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin still hold this unofficial title. Such are the spoils of their first-round playoff win over Golden State last May and the three-year stretch together in which they’ve won 64.5% of their regular season games. Make no mistake, though, they’ll need to get past the ill-fated second round to be truly remembered as an all-time tandem.

3. Breakout player in the division:

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN.com

I'm tempted to say Klay Thompson, because I think he's ready to make a big leap this year. But you already know Klay is good so DeMarcus Cousins is the pick here. The experience of playing for Team USA this summer -- and learning from all the great players in that program will be invaluable to his development. If he matures and continues to add to his game, he's got the talent to dominate games. 

Marc Spears, YAHOO Sports

I will go with Kobe Bryant. Coming back from his injury, I feel this will be a breakout season for him.

Steve Kyler, Basketball Insiders

Lakers rookie Julius Randle looks to be a pretty special NBA talent, and arguably a Rookie of the Year candidate from the start of the season.  Suns guard Goran Dragic posted an All-Star caliber season last year and looked incredibly good in World Cup play in Spain. But the sleeper here might be Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins. He seems to be turning the corner as a player and if that continues into the season he could be a borderline All-Star if he stays healthy and productive.

Sam Amick, USA Today

Thompson isn’t under the radar anymore, not with the way he played last postseason and in the FIBA World Cup in Spain. But there’s still plenty of room to grow from here, and the challenge for him will be making consistent impact on both ends when the expectations that surround him are raised. Thompson has plenty to play for, as the fourth-year pro out of Washington State is hoping to land an extension with the Warriors before the Oct. 31 deadline.

4.       Storyline to watch for:

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN.com

The return of Kobe Bryant. The Lakers aren't anyone's pick to win the Pacific Division, or even contend for a playoff spot in the West. But if Kobe comes back and looks anything like the Kobe of old, the Lakers could be an interesting team. If he doesn't, they might even be more interesting. 

Marc Spears, YAHOO Sports

Stay on the same course. All eyes will be on Kobe as he returns to the Lakers. Is he healthy enough to carry that team and how will he respond this season.

Steve Kyler, Basketball Insiders

Is this the year the Clippers get it done? After a season that ended in distraction, the Clippers look to be the clear-cut front runner for the division and arguably one of the best teams in the West.

Sam Amick, USA Today

Eric Bledsoe and his future with the Suns. The former Clippers point guard showed last season in Phoenix what so many suspected during his time in Los Angeles: he is a big-time player in this league. But he dealt with another round of injury struggles as well and couldn’t come to terms with the Suns on a new contract this summer, meaning he’ll likely take the calcualted risk of playing this season out on a one-year deal with the hopes that he can prove himself again and land the bigger payday next summer. What’s more, the situation could be even more complicated because his backcourt mate, Goran Dragic, can be a free agent if he so chooses then as well (player option worth $7.5 million for 2015-16).

5.       Division Champ will be:

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN.com

This comes down to the Warriors and Clippers. For now I'll roll with the Clippers because we have a better idea of what to expect from LA. But if Andrew Bogut is healthy and Golden State buys into what Kerr is selling early in the year, don't be surprised if the Warriors prevail. 

Marc Spears, YAHOO Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers

Steve Kyler, Basketball Insiders

The Los Angeles Clippers

Sam Amick, USA Today

Your LA Clippers simply have to be the favorites, what with the uncertainty all around elsewhere. The Warriors are the No. 1 threat again, but the coaching switch from Mark Jackson to Steve Kerr means it’s unclear what this new iteration of their team might look like. The surprising Suns will be a year older and wiser, but the aforementioned complexities could play a part. Meanwhile, Doc Rivers and his bunch are back in full and surely hungry to take that next step toward a title.