Team To Beat:

Key Storyline: Who will be the Kings of California? Signs point strongly to the team of that very name, with a three year run as the division leaders, but the Lakers are always hanging around with Greenmig under the helm and the Clippers are making a name for themselves as well under GM Andrew. This could be a runaway for the Kings just as well as it could be a dogfight for state supremacy. And while Golden State is unlikely to win the division, if Roy Hibbert gets it going don’t be surprised if they pull out some surprise wins over state rivals.

Five Best Players:

5. SF Andre Iguodala (Lakers): The division’s weakest position, Andre Iguoldala easily stands out as the Pacific’s best wing. He can do it all on offense, and can lock down your best guard or small forward on any given night. Quietly doing work under the Hollywood lights, Iggy deserves some more appreciation for great work on a big name team.

4. SG Gerald Green (Lakers): Gerald Green just gets buckets. 20 points in twenty minutes…insane, and surprisingly efficient for a guy with a bit of a chucker label. Now a full-fledged starter, Green’s numbers should only increase, which is just going to be scary for the Pacific division, and on a larger scale, the league.

3. PF Kevin Love (Kings):  Kevin Love gets great numbers on a great team. With Chris Paul gone, he gets the keys to the Kings, and with the team unlikely to miss a beat, K-Love will be looking for an MVP nod at season’s end.

2. PG Rajon Rondo (Suns): Without a doubt the best passer in the game, will get you five in points, rebounds, and assists every night. Needs to stay healthy to give Phoenix a chance, but has MVP candidate potential when on the court. He’s a quiet, but great leader that’s needed to win in this crazy league.

1. Monta Ellis (Clippers): Monta Ellis says he has it all of the court, then backs it up on it. The league’s best two-guard, Ellis does a little bit of everything playing forty minutes a game, only seeing some struggles from behind the arc. A threat to get thirty every night, Ellis has been excellent from behind the arc in the preseason, and if it sticks in season, he may just be the league’s best player overall.

Sleeper: Outside of California, there is one NLL team to play when teams head out on a pacific division road trip, the Phoenix Suns lead by GM Pennywise. Last season, the Suns just squeezed into the playoffs by two games as point guard Rajon Rondo missed half the season with a torn ACL. Now, Rondo looks ahead at a full, healthy year leading a squad that has little depth, but strong stars. Assists should come easy, with Ben Gordon, Jason Terry, and Chandler Parsons on the wing, and lobs a plenty will be thrown to Josh Smith and Larry Sanders. The Suns will have to rely on its starting five- a lot- but it’s one that can win for a GM night in and night out.

Breakout Star:

The Golden State Warriors need a breakout star, and GM Wallrus is lucky to have a couple guys with potential on his roster. Big man Roy Hibbert stands out the most, literally, at 7’2, with a sweet touch inside and killer shot blocking on defense. Though he’ll likely start the season in a suit, Hibbert will be looked for as a main option once healthy, and has all-star potential for the men by the bay.

Best Newcomer:

Dirk Nowitzki fell of in Chicago, badly. His 13.7 PPG output was the lowest since his rookie season, and his efficiency fell out from under him, field goal percentage dropping from 58 to 48%. I’m sure he’s been in the gym, getting his shot back as he prepares to try and take over LA with Monta Ellis. The Dirk Nowitzki comeback tour is about to begin, the question is: are the other teams in the division ready?

Predictions:

Sacramento will win the division comfortably, but four teams will make the playoffs: the Kings, Lakers, Clippers, and Suns, in that order. Without a real star, Golden State will struggle, but Roy Hibbert will have a career year. Dirk will go back to scoring twenty a game and create a deadly duo with Monta Ellis. Rondo averages a near triple-double for the season. The Lakers squeeze out as the kings of LA. And last, but not least, the Pacific will finish the year with the most combined team wins in the league, just beating out the Atlantic.