Chris Paul is good for America.
The NBA season starts in just under a week (I know!), so it’s time for the last installment of our Haiku Previews. (If you missed them, part one is here, part two is here .)
Again, this week’s haikus would not have been possible without TrueHoop, Henry Abbott’s excellent NBA blog and the various NBA team blogs hosted at SBNation. If you are even mildly curious about what’s going on in professional basketball, you should check these sites out.
Today we tackle the last two Western Conference divisions: the Pacific and the Southwest. As usual, the teams are listed in order of last year’s final regular division standings.
Pacific Division
Los Angeles Lakers
Last year: 65-17, league champs
This is for my friend Sarah.
One champion plus
one Ron Artest equals one
repeat — but of what?
Phoenix Suns
Last year: 46-36, missed playoffs
Amar'e! Over here!
Nash plays soccer, Frye
blogs: Suns have fun off-court but
want more on-court time.
Golden State Warriors
Last year: 29-53, missed playoffs
Kelenna Azubuike is from my hometown. Just thought you should know.
Stephen Jackson wants
new team, to fight Kobe (or
not). Fans want quiet.
Los Angeles Clippers
Last year: 19-63, missed playoffs
I love my boy Blake but ...let's go with Sebastian Telfair for this pic.
Clips may finally
have that Amazin’ season:
could just be Griffin.
Sacramento Kings
Last year: 17-65, missed playoffs
Stupid exploding ball. (Not a euphemism.)
Exploding exer-
cise ball fells starting forward
Kings already doomed?
Southwest Division
San Antonio Spurs
Last year: 54-28, lost in first round of playoffs
Awww, rookies are so cute.
Spurs healthy this year
but will it last? Old knees, backs
may need boost from Blair.
Houston Rockets
Last year: 53-29, lost in second round of playoffs
I don't care if you're the smallest center in the NBA, Chuck.
Old center: 7′
6″. New center: 6’6″. Will
small box mean good things?
Dallas Mavericks
Last year: 50-32, lost in second round of playoffs
This is Shawn Marion's NBA.com profile pic. Sharp!
Can aging Mavs reach
50 wins for 10th straight year?
Yes. Champs? Not so much.
New Orleans Hornets
Last year: 49-33, lost in first round of playoffs
Chris Paul!
I’m sorry, I know
Hornets are more than Chris Paul
but I do not care.
Memphis Grizzlies
Last year: 24-58, missed playoffs
Good thing YOU know how to share, Mike.
Who’s getting the ball:
AI, Randolph, Mayo, Gay?
Poor, poor Mike Conley.
Thanks for indulging my taste for short form poetry. Feel free to try your own in the comments!
Those are some handsome boys. Is Marion channeling the Godfather? ;)