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| 2013 NBA Pacific Division Blog Previews | ||||
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| Sponsored by CelticsBlog and SB Nation | ||||
Jeff Clark of CelticsBlog has, for yet another season, coordinated team preview efforts featuring NBA bloggers from around the web. Here are link to previews for teams in the Pacific Division.
Golden State Warriors: Golden State of Mind
Los Angeles Clippers: Gunnerz! | Clips Nation
Los Angeles Lakers: Hardwood Hype | Silver Screen and Roll
Phoenix Suns: Bright Side of the Sun | ValleyoftheSuns
Sacramento Kings: Sactown Royalty
The Pacific Division wasn't terribly competitive outside Los Angeles in 2011/12, with only the Lakers and Clippers representing the NBA's western-most division in postseason play. The Lakers edged their Staples Center co-tenants by one game for the division crown, only to fall to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals. The Clippers' season also ended in the second round.
The forum blue and gold-clad squad made the most obvious upgrades over the summer, acquiring perennial All-NBA center Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic in a four-team deal which involved sending first-time All-Star center Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers. Howard was but one future Hall-of-Famer to join the Lakers over the summer, as they also acquired point guard Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers, for their part, rounded out their rotation with the additions of veterans Matt Barnes, Jamal Crawford, Willie Green, and Grant Hill.
The rebuilding Kings, Suns, and Warriors made more modest moves. Sacramento brought in veteran point guard Aaron Brooks and rookie big Thomas Robinson, while Phoenix retooled with veterans including Michael Beasley, Goran Dragić, and Luis Scola. Golden State added the highly regarded swingman Harrison Barnes via the Draft.
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