Western Conference

NBA Season Preview

Western Conference

Midwest Division

San Antonio Spurs

Coach: Gregg Popovich (221-139 in five seasons)

2000-01 record: 58-24, first, lost to Lakers in Western Conference finals

Best off-season acquisitions: Steve Smith, Bruce Bowen

Key off-season losses: Derek Anderson, Avery Johnson

What has to go right: David Robinson, 36, still has enough left to help Tim Duncan challenge Shaquille O'Neal more than they did in last season's playoffs while Steve Smith is a better clutch player than he was in Portland.

What can go wrong: All the older Spurs - from Robinson and Smith (32) to Terry Porter (38) and Danny Ferry (35) - collectively go south, leaving Duncan trying to battle the top-heavy Western teams by himself. Also, Antonio Daniels is not as good as the team's starting point guard as he was coming in to spell Johnson.

Likely scenario: Another second-round playoff loss.

Dallas Mavericks

Coach: Don Nelson (fifth season, 960-750 in 23 seasons)

2000-01 record: 53-29, tied for second, lost to San Antonio in Western Conference semifinals

Best off-season acquisition: Tim Hardaway

Key off-season losses: Howard Eisley, Calvin Booth

What has to go right: Owner Mark Cuban takes a lower profile and allows his talented team to not worry about what the NBA's richest groupie is going to say. Hardaway gives point guard Steve Nash a little help running the team, particularly in the playoffs.

What can go wrong: Juwan Howard returns to the malaise that affected him in Washington and 7-foot-6 Shawn Bradley gets knocked around by bigger, stronger centers in the West.

Likely scenario: With All-Stars like Michael Finley and Nash and rising star Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks make a bid to knock the Spurs out of the top spot in the Midwest. Doing the same to the Lakers is another story.

Utah Jazz

Coach: Jerry Sloan (14th season, 784-448 in 16 seasons)

2000-01 record: 53-29, tied for second, lost to Dallas in first round)

Best off-season acquisition: John Amaechi

Key off-season losses: Danny Manning, Olden Polynice

What has to go right: Karl Malone and John Stockton don't suddenly disappear, and Bryon Russell continues to be a solid third option, taking the Jazz as far as the Western Conference finals with the right draw.

What can go wrong: Malone and Stockton start playing like people approaching 40 - or in Stockton's case hitting 40 - and players such as Amaechi and Donyell Marshall can't deliver.