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Today marks the last chance to make predictions before the 2010-11 season begins. And, as promised, here are my thoughts about the Western Conference.

As I pointed out last week, the balance of power in the NBA seems to be shifting towards the East. Everyone has heard the speculations this summer about the Western Conference teams. The Lakers are the favorites for the Western Conference Champions, but every other team is up in the air.

With so many stars changing teams, it’s hard to predict what the final standings in the West will be like after this season. Here is my list of top questions for this season’s Western Conference, along with my best guess as to the final answer:

Can the Thunder/Kevin Durant live up to all the hype? (Yes – top three finish)

Can the Nuggets keep Carmelo happy for one more year? (Probably not) Can they win again now that George Karl is back and healthy? (Yes, but they won’t be as dominant as last year)

Are the Mavericks too old? (Almost – next year they might be)

Are the Spurs too old? (Yes – miss the playoffs)

Are the Suns too small? (Yes – almost miss the playoffs)

What if the Blazers can stay healthy? (Top four finish)

Can Chris Paul stay healthy and bring the Hornets back to respectability? (If he stays healthy, yes – barely make playoffs)

Will the Rockets stay healthy enough to make the playoffs? (Yes, also barely)

Can the Jazz put all the new pieces together? (No – I’m sensing big injuries, too)

The answer to each those questions will determine the fate of that team. The only thing we know for sure is that the West has no sure things besides the Lakers. I think the biggest aspect won’t be which players step up this year, but rather which coaches step up. So many teams have the necessary pieces, but the ones with the best leadership will come out on top.

Here’s my predicted standings for the 2010-11 Western Conference, including final records:

#1 Lakers: 61-21
#2 Thunder: 55- 27
#3 Mavericks: 51-31
#4 Blazers: 48-34
#5 Nuggets: 47-35
#6 Rockets: 47-35
#7 Hornets: 47-35
#8 Suns: 47-35
Jazz: 42-40
Spurs: 41-41
Kings: 34-48
Clippers: 32-50
Warriors: 31-51
Grizzlies: 27-55
Timberwolves: 23-59

We can all pretty much expect the Lakers to reach the Conference Finals, but who their opponent will be is still a big surprise. For now, the Western Conference is made up of one strong team and a bunch of question marks.

Whether you agree or disagree, be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts about the Western Conference!