NBA Power Rankings: Breaking down the divisions

May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (left) and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) react during the second half in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 2, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) reacts as San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) looks on in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Dallas won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Southwest Division

Without a doubt, this is the most brutal division in all of professional basketball. Let’s take a look at teams one through five in the Southwest: defending champions; the team that gave the defending champs a run for their money in the playoffs; a team featuring possibly the best shooting guard AND the best center in the NBA; a team with one of the most punishing defenses in the league; and the team that probably has the next league MVP not named LeBron James or Kevin Durant. Sound like fun?

The Spurs are bringing everybody back for what they hope will be the franchise’s first time repeating as NBA champions, and they added a promising rookie who fits San Antonio’s style of play in Kyle Anderson too. This could be Tim Duncan’s last year, and these defending champs can easily get by pretty much every Western team — save the Thunder — in a seven-game series.

The Dallas Mavericks gave the Spurs their toughest test in the playoffs last season and have a seriously improved supporting cast. Add that to the experience of Dirk Nowitzki and the vast coaching advantage of Rick Carlisle and this is a team nobody should want to play come playoff team. The Rockets lost a lot of bench depth in their pursuit of Chris Bosh, but Trevor Ariza is an immediate upgrade over Chandler Parsons and will help Houston’s three-point shooting and defense on the wing.

The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t get significantly better over the offseason, but they’re still tough as nails and that defense is a nightmare. Adding Vince Carter also provides some bench scoring to make up for Mike Miller’s departure. As for the Pelicans, they’ll have a healthy Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and have added defensive stalwart Omer Asik to a frontcourt that already featured one of the league’s more terrifying two-way forces in Anthony Davis. If the Brow makes another leap this year, every team in the Southwest will be competing for a playoff spot.

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