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NO ONE is happier about the start of the season than myself! The preseason has been an injury-plagued one for the Orlando Magic so hopefully that tune will change now that we've begun the 2005-06 campaign. Personally, I think the preseason should be three games long. That way you play one at home, one on the road and one in Hazzard, Kentucky or wherever the hell they pick to play these games.

The stress that comes with my fantasy draft is now over, however, the humiliation of WHO I picked lasts all season long. No more Todd Days, Mark Popes, Eric Chenowiths, Olu Famutimis, or Jason Capels in the box score. It's time to give way to the guys that can actually play, as well as those who CAN'T but have been fortunate enough to ink long-term deals (Steven Hunter, Adonal Foyle, Chris Mihm, and the lazy man's hero Greg Ostertag).

Without further delay, I will reveal my breakdown of the Western Conference for the 2005-06 NBA season, in reverse order, starting with the team that will finish last in each Division.......Next week, you'll get the Eastern Conference. I'm ready for your emails. Fire away!!

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
5) New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets - Let me start off by saying how much I would love to be wrong about this pick. Unfortunately though the destruction and devastation of Hurricane Katrina has to catch up with this team as they are essentially playing 82 road games this season. Even if they were playing all season in New Orleans, Byron Scott's not the Coach for this young team, the trade of Jamaal Magloire left them with no bigs, and who on that team can score? All that being said, shame on those that don't have at least some part of them rooting for the Hornets this year.

4) Memphis Grizzlies - Congratulations on trading away Jason Williams, your reward: Eddie Jones and all of his $15 million contract. J-Will couldn't stand Fratello so they solved that problem, but Damon Stoudamire isn't the answer and Bobby Jackson can't stay healthy. The good news: Pau Gasol finally put on some size and Hakim Warrick will be fun to watch, but that's about it.

3) Dallas Mavericks - Let's hope for Dallas' sake that Jackie....uh....I mean Doug Christie plays worth a damn, which he will because it would be impossible for him to bring any less to the Mavericks than he brought to Orlando. This team needs heart and toughness and they won't get it from Keith Van Horn, Doug Christie, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse or DeSagana Diop. Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard will continue to impress us, Dirk is still Dirk and Jason Terry has been reborn. They have probably more talent than anyone in the NBA, but until someone emerges with some backbone this team will finish third and again face an early postseason exit.

2) Houston Rockets - This might be the first year in Tracy McGrady's career where he won't have to shoulder the entire load. He will though! He's got a year under his belt in the Western Conference and last postseason he finally displayed that fire in the belly that we've all been waiting for. With TMac and Yao drawing all the attention, Stromile Swift could go unguarded for 82 games and even Stro' can't mess up uncontested dunks. Derek Anderson, Jon Barry and David Wesley will have wide open jumpers all season. It won't happen early, but come January this team will be a well-oiled machine.

1) San Antonio Spurs - Give me one good reason why they won't win this Division OR the entire Championship all over again? They are the defending World Champions and they added Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel and Fabricio Oberto. Do they even need Gregg Popovich?

PACIFIC
5) L.A. Clippers - Poor Elton Brand! Someone give this guy a break. They surround him with Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Walter McCarty and Yaroslav Korolev this offseason. Cuttino probably won't be distracted in Los Angeles and Cassell can probably go an entire year without complaining. SURE! And Shaun Livingston will be good! This team will implode after 17 games.

4) L.A. Lakers - Phil Jackson is the ONLY reason this team doesn't finish last! I wish they would put Lakers games on the big screen in movie theatres so I could eat popcorn, maybe some Goobers and watch Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm and Smush Parker run the Triangle Offense. You can't pay enough for that kind of entertainment. Give Phil about 25 games to remember why he doesn't like Kobe.

3) Golden State Warriors - That's right, I said it. Golden State finishes ahead of the Lakers and possibly gets a postseason berth. Baron Davis has to play 75 games for this to happen and Mike Dunleavy has to do SOMETHING worthy of his five-year extension. All indications are that Ike Diogu is the real deal, we already know J-Rich can play and it's gonna be a breakout party for Zarko Cabarkapa. This team went 13-4 to end last season and I expect that momentum to carry over.

2) Sacramento Kings - Folks, you're looking at the first team to lose their Head Coach this year. When Bonzi Wells comes out of a preseason game saying he hated Memphis because Fratello had structure, but here Rick Adelman gives him free reign to do whatever he wants then the Kings are in trouble. Not to mention the addition of Shareef Abdur-Rahim brings another perennial loser aboard. But Peja and Brad Miller will have All-Star years again and Mike Bibby might be the most underrated point guard in the league.

1) Phoenix Suns - I know there's no Amare Staudemire, but Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and James Jones will still run. Acquired from Indiana this offseason, James Jones quietly had himself a huge preseason with 17 points a game. Thank you Steve Nash. Kurt Thomas and Raja Bell bring defense, which is the only thing in Phoenix less scarce than snow! Welcome back to the NBA Pat Burke.

NORTHWEST
5) Portland Trailblazers - HAHAHAHAHA....I hope they gave you a LOT of money Nate McMillan, because it will cost you all of it to afford the therapy you'll need after this season. Martell Webster is the real deal, but surrounded by those knuckleheads does he have a chance? Zach Randolph wants out, Ruben Patterson wants out, Darius Miles wants out, fortunately they're all stand-up citizens so accomodating them with a trade will be no problem.

4) Utah Jazz - I love the draft choice of Deron Williams who absolutely couldn't have a better teacher in Jerry Sloan. But it took what, three practices for Carlos Boozer to get in Sloan's doghouse? Mehmet Okur is their starting Center and The Human Sloth, Greg Ostertag is their backup, need I say more?

3) Minnesota Timberwolves - They've got a new Coach in Minnesota, Dwane Casey, but that's about it. They've actually gone out and gotten KG LESS help than he had last year. While I agree it was necessary to unload Cassell and Sprewell, they should have replaced them with more than Marko Jaric and Nicoloz Tskitishvili. This is a make or break year for Wally Szczerbiak. He'll finally get all the shots he wants and I think he'll flourish. The fact that it's a contract year for Olowokandi will help them more than they know. By the way, how DUMB is Latrell Sprewell? If $20 million over 3 years can't feed his kids, what's he gonna do with $0 over three years?

2) Seattle Supersonics - It would be impossible for Seattle to repeat the 52-30 season of a year ago. Ray Allen was in a contract year and exploded last season. They took the entire NBA by surprise but they won't sneak up on anyone this year. Still, they're good enough to finish second. Radmanovic will be looking to earn a big contract after this season, keeping Reggie Evans was key, and Luke Ridnour is ready to break out. By the way, for whatever it's worth, I've been right on the money with Robert Swift being a colossal bust with the 12th pick in last year's draft. Here's a few players Seattle passed on to take Swift: Al Jefferson (15th), Josh Smith (17th), JR Smith (18th), Jameer Nelson (20th), Tony Allen (25th), Beno Udrih (28th).......I could go on, but I won't....

1) Denver Nuggets - Kudos to George Karl! He and Kiki kept their nucleus in tact, holding on to Maybiner Rodney Hilario (When someone creates their own nickname and wants us to call them by that name I simply refuse. Especially a name like Nene, which oddly enough means baby in Portuguese), Earl Boykins (who unfairly has to prove his worth EVERY year), Andre Miller, Kenyon Martin, 'Melo and Marcus Camby. Earl Watson was a great signing but when will he get minutes? Voshon Lenard is healthy and Eduardo Najera brings them limitless energy. Time to make your mark on this league Carmelo and stop missing so many damn shots.

Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.

Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for seven seasons.