Top 4 sleeper teams for the 2008-2009 NBA season?

Western Conference

Mavericks- They are the most underrated team and everyone is selling them short. They are a great come from behind team that has alot of resiliency. Dirk is the best player on the planet. They got Marion who covers up all their weaknesses. He can guard the quick point guards that give Jason kidd trouble, and he can guard all 5 positions. He's athletic and a great rebounder. Howard played great toward the end of the year averaging 19ppg in 26 minutes with a bummed ankle. He is healthy now and if he can step it up like that, it puts dallas over the top. Terry is a great scorer, barea is improving, gooden adds post play and rebounding and Thomas is a great clutch 3 point shooter.

Clippers- They get Kamen back who was hurt last year and when healthy he is a legit post player who can defend and rebound. They got Blake Griffin who is athletic and can benifit from playing with Baron Davis, who is one of the best point guards in the NBA. Thorton and Gordan are young improving players and Camby and Ricky Davis are legit veterans. They get the 8th spot.

Eastern Conference

Wizards- They get Arenas back and they added mike miller, randy foye, brendan haywood and stevenson are healthy, plus mcgee and blatch are improving players. They have increased alot since last year and they will score huge numbers.

Raptors- The raptors got Turkaglu, wright, jack, and belinelli. Bosh is a stud and i think this team surrounding him can do damage.

EAST

1. DETROIT PISTONS. The Pistons were in the rebuilding process. They were a team that was not on top any more but now on the bottom. Pistons were in a free fall with Allen Iverson on the team. A.I is a good player but he did work well with the team. With a new coach in John Kuester the Pistons have the ability to be an elite team in the EAST. Pistons also were able to sign Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Chris WIlcox and making his return to the Pistons Ben Wallace. Ben Wallace may not be as he was in 2004 but he still is a great defensive player. I believe that he will be able to get back to the top and be known as a Great Center. I believe the Pistons will be able to be any where from the 4-7 seed in the East.

2. Washington Wizards. The 2008-2009 Wizards team finished with a record of 19–63, the worst record in the Eastern conference. This team was missing there dominant PG in Gilbert Arenas. Arenas only played in 2 games last year. Now with Arenas 100% him Caron Butler, and Antwan Jamison can bring the Wizards to a record well above .500 and they will once Again make the playoffs. Flip Saunders is a good coach and he will be able to bring a lot of different plays and strategies to the table. The Wizards were also able to get Mike Miller and Randy Foye, these 2 guys will help the Wizards compete with teams like the Cavs, Celtics, and Magic. I believe the Wizards will be anywhere from the 3-6 seed in the East.

WEST

1. Phoenix Suns. The Suns missed the playoffs last year by 2 games. They finished with a record of 46–36. The Suns are a team that likes to use the Run-and-Gun offense. This was Mike D'Antoni's coaching style that worked for the team. When D'Antoni went to NEW YORK Terry Porter was named the head coach of the Suns. He basically changed the playing style and he did not use the Run-and-Gun offense that made the team not win or play well. The team went 23-18 with Porter as the coach. They fired him and Alvin Gentry took over. The Suns were once Again playing with the Run-and-GUn. I think if Amare Stoudemire is playing well the team will do good. He is the key to there success. Steve Nash is also a key, Nash will lead the team strong in the playoffs. With the West being as good as they are, the Suns might not get in but if they do get in, they will wind up with the 5-8 seed.

2. Golden State Warriors. They were once a team that was able to upset the #1 seeded Mavericks in the playoffs. There are 3 players that are on this team that if they play well the Warriors could be back in the playoffs.

Stephen Jackson

Monta Ellis

Corey Maggette

If those players average more than 10PPG and 3RPG, the Warriors will have a chance to be Second in the Pacific division competing with the Suns and right behind the Lakers. The Warriors will be the 6-8 seed if they can get in.

West:

Thunder - They're still young and I have a feeling they might be a year away, but anything is possible with these guys, and there is just enough of an opening in the West to maybe squeeze into that 8th spot.

Clippers - If they can avoid injury and whatever else seems to always happen in Clipperland, they have one of the most intriguing rosters in the league and if B-Diddy can make a comeback, who knows what will happen.

East:

Wizards - We have the makeup of a 50 win team, and we're getting Agent Zero back, which means we might become marginally relevant again in this league (not holding my breath, however).

Bobcats - If ever there's a time to make a run, it's now. Other than the top of the East, I think it's weak enough for this defense-first team coached by Larry Brown to make that 8th seed run, only to get fed to the Cavs.

West:

Golden State Warriors: starting lineup: Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette, Anthony Randolph, Andris Biedrins. Bench: Azubuike, Turiaf, Morrow, Curry. The Warriors had a rash of injuries last year. Both Morrow and Randolph each had 40 point games at summer league. They will turn some heads next year.

New Orlean Hornets: Shocking pick i know. They were just dismantled in the postseason last year. But this year, I feel they will be back strong. Amidst the embarrasement was a team who sitll finished 49-33. They trade injury prone Chandler for Okafor who puts up double-double numbers with high blocks.

East:

Atlanta Hawks: Finished 47-35 last year and entered 2nd round, but no one even thinks they can hang with the Celtics, Magic or Cavs. They aquire Crawford, resign Bibby and Marvin Williams. They look to make a splash this upcoming season. I could see them getting home court advantage in teh first round of next year's playoffs.

Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas is apparently back at 100%. He can lead this Wizards club to more than just a playoff spot. Randy Foye will move Arenas to shooting guard which in my opinion is better for Arenas. Miller has another intagible to the lineup. THen you still have Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

i think the raptors bobcats in the east west its hard to say but id pick the clippers and the thunder im just picking teams that didnt make the playoffs i dont think teams are sleeper teams if they had the ability to make the playoffs

West: Warriors and Clippers

East: Pistons and Wizards

Bulls - Heat

Blazers - Jazz

warriors-blazers

none the east still sucks

bulls-heat

blazers-thunder