On Monday, we kicked off our ninth annual Summer Forecast by sizing up the Eastern Conference in 2016-17.On Tuesday, we revealed our projected Western Conference standings.Over the next couple of weeks, well also share our early predictions for rookie of the year, MVP, best newcomers, NBA champion and much more.For our results, we surveyed our ESPN Forecast panel on each topic. On to the West ...Western Conference projections1. Golden State Warriors Projected record: 67-15 Last season: 73-9The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to finish a season with the leagues best record and then add a former MVP still under the age of 30 in the following offseason. Despite the addition of Kevin Durant, our forecast projects the record-breaking Warriors will come back down to earth -- slightly -- to the tune of 67 wins. The folks in Las Vegas have placed Golden States over/under win total at 68.5. You can also get +500 odds for the Dubs to win 74 or more games.2. San Antonio Spurs Proj. record: 57-25 Last season: 67-15For the first time since 1996-97, the Spurs will open a season without Tim Duncan, who retired this summer after 19 seasons. While losing Duncan is certainly the headliner, San Antonios frontcourt must also replace the production of David West, Boris Diaw and fan favorite?Boban Marjanovic. The main?addition is Pau Gasol, who made the All-Star team in each of the past two seasons and is one of three players to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds per game in each of the past two seasons. The others? Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.3. Los Angeles Clippers Proj. record: 52-30 Last season: 53-29Our panel sees a similar regular season for the Clippers, whose promising postseason ended with injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Its mostly the same roster, with Doc Rivers re-signing Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Wesley Johnson, while adding Raymond Felton, Brandon Bass and Marreese Speights. This could be the groups last run together, as both Paul and Griffin can become unrestricted free agents after this season.4. Portland Trail Blazers Proj. record: 46-36 Last season:?44-38As last seasons surprise, our panel sees further progress for a Portland team that spent serious dough this summer to keep its roster intact. The Blazers spent just north of $290 million dollars this offseason on new deals for C.J. McCollum, Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner. And with Damian Lillards five-year, $139.9 million contract kicking in this season, Portland is going all-in to return to contention in the West.5. Utah Jazz Proj. record: 45-37 Last season: 40-42With veterans George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw joining a young and promising nucleus led by Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert, our forecast has Utah leaping from the lottery to the No. 5 seed. In addition to the stable of veteran support, Dante Exum -- the No. 5 overall pick in 2014 -- is set to return after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. A methodical squad, the Jazz ranked third in defensive efficiency after the All-Star break, while playing at the leagues slowest pace.6. Oklahoma City Thunder Proj. record: 44-38 Last season: 55-27Despite OKCs losing Kevin Durant and trading away Serge Ibaka for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and Domantas Sabonis, our panel still likes the Thunders chances of making the playoffs. Over the past two seasons, Russell Westbrook played 48 games without Durant; he averaged 30.5 points, 9.2 assists and 7.6 rebounds, and he registered 11 triple-doubles. Oklahoma City went 25-23 in those 48 games, which would equate to 43 wins, just barely south of where our forecast places the Thunder in 2016-17.7. Memphis Grizzlies Proj. record: 43-39 Last season: 42-40A total of 28 players saw action for the Grizzlies last season, an NBA single-season record, so why does our panel project an improvement of only one win, despite the Grizzlies adding Chandler Parsons and re-signing Mike Conley? Age and health are factors. Zach Randolph turned 35 in July and saw declines in scoring and rebounding last season. And Marc Gasol, who will be 32 by seasons end, is recovering from a broken foot and has missed 20 or more games in two of the past three seasons.8. Houston Rockets Proj. record: 41-41 Last season: 41-41We know a bit about how Houston will play. The already 3-oriented offense should get a boost with new coach Mike DAntoni arriving in town and the additions of Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon, who both averaged 15 points and two 3-pointers per game last season in New Orleans. But the departure of Dwight Howard cost Houston a strong interior presence on defense. Our panel expects the Rockets to hover around .500 once again.9. Dallas Mavericks Proj. record: 40-42 Last season: 42-40The Mavericks added Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and a player named Curry (Stephs brother, Seth) this offseason, but dont expect this team to become the Dallas Warriors. Our panel projects the Mavericks to see a decrease in wins this season. Age is a big issue here: Dirk Nowitzki is 38;?Deron Williams is 32;?Wesley Matthews will be 30 in October; and Bogut will be 32 in November.10. Minnesota Timberwolves Proj. record: 39-43 Last season: 29-53One of the biggest projected win increases next season belongs to the Timberwolves, and its not hard to see why. Look at the young talent new coach Tom Thibodeau has on hand. Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game in his rookie season; the last five rookies to do that before him were Blake Griffin, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille ONeal. The 2014 No. 1 overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, averaged 20 points per game last season.?Kris Dunn, whom the Wolves took fifth overall in Junes draft, looks like the next young star in line.11. New Orleans Pelicans Proj. record: 35-47 Last season: 30-52After winning 45 games and making the playoffs in 2014-15, the Pelicans fell well below expectations with a 30-win effort last season. Anthony Davis missed 21 games and posted the worst shooting percentage of his career as the Pelicans finished 12th in the West. Our panel is expecting a rebound of sorts for New Orleans this season, but until Davis proves he can play a full season (he has missed at least 14 games every year), the Pelicans ceiling might go only so high.12. Denver Nuggets Proj. record: 34-48 Last season: 33-49The Nuggets youth movement continued this offseason, as the franchise had three first-round picks. Jamal Murray (19 years old), Malik Beasley (19) and Juan Hernangomez (20) will join the likes of Emmanuel Mudiay (20), Nikola Jokic (21) and Jusuf Nurkic (21). Our panel doesnt project the Nuggets showing much immediate improvement, but it depends on how quickly the young pieces come together.13. Sacramento Kings Proj. record: 30-52 Last season: 33-49Last season, the Kings won their most games (33) since the 2007-08 season, but our projections have the team regressing once again. DeMarcus Cousins set a career high in scoring last season ?with 26.9 points per game, but the disgruntled superstar was once again unhappy with the Kings draft after the team took Greek big man Georgios Papagiannis (via trade) and drafted another Kentucky big in Skal Labissiere.14. Phoenix Suns Proj. record: 26-56 Last season: 23-59The Suns walked away from the 2016 NBA draft with two of the top eight picks in power forwards Dragan Bender (fourth overall) and?Marquese Chriss?(eighth overall). Throw in the 13th overall pick from 2015 in?Devin Booker?and the Suns have a trio of players who will be no older than 20 by seasons end. The youthful talent is intriguing, and our panel expects improvement from Phoenix, but it also knows that inexperience doesnt lead to wins in the NBA.15. Los Angeles Lakers Proj. record: 25-57 Last season: 17-65The 2016-17 season will be the first since 1995-96 without Kobe Bryant in a Lakers uniform. Kobes retirement might not help ticket sales, but it will give DAngelo Russell and Brandon Ingram a chance to shine in L.A.s spotlight. That should allow the Lakers a chance to improve on a franchise-worst 17 wins last season.*Notes from John McTigue of ESPN Stats & Information. Brett Favre Super Bowl Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Marcedes Lewis Super Bowl Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. http://www.packersonlineteamstore.com/kenny-clark-youth-jersey.html . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Clay Matthews Super Bowl Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. David Bakhtiari Super Bowl Jersey . PAUL, Minn. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons have relied heavily on a 1-2 punch at running back.Devonta Freeman may have to carry the load for a while.Tevin Coleman is hobbled by a hamstring injury, keeping him out of practice Wednesday and raising doubts about his status for Sundays game in Atlanta against the Green Bay Packers.The Falcons (4-3) already juggled the 53-man roster to bolster their depth in the backfield, promoting Terron Ward from the practice squad and signing another NFL-tested running back, Stevan Ridley.But Freeman figures to get most of the carries if Coleman cant go.You know how the NFL is, Freeman said with a shrug. Next man up.Coleman, who was hurt in last weekends overtime loss to San Diego, will likely be rehabbing his injury the rest of the week. Coach Dan Quinn isnt ready to rule him out against the Packers.We dont know the extent of where Tevins injury will be, Quinn said. Well take it all the way through the week and then make our determination.The coach is optimistic that Coleman wont be out for an extended period.Were hopeful its going to be shorter than longer, Quinn said. He felt better today. Hell participate in some running and rehab, but he wont practice.Freeman has rushed for 508 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns, while Coleman has run for 234 yards with a 4.0 average and five TDs. Both are also key members of the passing game, with Freeman ranking third on the team with 22 receptions for 169 yards and Coleman going for 330 yards on 19 receptions.Atlanta would love to have them both on the field against Green Bay (4-2), which has allowed just 71.8 yard per game to rank first in the NFL against the run. No matter what, dont expect the Falcons to abandon the balance that is a halllmark of their high-scoring offense.dddddddddddd They lead the league with an average of 32.1 points a game.Theyre a great defense, Freeman said, but I feel like were a great offense.If Coleman cant go, Ward figures to be the top backup. He played in 13 games as a rookie, rushing for 95 yards and catching nine passes, only to get forced to the practice squad in his second season when Coleman claimed a more substantial role and a rash of injuries at linebacker left the Falcons needing an extra roster spot.Ward took his demotion without complaint and is eager to show hes capable of stepping in when needed.You work to play on Sundays, he said, sitting at his locker before practice. Its another opportunity, and Ive got to make the most of it.The 27-year-old Ridley was a key contributor at New England his first three seasons, rushing for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012. But a severe knee injury two years ago sidetracked his career, and he hasnt played at all this season after getting cut by both Detroit and Indianapolis during the preseason.He impressed the Falcons during a workout Tuesday, though his tenure with the team will likely be determined by how long Coleman is out.Quinn cant wait to have his top two backs together again.They make a terrific tandem, the coach said. We love the back and forth. Were bummed that Tev got banged up in the game the other day, but Free is totally capable of handling the workload.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
