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. Jakob Chychrun Jersey . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Darcy Kuemper Coyotes Jersey .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. http://www.officialcoyotesfanstore.com/authentic-keith-tkachuk-coyotes-jersey/ . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Christian Fischer Coyotes Jersey . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Lawson Crouse Coyotes Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers.Motherwell boss Mark McGhee has been issued with a notice of complaint by the Scottish Football Association following his reaction to his side’s defeat against Dundee. The misconduct charge relates to McGhees alleged actions following Wells 2-0 defeat at Dens Park on November 5.McGhee was unhappy when referee John Beaton and assistant Ross Haswell did not award his side a goal when Dundee goalkeeper David Mitchell stumbled over his line as he caught a Scott McDonald cross. McGhee felt his side should have been awarded a goal when Dundee goalkeeper David Mitchell stumbled over his line After the game, when asked if he had received an explanation from Beaton, McGhee said: They dont give you any explanation. He never gave me any explanation last year when he gave a penalty against Chris Cadden and we drew 2-2 here. The same referee.I have to say though, the linesman has got to help him. There are two of them there and they cant see it. I cant understand it. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the ffirst six months half price SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan accused the Scotland assistant coach of breaching Disciplinary Rule 203 of the organisations disciplinary rules through his actions at the end of the match.ddddddddddddA statement on the SFA website, said: You adopted aggressive behaviour towards a match official; and/or you adopted aggressive behaviour towards a steward. McGhee is the Scotland assistant manager The charge also said: You used offensive, abusing, and/or insulting language towards a steward; and/or you used offensive, abusing, and/or insulting language towards a match official.McGhee has been given a principal hearing date of December 1 and has until November 22 to respond to the complaint. Motherwell are 10th in the Scottish Premiership and host Partick Thistle at Fir Park on Saturday. Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: Beaton to ref League Cup final Motherwell to honour Hunter Motherwell fixtures Motherwell stats ' ' '
