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NBA Southwest Division: 5 Burning Questions For The 2016-17 Season

By Josh Cornelissen

Dec 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) attempts to drive the ball around Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) attempts to drive the ball around Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Texas trio dominate the NBA headlines in the Southwest Division, but all five teams find themselves in seasons of transition. What burning questions await answers for this division?

NBA
Dec 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) attempts to drive the ball around Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

NBA teams have to answer the same questions each and every season. Can they win the title? Will they be better than last season? Worse than last season? What are their best- and worst-case scenarios?

Unique questions bubble to the surface as well, and these form the suspense as the season nears. Will this particular player step up? What will this event prove about that team? The answers to these questions may come in October, or they may not bear fruit until June.

The Southwest Division brings just as many questions as the other divisions, with a number of teams making moves to plaster over holes. The San Antonio Spurs won a franchise-record 67 games last year to win the division, only to crumble in the playoffs and say goodbye to Tim Duncan. Is Pau Gasol the right replacement?

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Memphis and New Orleans fell apart last year amidst an unthinkable rash of injuries. They each added bodies in the draft and free agency to shore up their depth and protect them against a repeat fate. Will their rehab beds stay empty this season?

Dallas and Houston both doubled down on weaknesses. Houston struggled to defend last season, and signed a pair of talented offensive players who neglect the other end of the court. Dallas’ only dribble-penetration came from a 6’ 0” J.J. Barea last year, and they proceeded to add a number of non-dribblers in Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut.

In the end, every offseason move fades into the background as games begin to count. How much a player makes or what he was traded for matters less than whether his shots go in and his opponent’s do not.

But for now, there are questions that demand answers. What are the most burning questions for the Southwest Division? We begin our search at the Alamo.