OK, so we've got some new and intriguing faces like Marco Belinelli, Brandan Wright, and Stephen Lasme joining returning favorites like Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, and Andris Biedrins to give coach Don Nelson's player-friendly up-tempo small ball another go. Basically, more of the same for the Warriors this year.

Nellie has some new pieces to play with but it's his same old game plan, so we pretty much know where the Ws will land this year. Based on the weakening of the Western Conference over the offseason and the anticipated emergence of exciting players like Belinelli and Kelanna Azubuike, we look for the Warriors to improve on last year's 42-win season. Gazing into our eerily reliable crystal ball, we see 48 wins this year for the double-u's, good enough for second in the Pacific Division and the six seed in the WC.

Photo from unbeknownst.net

Attrition has been one of the Warriors' best pickups this offeseason. While the Warriors have taken some baby steps forward, many of the Western Conference rivals have been moving in the opposite direction.

When looking at the Warriors chances to make the playoffs this year, it runs from the bottom up.

• 15. Minnesota -- Congratulations Kevin McHale, after trading franchise keystone Kevin Garnett, your team is officially irrelevant for years to come.

• 14. Sacto -- Until the Kings move perpetually troubled Ron Artest this team will be mired in the delta blues. It's the first of many rebuilding years in the capitol city.

• 13.Memphis -- Quick, name one player on the Grizzlies. Just one. Any one. Exactly. Next.

• 12. LA Clippers -- Clipper karma is hard to shake. Injuries, internal strife, and freak bad luck are back for this perpetually snakebit franchise.

• 11. LA Lakers -- Kooooooo-be Kooooooo-be, Kooooooo-be, Kooooooo-be . . . .

• 10. Portland -- Walton, Sam Bowie, and now Greg Oden -- when's Portland ever gonna catch a break with their big men?

• 9. Seattle -- A nice mix of veterans like Kurt Thomas and Wally Szcerbiak to go with young stars Kevin Durant and Jeff Green will have them nipping at the heels of playoff teams like the Warriors all year.

• 8. New Orleans -- If they can avoid just a fraction of last year's injuries, the Hornets will be playoff bound.

• 7. Denver -- We're still not buying the whole Carmelo/AI synergy, and coach George Karl's shelf life is reaching it expiration date in D-lick.

• 6. WARRIORS!

• 5. Houston -- Has some real purty pieces but won't reach full potential with Stevie Franchisekiller at the point.

• 4. Utah -- They didn't do much to improve this offseason, but they do have a guy named Morris Almond, so they've got that going for them, which is nice.

• 3. Dallas -- Still soft as your gram-ma-ma's inside game. Last's year playoff yack may have exposed the reality of this team.

• 2. Phoenix -- Strengthened their run-and-gun team with Grant Hill and Alondo Tucker in the offseason, but still don't get it: half-court basketball wins championships.

• 1. San Antonio -- The Spurs are older and more vulnerable, but they're still the best team in league and are on track for another NBA title.