you have the Spurs who have won 4 titles in the past 10 years
The Mavericks who are 2 years removed from a 67-15 season and 3 years removed from an NBA Finals appearance.
The Hornets who the season before this finished 2nd in the West and looked like an NBA Finals team for a while. Very talented.
The Houston Rockets who have been the playoffs the last 8 years and took the champion Lakers down to the wire without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.
The Memphis Grizzlies who can make a playoff push this year. They have a solid young core of OJ Mayo,Rudy Gay,and Marc Gasol. With the possibility of a promising rookie coming in