Phoenix Suns general manager Steve Kerr took a big gamble prior to the trade deadline last season, landing past-his-prime but still-a-force center Shaquille O'Neal from the Heat for athletic forward Shawn Marion. The idea was that O'Neal would help come playoff time when games slow down and become more half-court oriented.

It didn't work out as planned. The Suns, relegated to the dreaded four/five playoff series in the top-heavy Western Conference, lost in the first round to San Antonio.

Now, with Terry Porter as the new head coach, all eyes in the Pacific Division will be on the Suns to see if they can keep pace with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that beat Phoenix by just two games in the standings a year ago.

It's really just a two-team race, as the other three teams stand little chance of even getting to the playoffs in the West.

Here's a team-by-team look in predicted order of finish:

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Last season: 57-25, lost to the Celtics in the NBA finals

Top player: Kobe Bryant. The reigning league MVP averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game last season.

Supporting cast: With point guard Derek Fisher (11.7 ppg), forwards Lamar Odom (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg) and Pau Gasol (18.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and center Andrew Bynum (13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg) along with Kobe, the Lakers may have the best starting lineup in the NBA. Depth is provided by Vladimir Radmanovic, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic and Chris Mihm.

Bottom line: The Lakers are loaded. They are the favorites to win the not only the Pacific Division but the Western Conference title again and, perhaps, even the NBA championship this time around.

PHOENIX SUNS

Last season: 55-27, lost to San Antonio in the first round

Top player: Amare Stoudemire. The only probable Suns starter who isn't in or nearing his mid-30s (he's 28), Stoudemire averaged 25.2 points and 9.1 rebounds last season.

Supporting cast: Steve Nash (16.9 ppg, 11.1 apg) may not be the league's MVP anymore, but he's still a top-flight point guard. Aging vets Shaquille O'Neal (13.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg), Grant Hill (13.1 ppg) and Raja Bell (11.9 ppg) want to show they still have gas left in their respective tanks. The bench is led by Leandro Barbosa, Boris Diaw and former Warrior Matt Barnes.