You've got to feel for Marc Iavaroni and his Memphis Grizzlies. His team is like that old Sesame Street bit, the one that goes "one of these things is not like the others."

The NBA's Southwest Division has four bona fide title contenders, all of which expect 50-plus-win regular seasons followed by playoff success. When postseason victories don't happen, these teams will make risky tweaks — like the Rockets acquiring talented but troubled Ron Artest or the Mavericks firing Avery Johnson — in order to try to stay competitive in the best division in basketball.

And then there is Memphis. The poor Grizzlies wouldn't be a contender in any NBA division, but putting them in with the most competitive only makes their woes more apparent.

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

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Last season: 56-26, lost to the Lakers in the conference finals

Top player: Tim Duncan. He's certainly not one of the most colorful characters in the NBA, but he's still one of the best. He averaged 19.3 points and 11.3 rebounds a year ago.

Supporting cast: Duncan and Co. will be without Manu Ginobili to open the season, as the Argentine star is recovering from ankle surgery. Still, there is plenty of talent in point guard Tony Parker (18.8 ppg, 6.0 apg), Michael Finley (10.1 ppg), defensive specialist Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto and Roger Mason.

Bottom line: The Spurs are old, but their window of opportunity has yet to be closed. It will hurt Gregg Popovich's club to have Ginobili for the first couple of months of the season, but it should mean he is well rested for the stretch run and the playoffs. Another championship is not out of the question. After all, the Spurs do well in odd numbered years, winning NBA titles in 1999, 2003, '05 and '07.

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

Last season: 56-26, lost to San Antonio in the second round.

Top player: Chris Paul. While Jazz fans may beg to differ, he may be the best point guard in the NBA. He averaged 21.1 points and 11.6 assists last season.

Supporting cast: Power forward David West is becoming a star. He averaged 20.6 points and 8.9 boards last season. Veteran forward Peja Stojakovic (16.4 ppg) still has one of the sweetest outside shooting strokes in the league. Center Tyson Chandler (11.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is an athletic big man, while forward James Posey, who was a key contributor to the Celtics' title run, has been added for depth and leadership.