Ira Winderman

You ask, we (try to) answer:

Q: With all the additions in the Western Conference, do you think Denver, which made no real moves in the offseason and with Chauncey Billups being one year older, makes it back to the Western Conference finals or even makes the playoffs for that matter?
— Anthony, Denver

A: The Nuggets will make the playoffs. That seemingly is a guarantee when Billups is running your offense.

But making the Western Conference finals likely will be more a product of the competition, and the San Antonio Spurs look awfully tough and awfully ready to reclaim their position at the top of the conference.

Don't understate the loss of Linas Kleiza overseas, even though this was a team that survived last season's selloff of Marcus Camby to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Carmelo Anthony likely will have to further step up his game for the Nuggets to maintain any hopes of maintaining their place in the conference.

Q: Ira, any word if Sen. Kohl is going to sell the Milwaukee Bucks yet? He has just run them into the ground ever since he bought them.
— Steven, Rhinelander, Wisc.

A: I wouldn't go that far. The Bucks have had several competitive seasons since Sen. Kohl purchased the team in 1985.

But I agree that the market seems to be beyond his means at this point.

To lose Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions as restricted free agents without compensation is unacceptable, let alone the selloff of Richard Jefferson.

It is clear that the Bucks cannot afford to play with the big boys.

Based on the current roster, and the team's outlook, it will take one of Scott Skiles' best coaching efforts to keep Milwaukee competitive.

Q: Is Ricky Rubio going to play this year? What is the deal with him? He seems like a nice person, but this whole play-or-not-play thing just rubs me the wrong way. What do you think?
— Robert, Miami

A: I think that the current collective-bargaining rules make it difficult for an overseas prodigy to break into the NBA while still under contract in Europe, with an NBA team able to contribute no more than $500,000 to the process.

Slideshow   Top 100 active NBA players A look at the top players around the league. NBCSports.com

Had the Timberwolves been able to offer more to at least come close to Rubio's $6.6 million Spanish League buyout, he already would be on this side of the Atlantic.

Left unsaid is whether Rubio wanted to be with the Timberwolves, in the first place. We'll get a better sense of that these next two years, with Rubio tied to his Spanish team for that tenure.

Don't be surprised if the Timberwolves turn Rubio into a high-priced chip for more definitive help.

In the interim, there always is consolation prize Jonny Flynn and the promise of Ramon Sessions.

Q: Do you think with the brutal early schedule Phoenix has, a 9-16 start, which is conceivable, leads to an Amare Stoudemire trade? Would they throw in the towel by Christmas?
— Larry, Phoenix

A: Some believe that the Suns already have thrown in the towel, considering they received essentially nothing for Shaquille O'Neal and in the past year or so have lost the soul of the roster (Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, coach Mike D'Antoni) in a series of seemingly misguided moves.

And then to give an extension to Steve Nash? The whole approach is mystifying.

I would not be surprised at all if Stoudemire is moved. The embrace, in both directions, hardly has been heartfelt over the years.

Stoudemire believes he is capable of being a centerpiece; the Suns have shown little inclination in that regard.

To the Suns' advantage, only seven teams in the West will miss the playoffs, and there are so many very bad teams at the bottom of the conference that Phoenix figures to stay afloat long enough to maintain contact with a final playoff seed.

Still, with 15 of their first 22 games on the road, a fast start looks daunting.

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