1. Mavericks

• The Mavs have arguably nine starter-caliber players on their roster, which is why they consistently finish among the top teams in the west. Jason Terry is a perennial Sixth Man candidate thanks to his ability to score the ball, and Dallas has the luxury of choosing to start either Tyson Chandler or Brendan Haywood-or play them together-on any given night. DeShawn Stevenson is a solid defender and Rodrigue Beaubois could be a star in the making when he gets back from injury. No debate for the top spot.

2. Magic

• General Manager Otis Smith recently talked the strength of Orlando's bench being the main reason he feels good about the team's chances against another Florida squad, and he's right: the Magic are stacked. J.J. Redick is a great secondary option at shooting guard, Chris Duhon, Marcin Gortat, and Quentin Richardson would start for most teams, and Ryan Anderson is a capable stretch-four. The Magic have every position covered, and then some.

3. Blazers

• Health will determine how the team finishes in the NBA standings, but assuming that Portland can get to full strength, they'll have one of the best benches in the league, with quality backups at every position. It's borderline ridiculous that the Blazers have Marcus Camby, Greg Oden, and Joel Przybilla on their roster, and with Wesley Matthews and Rudy Fernandez on board, the Blazers' backcourt is secure. They're a little thin at the four spot, but rookie Luke Babbitt has a chance to claim a backup role to LaMarcus Aldridge and make an impact in his first year.

4. Rockets

• The Rockets may not be contenders this year, but they'll certainly sneak up on many teams, thanks in large part to their incredibly deep rotation. Their starting lineup is formidable, and a secondary unit of Kyle Lowry, Courtney Lee, Chase Budinger, Chuck Hayes, and Brad Miller must make for ultra-competitive practice sessions. Jordan Hill has a chance to justify his high draft selection this year backing up Luis Scola, and former Kentucky Wildcat Patrick Patterson is ready to contribute in the NBA. If injuries hit the Rockets this season-which history suggests they will-Head Coach Rick Adelman has to be pleased with his insurance policies.

5. Spurs

• San Antonio has been synonymous with consistency and depth for the past decade, and things won't change much in 2010-11, despite Manu Ginobili entering the starting lineup full-time. George Hill has the potential to be an impact player in his third year, and the Spurs are high on rookie pick James Anderson, who can play either the two or the three. DeJuan Blair has put up great numbers in the preseason NBA scores, and the Spurs haven't even plugged offseason prize Tiago Splitter into the lineup. Splitter could easily be one of the top sixth men this season, but could very well end up in the starting lineup after the first few weeks of the season to replace the aging but still-effective Antonio McDyess.