On Monday, we kicked off our ninth annual Summer Forecast by sizing up the Eastern Conference in 2016-17.On Tuesday, we revealed our projected Western Conference standings.Over the next couple of weeks, well also share our early predictions for rookie of the year, MVP, best newcomers, NBA champion and much more.For our results, we surveyed our ESPN Forecast panel on each topic. On to the West ...Western Conference projections1. Golden State Warriors Projected record: 67-15 Last season: 73-9The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to finish a season with the leagues best record and then add a former MVP still under the age of 30 in the following offseason. Despite the addition of Kevin Durant, our forecast projects the record-breaking Warriors will come back down to earth -- slightly -- to the tune of 67 wins. The folks in Las Vegas have placed Golden States over/under win total at 68.5. You can also get +500 odds for the Dubs to win 74 or more games.2. San Antonio Spurs Proj. record: 57-25 Last season: 67-15For the first time since 1996-97, the Spurs will open a season without Tim Duncan, who retired this summer after 19 seasons. While losing Duncan is certainly the headliner, San Antonios frontcourt must also replace the production of David West, Boris Diaw and fan favorite?Boban Marjanovic. The main?addition is Pau Gasol, who made the All-Star team in each of the past two seasons and is one of three players to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds per game in each of the past two seasons. The others? Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.3. Los Angeles Clippers Proj. record: 52-30 Last season: 53-29Our panel sees a similar regular season for the Clippers, whose promising postseason ended with injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Its mostly the same roster, with Doc Rivers re-signing Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Wesley Johnson, while adding Raymond Felton, Brandon Bass and Marreese Speights. This could be the groups last run together, as both Paul and Griffin can become unrestricted free agents after this season.4. Portland Trail Blazers Proj. record: 46-36 Last season:?44-38As last seasons surprise, our panel sees further progress for a Portland team that spent serious dough this summer to keep its roster intact. The Blazers spent just north of $290 million dollars this offseason on new deals for C.J. McCollum, Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner. And with Damian Lillards five-year, $139.9 million contract kicking in this season, Portland is going all-in to return to contention in the West.5. Utah Jazz Proj. record: 45-37 Last season: 40-42With veterans George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw joining a young and promising nucleus led by Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert, our forecast has Utah leaping from the lottery to the No. 5 seed. In addition to the stable of veteran support, Dante Exum -- the No. 5 overall pick in 2014 -- is set to return after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. A methodical squad, the Jazz ranked third in defensive efficiency after the All-Star break, while playing at the leagues slowest pace.6. Oklahoma City Thunder Proj. record: 44-38 Last season: 55-27Despite OKCs losing Kevin Durant and trading away Serge Ibaka for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and Domantas Sabonis, our panel still likes the Thunders chances of making the playoffs. Over the past two seasons, Russell Westbrook played 48 games without Durant; he averaged 30.5 points, 9.2 assists and 7.6 rebounds, and he registered 11 triple-doubles. Oklahoma City went 25-23 in those 48 games, which would equate to 43 wins, just barely south of where our forecast places the Thunder in 2016-17.7. Memphis Grizzlies Proj. record: 43-39 Last season: 42-40A total of 28 players saw action for the Grizzlies last season, an NBA single-season record, so why does our panel project an improvement of only one win, despite the Grizzlies adding Chandler Parsons and re-signing Mike Conley? Age and health are factors. Zach Randolph turned 35 in July and saw declines in scoring and rebounding last season. And Marc Gasol, who will be 32 by seasons end, is recovering from a broken foot and has missed 20 or more games in two of the past three seasons.8. Houston Rockets Proj. record: 41-41 Last season: 41-41We know a bit about how Houston will play. The already 3-oriented offense should get a boost with new coach Mike DAntoni arriving in town and the additions of Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon, who both averaged 15 points and two 3-pointers per game last season in New Orleans. But the departure of Dwight Howard cost Houston a strong interior presence on defense. Our panel expects the Rockets to hover around .500 once again.9. Dallas Mavericks Proj. record: 40-42 Last season: 42-40The Mavericks added Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and a player named Curry (Stephs brother, Seth) this offseason, but dont expect this team to become the Dallas Warriors. Our panel projects the Mavericks to see a decrease in wins this season. Age is a big issue here: Dirk Nowitzki is 38;?Deron Williams is 32;?Wesley Matthews will be 30 in October; and Bogut will be 32 in November.10. Minnesota Timberwolves Proj. record: 39-43 Last season: 29-53One of the biggest projected win increases next season belongs to the Timberwolves, and its not hard to see why. Look at the young talent new coach Tom Thibodeau has on hand. Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game in his rookie season; the last five rookies to do that before him were Blake Griffin, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille ONeal. The 2014 No. 1 overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, averaged 20 points per game last season.?Kris Dunn, whom the Wolves took fifth overall in Junes draft, looks like the next young star in line.11. New Orleans Pelicans Proj. record: 35-47 Last season: 30-52After winning 45 games and making the playoffs in 2014-15, the Pelicans fell well below expectations with a 30-win effort last season. Anthony Davis missed 21 games and posted the worst shooting percentage of his career as the Pelicans finished 12th in the West. Our panel is expecting a rebound of sorts for New Orleans this season, but until Davis proves he can play a full season (he has missed at least 14 games every year), the Pelicans ceiling might go only so high.12. Denver Nuggets Proj. record: 34-48 Last season: 33-49The Nuggets youth movement continued this offseason, as the franchise had three first-round picks. Jamal Murray (19 years old), Malik Beasley (19) and Juan Hernangomez (20) will join the likes of Emmanuel Mudiay (20), Nikola Jokic (21) and Jusuf Nurkic (21). Our panel doesnt project the Nuggets showing much immediate improvement, but it depends on how quickly the young pieces come together.13. Sacramento Kings Proj. record: 30-52 Last season: 33-49Last season, the Kings won their most games (33) since the 2007-08 season, but our projections have the team regressing once again. DeMarcus Cousins set a career high in scoring last season ?with 26.9 points per game, but the disgruntled superstar was once again unhappy with the Kings draft after the team took Greek big man Georgios Papagiannis (via trade) and drafted another Kentucky big in Skal Labissiere.14. Phoenix Suns Proj. record: 26-56 Last season: 23-59The Suns walked away from the 2016 NBA draft with two of the top eight picks in power forwards Dragan Bender (fourth overall) and?Marquese Chriss?(eighth overall). Throw in the 13th overall pick from 2015 in?Devin Booker?and the Suns have a trio of players who will be no older than 20 by seasons end. The youthful talent is intriguing, and our panel expects improvement from Phoenix, but it also knows that inexperience doesnt lead to wins in the NBA.15. Los Angeles Lakers Proj. record: 25-57 Last season: 17-65The 2016-17 season will be the first since 1995-96 without Kobe Bryant in a Lakers uniform. Kobes retirement might not help ticket sales, but it will give DAngelo Russell and Brandon Ingram a chance to shine in L.A.s spotlight. That should allow the Lakers a chance to improve on a franchise-worst 17 wins last season.*Notes from John McTigue of ESPN Stats & Information. David Fletcher Jersey . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. 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TROON, Scotland -- Keegan Bradley finished a practice round at Royal Troon on Monday when he decided to play a prank. He climbed inside the massive leaderboard next to the 18th green, found the right letters and put his name on it.Coming into the British Open, that might have been the only way to see it.This is the last of his five-year exemption based on his PGA Championship victory in 2011. He hasnt won any tournament in four years. He is No. 120 in the world.The best news Friday: His name was on the leaderboard, this time for real.Bradley recovered from a rough stretch to start the back nine and posted a 3-under 68, leaving him in a tie for third and only three shots behind Phil Mickelson going into the weekend at Royal Troon.Its just more fun to play well, Bradley said. Its extra hard to play well and not see the scores, and thats kind of whats been happening to me over the last couple of months. Thats actually harder than playing. ... Everybody comes up to me and says, `Whats wrong with you? And thats the toughest. Because I tell them, `Im fine. Im enjoying the challenge of getting better.And it has been a challenge.Bradley won a World Golf Championship at Firestone in 2012 for his third victory in his first 50 starts as a PGA Tour member. This is his 100th tournament worldwide since then without a victory, and with only a couple of serious chances.Its more than just the ban on the anchored putting stroke for Bradley, who was the first major champion to use a longer putter that he stuck to his stomach. Bradley wasnt getting results. He wasnt getting picked for U.S. teams. The confidence was slipping.He started working with a new coach at the Bears Club in south Floriida.dddddddddddd He replaced the only caddie he ever had on the PGA Tour.It takes time, Bradley said. Ive actually been playing pretty well for a couple of months; didnt have much to show for it. Its coming. I can feel it coming. Whether it happens this week, its coming back, which is good.Bradley said he knows this because he feels uncomfortable over certain shots, to the point of being nervous, and that used to be when he was at his best. On those occasions at Troon, he said he has delivered quality shots. And thats what he has been missing.Today I was really nervous on that 10th tee shot, and I probably hit the best shot of the day there, he said. So to me, thats a good sign.Bradley had plenty of help along the way. Mickelson took him under his wing when he was a rookie in 2011, inviting him to some of his money games during practice rounds at big events. Mickelson, Ernie Els and Fred Couples were among those who told him they had all been in slumps during their careers.They all said, `We went through this at some point. It was just a little dip and people freak out. Its your job to enjoy the challenge of coming back, he said.Is he coming back?Two good rounds, even at a major, is not enough for a good measure. But it is a start.Theres part of being emotional both ways, where you can go the other way and it can get ugly, Bradley said. Its difficult for me to sit back and watch everybody winning, and thats probably the most difficult, just not being in the conversation. So it may not happen this week, but I know its going to. Its feeling good. ' ' '