Its just really tough for me to believe that that assuming we make the playoffs, dallas SA, or the suns wont get in. I realize injuries will happen but still its crazy to think that one of those teams is out if we are to get in. LOCKS Lakers Nuggets Rockets Jazz Likely Hornets Spurs? Blazers? Suns? I just dont know about our playoff chances. Dallas and SA are coming on strong. It might be us or the suns? All i know is...its a 9 team race.
Since when are the Nuggets locks? More likley due to the trade but far from a LOCK IMO. The still dont have any big men. edit: locks OVER the Hornets AND Spurs?!? crazy talk
Not really, but just looked at his stats...seems to be doing good but 7.4 rebounds from your starting C is nothing to brag about
Change happens. Dallas and Phoenix aren't in the NBA's elite anymore. They're good teams, but they're getting older and not any younger.
Lakers are the only lock imo. Right now it looks like the Suns will fall out, but that could potentially change at any moment. The Jazz aren't locks if they're this injured. They've lost against some teams that were worse than them, and they have the easiest schedule in the league atm. Their schedule just gets harder and harder from now on, even if their starters come back.
did you look at any of his other stats? 15.2 pnts. on 64% is nothing to sneeze at. Neither is 1.3 stls. and 1.6 blks. They came up well short tonight, but give a man his due... statistically dude is beating your boy like a rented mule + they've been winning. STOMP
while I can understand why you drew that conclusion, my winning comment had nothing to do with the Lakers... it was about the Nuggets who've been on a tear. Impressive stats on a winning team are better then impressive stats on a loser, right? That was my point. STOMP
so we're both wrong. You for saying look at his unimpressive stats and me for not factoring in that Nene is playing more minutes then someone you're obviously impressed by STOMP
The Lakers are the only lock to make the playoffs. Before the season started I would have said Lakers, Rockets, Hornets, Jazz are all locks but not now. I think the Blazers are as much of a lock as any team but the Lakers. If I had to guess one of these teams will miss the playoffs Suns, Nuggets, Jazz, Hornets or Dallas. It is funny there are probably more Blazer fans that think we will miss the playoffs the better we play.
Why we make the playoffs is we have the 2nd best record in the west with playing one of the hardest schedules. We are undefeated at home and have a winning record on the road. IMO the only thing that will keep us from the playoffs now is a major injury to Roy.
I see the following as locks: 1) Lakers 2) New Orleans 3) Houston 4) Jazz 5) Blazers In the fight 6) San Antonio 7) Denver 8) Phoenix 9) Dallas I really think the our division will have 3 teams in the playoffs. An injury, of course, could derail things- but for Portland, only if we lose Roy.
it's just guessing at this point, but i wouldn't really expect a team that's a playoff "lock" to look as impotent at home as the nuggets did last night.
With about 60 games to go, NO team is a lock for the playoffs. There are just too many variables at such an early point in the season...injuries, trades, team chemistry, strength of schedule, etc...for anybody to get too certain about their team's start making them a lock for the playoffs. The Lakers are certainly in the drivers seat at this point, but an injury to Kobe, given the depth of the West, could put them in jeopardy. As for the Blazers, they're definitely ahead of where anybody expected them to be, but being the youngest team out of the contenders tends to make them the most vulnerable of falling in the second half of the season as the pressure increases. The fact that they still rely so much on the long ball is another concern. When legs are tired in the second half of the season, those shots may not fall as regularly as they are now. In order to become a sure thing, ideally the Blazers need to have Oden and Aldridge step up their inside offensive game.
Well, if you want to be picky, no team at all is a lock. They fly around in 'planes, after all, and those of us who know what "Busby Babes" refers to realize how badly things can go wrong.
