What's your prediction for the order of finish of the Western Teams this season? Here's mine: OKC Lakers Dallas Memphis San Antonio Denver Clippers Portland Houston Phoenix Jazz Warriors Minnesota [New Orleans - forgot them the first time] Sacramento I also predict that what with a tight schedule and fairly even talent distribution amongst most teams, it'll be very close. But Paul Westphal WILL be fired.
Dallas OKC Lakers Portland Memphis San Antonio Clippers Jazz ---------- Warriors Phoenix Denver Minnesota Houston Sacramento New Orleans
OKC Dallas Memphis Clippers San Antonio Lakers Portland Golden State ---------- Jazz Phoenix Houston New Orleans Minnesota Sacramento Denver
DAL- 50 OKC- 48 LAL- 46 LAC- 45 MEM- 42 POR- 40 SAS- 38 GSW- 37 I don't see teams winning too many games in the WC this year. HOU UTA MIN SAC PHX DEN NOH
Thunder Mavs Clippers Trail Blazers Lakers Spurs Warriors Grizz Twolves Kings Suns Rockets Nuggets Hornets
Is this regular season? Mavs Spurs Thundercats Lakers Griz Clips Blazers Warriors Nugs Jazz Wolves Kings Rockets Suns Hornets
OKC Mavericks Lakers Clippers Grizzlies Blazers Warriors Spurs Jazz Wolves Nuggets Rockets Hornets Suns Kings
I don't think Dallas will be as good this year. Why do so many people have them at the top? They lost Chandler, they lost Barea, they lost Butler... They added Vince Carter and Lamar Odom. I don't think that puts them as the top team in the league. I think they caught lightning in a bottle last year in the playoffs and won a title. It's not like they were the best team in the west last year (during the regular season). Thunder Lakers Mavs Clips Blazers Grizz Spurs Jazz Warriors Rockets Wolves Nugs Kings Suns Hornets
I don't expect the Mavs to be as good, but they will have some championship swag and there won't be as much pressure on them (which could cut both ways I suppose?)
My rationale of putting DAL at the top is that they're the deepest team in the West. Guards: Kidd, West, Beaubois, Terry, VC Forwards: Dirk, Odom, Marion, Wright Centers: Haywood, Cardinal, Mahinmi I don't see a deeper team in the conference. With the compressed schedule, I see them as most prepared.
Kidd is a year older. West is certifiable. Vince is pretty much worthless at this point. Their forwards are solid. No arguing that. Vince, Odom, and Marion is as good a rotation in the league. Center is weak. Haywood is serviceable, but Cardinal is terrible. I don't know... the team only took third last season in the west. Obviously they won the title, but what makes them better now?
Well--tied for second actually, and they took an important piece from the team they were tied with. Most people (including you) expect the Spurs to drop off significantly from last year, so really they don't need to be better than last year in order to finish higher; they just need to benefit from the Lakers and Spurs' regression.
SA and LA were the two teams above them last year. I think both get weaker this year. (SA's rise to the top was a bit of fluke last season). OKC was 2 games behind them last year, and I foresee their extremely good fortune turning a little worse this year, and some drama to arise between RW/KD.
They acquired a player better than anyone they lost (Odom). Losing Chandler obviously hurts, but they're a deep, well-coached veteran team that will adjust. They've got a better guard to take Barea's spot (Beaubois, if he's healthy). Maybe they'll go small more with Kidd/Vince/Marion/Dirk/Odom. It'll be the playoffs when their lack of a quality center will kill them (this was ranking for regular season, right? I don't see them getting to the finals again without their defensive center).
1. Dallas 2. OKC 3. Lakers 4. Clippers 5. Portland 6. San Antonio 7. Memphis 8. Denver 9. Minnesota 10. Houston 11. Phoenix 12. Warriors 13. Jazz 14. New Orleans 15. Sacramento
Eh, Butler was injured last season but he's fairly talented... so is Chandler. Odom is good but I don't know if he's CLEARLY better than those guys. I'm just saying I don't think the moves are enough to warrant a top spot. They finished third last season and I suspect they might end up somewhere in that area again. Could they finish first? Yes, but I think Dallas is more focused on winning a championship than they are winning games. I wouldn't be surprised if they rest Dirk or Kidd for stretches this season.
At least my picks are unique Memphis OKC Dallas Portland Clippers Lakers San Antonio Warriors ---------- Phoenix Minnesota Jazz Denver Houston Sacramento New Orleans
1. Dallas 2. Portland 3. L.A. Lakers 4. Memphis 5. OKC 6. San Antonio 7. L.A. Clippers 8. New Orleans Minnesota Sacramento Houston Phoenix Golden State Utah Denver
