It seems to me that (barring unforeseen circumstances) six teams in the West are a mortal lock for the playoffs: Clippers, OKC, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis, Golden State. It also seems to me that Phoenix and Utah are straight out tanking. That means that the following teams will compete for two playoff spots: Nuggets Blazers Lakers Mavs Pelicans TWolves Kings Rank 'em. (My opinion: Blazers aren't in the top two.)
The team I really like is Golden State. I love their roster and I love the Igiudala pick up. Defensively, they should be better with him on the roster. Think they will surprise some teams. I think Houston is better than many in here would like to give them to credit for. As for ranking of all of them. I don't have a really good feel for any of them. I think I like OKC, Clippers and Rockets in the top three. Not in that necessary order. It wouldn't surprise me if Golden State makes a jump into that territory. I think they are better and improved. As for Portland. I don't know, they are already dealing with injuries. And this is a team that couldn't afford any significant long term injuries to key players. I don't like there chances. The roster without injuries is JUST good enough to get in. Just don't see it happening.
I'm sorry, I was unclear - I meant rank these teams: Nuggets Blazers Lakers Mavs Pelicans TWolves Kings
Somehow I don't think it's the name. I think the Pelicans have a very solid shot at the playoffs, and Anthony Davis has a very solid shot at the All Star game. (And Monty h.a.v.s.s.a. CoTY.)
To me only four of those teams have a realistic shot and that's, in the following order Blazers Tpups Mavs Nuggets Tpups have the best starting lineup of the three but haven't shown any ability to stay healthy and they really aren't a deep team especially there bigman rotation. Blazers are the deepest but we have a lot of new pieces to get work in this year as well and we still haven't shown any ability to defend anyone Mavs are old and reliant on a few players. If any injury were to really hit one of Marion/Dirk they become an old team with gunners on it who can't defend. Nuggets I really have no clue what they are going to be. They have the look of a team that is just going to try and run every play and if you let them they'll run you into the ground. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
I think they're for real. They made two really big offseason moves - stealing Jrue Holiday for near nothing, and grabbing Tyreke Evans. They have Eric Gordon coming back from injury and looking excellent. Plus depth.
I don't think Davis has a shot at the allstar game. He has to beat out LA Blake Love Timmy M.Gasol Howard Dirk Lee There is no way that happens. Pelicans will look good at times and then like a lost young team at others. I don't think they win more then 33 games this year. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Blazers Pelicans Mavs TWolves Lakers Nuggets Kings This is tough. Kings are clearly the worst IMO. I've been jocking the Pelicans a bit but all those teams are very close talent-wise. I'll buy on the Mavs a bit because I like Carlisle and they've got an experienced bunch.
Re: Kings. I think DeMarcus Cousins has a breakout year. In fact, this could be the Year of the Young Center, what with him, Valanciunas and Andre Drummond. (And also, although he's less young, DeAndre Jordan.) I also think Greivis Vasquez is going to make a big difference, and actually the loss of Tyreke Evans is going to help because there will be no question that Cousins is The Team, and focus will be on him. But yes, it would be a massive upset if they made the playoffs.
Making a list of these team's is really a fool's errand at this point in the non-season. These teams are really close in terms of playoff potentiality. I do think people are overbuying Pelicans stock. Anthony Davis needs to become a top 5 defender at any position for that team to reach the playoffs, and I dont see that happening. And they didnt get Jrue for nothing...they gave away a lottery pick in the 14 draft for him. Heavy price. I think the Lakeshow and the Kings are screwed, the Nuggets will be worse but they have that homecourt advantage, the Mavs will go as far as Dirk wills them, and it's kinda between the T'Wolves and Portland for the 7th or 8th spot. Both teams are in similar situations, with similar squads. Let's just hope Dame/LMA/Stotts is better that Rubio/Love/Adelman.
Maybe not. He could in theory get voted on, but he'd have to be on the Lakers. Are there 12 or 15 All-Stars? He doesn't have to beat out ALL of those, just a couple. I can see him beating out Lee and possibly Dirk. And there's always the chance of injuries.
There are 13 spots voted in PF/C one or two backup bigs and then two flex spots. So probably only four of those listed make the AS team so he will have to beat out all but three. It could happen i just don't think it is likely at all that he makes it. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Obviously the Blazers and Wolves are going to be competing for the last two spots. I think the Mavs still have enough talent to get the 8th spot, but that team is rapidly declining. They need new blood in the worst way. The Pelicans are a bit of an enigma. They have a lot of young talent. They're going to be a force in a few years. This year, I'm not so sure. The Kings will continue to suck. The Lakers will be horrible, and the Nuggets are in such disarray that I'm not even sure at this point what to think. I will say this, I think Golden State should be on the list too. I don't see them as a lock. They're not that much more, if at all, talented than us at this point. I'm going to put the teams in tiers. Tier one - Blazers, Wolves, Warriors Tier two - Mavs, Nuggets Tier three - Pelicans Tier four - Lakers, Kings
Disagree. Curry is top 5 at PG, Lillard's great but hes not there yet. Klay vs Matthews is close, Klay has more upside, Matthews is a finished product. Iguodala > Batum. Aldridge > Lee, but Lee isn't chopped liver, definitely a top 10 PF. Bogut >> Lopez. And comparing benches you've got Barnes, JO, Festus Ezeli (out until Jan/Feb), Speights, Douglas vs. Mo, DWright, Thomas Robinson, Meyers (forgive me if I'm forgetting a rotation guy here). Mo is the best overall player of them, W's have more size but Blazers have better balance, its pretty close. Talent level isn't THAT different but Warriors have some higher end impact players. Curry was a massive all-star snub and as I said, a top 5 PG. Iggy is a former all-star, all-NBA second team defense, and team USA player- still in his prime. Bogut is a top 10 C when healthy, made an all-NBA third team, one of the top 5 defensive Centers in the league when healthy, and easily the W's second best player in the postseason. Lee, for all of his warts, is a two time all-star, made NBA 3rd team last season, most double doubles in the league last year, hes efficient as hell. Whatever you think about him, hes an extremely productive offensive player and rebounder. On top of that the Warriors were a stout defensive team last year, one of the best overall rebounding teams and the #1 defensive rebounding team, and they've done nothing but add size and defensive players. Portland added talent but I'd be surprised if they were a top 10 defensive team or rebounding team.
