Am I really the only one that would like to see the Lakers make the playoffs? Do you really want to see them get better odds at another good pick in a strong draft?
Yeah I'd rank them better than Denver, I picked Denver last. But Denver still has some vets and older players; Gallinari, Chandler, Faried, Nelson, Foye. Wouldn't be shocked to see either team at the bottom. Rookies don't have the impact towards wins our eyes lead us to believe. Wiggins made so many mistakes with his shot selection, help defense, and intangibles where he's not in the ideal spot. He makes jaw dropping plays we remember though. Wiggins actual on court contributions were similar to Jared Dudley or Corey Brewer. Wiggins or Towns potential is so high and the future so bright we tend to think of where he and his team will be a few years from now. Town's will look like DeMarcus Cousins one game then Javale McGee the next. Average it out and he won't help any more than an average center such as Marreese Speights or Brandan Wright. Those two kids are going to make big improvement every year; once they're old enough to buy a beer they'll be contributing to wins. Lavine is another young guy there, starting over Martin. Thats a long term decision and won't help with wins now. Some of their vets are injury prone. KG and Miller were horrible on the court last year. I like the Twolves future and the way they're building the team. But for next year they'll be in the running for one of the worst teams in the west.
+> Lets see if Kobe makes it mid season without injury. Hibbert has something left in the tank. Nick Young is a good player.
This seems pretty accurate to me. Glad to see the writers finally see that there was a method to the pieces Portland added. I still think back of the lottery is a very likely ending spot, but it was unrealistic of anyone to think Portland would be a bottom 2 team. I also wish the L@kers best of luck in a first round sweep. But, I don't think that is realistic. With all the new pieces they have, the injury potential, and the total newbies I think this is a front lottery team. Hopefully Philly enjoys the pick.
We ended up at #11. http://espn.go.com/nba/preview2015/insider/story/_/id/13468711/portland-trail-blazers-forecast If only someone has Insider and can post the full article........
Hey now don't take ALL the credit. I think there are a gang of us pig piling on him at the moment. its a shared win!
Ratings updated and we are indeed 11th in the Western Conference: No. 11: Portland Portland is rebuilding after losing four starters this summer. Thankfully, the hardest part, finding a corner-stone, is done. Lillard, 25, projects to have the fifth-best WARP among point guards this season (11.3). And the Trail Blazers should have $32 million to spend next offseason. A rebuild is tough to take after a 51-win season, but at least Portland is positioned to make it a short one. --Kevin Pelton READ MORE BNM
Man, it must suck to be a Kings fan: No. 12: Sacramento In owner Vivek Ranadive's world, Sacramento, a team that hasn't eclipsed 30 wins since 2007-08, is ready now. In this world, new point guard Rajon Rondo (projected RPM of -4.7), shooting guard Marco Belinelli and small forward Caron Butler propel this team to the West's upper echelon. The reality? This season's team is only marginally better -- typical theater for the NBA's most dysfunctional franchise. -- Amin Elhassan READ MORE I was surprised that they didn't manage to win 30 games last year. They started off 9-5 and everyone was saying they were going to make the playoffs, then they remembered they are the Kings and only won 20 more games the rest of the season. Plus, their payroll is 65% higher than ours and they are full or chronic headcases. BNM
25% Chance at the playoffs? I'll take it! Or is it 0.25%; a quarter of 1%:MARIS61: I wonder why the RPM projections show us closer to 40 wins?
Shoot it is only a quarter of one percent, see the Pistons are 8.69. Funny that the odds of us winning the title are 200-1 but the ESPN "BPI" odds of us only making the playoffs are 400-1. Wouldn't you think its harder to win a title than make the playoffs; like way harder?
Yeah its a funny projection. The technical explanation is the ESPN odds are a mathematical model that should in theory be a more accurate projection. The sports book odds are there to induce betting and profits for casinos. Still I think we're way better than a 400-1 shot to make the playoffs. I agree in that we likely don't make it; but to go from #11 to #8 is only a jump of 3 spots which teams do all the time. That's historically not a 400-1 type of unlikely situation.
