Stacking up with the rest of the Western Conference

Yeah; 54-64 is still my range, but I think 57-61 (health and luck in our favor) is the sweet spot.

Of course, that's why we play the games.

 

Winning cures most ills. Trading gets rid of the rest of them.

 

I agree that we may at least challenge the Spurs. The age of their rotation I'd just ridiculous and as much as adding Gaspl helps a young Anderson, LMA and Gasol helps...... they can't rely on their original stars any more. Playing all those play series is going to start to catch up to them. We just have too keep developing our current players.

 

I think this year is going to be bumpier than we think. I hope we make 50 wins, but I think we may be 44-48 wins and the #4 seed. I hope to be proven wrong.

 

A mix of internal development, health and luck makes the #2 spot a possibility. If Duncan retires, that Spurs take a big step back defensively.

Really interested to see if the Jazz finally make the jump this year. Like Portland, they have a lot of quality depth and if they manage to stay healthy, a top 4 spot wouldn't surprise me. Still not sure they have the star power to do it though.

 

I don't see how they could overtake us, and I don't see them overtaking the Clippers or Spurs. We have more depth and the best 2 players between us.

 

I agree. My mention of the Jazz wasn't for comparison sake though. I think we finish above them in all likelihood.

 

1 Golden State
2 San Antonio
3 Portland
4 LA Clippers
5 Memphis
6 Utah
7 Oklahoma City
8 Houston

9 Dallas
10 Minnesota
11 Denver
12 Sacremento
13 New Orleans
14 Pheonix
15 LA Lakers

GSW 4 - HOU 0
MEM 4 - LAC 2
POR 4 - UTA 1
SAS 4 - OKC 3

GSW 4 - LAC 1
POR 4 - SAS 2

GSW ? - POR ?

 

1 Cleveland
2 Toronto
3 Indiana
4 Boston
5 Chicago
6 Atlanta
7 New York
8 Detroit

9 Orlando
10 Detroit
11 Charlotte
12 Milwaukee
13 Miami
14 Philadelphia
15 Brooklyn

CLE 4 - DET 1
BOS 4 - CHI 3
IND 4 - ATL 1
NYK 4 - TOR 3

CLE 4 - BOS 2
IND 4 - NYK 2

CLE ? - IND ?

 

That is about where i am at. But i want to say 54. The thing is they did do very well last year. Maybe too well? I'm going to hold off on my prediction until the Prediction thread really is in place. Summer is not over and they still need to work out Harkless. Only 8-9 mil left on the books and i would love to see them do a trip to the beach again like last year and start "Training Camp" voluntarily early.

 

Unfortunately I agree. The West will cannibalize this year.

 

I think we should be the same tier as Clippers but just below Spurs. Oklahoma will be much worse than last season but will still make playoffs (barely). I'd expect Jazz and Grizzlies to be better than last year as well, in Jazz case I can see them getting close to 50 wins.

Warriors will run away and get 70+ wins.

 

Why do people keep thinking the Thunder will be so bad?

 

At the moment they have Westbrook but he will be in Mighty Me mode which means a ton of great individual performances in close losses.

 

They also have Oladipo, Adams, and Kanter, a lottery pick. AND a good coach.

It's not like they suddenly became the 6ers or anything.

 

How many games is Durant worth, assuming Ibaka/Oladipo is an even swap? Basketball Reference says he's worth 17.28 games over a league average player. Who replaces him in the lineup? I'm genuinely curious, because they're a main competitor. Is 38 games (55 minus 17) closer to their floor, or closer to their ceiling?

 

I think floor.

I think they, along with the Puppies and Jazz will be right there with Portland all year for record. If everyone stays healthy. Portland should have the best record, but it won't be a run away