People wrote off the Suns last year too, saying they would struggle to make the playoffs. They ended up in the western conference finals.
Yeah, but Phoenix had one respectable big and some backups. Now all of their bigs are backups. Hedo's more of a 3 than a 4.
That was with Amare. Do you really think that team would have beaten us in the playoffs without Amare?
So what, people were crapping all over Amare the year before. My point was that people wrote them off as a team that was likely going nowhere, and I see people doing it again this year. I don't know if they're good enough to nab a top spot again, but don't write them off. Hedo, Childress, and Warrick can definitely surprise teams.
Did he pick the Blazers to make the play-offs? Since that is all the Blazers have actually accomplished, that is all the credit they have earned. When they actually make it to the second round, then they can complain that they deserve to be considered a top 4 team in the West.
I totally disagree with those rankings, but personally I kinda like it. I always prefer being underrated to overrated.
OKC won't fall. They did what I think is called...a better move? Took...some kid...Durant? And...built....a great team around him. But you guys won't ever admit that. The Thunder will be a top 5 team in the NBA. They have all the talent, it's about to go down. Portland however I think well make the playoffs, but facing LA or OKC....gonna be tough.
Oh Geezus. OK didn't make the "better move". In a two player draft, they picked the one leftover. You don't get credit for NOT being a total doofus. As for being a "great" team. We shall see. They suprised the Lakers in the first round to make it interesting, but they did lose after all. What OK did enjoy last season, was the healhiest year of ANY playoff team. Portland, by contrast, suffered the most games lost to injury among their expected rotation players of any playoff team. When OK has a normal year in terms of injuries, we will see if they are a great team. It is my opinion that they are a decent big man away from doing any damage. They didn't get it done this summer. Imagine if they had drafted Tyreke Evans instead of Harden. Then, they could trade Westbrook or Evans (plus maybe Green) for a really good big and then they would be set.
Forget about the Portland Homer argument. I am glad he picked us 8. Hell he can pick us 10th. But OKC is not #2. Dallas and Denver are too low, the Jazz and Phoenix are too high. (as is the writer)
So after a season of insane injuries were not going to improve and in fact we'll take 7th or 8th place, while the thunder who had no injuries are going to improve to 2nd in the west and we'll have to play either LA or OKC? Bring it on i'm not scared of either of those teams if were healthy. The lakers have length in Bynum/paul/odom. Oh thats nice we only have Camby/Pryz/Oden/LMA to counter that. OKC only scares me if Durant gets to shoot 80 free throws.
Truth. Portland has always performed the best when no one believes in them, having an "Us against the world" attitude.
I am sure this thread will be bumped in March. We will see if the thunder is the second best team in the west. Dallas looks awfully good to me.
There are about 10 teams in the West that have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs next year. It seems to me that, as was the case this year, the teams that make it and the order they finish in will be determined more by player health than by July roster strength.
I think there's some truth to this. They're going to remain outside the elite unless they find a second superstar. They should probably go after Paul I think. Durant/Paul would be a dynamite duo and they might have the best package to throw at N.O. with the cap room they have, picks, and Westbrook to offer. It could be a defining decision for Presti. He--similar to KP two years ago--is the current golden boy. Acquiring cap space, nice young prospects, and a bevy of draft picks. But he has yet to turn those assets into a superstar talent. His reputation will suffer if they plateau--like with Pritchard.
