What West teams are we definitely better than?

Right now I feel confident in saying we're better than OKC, Houston and New Orleans. But after that...
I don't think Sacramento is a fluke - I think they've finally found an identity and confidence. Same with Minnesota. Memphis was pretty close to us least year and is only getting better, with players like Bane taking a leap. I would've had my doubts about San Antonio, but last night's performance was impressive. They're similar to Memphis in that they've got a lot of exciting young players. Vassell looks ready to blow up.

 

Sacramento is a fluke. Harrison Barnes having a career night is not sustainable - other teams would try guarding him.

 

Every other team in the league.

 

San Antonio beat up a horrible Orlando team and Minnesota did the same to an equally as bad Houston squad. In the end over 82 games, talent will win out and we will still be in the 7-10 range in the west.

 

Name the teams below us.

 

I think OKC, Houston, Minnesota and New Orleans are definitively behind Portland and Sacramento probably is. Memphis is likely to be in the same neighborhood as Portland. I think San Antonio is pretty high variance and could be terrible or could finish a little ahead of Portland if Portland struggles this year.

 

I think we are still more talented than OKC, Houston, New Orleans, Sacramento, Minnesota, and San Antonio. Memphis is an interesting mix but I still think we are better.

 

I don’t know about a fluke. I feel like Sacramento is one of those teams that could surprise people. They could sneak there way into the playoffs.

 

Minnesota

 

Are we really only better then the bottom feeders in the league when we have Dame? What’s a reasonable expectation for our team ? Best hopes 8th seed and first round sweep? I don’t know what the ownerships expectation for this season ?

 

I think "more talented" is different from "better." For example, I think Zion and KAT may have more raw talent than anyone on our roster.

 

Minnesota, NO, yes…Sacramento, once we are gelled. SA. Houston, Memphis. OKC.

id say a crapshoot between us, GSW, the fakers and clippers(inevitable age and injuries) and Denver with Utah and Phoenix at the top.

3-7 will be based on who's the healthiest throughout the season in my opinion.

Patience will pay off. If the team stays the course and stays devoted to Billups, what i saw him wanting to run should make us a better team.
Some things just take time. Not 2years but maybe 20 games.
Trust the process.

 

That may be but the rest of the roster matters as well because last I checked it's still a team game. I just feel like the most talented teams 1-8 usually win out, especially over 82 games. I do appreciate the hand wringing over one game and from a team that has had more than a few slow starts to their season over the past few years.

 

Not the Kings.

 

It’s been 1 game, so I’ll the answer is both none of them and all of them

 

Except the Kings.

 

I think Sacramento has some good talent, but Barnes going off like he did, coupled with Dame going 0-9 from 3, is a double fluke. The Kings are not going to finish ahead of the Blazers barring major injuries.

 

If last season (and the one before that and the one before that...) is any indication, any player, no matter how random, can go off for a career high against the Blazers. Heck, Yogi Ferrall got a contract in part because of what he could do against the Blazers _efense.

 

I think the Blazers are the worst they're going to be right now. They are heading up, and good health willing, have the potential to be a top 5 team. It's too early to be worried who's better right at this moment. It's a marathon, not a sprint.