Predict the standings in the West

[DStebb716]

Post your predictions for the final standings in the western conference. If I have time within a few days, I'll try to average out positions and post what the consensus on here appears to be.


Mine:
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Denver Nuggets
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Utah Jazz
8. Dallas Mavericks

[DStebb716]

bump

[Batz]

trump

[SpecialQue]

1. Thunder
2. Lakers
3. Spurs
4. Clippers
5. Nuggets
6. Grizzlies
7. Timberwolves
8. Mavericks

[Papaya Petee]

1.) thunder 62-20 2.) lakers 58-24 3.) clippers 54-28 4.) spurs 52-30 5) grizzlies 49-33 6.) nuggets 46-36 7.) mavericks 45-37 8.) suns 43-39

[fsvr54]

1. Thunder
2. Lakers
3. Spurs
4. Nuggets
5. Clippers
6. Grizzlies
7. Jazz
8. Mavericks

[qrich]

1] Thunder
2] Lakers
3] Clippers
4] Spurs
5] Grizzlies
6] Mavericks
7] Nuggets
8] Warriors

[drizzy0503]

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Minnesota Timberwolves

[All Net]

Reckon Thunder gets first seed, feel it will mean More to them than it will to the lakers.

[SpecialQue]

1] Thunder
2] Lakers
3] Clippers
4] Spurs
5] Grizzlies
6] Mavericks
7] Nuggets
8] Warriors

Warriors over the T-Wolves???? :biggums: :biggums: :biggums:

[fsvr54]

Everyone has the same 7 teams except that wildcard spot for Timberwolves, Jazz, Warriors, Suns.

[qrich]

Warriors over the T-Wolves???? :biggums: :biggums: :biggums:

As long as Bogut is healthy, I can see the Warriors sneaking in due to the fact they will be vastly overlooked, which will help them win a handful of games, while teams won't easily overlook the Wolves. Addition of Jack and improvement of Klay Thompson as well is reason for me picking them.

[BuffaloBill]

1. Spurs
2. Lakers
3. Thunder
4. Clippers
5. Nuggets
6. Grizzlies
7. Mavericks
8. Wolves

[TheMarkMadsen]

Lakers
OKC
Nuggets
Spurs
LAC
Dallas
Twolves
Gstate.
:roll:

I forget about the grizzlies.

Grizzlies at 6 Mavs 7 T wolves 8.

[UtahJazzFan88]

1) Thunder - 60-22
2) Lakers - 57-27
3) Spurs - 56-26
4) Clippers - 54-28
5) Memphis - 52-30
6) Denver - 50-32
7) Utah - 49-33
8) Dallas - 48-34

[Fudge]

1. Okc
2. Lal
3. Sas
4. Lac
5. Den
6. Dal
7. Mem
8. Gsw

[Jakeh008]

LA Lakers
Oklahoma City
San Antonio
Denver
Memphis
LA Clippers
Minnesota
Sacramento

[TheMarkMadsen]

Lakers give up Bynum, Add Dwight Howard, Steve Nash Antwan Jaminson & Jodies meeks.


ISH consensus: they move up one spot in the conference :confusedshrug:

[kurt_rambis]

Lakers give up Bynum, Add Dwight Howard, Steve Nash Antwan Jaminson & Jodies meeks.


ISH consensus: they move up one spot in the conference :confusedshrug:
it's a tough conference

[TheMarkMadsen]

it's a tough conference


They have 2 players that have led their teams to the finals, one still in his prime the other while aging is only a few years removed from a FMVP & still seems to have a good amount left in the tank.

That & and considering they addressed their biggest need being point guard & added to their bench i'd being extremely disappointed if they didn't finish 1st in the west.

[Clippersfan86]

1) Thunder - 60-22
2) Lakers - 57-27
3) Spurs - 56-26
4) Clippers - 54-28
5) Memphis - 52-30
6) Denver - 50-32
7) Utah - 49-33
8) Dallas - 48-34

Good list outside of Dallas being below Utah. LOL at all the people putting Nuggets above Spurs and Clippers.

[Heavincent]

Good list outside of Dallas being below Utah. LOL at all the people putting Nuggets above Spurs and Clippers.

The Nuggets are legit. They got an absolute steal in that trade.

[Clippersfan86]

The Nuggets are legit. They got an absolute steal in that trade.

Nuggets are legit and are very good. That being said what makes them suddenly better than the Clippers and Spurs when they weren't last year? Spurs have a few young players developing and still have a proven product as a contender despite their age. Clippers were better last season, have two stars and are just as deep. Basically the Clippers match the Nuggets at their best strength, depth and unlike the Nuggets they have two 20 ppg players you can depend on to score.

Nuggets are better coached so the gap is decreased but to act like Denver is EXPECTED to be better than the Clippers and Spurs is odd to me. They are still a really deep team with no reliable go to scorer and we all know how much that matters in the playoffs.

[Myth]

No love for the Blazers?
I agree, we are going to suck. **tears**

[TheMarkMadsen]

No love for the Blazers?
I agree, we are going to suck. **tears**


I think they can fight for that 8th spot.Probrably not it depends on how their young players play.

I think lillard could have a breakout rookie season.

[NugzFan]

Good list outside of Dallas being below Utah. LOL at all the people putting Nuggets above Spurs and Clippers.

So lol at anyone who disagree with your homer ass opinion? Pathetic. It's amazing how you close minded you are.
:oldlol:

[NugzFan]

Lakers give up Bynum, Add Dwight Howard, Steve Nash Antwan Jaminson & Jodies meeks.


ISH consensus: they move up one spot in the conference :confusedshrug:

Cleverly disguised whine about "why doesnt everyone put the lakers first?!?!". :cry:

[maybeshewill13]

Lakers give up Bynum, Add Dwight Howard, Steve Nash Antwan Jaminson & Jodies meeks.


ISH consensus: they move up one spot in the conference :confusedshrug:

Why so mad bro? :confusedshrug:

OKC
LA
Spurs
Clippers
Denver
Memphis
Dallas
TWolves

[UtahJazzFan88]

Good list outside of Dallas being below Utah. LOL at all the people putting Nuggets above Spurs and Clippers.

I'm biased towards Utah, but I think we're a 7 seed. Dallas is going to miss Jason Terry a lot. OJ Mayo is still nothing close to Jason Terry. Brand is a nice pick-up. Kaman doesn't ring the bell for me, liability on D.

Nuggets are a nice team but they are a 5-6 seed... Iggy is great on defense, but Afflalo and Harrington were two of their main offensive pieces in clutch situations. Nuggets get a lot better on defense, but on offense they falter a bit.

[All Net]

Lakers give up Bynum, Add Dwight Howard, Steve Nash Antwan Jaminson & Jodies meeks.


ISH consensus: they move up one spot in the conference :confusedshrug:

Because this team's main focus come playoff time is being healthly and rested. We could certainly go mad in the regular season and get 1st seed but it isn't needed to win. Not with a roster like this built for the playoffs.

Let the young pups in OKC go get 1st seed...young legs and all that. rather be rested and ready to go than maybe burn out before the post season.

[DaSeba5]

Lakers give up Bynum, Add Dwight Howard, Steve Nash Antwan Jaminson & Jodies meeks.


ISH consensus: they move up one spot in the conference :confusedshrug:

They'll be more dangerous in the playoffs. It's a long season. They'll battle injuries, and they still have to gel together.

[NugzFan]

I'm biased towards Utah, but I think we're a 7 seed. Dallas is going to miss Jason Terry a lot. OJ Mayo is still nothing close to Jason Terry. Brand is a nice pick-up. Kaman doesn't ring the bell for me, liability on D.

Nuggets are a nice team but they are a 5-6 seed... Iggy is great on defense, but Afflalo and Harrington were two of their main offensive pieces in clutch situations. Nuggets get a lot better on defense, but on offense they falter a bit.

Our offense will be fine. We have a ton of scoring options.

[PyrrhusX]

1) Spurs
2) Lakers
3) Thunder
4) Clippers
5) Denver
6) Memphis
7) Utah
8) Golden State :P:P:P

Thunder win the west when playoffs roll round~

[MiamiThrice]

1) Oklahoma City Thunder
2) LA Lakers
3) Los Angeles Clippers
4) San Antonio Spurs
5) Denver Nuggets
6) Dallas Mavericks
7) Memphis Grizzlies
8) Minnesota Timberwolves

[KeyNote]

1. Lakers
2. Nuggets
3. Thunder
4. Spurs
5. Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Dallas
8. Minny

I think utah, the warriors and the suns fight it out with minny for the 8 spot..but they eventually win the 8 seed

[Clippersfan86]

1. Lakers
2. Nuggets
3. Thunder
4. Spurs
5. Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Dallas
8. Minny

I think utah, the warriors and the suns fight it out with minny for the 8 spot..but they eventually win the 8 seed

:biggums:

[LakersForlife]

Lal
Okc
Den
Sas
Lac
Mem
Min
Dal

[AK47DR91]

1. OKC
2. Lakers
3. Denver (the new run & gun contenders of the West)
4. Spurs
5. Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Utah
8. Dallas

[NugzFan]

:biggums:

:oldlol:

So disrespectful to the mighty clippers! How dare anyone insult them like that???
Stupid homers

[MeLO MvP 15]

Damn this is hard. I mean for me, the Lakers are the clear cut #1 and the Thunder #2. After that... damn. I mean I actually love the moves Dallas made and the Iggy trade for Denver. The Clippers are even more stacked this year. The Spurs are still the Spurs. The Grizzlies are still scary. I actually think Utah regresses a little bit. The Wolves and the Warriors could both be really good if healthy. Hell the Suns could surprise some people too.

Actually pretty crazy to think that one two of those teams I just listed will miss the playoffs.

I'd have to go:
1. LA Lakers
2. OKC Thunder
3. Denver Nuggets
4. LA Clippers
5. Dallas Mavs
6. SA Spurs
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
---
9. GS Warriors
10. Utah Jazz

But really after OKC, anything else wouldn't surprise me. To me it's 4 groups:
Lakers/Thunder
Nuggets/Mavs/Clippers
Spurs/ Grizzlies/ Wolves
JAzz/ Warriors/ Suns

[Clippersfan86]

:oldlol:

So disrespectful to the mighty clippers! How dare anyone insult them like that???
Stupid homers

LOL.... Or it's just ridiculous that Iggy takes them from a 6 seed to a 2 seed when every other contender in the west got a lot stronger. No logic whatsoever, but go ahead and take it personal!

[KeyNote]

:biggums:

I've said this in a few threads already man

It's my opinion that the nuggets are really good..and will get hot down the stretch to finish with the 2 seed

just my opinion

[KeyNote]

LOL.... Or it's just ridiculous that Iggy takes them from a 6 seed to a 2 seed when every other contender in the west got a lot stronger. No logic whatsoever, but go ahead and take it personal!

I am applying logic

look, I'm not as high as you are, obviously, on the clippers additions...odom is washed up..he can't even get around anybody anymore...they made a mistake letting kenyon and evans go...grant hill is 40...I really like bledsoe and crawford though..but they're front court rotation leaves much to be desired in my opinion

I'm looking at a nuggets team that was MUCH better after the trade for mcgee..so he'll be starting at the C getting the majority of minutes with mozgov backing him up...faried will be better in his second season and has anthony randolph as his back up...gallo will be good and brewer backing him up..they trade for a star in iggy, and lawson could be a superstar

didn't even mention andre miller..yes, I think they'll be the 2 seed..could be wrong, but it's a prediction bro

[colorz]

1) Thunder
2) Lakers
3) Clippers
4) Denver
5) Spurs
6) Dallas
7) Memphis
8) Minnesota

I think the Lakers will win the west come playoff time, but they usually don't try that hard during the regular season.

I feel like Pop will rest the starters a lot which will cost them some games during the regular season.

[Kiddlovesnets]

The Spurs are being underrated, like always.
:lol

[blacknapalm]

1) Thunder
2) Lakers
3) Spurs
4) Clippers
5) Denver
6) Memphis
7) Dallas
8) Minnesota

if bogut/curry stay healthy, i could see GSW making it

[Clippersfan86]

I am applying logic

look, I'm not as high as you are, obviously, on the clippers additions...odom is washed up..he can't even get around anybody anymore...they made a mistake letting kenyon and evans go...grant hill is 40...I really like bledsoe and crawford though..but they're front court rotation leaves much to be desired in my opinion

I'm looking at a nuggets team that was MUCH better after the trade for mcgee..so he'll be starting at the C getting the majority of minutes with mozgov backing him up...faried will be better in his second season and has anthony randolph as his back up...gallo will be good and brewer backing him up..they trade for a star in iggy, and lawson could be a superstar

didn't even mention andre miller..yes, I think they'll be the 2 seed..could be wrong, but it's a prediction bro

Let's say Odom, Hill, Turiaf etc are scrubs right? Clippers should still be better considering they will have a full training camp, DJ and Bledsoe should improve a ton and Blake and CP3 will have another year of chemistry together. Under no circumstance do I see the Nuggets surpassing the Spurs or the Clippers outside of a blown knee or something from a star player.

[RRR3]

1. Thunder
2. Lakers
3. Spurs
4. Clippers
5. Grizzlies
6. Nuggets
7. Mavericks
8. Warriors (if Bogut and Curry are healthy, if not then Jazz)

[kNicKz]

People have the warriors in the playoffs but not the timberwolves? after gettig kirilenko and roy, and after kevin loves breakout season? cmon theyll at least be 8th

[fsvr54]

People have the warriors in the playoffs but not the timberwolves? after gettig kirilenko and roy, and after kevin loves breakout season? cmon theyll at least be 8th

I'm feeling the Jazz over either.

[NugzFan]

LOL.... Or it's just ridiculous that Iggy takes them from a 6 seed to a 2 seed when every other contender in the west got a lot stronger. No logic whatsoever, but go ahead and take it personal!

I dont care. Put denver last - I've never cared about preseason picks. I just want Denver to earn respect. I'm only in this thread to laugh at you.

You on the other hand take it all personally and get so butt hurt everytime someone doesn't agree with your stupid homer ass. You whine every chance you get when you aren't too busy flooding ish with awful threads about what toothpaste Griffin is now using or bledsoe hall of fame induction date.

Stfu, stop crying like a bitch and let the clippers earn their respect.

[NugzFan]

Let's say Odom, Hill, Turiaf etc are scrubs right? Clippers should still be better considering they will have a full training camp, DJ and Bledsoe should improve a ton and Blake and CP3 will have another year of chemistry together. Under no circumstance do I see the Nuggets surpassing the Spurs or the Clippers outside of a blown knee or something from a star player.


It's official then. The biggest homer on the entire board, who never uses logic or facts, has given us the future.

Cancel the season folks. Cf86 has spoken. :cheers:

[ncrizzle]

I have the warriors, wolves, and jazz over the Mavs

[Gotterdammerung]

1. Thunder (61-21)
2. Fakers (60-22) :oldlol:
3. Spurs (56-26) :sleeping
4. Nuggets (50-32) :D
5. Grizzlies (49-33)
6. Clippers (49-33)
7. Mavericks (46-36)
8. Jazz (43-39)
9. T-woofs (39-43)
10. Blazers (36-46)
11. Warriors (36-46)
12. Suns (35-47)
13. Rockets (31-51)
14. Kings (30-52)
15. Hornets (27-55) :facepalm
:cheers:

[#1SportsFan86]

I have the warriors, wolves, and jazz over the Mavs

Based off?...

[Clippersfan86]

I dont care. Put denver last - I've never cared about preseason picks. I just want Denver to earn respect. I'm only in this thread to laugh at you.

You on the other hand take it all personally and get so butt hurt everytime someone doesn't agree with your stupid homer ass. You whine every chance you get when you aren't too busy flooding ish with awful threads about what toothpaste Griffin is now using or bledsoe hall of fame induction date.

Stfu, stop crying like a bitch and let the clippers earn their respect.

Let the Nuggets earn theirs. Clippers advanced, Nuggets didn't. One team was full strength, other was decimated. Clippers>Nuggets at this point until proven otherwise. I like the Nuggets a lot and I personally do respect them but ranking them 2 and 3 seed? Get real people.

[clipps]

Lakers
Clippers
Thunder
Spurs
Grizzlies
Nuggets
Mavs
GSW

[clipps]

It's official then. The biggest homer on the entire board, who never uses logic or facts, has given us the future.

Cancel the season folks. Cf86 has spoken. :cheers:

I can see the Nuggets surpass the Grizzlies. But past the Clippers or Spurs??? You're kidding.

[OmniStrife]

1. Thunder
2. Lakers
3. Spurs
4. Nuggets
5. Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Suns
8. Mavericks

[LakersReign]

It's official then. The biggest homer on the entire board, who never uses logic or facts, has given us the future.

Cancel the season folks. Cf86 has spoken. :cheers:

He did the same thing last season when the Clippers signed Paul. Every damn day was a new Clippers thread. The minute people were like "dude you're excited, we get it, but hold it down on the threads," we all got attacked, as Clipper haters." Then when the Clippers did eventually lose in the playoffs all he could do was through temper tantrums, and then finally lapped his tail between his legs and disappeared for a while. Looks like he's getting an early start this year.:facepalm

Anyway, Clippers higher than 4 -6 is ridiculous

[ncrizzle]

Based off?...

Losing Jet and Kidd. Mayo is inefficient and no where near as good as jet and is going to be starting. For OJ to put up points he has to shoot the ball a shit ton, and dirk is going to be the one taking the majority of shots. Im not huge on collison. Kaman and Brand are question Marks. good enough answer? just my opinion. I think if yall make the playoffs dirk carries the team on his back more than ever

[KDthunderup]

Thunder
Spurs
Clippers
Lakers ( will take a bit of time to build chemistry, get injuries right, but will be primed for playoffs)
Grizzlies
Nuggets
Mavs
GSW

[clipps]

The only teams that can be better than the Clippersmare the LKers and Thunder.

[All Net]

Thunder
Spurs
Clippers
Lakers ( will take a bit of time to build chemistry, get injuries right, but will be primed for playoffs)
Grizzlies
Nuggets
Mavs
GSW

Chemistry shouldnt been an issue with the Lakers ...the pieces just fit so well would be a surprise to me if they have issues clicking chemistry wise at the start.

[KDthunderup]

Chemistry shouldnt been an issue with the Lakers ...the pieces just fit so well would be a surprise to me if they have issues clicking chemistry wise at the start.
You are forgetting about bench and defensive chemistry and Mike Brown, I'm not expecting the Lakers to be close to their best untill midway through the season

[NugzFan]

Let the Nuggets earn theirs. Clippers advanced, Nuggets didn't. One team was full strength, other was decimated. Clippers>Nuggets at this point until proven otherwise. I like the Nuggets a lot and I personally do respect them but ranking them 2 and 3 seed? Get real people.

exactly. have i hyped denver or put them top 4? no, so stfu and stop bitching.

everytime someone says anything about the clips you whine like a ****ing baby. you are clearly the biggest homer here - hence you have no credibility on the clippers and certainly none on the nuggets or the rest of the nba.

[NugzFan]

I can see the Nuggets surpass the Grizzlies. But past the Clippers or Spurs??? You're kidding.

of course i am.

clipper fans are quickly becoming the biggest homer fanbase here.

they were hiding for 20 years...finally win a little bit and now they wont shut up. :oldlol:

[NugzFan]

Lakers
Clippers
Thunder
Spurs
Grizzlies
Nuggets
Mavs
GSW

there ya go - happy now cf86? they are second! now you can sleep at night because this means everything to you. :oldlol:

[NugzFan]

He did the same thing last season when the Clippers signed Paul. Every damn day was a new Clippers thread. The minute people were like "dude you're excited, we get it, but hold it down on the threads," we all got attacked, as Clipper haters." Then when the Clippers did eventually lose in the playoffs all he could do was through temper tantrums, and then finally lapped his tail between his legs and disappeared for a while. Looks like he's getting an early start this year.:facepalm

Anyway, Clippers higher than 4 -6 is ridiculous

yep - and even though hes the bitch and this is all his doing, we have to suffer for it? comeon jeff...get this homer out of here. ruining ISH for everyone else.

every time the clips play we are gonna get 1000 posts about bledsoe being the best pg and 1000 more complaining about refs. :facepalm

[NugzFan]

The only teams that can be better than the Clippersmare the LKers and Thunder.

do you have any idea how stupid you sound? :oldlol:

as if cf86 was bad enough...there are more. :rolleyes:

[Clippersfan86]

there ya go - happy now cf86? they are second! now you can sleep at night because this means everything to you. :oldlol:

Ban bet me. If Nuggets finish better than the Clippers this year, I'm gone forever. If Clippers finish better you bail. See who's the bitch and put your money where your mouth is big boy. You want me gone this is your chance.

[francesco totti]

watch out for the nuggets, I think igudola is damn good signing for them.Defensively the right man to shut down some key opponent players too.

[ncrizzle]

Ban bet me. If Nuggets finish better than the Clippers this year, I'm gone forever. If Clippers finish better you bail. See who's the bitch and put your money where your mouth is big boy. You want me gone this is your chance.


WITNESS!!!!

[NugzFan]

Ban bet me. If Nuggets finish better than the Clippers this year, I'm gone forever. If Clippers finish better you bail. See who's the bitch and put your money where your mouth is big boy. You want me gone this is your chance.

you fail at reading comprehension.

im not surprised.

keep crying.

http://store.drumbum.com/media/music-notes-tissue-box.jpg

[LakersReign]

of course i am.

clipper fans are quickly becoming the biggest homer fanbase here.

they were hiding for 20 years...finally win a little bit and now they wont shut up. :oldlol:

Just ride the tide bruh. Same crap like last year, we had like 40 SUDDEN Clippers fans show up on here, trying to call out Lakers fans:roll: And when the Clippers started losing, then all disappeared just as quick. Let them talk, cuz they won't be around come midseason to back up any of it.

[RoseCity07]

OKC
Lakers
Spurs
Clippers
Memphis
Nuggets
Timberwolves
Mavericks

6-8 could happen in any order. This is a wild guess past the first 4.

[TheMarkMadsen]

So if they Lakers don't win the west, it's not considered a disappointment?

If they majority of people think OKC will win the west then are they the favorites to represent the west in the finals?

So if the Lakers fail to even make it to the Finals is it a disappointment?

genuinely curious to get some opinions on this.

I assume the team people pick to win a conference is the team they think has the best chance to make it to the finals from that conference, but i feel like ISH will crash if the Lakers don't even make the finals. Am i wrong to think that?

Once, the Lakers got dwight & nash all i heard about was how stacked this team was and how Kobe "sucks" if they dont win it all.

So i guess im pretty suprised to see people picking OKC to finish 1 in the west, which i'm assuming mean those same people belive OKC are the favorite to come out of the west this year.

But i guess alot of people wouldnt be suprised if the Lakers didn't even make it to the finals??

I feel like no other team has as much pressure to win this year than the Lakers.

OKC is still young, so if they fail to win again this year its not like it's time to blow it up.
Miami just won, a lot of pressure has been taken off & they wont be scrutinized as heavily if they fail to win it all IMO
Spurs are old & declining nobody really expects them to win it all outside of their own fanbase (they are very dangerous though)
Boston see spurs

[All Net]

So if they Lakers don't win the west, it's not considered a disappointment?

If they majority of people think OKC will win the west then are they the favorites to represent the west in the finals?

So if the Lakers fail to even make it to the Finals is it a disappointment?

genuinely curious to get some opinions on this.

I assume the team people pick to win a conference is the team they think has the best chance to make it to the finals from that conference, but i feel like ISH will crash if the Lakers don't even make the finals. Am i wrong to think that?

Once, the Lakers got dwight & nash all i heard about was how stacked this team was and how Kobe "sucks" if they dont win it all.

So i guess im pretty suprised to see people picking OKC to finish 1 in the west, which i'm assuming mean those same people belive OKC are the favorite to come out of the west this year.

This is people picking best record not who they think will win the west...

[TheMarkMadsen]

This is people picking best record not who they think will win the west...

Isn't It usually assumed that the team predicted to win the conference are also the favorites to represent that conference in the finals?

[Clippersfan86]

Isn't It usually assumed that the team predicted to win the conference are also the favorites to represent that conference in the finals?

Not at all. How many times in the last decade did Mavs and Suns have best regular season record? Nobody expected them to beat Spurs or Lakers come deep playoffs. Not many expected Cavs to beat the Celtics either when they had best regular season record.

[ChuckOakley]

1. LAL - 65 wins
Too good to get less than the best record and the title.

2. OKC - 60 wins
Assumes they keep Harden and get the extension headache resolved

3. LAC - 53 wins
Love the bench additions.. assuming LO shapes up as they need him

4. SAS - 52 wins
Their demise has to start sooner or later, right?

5. MEM - 50 wins
I don't think the loss of Mayo hurts much

6. DEN - 48 wins
The win totals seem low, esp. for them, but the West is sooo deep.

7. MIN - 44 wins
The biggest wildcard in the West

8. DAL - 44 wins
The decline of Dirk seems to have started.. at least in the regular season

9. UTAH
It's not as though they got worse, other teams just got/stayed better

10. GSW
Their two best players are their two most injury prone at PG and C no less.

11. SAC
My sleeper of sorts. They have to pull it together soon or later, right?

12.POR
Hard to see a rookie PG and C helping this team to the playoffs.

13. PHO
Interesting line-up but missing a SG and better depth.

14. NOH
Check back in a few years

15. HOU
Ummm..... yeah.

[Clippersfan86]

I actually like your list Charles. Most fair, logical one I've seen so far. No I'm not saying this cause you have Clippers 3rd but rather because of your 5-8 spots I agree with.

[All Net]

Isn't It usually assumed that the team predicted to win the conference are also the favorites to represent that conference in the finals?

No, the % of teams who have the best record wins how many times? not many not in recent years.

[ChuckOakley]

I actually like your list Charles. Most fair, logical one I've seen so far. No I'm not saying this cause you have Clippers 3rd but rather because of your 5-8 spots I agree with.
Yeah.. those spots are tough as is the last spot.. can't tell who is worse.

But I have to admit I like the Clippers off-season. Very aggressive even if they didn't have to be as you can expect continued growth from Griffin and Jordan.

However, I think they need a definitive upgrade at SG/SF to be considered a contender or up there with OKC and LAL. They have a lot of nice pieces, but they are somewhat flawed.. either old (Billups/Hill), small (Billups/JC), don't play defense (JC) or just very average (JC/Butler). And like I mentioned LO is key. They need him in shape and mentally checked-in as they need his depth up front and experience. If he doesn't show up, then they need to get rid of him and find another big man to add to the rotation.

What's up with K-Mart btw? He seems like he could still have a role.

[Clippersfan86]

Yeah.. those spots are tough as is the last spot.. can't tell who is worse.

But I have to admit I like the Clippers off-season. Very aggressive even if they didn't have to be as you can expect continued growth from Griffin and Jordan.

However, I think they need a definitive upgrade at SG/SF to be considered a contender or up there with OKC and LAL. They have a lot of nice pieces, but they are somewhat flawed.. either old (Billups/Hill), small (Billups/JC), don't play defense (JC) or just very average (JC/Butler). And like I mentioned LO is key. They need him in shape and mentally checked-in as they need his depth up front and experience. If he doesn't show up, then they need to get rid of him and find another big man to add to the rotation.

What's up with K-Mart btw? He seems like he could still have a role.

Un-signed. He wants a bigger role than anybody is going to give him apparently.

[ChuckOakley]

Un-signed. He wants a bigger role than anybody is going to give him apparently.
Between him and Evans that is a lot of toughness lost up front.
Hollins is as soft as cotton, Turiaff always injured and LO a big question mark. I would try to bring him back.

I forgot you guys also signed Barnes this off-season. Even more depth on the wings, but again I think you need to upgrade substantially at least one of the starters.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Not at all. How many times in the last decade did Mavs and Suns have best regular season record? Nobody expected them to beat Spurs or Lakers come deep playoffs. Not many expected Cavs to beat the Celtics either when they had best regular season record.


Ok yeah, but those same people predicting the mavs & the suns to win the conference weren't predicting them to lose anytime before the finals.

I realize that the #1 seed doesn't always make it to the finals..

But when you're making pre season PREDICTIONS on who will have the best record in the conference that's usually an indication of who you think has the best shot at making the finals and who you PREDICT/EXPECT to represent the conference in the finals.


Is it not?

So what your saying is that all these people picking okc to finish 1st in the west, don't believe that okc has the best shot at making the finals out of the west?

[All Net]

So what your saying is that all these people picking okc to finish 1st in the west, don't believe that okc has the best shot at making the finals out of the west?

Some do yeah I'm sure...just like other will pick L.A.

Thunder are younger so getting best record will be more of a focus than it will for L.A. Just like the Spurs who got best record due to great depth.