2014-15 NBA West Preview

[insidehoops]

2014-15 NBA West Preview

Let's have a 2014-15 NBA West Preview from each of you.

Let's do the best eight West teams, with notes on each team. Whatever you think is worth saying about a team. Brief notes, full sentence(s), etc.

2014-15 BEST OF NBA WEST PREVIEW:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

[Gotterdammerung]

1. Oklahoma City. KD and Westbrook continue to mature & figure out how to sublimate their game for wins.
2. San Antonio. They will be in fine form but not kill themselves for the first seed.
3. Los Angeles. Griffin's maturation will continue and Doc Rivers will get the best out of this loaded squad.
4. Dallas. Reloading with youth and talent will help.
5. Golden State. If Bogus stays healthy they'll climb the ranks.
6. Memphis/Portland. Tough but not talented enough.
8. New Orleans. Davis will become the next great big man & dominate.

[Bobcats2013]

1)Spurs - Self explanatory. Every year everyone says they're gonna suck and every year they prove everyone wrong.
2)OKC - Same old same old. KD and RW will do their thing.
3)Dallas - There's a resurgence in Dallas. The old men found life.
4)GSW - All a matter of health. If they stay healthy they're in the mix.
5)Portland - Young talented squad on the verge of breaking out.
6)Clippers - It doesn't matter how much talent is on this team. It doesn't matter who coaches this team. This team is the Cinncinati Bengals of the NBA. Fabulously amazing during the regular season, and massively overrated during the post season.

[Kidbasketball20]

1) Spurs: They may not finish with the best record, but they'll be the best in the West.
2) Thunder: Last go around. If they don't make a 3 seed Durant is out.
3) Dallas: Surprise team in the season. Early playoff exit.
4) Lakers: Led by Kobe and Lin. A resurgence and miracle team.
5) Clippers: Not a great playoff team.
6) T Blazers: Lillard.


Major fall off: ROCKETS!

[NZStreetBaller]

Thunder - KD in his prime Westbrook in his prime. adams kicking butt
Clippers - i see them really stepping it up this season.
Spurs - same old same taking it easy (for that longetivity)
Portland - yeah
GSW - yeah
Dallas
Lakers - because they are the greatest

[ArbitraryWater]

NBA 2014/2015 Standings (1-8 Playoff Teams) - PREDICTION:

West:

1. San Antonio Spurs - Leonard/Parker/Ginobili... They're top heavy AND deep. Every single Player can be the MVP of the Team on any given night, ATG Offense AND Defense, coupled with arguably the greatest Coach of all-time.

2. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, 2 possible Top 5 Players, with DeAndre Jordan as DPOY material, Jordan Crawford as 6th Man, an ATG Coach, more good pieces in Hawes/Reddick/Davis/Turkoglu.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder- The most loaded Team in the league. Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka; 2 possible Top 5 Players, with 6th Man caliber in Reggie Jackson, and more youth, energy, defense... Need a capable Coach. (Although it this doesn't mean they can't win now with their Team)

4. Golden State Warriors - Perhaps the deepest Team in the league. Top 5 Player at every Position. Need a capable coach.

5. Dallas Mavericks - With Dirk as leader, you're guaranteed a top Offense, excellent leadership, everyone thriving and playing to their potential, locker room happyness, etc. Simply an overachieving Team. Surrounded by Monta Ellis, an energetic scorer, Chandler Parsons with a well-rounded game, Tyson Chandler hopefully providing great rim protection, a nice PG Combo in Nelson/Felton, re-born Devin Harris, the always efficient Brendan Wright, and one of the best coaches in the league. Defense will be the question.

6. Portland Trail Blazers - LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard at the helm, a beautiful offense, Batum a highly underrated and complete SF, with Matthews at SG and Robin Lopez at C a tremendous starting 5, but still in need of a better bench to make the next step.

7. Memphis Grizzlies - The usual tough grind-out Memphis Team... Older but still led by the interior force of Gasol and Randolph, Perimeter defense with Tony Allen, Conley as one of the better PG's in the league, and Carter can provide a great spark off the bench... Lack Shooting.

8. Phoenix Suns/Houston Rockets/Denver Nuggets/New Orleans Hornets...

All-out Battle for the last spot, the 8th seed.

East:

1. Chicago Bulls - Rose will need about a YEAR to get back to form, but the roster is loaded and in sync, with perhaps the best coach in the league. Rose/Butler/Gibson/Mirotic/Gasol/Noah

2. Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron/Love/Irving with a good supporting cast / role players... Lacking an inside presense, someone who can protect the paint/basket. That's all they need. They have rebounding and they don't necessarily need another scorer at C. An entirely new team put together, will mesh come playoff time.

3. Toronto Raptors - Lowry and DeRozan are the lead men, with a young and rising cast. Valanciunas improves as C, with All-Star ceiling. Ross/James Johnson/Amir Johnson other difference makers.

4. Washington Wizards - Another great all-around team, Wall and Beal are the lead men, 3 tough Bigs in Nene/Gortat/Humphries. Experience and veteran Leadership in Paul Pierce

5. Charlotte Hornets - Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson will continue to get better, both All-Stars, and an addition in Lance Stephenson, who likely will be one too. Young guys with some upside in MKG/Zeller/Vonley/Biyombo

6. Atlanta Hawks

7. Brooklyn Nets

8. Detroit Pistons/New York Knicks/Miami Heat



Extra: 2015 NBA World Champion - Prediction:

ANYTHING could happen in the West, 11, ELEVEN Teams of 50-wins caliber, with multiple stars...

Spurs/Thunder/Clippers/Warriors/Mavericks/Blazers/Rockets/Suns/Nuggets/Pelicans/Grizzlies...

Historically loaded conference / competition / era.

East is pretty much the opposite right now. Cavaliers/Bulls, 2 more teams with a small chance of upset and the rest not.

I'm going with LeBron and him leaping his team over the Bulls and whatever West team, likely the Spurs.

My Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers

[Legends66NBA7]

I've helped kept track of all West predictions here:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349400

[Inferno]

Spurs
OKC
Clippers
Warriors
Blazers
Mavericks
Grizzlies
Rockets

[chips93]

2014-15 BEST OF NBA WEST PREVIEW:

1) spurs
2) thunder
3) clippers
4) warriors
5) mavs
6) blazers
7) rockets
8) grizzlies

the rockets are a really hard team to predict this year. i could see howard gaining a bit more mobility a year removed from surgery, and harden taking defense a little more seriously after team usa, and how everybody kills him for it now. that supporting cast is trash though

[senelcoolidge]

1) Spurs
2) Clippers
3) Thunder
4) Warriors
5) Trailblazers
6) Mavs
7) Rockets
8) Grizzlies

[VengefulAngel]

Why does everyone have the Grizzles so low?They were on pace for 55 wins if it weren't for injuries. But I guess the west is so competitive even great teams will miss the play-offs.

[JellyBean]

West 2014-15 Top 8 Teams:

1). OKC(60-22)- With a healthy Westbrook, this team is primed for a serious run. The roster is deep as usual – Reggie Jackson, Steven Adams, and Jeremy Lamb have more playoff experience under their belt which should only add to the teams success. I’m still not a fan of Kendrick Perkins being in the starting lineup, he doesn’t fit the roster well in certain match-ups, but still the Thunder are one of the top rebounding, assists, and scoring teams in the league.

2) San Antonio(58-24)- The Spurs are the Spurs. They are coming off a stellar championship season with essentially the same roster as last year. Patty Mills will miss a considerable amount of time and it will be interesting to see if Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili can continue to perform at All-Star caliber levels. San Antonio’s experience will carry them as far as they want, but will they be able to outlast their old age? The Spurs will still finish around 60 wins and nearly win the West.

3). The Los Angeles Clippers(55-27)- The Clippers, I am still having hard time getting my mind around the fact that the Clippers are better than my beloved Lakers. But it is what it is and the Clippers will be the 3rd(4th) best in the West. This season the roster hasn’t made any significant improvements and I envision them not having the same success winning against teams they defeated last year in the conference. Chris Paul is a year wiser but his legs are a year older and the Clippers don’t have a viable back-up point guard to replace him considering all the heavy minutes he contributes.

4). Dallas Mavericks(55-27)- With so many dangerous teams in the West you have to give the Dallas Mavericks kudos for adding Chandler Parsons to a lineup equipped with excellent scorers such as Dirk Nowitzki and Monte Ellis. Tyson Chandler rejoins the Mavs as the missing defensive anchor/energy player the team needed during the 2013-2014 NBA playoffs. The bench is solid with Jameer Nelson and Raymond Felton holding down the guard position, so I don’t see any reason why they can’t advance beyond the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. Defense and rebounding has been an issue for this team as they ranked in the bottom tier in both categories, but Tyson Chandler is a game changer, so I expect those negative statistic to change. If you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan you have to be excited about the 2014-2015 NBA season.


5). Portland Trailblazers (53-29)-A very exciting team that surprised many last season but I don’t expect huge success in 2014-2015, especially considering Portland could still have some issues receiving contributions from the bench. This season Portland did look to improve the bench by signing center Chris Kaman and guard Steve Blake to two-year contracts and they still have Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge — two of the top-15 players in the NBA. If Kaman and Blake pay dividends, this team could find themselves advancing past the second round of the NBA playoffs.

6). Golden St Warriors (52-30)-The Warriors made some very notable moves during the off-season with the signing of guard Shaun Livingston to a three-year contract and veteran guard Leandro Barbosa, however, their success will rest in the hands of first time head coach Steve Kerr.

Kerr has zero coaching experience, yet the Warriors still have enough talent to win 50+ games this season. Historically speaking, the Warriors could suffer a small decline in wins unless it proves that Mark Jackson’s coaching philosophy didn’t fit the direction of the team — which I think is b.s. On a positive note, Andrew Bogut is slated to return this season which could translate to to the 54 wins we predicted, but I am more concerned with how this team will react to a new coaching scheme. Is Steve Kerr in over his head, will players trust him immediately, or will it be a gradual transition?


7). New Orleans Pelicans (50-32). I think this is the year for the Pelicans. Anthony Davis continues on his path to becoming one of the NBA’s top-5 players. Omer Asik was added to bolster the inside with Davis and Eric Gordon looks healthy for the first time in what seems like a decade. If Jrue Holiday can have another All-Star season, the Pelicans are an extremely scary dark horse team. Either way, New Orleans will be a surprise in an insanely tough Western Conference this year.

8). Houston Rockets(49-33). The West is just competitive. The Rockets will be that team that is going to shock the crap out of teams. With Dwight and Harden as the leaders, this team is really good. Folks were tripping because the Rockets lost Chandler Parsons. Trevor Ariza makes up for that. He gives them additional defensive help and the long ball. The Rockets will be a tough team this year.



I just know, I can not wait until the NBA season starts!! I am so geeked, I am trying to watch exhibition games...starting this weekend!!!

[ArbitraryWater]

I just know, I can not wait until the NBA season starts!! I am so geeked, I am trying to watch exhibition games...starting this weekend!!!


:rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

[oarabbus]

It's pretty messed up that out of the Suns, Mavs, Grizzlies, Pelicans, only two will make it. I think the Kings will surprise a lot of people, and the Lakers wont be bad either. Jazz will improve compared to last year as well.

The West is just way too good this year.

[illastrate]

1) Spurs: They may not finish with the best record, but they'll be the best in the West.
2) Thunder: Last go around. If they don't make a 3 seed Durant is out.
3) Dallas: Surprise team in the season. Early playoff exit.
4) Lakers: Led by Kobe and Lin. A resurgence and miracle team.
5) Clippers: Not a great playoff team.
6) T Blazers: Lillard.


Major fall off: ROCKETS!

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[tamaraw08]

1) Spurs: They may not finish with the best record, but they'll be the best in the West.
2) Thunder: Last go around. If they don't make a 3 seed Durant is out.
3) Dallas: Surprise team in the season. Early playoff exit.
4) Lakers: Led by Kobe and Lin. A resurgence and miracle team. 5) Clippers: Not a great playoff team.
6) T Blazers: Lillard.


Major fall off: ROCKETS!

oh wow:eek: Lakers lead by Kobe and Lin to finish 4th ahead of the Clips and Blazers, Warriors, Memphis etc etc.

I think everybody here is also overlooking New Orleans.
Davis will be in the top 3 best player and having Jrue Holiday, Evans on his side will be huge etc.
Portland would overtake many teams, I don't expect Spurs to have the best record. They have NEVER won back to back. One or more of their aging vets will sit more than 25 games.
OKC will have the best record.

[Real14]

I predict that the thunder wont go to the WCF.

[kurple]

1) Spurs
Best team in the league. One summer doesnt change that. Best ballmovement, off the ball movement, passing, consistent shooting and very good D. I also love the Kyle Anderson pick, but he might not play too much this season.

2) Thunder
KD and Westbrook. A proven very good team, and the core has been together for years now. Also couple of youngsters that can take the next step. Might steal the #1 seed

3) Clippers
Similar to OKC only not as good IMO. A couple of superstars, core is talented and has experience playing as a unit. Some holes, but the 3rd best team in the West

4) Warriors
Had a dissapointing season last year. But its a super talented group of players, and looks great on paper. I like Kerr and they improved their defense last season. Still, i'm not a big fan of relying on the 3ball as much as they do. Even if they have the best shooter on the planet.

5) Nuggets
Experts only see Nuggets as the team that lost team All Star Iggy and Hall of Fame coach Karl. But this core won 57 games 15 months ago. They wont win 57 games, but the team is still built for the regular season (play a high pace) and Denver is still the milehighcity. Its literally the same core that took a prime Lakers team (Bynum, Kobe and Pau) to 7 games. Only older and improved. Lawson, Faried and Afflalo took big steps in their game last season.

6) Blazers
Surprised everyone in the first half of last season. Great movement and solid D. But teams started to figure them out and they wasnt as consistent in the 2nd half. This is a team that could play amazing basketball and fight for a top seed, but it could also miss the playoffs. I'm thinking Lillard might have a down season, but thats me.

7) Mavericks
Getting a lot of hype and the team looks very solid on paper, but i dont think its deep enough for 82 games and its a relatively new core. will have some growing pains. Not a fan of their back court either, but Ellis played the best i've seen from him last season.

8) Hou/Suns/Pelikans

Dog race. Either team can jump as high as 4/5 as well. Houston looks weak as shit outside of Harden and Howard. Pelicans have proven nothing with their core. And i'm not sure about the suns.

[ArbitraryWater]

About the Nuggets:

Next year that will have been 3 years ago (Taking the "prime" Lakers to 7") in a much weaker West, with no Warriors/Blazers/Rockets yet, and a weaker Clippers/Mavericks team...

[kurple]

but in those 3 years the nuggets have improved a lot individually as well as improving as a unit. those 57 wins wasnt all on Iggy, i would say he was our 4th best player that season. and we replaced an declining Iggy with an improved and in prime Afflalo

Every player in the core has taken steps, some bigger than the others. And they have replaced the underpreforming roleplayers (brewer, dre and harrington) with better players


Lawson is criminally underrated. and Faried took a massive jump after the All Star game (18/10). Hopefully Gallo will come back as the last piece of our "big 3"

and we have some of the best roleplayers in the league: Afflalo (d3), Chandler (6th man candidate), Nate Robinson (Nets series), Randy Foye (3point specialist), Mozgov (big body, great touch, Blatt and the Cavs wanted him), McGee (rim protection)

[kurple]

team is hungry. and they know what it takes to win a lot of games consistently.

[Real14]

5) Nuggets
Experts only see Nuggets as the team that lost team All Star Iggy and Hall of Fame coach Karl. But this core won 57 games 15 months ago. They wont win 57 games, but the team is still built for the regular season (play a high pace) and Denver is still the milehighcity. Its literally the same core that took a prime Lakers team (Bynum, Kobe and Pau) to 7 games. Only older and improved. Lawson, Faried and Afflalo took big steps in their game last season.

.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[kurple]

you mad salty brah. just because NY got robbed in the Melo trade


that 2016 knicks pick could end up making it even better. who are the top prospects that year?

[Real14]

you mad salty brah. just because NY got robbed in the Melo trade




When the last time the nuggets made the semis?

[SamuraiSWISH]

1) Thunder
2) Spurs
3) Clippers
4) Warriors
5) Blazers
6) Mavericks
7) Grizzlies
8) Rockets

[Milbuck]

People are sleeping on the Nuggets, they could snag the 8th seed if injuries don't kill them.

Ty Lawson / Nate Robinson
Arron Afflalo / Randy Foye / Gary Harris
Danilo Gallinari / Wilson Chandler / Quincy Miller
Kenneth Faried / JJ Hickson / Darrell Arthur
Javale McGee / Timofey Mozgov / Jusuf Nurkic

I could easily see that team winning 45-50 games. A healthy core of Lawson-Afflalo-Galo-Manimal is pretty damn good.

[SexSymbol]

1. Spurs
gap
2.Thunder
3.Clippers
4.Mavs
5.Warriors
6.Lakers
7.Houston
8.Trail Blazers

[T_L_P]

1. Spurs
2. Clippers
3. Thunder
4. Warriors
5. Grizzlies
6. Trailblazers
7. Mavericks
8. Nuggets/Rockets

[Duggrr]

1. Spurs
2. Thunder
3. Clippers
4. Warriors
5. Trailblazers
6. Grizzlies
7. Mavericks
8. Rockets

[brooks_thompson]

I'm gonna remind everybody that the Grizzlies had the best record in the league upon the return of Marc Gasol (which was no small stretch of 50-odd games).

If they're the team to fall out of the playoffs, then more power to the upstarts. But significant injuries would be the only explanation.

[kurple]

I'm gonna remind everybody that the Grizzlies had the best record in the league upon the return of Marc Gasol (which was no small stretch of 50-odd games).

If they're the team to fall out of the playoffs, then more power to the upstarts. But significant injuries would be the only explanation.
i forgot all about memphis. dunno why i did that

healthy grizzlies team will make the playoffs

[ArbitraryWater]

Seriously, Grizzlies outplayed the Thunder for 4 straight games (2-5)...

And in game 1 they were stopped by the refs after making a comeback to cut it to, what, 4? 6?

Game 7 no Randolph.. Can hardly be counted. AND had a double Digit lead in the 2nd quarter.

[kurple]

teams like the grizzlies and nuggets have years experience playing as a group and know what it takes to win games on the regular

i rank both of them over teams like Houston, Dallas, Suns

[qrich]

My Western Seeding Predictions (http://mikesmind.sportsblog.com/posts/1128992/predicting_the_western_standings_.html)

[tamaraw08]

teams like the grizzlies and nuggets have years experience playing as a group and know what it takes to win games on the regular

i rank both of them over teams like Houston, Dallas, Suns

Nuggets, really?
I still can't believe that most of you guys are overlooking New Orleans.
Davis will be in the top 3 players in the West.
Jrue Holiday is legit, so is Evans, Asik, Anderson and Gordon.
Davis and Asik patrolling the middle will be huge, stopping penetrators.
Anderson if healthy will stretch the floor and open things for everyone esp shooter Gordon. Holiday is heady.

[kurple]

yeah, really. we won 57 games 15 months ago, getting the 3rd seed over Memphis and LAC

sure. we wont win 57 without Karl. But 50+ is realistic


and i dont know what to feel about the Pelicans. Looks great on paper, but it looked good last year as well.

i give the other 8-10 teams the benefit of a doubt because they have proven they can be in the playoff hunt with the core they got. when the Pelicans have not

[tamaraw08]

yeah, really. we won 57 games 15 months ago, getting the 3rd seed over Memphis and LAC

sure. we wont win 57 without Karl. But 50+ is realistic


and i dont know what to feel about the Pelicans. Looks great on paper, but it looked good last year as well.

i give the other 8-10 teams the benefit of a doubt because they have proven they can be in the playoff hunt with the core they got. when the Pelicans have not

New Orleans looked good early last year until they got ravaged by injuries.
15 months ago Denver was very good with every player clicking but 15 months later
1. Clips much better.
2. Warriors much better
3. Westbrook is healthier.
4. Portland is wiser and therefore better.
5. Dallas better roster esp defensively
6. Spurs still good.
7. Memphis still good.
Now factor in that Denver has a lot of question marks in health with their main rotation, facing 7-9 tough teams, that's about 32 very tough games this season.

[nzamcdza]

1) Thunder
2) Clippers
3) Spurs
4) Warriors
5) Blazers
6) Mavericks
7) Grizzlies
8) Rockets

[Phenith]

1. LA Clippers - Now that the BS is behind them and they have gotten into the grove playing together I think they could surprise here (Durant injury helps)
2. OKC - There is more than enough talent left without Durant to keep them in the running until he gets back. Look for Ibaka to show an expanded game with KD on the sidelines.
3. SA Spurs - The champs are back and I wanted to put them higher, but they ARE older and we'll see if Kawhi can emerge as a superstar and future leader of this amazingly managed team.
4. Portland Trail Blazers - Consistency is key, we have to wonder if we will see that first half Blazers team from last year again. If not, this might be too high.
5. Dallas Mavs - Could easily be 4th, seems like an aged team with some odd pieces, but they have been perennial contenders with Dirk around I can see them being tough again this year.
6. Houston Rockets - Striking out on Bosh hurt, but losing Chandler when they could have kept him for peanuts hurts more. They need some development just to keep this spot. Could be a disaster season, but could end up jumping past here if they gel.
7. GS Warriors - Hardest team for me to place, they are very dangerous and could well be much higher with a new direction, but they have their downfalls that might not be easy to overcome.
8. NO Pelicans - Hardest spot to assign as there is going to be some deserving teams missing, but I'm looking forward to watching Davis become a true superstar that can put a team on his back and drag them through.

Obviously there is a bunch of teams who could plummet with 1 injury to any number of players. Also teams like the Grizz, Nuggets and Suns will be pushing for a spot the bottom half of the West playoff bracket.