Who grabs the 8th Playoff spot in the West?

[eliteballer]

Assuming no catastrophic injuries and huge amounts of missed games the consensus would seem to be that the first 7 spots should go to some order of:

Lakers
Rockets
Clippers
Nuggets
Jazz
Blazers
Warriors

So who goes 8th?

[Shogon]

You automatically think the Warriors get there without Klay, Livingston, KD, & Iguodala?

Who did they pick up?

I think Steph is clearly the best regular season player in the league if not best player in the league still, but they're going to be damn hurting for help this year.

Sure, they've still got Draymond also... but their depth is absolutely raped.

[eliteballer]

You automatically think the Warriors get there without Klay, Livingston, KD, & Iguodala?

Who did they pick up?

I think Steph is clearly the best regular season player in the league if not best player in the league still, but they're going to be damn hurting for help this year.

Sure, they've still got Draymond also... but their depth is absolutely raped.

Klay should be back after the new year..

[tpols]

Spurs probably.

pop and 2 all stars is a playoff team.

[Shogon]

I could be wrong as shit but I think it's GS, Sacramento, Dallas, fighting for the 8 spot.

You have Dallas listed twice...

I can't omit the Spurs.

Clippers, Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, Jazz, Rockets are my locked 6.

GS/Sac/Dallas/Spurs fighting for 7 & 8.

Officially guessing... GS & Spurs.

GS's chances drop to 0 if Steph even misses a month from injury because of an increased workload.

[tpols]

You automatically think the Warriors get there without Klay, Livingston, KD, & Iguodala?

Who did they pick up?

I think Steph is clearly the best regular season player in the league if not best player in the league still, but they're going to be damn hurting for help this year.

Sure, they've still got Draymond also... but their depth is absolutely raped.


They have deangelo russell now...

I had the same argument as you til somebody pointed that out, totally missed it.

dlo is an on ball all star offensive talent, something curry never had outside durant.

He is a huge pressure release for him. The only concern is injury...there guaranteed playoffs with good health and likely high seed.

[Shogon]

They have deangelo russell now...

I had the same argument as you til somebody pointed that out, totally missed it.

dlo is an on ball all star offensive talent, something curry never had outside durant.

He is a huge pressure release for him. The only concern is injury...there guaranteed playoffs with good health and likely high seed.

Haha, I totally forgot they picked him up. Ok, they'll probably make it.

So... then it becomes... San Antonio, Sacramento or Dallas... pick one... I'm going Spurs, but Dallas wouldn't surprise at all if they get up to 4-6 range.

[eliteballer]

I could be wrong as shit but I think it's GS, Sacramento, Dallas, fighting for the 8 spot.

You have Dallas listed twice...

I can't omit the Spurs.

Clippers, Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, Jazz, Rockets are my locked 6.

GS/Sac/Dallas/Spurs fighting for 7 & 8.

Officially guessing... GS & Spurs.

GS's chances drop to 0 if Steph even misses a month from injury because of an increased workload.

Damn, should be Sacramento.

Mods can we get a fix.

[Gus Hemmingway]

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[Doomsday Dallas]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdWDcFK3pKU

[red1]

spurs

[RealSkipBayless]

Kings will take the spot.

GSW could miss the playoffs. Don't give a **** what anybody says.

[jayfan]

Dallas



.

[qrich]

Memphis is tanking, OKC is a toss-up on if they want to tank or retool on the fly, New Orleans has a WOAT tier coach, and I don't trust Phoenix.

That leaves San Antonio, Sacramento, Dallas and Phoenix.

Dallas + San Antonio have the best coaching, Dallas potentially has two stars if Staps comes back healthy. All four of those sides have pretty good chemistry returning.

I want to see Sacramento sneak in to have all four California teams in there, but coaching will hold them back.

Going to say Dallas with Jim Carrey, Doncic and Staps.

[Xiao Yao You]

Klay should be back after the new year..

and if the tough part of the schedule comes at the beginning of the year it may be too late and it may take him a while to return to form

[NBAGOAT]

Warriors depends on how well dangelo acclimates and how hard draymond tries. When he does steph/dray is legitimately a top 5 duo in the league even if talent doesn’t seem to be there. I still like their chances at a 6 or 7 seed, I think por will miss nurkic too.

I picked spurs but I kind of think kings have a decent chance. They’re really making a playoff push with all those overpaid veterans on short deals and have the young core. Rest of Dallas roster is too meh for me and nop has poor shooting and banking on a lot of potential

[highwhey]

people seriously sleeping on the Suns https://emojipedia-us.s3.dualstack.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/thumbs/72/apple/198/face-with-look-of-triumph_1f624.png

- we essentially are a new team with the exception of Booker, Mikal, and Deandre.

- all the scrubs from the previous administration are gonezo.

- we no longer have a g-leauge point guard. finally have a point guard that can pass.

- we are loaded with 3pt shooters even on the bench

- got a coach with experience coaching elite big men. imagine that, a coach that acknowledges a talented 7footer on the team. last coach we had was a euro scrub with no idea or experience with big men.

[RRR3]

people seriously sleeping on the Suns https://emojipedia-us.s3.dualstack.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/thumbs/72/apple/198/face-with-look-of-triumph_1f624.png

- we essentially are a new team with the exception of Booker, Mikal, and Deandre.

- all the scrubs from the previous administration are gonezo.

- we no longer have a g-leauge point guard. finally have a point guard that can pass.

- we are loaded with 3pt shooters even on the bench

- got a coach with experience coaching elite big men. imagine that, a coach that acknowledges a talented 7footer on the team. last coach we had was a euro scrub with no idea or experience with big men.
Agreed. I can see them breaking out with 28 wins this year.

[highwhey]

Agreed. I can see them breaking out with 28 wins this year.
8th seed https://emojipedia-us.s3.dualstack.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/thumbs/72/apple/198/face-with-look-of-triumph_1f624.png

[Xiao Yao You]

people seriously sleeping on the Suns https://emojipedia-us.s3.dualstack.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/thumbs/72/apple/198/face-with-look-of-triumph_1f624.png

- we essentially are a new team with the exception of Booker, Mikal, and Deandre.

- all the scrubs from the previous administration are gonezo.

- we no longer have a g-leauge point guard. finally have a point guard that can pass.

- we are loaded with 3pt shooters even on the bench

- got a coach with experience coaching elite big men. imagine that, a coach that acknowledges a talented 7footer on the team. last coach we had was a euro scrub with no idea or experience with big men.

He coached Gobert. He had an idea.

Your pg likes to pass but he will make some of the ugliest passes you've ever seen. Throw in his shooting, turnovers and matador D and it will be another long season for the Suns

[highwhey]

He coached Gobert. He had an idea.

Your pg likes to pass but he will make some of the ugliest passes you've ever seen. Throw in his shooting and matador D and it will be another long season for the Suns
no he didn't. igor was the biggest idiot in the nba by far.

his philosophy consisted of passing to the open wing and ignore a wide open 7 footer in the paint with favorable position.

and rubio is way better than any pg we've had for years. no team with a g-leauge point guard starting will go anywhere meaningful.

[RRR3]

8th seed https://emojipedia-us.s3.dualstack.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/thumbs/72/apple/198/face-with-look-of-triumph_1f624.png
And then you woke up.

[Xiao Yao You]

no he didn't. igor was the biggest idiot in the nba by far.

his philosophy consisted of passing to the open wing and ignore a wide open 7 footer in the paint with favorable position.

and rubio is way better than any pg we've had for years. no team with a g-leauge point guard starting will go anywhere meaningful.

Ricky may be the best you've had but he is still a backup on any team that wants to go anywhere

[highwhey]

Ricky may be the best you've had but he is still a backup on any team that wants to go anywhere
sure, bc he can't shoot. hoping he can average 35% from the 3 like he did previously and we'll be fine.

booker will be the best scorer he's played with. and deandre will finally have someone to feed him.

rubio has never had this much offensive power around him before.

[Xiao Yao You]

sure, bc he can't shoot. hoping he can average 35% from the 3 like he did previously and we'll be fine.

booker will be the best scorer he's played with. and deandre will finally have someone to feed him.

rubio has never had this much offensive power around him before.

The worst defensive backcourt in basketball

[highwhey]

The worst defensive backcourt in basketball
not even. rubio is a decent defender. not like mitchell is a great defender. dude's defense is basic af. :oldlol:

[Xiao Yao You]

not even. rubio is a decent defender. not like mitchell is a great defender. dude's defense is basic af. :oldlol:

Mitchell's defense will be a lot better this year now that he's not spending all of his energy on offense.

Rubio plays behind his man and goes for steals. Horrible defender that won't have the best defender in the world to save his sorry ass anymore

[RRR3]

Mitchell's defense will be a lot better this year now that he's not spending all of his energy on offense.

Rubio plays behind his man and goes for steals. Horrible defender that won't have the best defender in the world to save his sorry ass anymore
Rubio is known as a good defender.

[highwhey]

what's the biggest thing Booker has needed his entire career?


a distributor. the fact that he had to go out and average 7 assists per game last season speaks volume as to how horrible the pg situation has been.

rubio can stand his ground on defense but he can't make up for Booker on that aspect, that's why we got Mikal Bridges, probably the most underrated young defender in the league. This guy is a lock down defender.

then we have Deandre that put up a silent but great rookie season with much improved defense towards the end of the season.

people forget when Booker was healthy last season, we swept the Bucks at full strength. we beat the warriors at full strength. we had a good run after acquiring Tyler Johnson (a back up pg) only to have him go down with an injury.

now we have a much better passer. we got 3pt shooters all around.

we finally got a pg that knows how to make a post entry pass ffs :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

Rubio is known as a good defender.

He's been called a plus defender with his 7 foot wingspan. Not the guy I watched the past two years for sure

[highwhey]

Mitchell's defense will be a lot better this year now that he's not spending all of his energy on offense.

Rubio plays behind his man and goes for steals. Horrible defender that won't have the best defender in the world to save his sorry ass anymore
same can be said for Booker, he's had to carry this offense AND create for a long time now. he averaged 7 assists last season. with a proper distributor and shooters around him, he'll be less tired since he's not getting doubled every single play.

[Xiao Yao You]

what's the biggest thing Booker has needed his entire career?


a distributor. the fact that he had to go out and average 7 assists per game last season speaks volume as to how horrible the pg situation has been.

rubio can stand his ground on defense but he can't make up for Booker on that aspect, that's why we got Mikal Bridges, probably the most underrated young defender in the league. This guy is a lock down defender.

then we have Deandre that put up a silent but great rookie season with much improved defense towards the end of the season.

people forget when Booker was healthy last season, we swept the Bucks at full strength. we beat the warriors at full strength. we had a good run after acquiring Tyler Johnson (a back up pg) only to have him go down with an injury.

now we have a much better passer. we got 3pt shooters all around.

we finally got a pg that knows how to make a post entry pass ffs :roll:

He's known as a great passer but he'll leave you scratching your head plenty wonder what the **** he's thinking with many of his passes. He's got a low basketball IQ. Runs around like a chicken without its head. Plays with a lot of energy. Bench player not 17 million a year starter

[qrich]

people seriously sleeping on the Suns https://emojipedia-us.s3.dualstack.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/thumbs/72/apple/198/face-with-look-of-triumph_1f624.png

- we essentially are a new team with the exception of Booker, Mikal, and Deandre.

- all the scrubs from the previous administration are gonezo.

- we no longer have a g-leauge point guard. finally have a point guard that can pass.

- we are loaded with 3pt shooters even on the bench

- got a coach with experience coaching elite big men. imagine that, a coach that acknowledges a talented 7footer on the team. last coach we had was a euro scrub with no idea or experience with big men.

Suns may have finally made the right moves to surround Booker, but the roster still is lacking behind the big boys in the conference.

Monty Williams also isn't a very good coach, he's better suited in a scout/assistant/GM type of role.

I see Phoenix being in the race until about ~20 games left in the season.

[highwhey]

Suns may have finally made the right moves to surround Booker, but the roster still is lacking behind the big boys in the conference.

Monty Williams also isn't a very good coach, he's better suited in a scout/assistant/GM type of role.

I see Phoenix being in the race until about ~20 games left in the season.
for sure. even rubio is seen as a stop gap PG. i don't think this will be the final iteration of the roster with the intention of competing for a title. i think this roster right now is the best we could assemble with the sole intention of competing for the 8th seed. obviously the top teams in the conference are much better but at the bottom of the seeds, 8th may be achievable if we keep a fully healthy squad. i expect a big leap from Ayton defensively and expect Booker to be better now that he doesn't have to carry the offense alone.

[Manny98]

people seriously sleeping on the Suns https://emojipedia-us.s3.dualstack.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/thumbs/72/apple/198/face-with-look-of-triumph_1f624.png

- we essentially are a new team with the exception of Booker, Mikal, and Deandre.

- all the scrubs from the previous administration are gonezo.

- we no longer have a g-leauge point guard. finally have a point guard that can pass.

- we are loaded with 3pt shooters even on the bench

- got a coach with experience coaching elite big men. imagine that, a coach that acknowledges a talented 7footer on the team. last coach we had was a euro scrub with no idea or experience with big men.
Yall still trash defensively

[Xiao Yao You]

Yall still trash defensively

no one seems to think that side of the ball matters for some reason

[highwhey]

Yall still trash defensively
ain't no one playing defense in the reg season.

[qrich]

ain't no one playing defense in the reg season.

#ClampCity
#LockCity
#LockDown
#MaxSecurity

We are.

[Xiao Yao You]

ain't no one playing defense in the reg season.

The Jazz, the Bucks, Pacers...

[RRR3]

ain't no one playing defense in the reg season.
Not on the Suns at least

[Xiao Yao You]

The improved offense without Ricky's turnovers and bricks leading to easy baskets at the other end will make the Jazz defense even better

[highwhey]

we've seen this before with the 05 suns. never played a lick of defense and went .500 for many seasons, made the playoffs too. it wasn't until we met a defensive team like the spurs that we lost.

high powered offenses do fine the regular season and get destroyed in the post season. i'm ok with that this season bc our goal is not to be a lottery team.:rockon:

[Xiao Yao You]

we've seen this before with the 05 suns. never played a lick of defense and went .500 for many seasons, made the playoffs too. it wasn't until we met a defensive team like the spurs that we lost.

high powered offenses do fine the regular season and get destroyed in the post season. i'm ok with that this season bc our goal is not to be a lottery team.:rockon:

Kings had plenty of offense last year and missed the playoffs. The Kings are what the Suns hope to be. You need a new owner to have any hope

[highwhey]

Kings had plenty of offense last year and missed the playoffs. The Kings are what the Suns hope to be. You need a new owner to have any hope
we're better than the kings now. have a stretch 4. we were playing small forwards at PF while they got bullied. now we have someone to open up space while rebounding.

and OKC is no longer making the playoffs so that's an open spot right there.

[Xiao Yao You]

we're better than the kings now. have a stretch 4. we were playing small forwards at PF while they got bullied. now we have someone to open up space while rebounding.

and OKC is no longer making the playoffs so that's an open spot right there.

They aren't better than the Kings or Thunder. The Thunder have 3 pg's better than Bricky.

The Suns are fighting with Memphis and Minnesota for the worst of the west

[highwhey]

They aren't better than the Kings or Thunder. The Thunder have 3 pg's better than Bricky.

The Suns are fighting with Memphis and Minnesota for the worst of the west
:roll: :roll: :roll:

your hate for ricky is really pronounced.

[Xiao Yao You]

:roll: :roll: :roll:

your hate for ricky is really pronounced.

Ricky is better than an all time great?

You're as delusional as many Utah fans were a couple of years ago

[highwhey]

Ricky is better than an all time great?

You're as delusional as many Utah fans were a couple of years ago
cp3 is better, but 3pg's? who are the other 2?

and okc isn't making the playoffs with cp3 alone.

[Xiao Yao You]

cp3 is better, but 3pg's? who are the other 2?

Schroeder and the kid they got for George

[highwhey]

Schroeder and the kid they got for George
shai will eventually be better than rubio, but he's not there yet.

and schroeder? he's a better scorer but not better playmaker. and even then, he's horribly inefficient. 50% TS :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

shai will eventually be better than rubio, but he's not there yet.

and schroeder? he's a better scorer but not better playmaker. and even then, he's horribly inefficient. 50% TS :roll:

Ricky can't hit 3's or layups and you want to bring up efficiency

[ReturnofJPR]

Not sure the nugz are a sure thing. Spurs are in without question. Mavs could sneak in. Plus injuries happen so you never know

[Xiao Yao You]

Not sure the nugz are a sure thing. Spurs are in without question. Mavs could sneak in. Plus injuries happen so you never know

Only thing keeping the Nuggets out would be a significant injury to Jokic

[sammichoffate]

Not sure the nugz are a sure thing. Spurs are in without question. Mavs could sneak in. Plus injuries happen so you never knowYes they are. Suns would be lucky win 30 games this season ^

[highwhey]

Ricky can't hit 3's or layups and you want to bring up efficiency
you

[ReturnofJPR]

Yes they are. Suns would be lucky win 30 games this season ^

Suns? Who cares about the Suns??? I'm a bulls fan from the Chi

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE=highwhey]you

[highwhey]

I'm not the one that thinks Bricky means the Suns are a playoff team in the brutal west
nah, you

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE=highwhey]nah, you

[wagexslave]

Not on the Suns at least
I mean Mikal Bridges, Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, and Aron Baynes are all good defenders. Ayton's not quite there yet but his defensive potential is through the roof and he improved greatly as last season continued(constantly practicing with Baynes will benefit him). Tyler Johnson and Dario Saric are average defenders at best and Devin Booker and Frank Kaminsky are poor defenders.

That covers all of the rotation players that aren't rookies. To me that doesn't look like a poor defensive team. :confusedshrug: You only really have 2 guys on the squad that you can for sure say are bad defenders, everyone else is arguably at least average and some with potential to be great. But people will assume this is the same squad as last year even though it's almost a completely different team.

TJ Warren was one of the worst defenders in the league and he's gone. Dragan Bender sucks on defense and he got replaced. Ellie Okobo was horrible defensively and he'll likely be cut before the season starts. And guys we were playing for the first half of the season like Ryan Anderson, Tyson Chandler, Trevor Ariza, etc put 0 defensive effort when they were on the court for us. They didn't care at all about trying to win. This is not the same team as last season.

[Xiao Yao You]

I mean Mikal Bridges, Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, and Aron Baynes are all good defenders. Ayton's not quite there yet but his defensive potential is through the roof and he improved greatly as last season continued(constantly practicing with Baynes will benefit him). Tyler Johnson and Dario Saric are average defenders at best and Devin Booker and Frank Kaminsky are poor defenders.

That covers all of the rotation players that aren't rookies. To me that doesn't look like a poor defensive team. :confusedshrug: You only really have 2 guys on the squad that you can for sure say are bad defenders, everyone else is arguably at least average and some with potential to be great. But people will assume this is the same squad as last year even though it's almost a completely different team.

TJ Warren was one of the worst defenders in the league and he's gone. Dragan Bender sucks on defense and he got replaced. Ellie Okobo was horrible defensively and he'll likely be cut before the season starts. And guys we were playing for the first half of the season like Ryan Anderson, Tyson Chandler, Trevor Ariza, etc put 0 defensive effort when they were on the court for us. They didn't care at all about trying to win. This is not the same team as last season.

Rubio is a poor defender no matter what you've heard. Rudy won't be there to save him either

[Chuckbe]

Lakers but only if LeBron doesn't activate "playoff mode".

[Real14]

Spurs because they always find a way to make it due to the system.

[NugzFan]

Such disrespect - people don

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE=NugzFan]Such disrespect - people don

[highwhey]

Such disrespect - people don’t think denver can even make the 8th seed :wtf:
pretty sure everyone agrees the nugz will get a higher seed...this thread is discussing teams fighting for the 8th seed.

5-7 my guess

[qrich]

[QUOTE=NugzFan]Such disrespect - people don

[Xiao Yao You]

Not sure the nugz are a sure thing. Spurs are in without question. Mavs could sneak in. Plus injuries happen so you never know

but this guy doesn't

[NugzFan]

Forgot the /s