[23AJ]

Lakers jump up to the top teir teams with this trade. My top 5 teams in the NBA.

Top Tier

1.) Boston
2.) Phoenix
3.) Detroit
4.) New Orleans
5.) Los Angeles Lakers

Next tier

San Antonio
Cleveland
Dallas
Orlando
Washington
Utah
Denver
Golden State

[afobisme]

wow, so spurs and cavs aren't top 5 even though they went to the finals the previous year? phoenix ahead of lakers. that's a joke now. phoenix isn't top 5. new orleans is definitely not ahead of the lakers too. boston i could agree with... but any of the other 3 teams ahead of the lakers on your list i disagree.

[23AJ]

Originally Posted by afobisme

wow, so spurs and cavs aren't top 5 even though they went to the finals the previous year? phoenix ahead of lakers. that's a joke now. phoenix isn't top 5. new orleans is definitely not ahead of the lakers too. boston i could agree with... but any of the other 3 teams ahead of the lakers on your list i disagree.

My take is that the Lakers have to prove to be better then the Suns in the playoffs. Regular season is great, but did we not learn anything from Dallas last season ? My point being Suns have had the Lakers number in the playoffs. Keep in mind this is all coming from one of the biggest Kobe fans on this site.

And yes the Spurs, and Cavs haven't proven to better then the teams I have in my top 5 besides maybe the Lakers this season. However I'm projecting the Lakers as a top 5 if not better team with their significant trade today.

[Avalanche]

Celtics, Pistons, Spurs were always my favourites to win... LA has joined that tier, but is 4th until i see them consistantly

[afobisme]

Originally Posted by 23AJ

My take is that the Lakers have to prove to be better then the Suns in the playoffs. Regular season is great, but did we not learn anything from Dallas last season ? My point being Suns have had the Lakers number in the playoffs. Keep in mind this is all coming from one of the biggest Kobe fans on this site.

And yes the Spurs, and Cavs haven't proven to better then the teams I have in my top 5 besides maybe the Lakers this season. However I'm projecting the Lakers as a top 5 if not better team with their significant trade today.

then how is phoenix ranked so highly if they haven't proven anything in the playoffs? especially against san antonio? a lot of contradictions in what youre saying.

for the lakers, you AREN'T using this season (we've beaten them twice already) as a base... we've gotten better, and the suns have either gotten worse or stayed the same.

for the celtics, you ARE using this season as a base for comparison...

for the spurs, you ARE using this season as a base for comparison...

for the suns, you AREN'T using this season as a base for comparison...

for the cavs, you ARE using this season as a base for comparison...

[EHL]

Originally Posted by Avalanche

Celtics, Pistons, Spurs were always my favourites to win... LA has joined that tier, but is 4th until i see them consistantly

Yup, good call.

[Avalanche]

I just cant see anyone outside of the Spurs, and possibly the Lakers depending on how well the gel having the balls to battle through the West (at least 2 elite teams will need to be faced) and then manage to knock off Boston/Detroit

[EHL]

^ I dunno, the Cavs dispatched Detroit last year, so I'm not as worried about them if I'm a Spurs or Lakers fan. Celtics? Different story.

[McGillicutty]

Can't say I agree with the Mavs and Suns being left out of the contender talk. Either of those teams could beat SA or LA in a 7 game series.

[afobisme]

sorry, i don't think the suns are really contenders. pretty much they'd have to beat at the very minimum 3 of the 4 following teams (3 series): spurs, lakers, mavs, celtics

there is just no way they can do it with their lack of size.. unless they sign tanya harding going into the playoffs.

[McGillicutty]

Originally Posted by afobisme

sorry, i don't think the suns are really contenders. pretty much they'd have to beat at the very minimum 3 of the 4 following teams (3 series): spurs, lakers, mavs, celtics

The same should be said for the Spurs, Lakers, Mavs and every other team in the West. There is no advantageous gimmie series come playoff time. At least the Suns are in the important position of solidifying first seed - thus attaining a matchup with the weakest team(8th seed) and homecourt advantage throughout.

That alone will put them in a position to contend...

Originally Posted by afobisme

there is just no way they can do it with their lack of size.. unless they sign tanya harding going into the playoffs.

It doesn't help obviously, but they still are an incredibly talented team capable of reaching the finals. They went toe-to-toe with the Spurs last year, and if not for a few unfortunate bounces... nevermind, lets keep that can of worms closed.

Point being, if they play to their potential they're in the mix. The true problem is the Suns are playing uninspired, lazy basketball. Some say that makes them undeserving of the contender label, but I think they're just a complacent team crusing through the regular season.