ABM

Some of the boys like our boys........

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?se...rts&id=6130929

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"It takes ten hands to score one basket." ~John Wooden

Entity

They seems to be mostly in agreement about the West. The stray opinions were very few. I tend to agree for the most part.

Personally...

Hot Future (Teams that would improve without much change / should get better with either growth or injury avoidance)

Lakers - Most of their core is a bit older, but they have a few young talents and they're not looking at a downswing for a while.
Hornets - Their MVP is ridiculously young, and their key guys not named Peja aren't too salty either.
Jazz - As long as they have Williams and Boozer to run the Sloan PF/PG system, and as long as they keep their other young starters, they'll be a perpetual playoff team. Maybe even good.
Rockets - These guys have to catch a break sometime. I predict at least one NBA Finals appearance for them before they wane.
Blazers - Could potentially remain as the youngest team in the league next year, but I'm betting the Sonics will take that position this summer. Either way, to be so young and good is extremely rare, and also fun for its fans.

Stagnant (Playoff potential teams that need to change to improve)

Warriors - They did play better, but if they don't make any changes they'll either plateau or fall down.
Nuggets - This is a team that should be better than it is. Yet somehow they've managed to take a starting lineup with great individual defenders like Camby, Martin, and Iverson and not make it work defensively. Amazing.

Downswing (Teams that have missed their championship window)

Suns - Marion for Shaq? Yeah it was a risk, but it hastened the end of the Phoenix era maybe a couple of seasons premature.
Mavericks - I kind of expected them to fall short of the big dream. They have some interesting characters surrounding that franchise, but they can't seem to make that decisive blow.

Uncertain (I keep wanting to count them out, but they just won't die)

Spurs - They're the oldest team. And they still win. Maybe the Hornets will knock them off, but when they make a first round exit, they'll officially be past tense.

Potential (They might have something there)

Kings - They're young guys are more impressive to me than whatever veterans they have left. Artest will be a skillful player into his mid-30s, even if he's just a glue guy.

Still rebuilding (Teams that have talent but need much more of it)

Sonics - Durant will be good. I like Wilcox. I think they've got a plan up there, but it involves trades.
Grizzlies - They're putting a lot of faith in those Laker's draft picks.
Clippers - Where did Kaman come from? Where did everyone else go?
T'Wolves - Al Jefferson... yep. That's about all they have going for them. McHale's not Isiah, but he's the next worst thing.

MrJayremmie

I'm right with you on those picks Entity!

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Jerryd Bayless

BuckW4GM

it sucks, but i think the lakers are still going to be better than us for at least the next two years. then after that, i think it will be us and the jazz. i'm not jumping on the new orleans bandwagon yet.