ThatBlazerGuy

Its slow round' here, so I thought it would be nice conversation to get everyone's imput on how they think the west will turn out this season. Perdict playoff seeding, total wins and breifly describe how you think each teams upcoming season will go.


1. Los Angeles Lakers 61-21
I hate it, but the Lakers are a dambed good team. Adding Bynum to a core of Kobe and Gasol is going to really thrust this team into another gear, IMO. They only really lost Turiaf, who is a mediocre role player and not that big of a loss. I still think Odom at SF is going to continue to hold this team back from being really, really great though.

2. New Orleans Hornets 59-23
They have had a very effective offseason. Adding Posey is huge, he is the type of uber role player that can push a team over the edge. I question their ability to stay healthy an entire season though, but if they do they are a powerhouse.

3. Utah Jazz 56-26
They will improve a bit, but are still not a 'legit' contender. They just lack something. I think Okur at C is always going to hold them back. Still, they didnt loose anyone of importance and given their relative youth I see them improving slightly and snaging this #3 spot.

4. San Antonio Spurs 55-27
The Spurs have had a very lackluster offseason. I was thinking that they would make a clear move to get younger/more athletic. Instead they draftead a projected 2nd rounder in the 1st, didnt add Splitter & lost Barry. They only added Roger Mason Jr. Still, they have a legit 'big 3'. It seems that for the past few seasons everyone has been expecting a fall off from SAS but it has yet to happen. Good for the Blazers is that this team is going to hit a serious decline in 2-3 seasons. Its simply inevitable.

5. Houston Rockets 53-27
I dont think adding Artest throws Houston into the elite status of the above 4 teams. Still, a full season of TMac, Yao and Ron could be very good. I think this team is destined to implode or break down via. injury. The defensive potential of this team is quite scarry. I also think their PG situation will continue to be a big problem.

6. Phoenix Suns 51-31
Here is another team on their way down like SAS. Their championship window was once very large but is shrinking like hell. I think 2 seasons from now, they will be in a major Minny like rebuild. Still, they have veteran talent and playoff experience. That alone makes them a threat to get out of the 1st round. The real wildcard is Shaq. If he trains like hell this offseason the entire dimension of their team changes. Sadly for Phoenix, thats not going to happen.

7. Portland Trailblazers 50-32
The start of another 20+ year playoff run? I certainly hope so. This team clearly has the talent to be a #7 seed, but they lack the experience. Still, if they can stay healthy, I see no reason why this team cant improve by at least 9 games which is what a 50 win season would amount to. I can even see them pushing NOH, another relativley playoff inexperienced team, in the 1st round.

8. Dallas Mavericks 48-34
They are fading and doing so fast. I think there is a very nice chance they miss the playoffs this season. They are aging, lack cohesion and toughness and simply are not that talented after Dirk and JHo. They should have made a real last ditch attempt this offseason to find a true #2 guy, but didnt. The Kidd trade will go down in infamy.
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9. Los Angeles Clippers 46-36
I think even with the loss of Brand this team is going to be much improved. Baron Davis is a top 5 PG, Camby was free and Ricky Davis is a decent gamble. I would not be surpised if they make the playoffs. Baron/Davis/Thornton/Camby/Kaman isnt a bad lineup.

10. Golden State Warriors 44-38
They are a decent team with a bright future. They could be a big suprise this year if even 2 of their 3 young guys pan out, as all fit extremley well in a run-&-gun style of play. They are a team that will be consitered in 5 years a Dallas/Phoenix sub-powerhouse while PDX is consitered a LAL/SAS powerhouse.

11. Denver Nuggets 44-39
I hate what has happened to this team. On court, they have probably the lowest collective BBall IQ of any team in the league. They gave away Camby. They traded their 1st rounder. They added nothing while all the rest of the West improved.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves 35-47
Of the bottom feeders, Minny is going to improve the most. I think Love immediatley brings 15ppg, 8rpg, 3apg and truly improves them. A full season of Foye is also going to be big. They will be a team to watch for in the future, but as it stands dont have the pieces to be great.

13. Sacramento Kings 34-48
Poor SAC. They are the definition of perpetual mediocracy, only they are not mediocre. They have a bunch of crap, overpaid veterans. Just gave a mediocre PG the full MLE for half a decade. A reach in Thompson and a low 1st round rookie was their return for Artest. They are going to have a rough few years IMO.

14. Memphis Grizzlies 30-52
I am a Mayo believer, but simply put when your only proven post player is Darko Millicic your going to struggle.

15. Oklahoma City Buttpirates 26-56
Westbrook is a 2-3 season project, IMO. They also lack a true post presence like Memphis and you simply need some low post scoring to succeed in the West. They have 3 nice pieces and a barrell of crap.

Stepping Razor

1. New Orleans 60-22
2. Portland 57-25
3. Houston 56-26
4. San Antonio 54-28
5. LA Lakers 53-29
6. Utah 52-30
7. Phoenix 49-33
8. Dallas 48-34
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9. Golden State 44-38
10. Denver 40-42
11. LA Clippers 36-46
12. Sacramento 36-46
13. Memphis 32-50
14. Minnesota 30-52
15. Dead To Me 21-61

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Freshtown

1. New Orleans Hornets (58-24): They will be one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA, period. Chris Paul is going to have another MVP worthy season, and a David West/Tyson Chandler combo is nice down low. Signing Posey is huge, and they will be able to go decently deep on the bench with Julian Wright, Mo Pete, James Posey, and Pargo. Inexperience caused them to lose their grip on San Antonio- it won't happen again. Look for them to go WCF minimum.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25): What can I say. I hate the Lakers. They whine, they complain, they're primadonnas and I hate them for it. But I must admit the thought of a team that played its way into the finals is adding one of the better young centers in the league is scary. He addresses all their weaknesses that caused them to flounder at certain times last season. Look for a LAL-NOH WCF. It could go either way.

3. Houston Rockets (54-28): This team will take some time to gel. Don't expect them to dominate right away. A month or two in, however, when they figure out their new defensive schemes and positions, this will be a monstrocity of a team on defense. In crunch time look for a lineup of T-Mac at point, with Battier and Artest on the wings. Scola and Yao down low- nasty. The official 2008-2009 underdog/surprise team pick. If things go well, a finals berth is not out of the question.

4. San Antonio (54-28): Another perpetual playoff lock, the Spurs will bore everyone to sleep playing mean team D and basic pick and roll, high and low post passes that wear opponents down. Everyone counts them out- and while I do believe their championship run is over, they are always a threat, and the right combination of factors could easily result in an upset over the top 3 seeds. Not likely though.

5. Portland Trailblazers (52-30) Many analysts are putting the Jazz, Suns, or Dallas here. I don't buy it. The Blazers are too improved to not trounce on some teams in the west next year. Yes, they are young, but so are the Hornets. We take a team that could regularly knock down opponents like the Jazz, Nuggets, and Lakers, and add Oden, Fernandez, and Bayless, while only subtracting Jack (addition by subtraction in any matter). They will turn heads. Greg Oden is a beast among men and people have forgotten how dominate he is. They will be reminded soon.

6. Phoenix Suns (52-30) They are still an (albeit fading) force. Amare is a top-5 post player in the NBA and Nash is not close to calling it a career. Shaq is slightly closer but is still better than most of the starting centers in the NBA. With Diaw and Barbosa in the mix, they are still too talented to not win 50 games.

7. Utah Jazz (50-32) Yes, they are a perpetual playoff team, but the roster as is is too soft to field them past one or two rounds of the playoffs. While Williams is one of the best PG's in the L, Carlos Boozer and Okur aren't going to power them past the giants of the west like Oden and Aldridge, Gasol and Bynum, Amare and Shaq, etc. Still a virtual lock for the playoffs however.

8. Dallas Mavericks (49-33) Sad- I really did root for them to beat the Heat in 2006. Sadly, the ship has sailed. They will look better this coming season, as I think people are underestimating the defensive presence that Diop gave opponents in their run of 05-06; it was something that was missed last season against Chandler and the Hornets. Still have an MVP, a borderline all-star small forward, one of the GOAT point guards (albeit broken down and slow, still a stunning passer, playmaker, and defender). They're not lottery bound yet.

Well I just wasted 20 minutes writing this all up so I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think.

Minstrel

I'm not hardcore enough to do all the records. I'll just rank. Always fun to make lists.


1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Houston Rockets
3. New Orleans Hornets
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Utah Jazz
6. Portland Trailblazers
7. Phoenix Suns
8. Dallas Mavericks

9. Golden State Warriors
10. Los Angeles Clippers
11. Denver Nuggets
12. Sacramento Kings
13. Memphis Grizzlies
14. Minnesota Timberwolves
15. Oklahoma City Something-Or-Others

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rocketeer

i would move portland up to 4 and drop the spurs and jazz each down a spot. other than that, those are my rankings.

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yuyuza1

1. Houston- 56-26
2. Utah- 53-29
3. LAL- 53-29
4. San Antonio- 52-30
5. New Orleans- 51-31
6. Portland- 50-32
7. Phoenix- 49-33
8. Dallas- 42-40

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9. Denver- 40-42
10. Golden State- 38-44
11. LAC- 35-47
12. Minny- 33-49
13. OKC- 30-52
14. Sacto- 29-53
15. Memphis- 25-57

I really don't think the win totals will be as high as you guys foresee them to be. The bottom feeders and mediocre teams from last year almost all got better, and wins will be harder to come by for fringe teams (unlike last year when the eighth seed had 49).

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Da_O

I'm to tired to think of records or come up with explanations

1. Lakers
2. Hornets
3. Rockets
4. Spurs
5. Jazz
6. Blazers
7. Suns
8. Mavericks

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The best of the rest
9. Denver
10. LAC
11. GSW
12. Sac
13. Memphis
14. OKC
15. Minny

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World B. Free

I like this one. Also like the OKC name!!!


I really see no reason why we cannot be a top 3 in the West. I also agree with the person who said "we add Oden, Fernandez and Bayless and only lose Jack." Damn good perspective.

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BlazerFan22

I like your list and would agree with it. I think the most surprising team could be the Minnesota Timberwolves and might even put them above the Nuggets. I know everyone hates Oklahoma City now but they will be better then Memphis Grizzlies and maybe even the Kings.

B_&_B

1 - Rockets
2 - Hornets
3 - Lakers
4 - Jazz
5 - Spurs
6 - Blazers
7 - Suns
8 - Mavericks
9 - Clippers
10 - Nuggets
11 - Grizzlies
12 - Warriors
13 - OKC
14 - TWolves
15 - Kings

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mediocre man

L*kers 60-22
Hornets 58-24
Jazz 55-27
Spurs 57-25
Rockets 56-26
Suns 52-30
Mavs 51-31
Nuggets 50-32

Blazers 48-34
Clippers
Warriors
Kings

Grizzlies
T-Wolves
Durrants

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e_blazer1

1. Blazers
2-8. Who cares?

Being a homer makes for a lot less work.

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Minstrel