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As of right now It's 7/5/24 (for me) ... For anyone who looks at post closer to the NBA season.

*** We do this almost every year for new comers, please b4 posting share your thoughts first on your WEST predictions thread, It's still early b4 the season starts, but think most west teams are set don't think too much will change - could be wrong.

"We do not talk about the East In This Dojo"

This Is West predictions only Highlighted Lakers

Good Luck and peace out!.

1) OKC - Caruso trade helps them and another year together

2) Dallas - Luka, Kyrie, Klay

3) Wolves - Antman, Kat, Gobert

4) Denver - Jokic, Murray, MPJ - Is this enough ??

5) Kings - Sabonis, Fox, Keegan - DEMAR
DEMAR just traded to kings. A day after posting.

6) Pelicans - Will be the suprise team this year In west and they move up

7) Lakers -AD, Bron, Reaves + break out player OR FA/trade
*I have faith In the Lakers*

8) Memphis - This will be all on JA Morant, If he can stay healthy and play most of season I see Memphis creeping up - If not I see them near bottom, If not just move them down and everyone up a spot

9) Suns - KD, Beal, Booker

10) Utah - Lauri, Collins, Sexton

11) Clippers - Losing PG hurts them so much and as of now no new players/trades - that come close to replacing PG for now they've dropped a lot.

12) GSW - Curry. They have no defense out side of Green? Some say they've Improved but doubt It, the West Is tough - Utah, Clips, GSW are tough to choose

13) Rockets - 41 win team last year, Vanfleet, Green?

14) Spurs - Wemby - unless they make a trade/fa etc I don't see them geting 40 wins they only had 22 ish last year, would love to see a Wemby/Young pairing

15) Blazers - J.Grant. Sharpe??

Edit this Is just standings, this Is not championship talk, just because OKC Is #1 doesn't mean I'm saying they gonna win the chip.

01) Minnesota
02) OKC
03) Grizzlies
04) Denver
05) Dallas
06) Lakers
07) Pelicans
08) Kings
09) Suns
10) Rockets
11) GSW
12) Spurs
13) Jazz
14) Blazers
15) Clippers

I have the Lakers between 7th and 12th. If I gotta pick, let's go 9th.

Don't care about the rest of the west....whatever will be, will be.

I'm going to lean in the 6-8 range.

Can AD and LeBron stay healthy to the same degree that they did last season? Doubtful.
Will Vando and Gabe Vincent be more healthy? Most likely.
Is Max Christie better than Taurean Prince? Yes.
Will Christian Wood have a better season? Yes.
Will Redick lean into LeBron/AD/Reaves/Vando/D-Lo with Rui/Vincent/Christie/Wood/Knecht off the bench? Most likely.
Will Cam Reddish get 25 minutes a game for the first 3 months of the season? Doubtful.
Will we make a mid-season trade once prices come down? Most likely.
Can we get anything out of JHS? Doubtful.

I really think we're 1 DFS, Jerami Grant, Wendell Carter trade away from being in the Top 4 with OKC, Minnesota, Dallas. As things currently stand now, here's my pre-season prediction for what the standings will look like entering the 2024/2025 playoffs.

1- OKC
2- Minnesota
3- Dallas
4- Denver
5- Phoenix
6- Lakers
7- Sacramento
8- Warriors
9- Pelicans (Zion really going to stay as healthy as last year? Ingram's situation?)
10- Rockets
11- San Antonio
12- Clippers
13- Portland
14- Utah

Wild Card: Memphis - I have no idea where they're gonna finish. I could see them finishing as high as 3. I could see them in the play-in. I could see them out of the playoffs.

SlimShady83 wrote:As of right now It's 7/5/24 (for me) ... For anyone who looks at post closer to the NBA season.

*** We do this almost every year for new comers, please b4 posting share your thoughts first on your WEST predictions thread, It's still early b4 the season starts, but think most west teams are set don't think too much will change - could be wrong.

"We do not talk about the East In This Dojo"

This Is West predictions only Highlighted Lakers

Good Luck and peace out!.

1) OKC - Caruso trade helps them and another year together

2) Dallas - Luka, Kyrie, Klay

3) Wolves - Antman, Kat, Gobert

4) Denver - Jokic, Murray, MPJ - Is this enough ??

5) Kings - Sabonis, Fox, Keegan - DEMAR
DEMAR just traded to kings. A day after posting.

6) Pelicans - Will be the suprise team this year In west and they move up

7) Lakers -AD, Bron, Reaves + break out player OR FA/trade
*I have faith In the Lakers*

8) Memphis - This will be all on JA Morant, If he can stay healthy and play most of season I see Memphis creeping up - If not I see them near bottom, If not just move them down and everyone up a spot

9) Suns - KD, Beal, Booker

10) Utah - Lauri, Collins, Sexton

11) Clippers - Losing PG hurts them so much and as of now no new players/trades - that come close to replacing PG for now they've dropped a lot.

12) GSW - Curry. They have no defense out side of Green? Some say they've Improved but doubt It, the West Is tough - Utah, Clips, GSW are tough to choose

13) Rockets - 41 win team last year, Vanfleet, Green?

14) Spurs - Wemby - unless they make a trade/fa etc I don't see them geting 40 wins they only had 22 ish last year, would love to see a Wemby/Young pairing

15) Blazers - J.Grant. Sharpe??

Edit this Is just standings, this Is not championship talk, just because OKC Is #1 doesn't mean I'm saying they gonna win the chip.

Some wild picks!

Here are mine:
OKC
MINN
LAKERS
MEM
DENVER
CLIPPERS
DALLAS
GSW
SUNS
ROCKETS

Lakers improve on their 47 wins after keeping their roster in tact and improved coaching staff and formation. Max Christie and Knecht play meaning minutes and health returns to Gabe and Vando making a huge impact.

* Memphis depends on health of their AS guard.

* Denver takes another hit losing KCP and adding Russ.

* Dallas stumbles after Kyrie returns to injuries and Klay’s poor defense is a big gapping hole.

LakersSoul wrote:Some wild picks!

I wouldn't say WILD haha. Not that far off from last years standings really, I mean some teams moved couple spots up and down, but that's about It

Edit: While I don't have Dallas number 1 ... I think they win the chip this year.

SlimShady83 wrote:

LakersSoul wrote:Some wild picks!

I wouldn't say WILD haha. Not that far off from last years standings really, I mean some teams moved couple spots up and down, but that's about It

Edit: While I don't have Dallas number 1 ... I think they win the chip this year.

They added Kyle Thompson. lol

They are not gonna be top 3 in the West.

Adding Quentin Grimes could be deceptively good but the loss of Green will hurt. Lot will depend on Kyries health and that’s not good.

LakersSoul wrote:

SlimShady83 wrote:

LakersSoul wrote:Some wild picks!

I wouldn't say WILD haha. Not that far off from last years standings really, I mean some teams moved couple spots up and down, but that's about It

Edit: While I don't have Dallas number 1 ... I think they win the chip this year.

They added Kyle Thompson. lol

They are not gonna be top 3 in the West.

Adding Quentin Grimes could be deceptively good but the loss of Green will hurt. Lot will depend on Kyries health and that’s not good.

Hehe we'll just have to wait and see.