RealGM

This is where i would rank them (In order)

Thunder: Westbrook-Sefolosha-Durant-Ibaka-Perkins
Lakers: Nash-Kobe-MWP-Gasol-Bynum
Clippers: Paul-Crawford(?)-Butler-Griffin-Jordan
Spurs: Parker-Green-Leonard-Splitter-Duncan
Wolves: Rubio-Roy-AK47-Love-Pekovic
Grizzlies: Conley-Allen-Gay-Randolph-Gasol
Nuggets: Lawson-Afflalo-Gallinari-Faried-McGee
Mavericks: West(?)-Mayo(?)-Marion-Nowitzki-Kaman
Warriors: Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Lee-Bogut
Blazers: Lillard-Matthews-Batum-Aldridge-Leonard
Jazz: Watson(?)-Foye(?)-Williams-Millsap-Jefferson

That is where I would rank the playoff contending teams in the West. Where would you rank them?

1. Thunder (Westbrook/Sefolosha/Durant/Ibaka/Perkins)
2. Lakers (Nash/Bryant/Artest/Gasol/Bynum)
3. Grizzlies (Conley/Allen/Gay/Randolph/Gasol)
4. Spurs (Parker/Green/Leonard/Diaw/Duncan)
5. Clippers (Paul/Billups/Butler/Griffin/Jordan)
6. Nuggets (Lawson/Afflalo/Gallinari/Faried/McGee)
7. Wolves (Rubio/Roy/Kirelinko/Love/Pekovic)
8. Mavs (Collison/Mayo/Marion/Nowitzki/Kaman)
9. Warriors (Curry/Thompson/Barnes/Lee/Bogut)
10. Jazz (Williams/Burks/Hayward/Millsap/Jefferson)
11. Blazers (Lillard/Matthews/Batum/Aldridge/Leonard)

Teams like the thunder and lakers have more players who are either larger or more talented. The Grizzlies, Spurs, Clippers, and Nuggets have good chemistry. I think the Mavs and Wolves don't have enough chemistry yet. But I'd say 3-8 are pretty close.

theGreatRC wrote:This is where i would rank them (In order)

Thunder: Westbrook-Sefolosha-Durant-Ibaka-Perkins
Lakers: Nash-Kobe-MWP-Gasol-Bynum
Clippers: Paul-Crawford(?)-Butler-Griffin-Jordan
Spurs: Parker-Green-Leonard-Splitter-Duncan
Wolves: Rubio-Roy-AK47-Love-Pekovic
Grizzlies: Conley-Allen-Gay-Randolph-Gasol
Nuggets: Lawson-Afflalo-Gallinari-Faried-McGee
Mavericks: West(?)-Mayo(?)-Marion-Nowitzki-Kaman
Warriors: Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Lee-Bogut
Blazers: Lillard-Matthews-Batum-Aldridge-Leonard
Jazz: Watson(?)-Foye(?)-Williams-Millsap-Jefferson

That is where I would rank the playoff contending teams in the West. Where would you rank them?

You said starting 5. I'd put Lakers ahead of OKC in that case.

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

12-15 is kind of tricky as is 4-6 and 7-9. Teams like Spurs have Ginobli & key guys off the bench which puts them lower on here put higher overall whereas the Grizzlies don't have much after their starting 5.

Nash = Westbrook
Bryant >> Sefolosha
MWP <<< Durant
Gasol > Ibaka
Bynum >>> Perkins
Bench << Bench

If Roy's healthy? Possibly 3rd. If he's not, maybe 5th.

1. Lakers (Nash/Bryant/Artest/Gasol/Bynum)
2. Thunder (Westbrook/Sefolosha/Durant/Ibaka/Perkins)
3. Clippers (Paul/Billups/Butler/Griffin/Jordan)
4. Spurs (Parker/Green/Leonard/Diaw/Duncan)
5. Grizzlies (Conley/Allen/Gay/Randolph/Gasol)
6. Wolves (Rubio/Roy/Kirelinko/Love/Pekovic)
7. Warriors (Curry/Thompson/Barnes/Lee/Bogut)
8. Mavs (Collison/Mayo/Marion/Nowitzki/Kaman)
9. Blazers (Lillard/Matthews/Batum/Aldridge/Leonard)
10. Nuggets (Lawson/Afflalo/Gallinari/Faried/McGee)
11. Jazz (Williams/Burks/Hayward/Millsap/Jefferson)

I'd rank the team 3rd. If Roy breaks down, we're in the 4-5 range.

OKC
LAL
Grizzlies
Spurs
Wolves
Clippers
Nuggets
Mavs
Warriors
Jazz
Blazers

Jazz will be

Williams/Hayward/Williams/Favors/Jefferson

Much better then 11th in the west in my opinion.

Andrew801 wrote:Jazz will be

Williams/Hayward/Williams/Favors/Jefferson

Much better then 11th in the west in my opinion.

Thats not very impressive imo. We were better than them before Rubio went down. Warriors made good moves as well. I like Curry, Klay, Barnes, Lee, Bogut much more than the Jazz.

5 or 6 if everyone stays healthy

Lakers
Thunder
Wolves

ya i said it. i'm calling it (if we're healthy)

Mattya wrote:

Andrew801 wrote:Jazz will be

Williams/Hayward/Williams/Favors/Jefferson

Much better then 11th in the west in my opinion.

Thats not very impressive imo. We were better than them before Rubio went down. Warriors made good moves as well. I like Curry, Klay, Barnes, Lee, Bogut much more than the Jazz.

Jazz fan here. I like AK-47 a lot. He will help your defense a lot especially since your bigs are not too defensively inclined. I hope you use AK-47 some at PF which is his best position. As for the Jazz, starting lineup, you guys dont get how good Favors is. Maybe an allstar next year..Millsap a 6th man. I have you and the Jazz are 2 of most improved teams in the west.

Jazz Fan weighing in:

Thunder
Lakers
Spurs
Clippers
Memphis
Jazz
Minnesota
Denver

Dallas- I think Nowitzki suffers injury or declining year
Portland
GSW
Houston
Nola
Phoenix
Sacramento

Jazz were the 8th seed last year and got significantly better at their worst position: When you go from CJ Miles and Josh Howard to Marvin Williams, from Devin who no longer played D to Mo Williams, and you go from Raja Bell/Cj Miles to Foye you are much improved. The largest step forward will be the development of Favors/Hayward/Burks/Kanter and the move to 6th man for Millsap which make his minutes more productive going against lesser 2nd tier players. We have one of the deepest benches in the league.

It is very possible that the 8th seed would have been yours last year, but it also underscores your lack of depth and bench. Who is your back up SF when Ak goes out for his standard 20 Games, what about Roy's back up... let alone how will he perform? I love your team, it will be easily my second favorite team to watch now with AK (who you will love).

Lastly,

I think it is entirely possible if not likely that GSW's, Dallas, and Portland all make the playoffs. Which means it is also entirely possible that Denver, Memphis, Utah, and Minnesota could all miss. This is perhaps the deapest 11 teams in the NBA conference in a while. I also think the Clips are one injury away from being on the bubble.

Ask me after we see how good Roy's knees are in preseason.
Right now I'd rank us #5. I like the Jazz's team and Denver's as well, but I think Pek/Love/Kirilenko/Rubio is good across the board with only SG as a question mark.

If Roy goes down I'd say 6-7
If Roy's healthy I'd say 2-3

blackham9258 wrote:Jazz Fan weighing in:

Thunder
Lakers
Spurs
Clippers
Memphis
Jazz
Minnesota
Denver

Dallas- I think Nowitzki suffers injury or declining year
Portland
GSW
Houston
Nola
Phoenix
Sacramento

I agree with who makes the playoffs, who doesn't. If I'm the Jazz I'd look at making a deal around Calderon for Millsap or Jefferson if possible. I don't trust Mo Williams as a starting PG over a full season. IMO he's best suited in a 6th man role and Marvin Williams isn't the best option at SF but, yes, an upgrade over what the Jazz have had. I think there will actually be a couple game difference between the 8th seed and the last time out this year. Dallas takes a major step back and misses the playofffs by a couple games although it appears they'll have a shot at Howard next off-season.

It is very possible that the 8th seed would have been yours last year, but it also underscores your lack of depth and bench. Who is your back up SF when Ak goes out for his standard 20 Games, what about Roy's back up... let alone how will he perform? I love your team, it will be easily my second favorite team to watch now with AK (who you will love).

Ridnour and Wes Johnson were our starters last year. Shved and Budinger starting would have been an improvement, let alone AK47 and whatever Brandon Roy still has left in the tank. So now Ridnour and Barea are back up PGs when Rubio comes back. Shved and Budinger will be getting back up shooting guard minutes. Budinger and Derrick Williams will get back up SF minutes. Derrick Williams, AK, and Dante Cunningham will get back up PF minutes. Love and Stiemsma will get back up C minutes. Not to come off like a jerk but while Williams is an upgrade for you at SF, Mo is not and upgrade (he also doesn't play a lick of defense). Mo is one guy I personally think is garbage. Wolves have upgraded their starters and back ups at the small forward and shooting guard spot.

Mattya wrote:

It is very possible that the 8th seed would have been yours last year, but it also underscores your lack of depth and bench. Who is your back up SF when Ak goes out for his standard 20 Games, what about Roy's back up... let alone how will he perform? I love your team, it will be easily my second favorite team to watch now with AK (who you will love).

Ridnour and Wes Johnson were our starters last year. Shved and Budinger starting would have been an improvement, let alone AK47 and whatever Brandon Roy still has left in the tank. So now Ridnour and Barea are back up PGs when Rubio comes back. Shved and Budinger will be getting back up shooting guard minutes. Budinger and Derrick Williams will get back up SF minutes. Derrick Williams, AK, and Dante Cunningham will get back up PF minutes. Love and Stiemsma will get back up C minutes. Not to come off like a jerk but while Williams is an upgrade for you at SF, Mo is not and upgrade (he also doesn't play a lick of defense). Mo is one guy I personally think is garbage. Wolves have upgraded their starters and back ups at the small forward and shooting guard spot.

Rubio/Ridnour/Barea
Ridnour/Ellington
Johnson/Beasley
Love/Williams/Tolliver
Pekovic/Darko

PG situation is the same
Roy & Shved are both > Ridnour & Ellington
Kirilenko & Budinger >> Johnson and Budinger is more consistent off the bench than Beasley
Cunningham=Tolliver & Randolph
Stiemsma > Milicic

Our whole bench is much upgraded and both SG & SF starters are much upgraded.

Clippers sf will be Grant Hill, adjust rankings accordingly.

Don't think there is much difference between Grant Hill and Butler.

Zach Harper thinks there is a "great chance" Hornets make the playoffs. And I think he just lost any credibility.

I fail to see how:
Vaquez/Dyson
Gordon/Rivers/Henry
Aminu/D.Miller
Davis/Anderson/L.Thomas
R.Lopez/
Is even close to competing for a playoff spot. They're likely going to be playing Rivers and either Davis or Anderson out of their natural position and have really poor depth. I've never even heard of Dyson or Lance Thomas.