Who comes out of the Wild Wild West?

[AgEnT50]

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They've won 18 of their last 21 games with McGrady not playing at 100%.

Can you imagine them with the McGrady from the first quarter of this season?

1st round exit again!

[Captain_Obvious]

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They've won 18 of their last 21 games with McGrady not playing at 100%.

Can you imagine them with the McGrady from the first quarter of this season?

Rockets are def better than they played their tough schedule the first half of this season.
And now with a much easier schedule they get a much better record.

In the first half most of the fanbase wanted to trade half of the team, now theyre talking about the championship.
Honestly, Houston is a Playoff team in the West. Nothing more, nothing less.

First get out of the first round before we talk about if they have a shot at the wcf or even finals.

[Captain_Obvious]

I'll say Phoenix. I don't think they are missing much out of Marion, Diaw will step up, and so will Hill. Shaq is just an big 300lb added bonus. I think they will be able to win, now that they can play a different brand of basketball.

Thats a huge assumption that they wont miss Marion, they're getting outrebounded, all hope is on Shaq there (with his limited minutes), but how can Shaq fit with Amare? The Nash-Amare Pick'n'roll is dependent on quick screens, run and gun and such. Big questionmarks IMO.

[JES12]

Well, it sure ain't the Mavs if we trade Harris + Diop + other goodies for Kidd.

I'd say the one team that did not panic....SPURS!

[hoop_head]

Spurs or Lakers would be my guess, and I'm leaning towards the Lakers if Bynum is ready to rumble for the playoffs.

[Ern III]

Health is going to be a pivotal issue.

I voted 'Other' based on pure mathematics, because it's impossible to nominate a favourite.


First, the dismissals:

Denver are no chance as currently constituted; poor defense, don't play cohesively, and Anthony Carter is their starting PG.

Portland won't make the playoffs. Hard to win it from there. They'll be perennial contenders soon, though.

Warriors play gimmicky basketball, have no interior offense or defense, are delusional (ie. Chris Webber), and may not make the playoffs. Shame, because I like the Oracle atmosphere and their fans deserve more success.


The contenders:

The Lakers look like the srongest team on paper, and their coaching staff might be the best - they certainly have the big game experience.

Until I get a look at the Suns with Shaq I don't know how to rate their chances.

We don't know Dallas' personnel for the rest of the season, yet.

I don't care what people say, if your team has a skillful 7-6 centre you're a legitimate contender, so the Rockets are in with a shout.

The Hornets lack a good bench, but have an excellent coach and the starters play big minutes in the big games anyway.

The Jazz have the league's best (certainly most versatile) offense and a great bench.

Then there's the title-holding Spurs.


So, again, it may come down to health.

[TAI8]

Spurs repeat. Dallas has gone soft and went AWOL from their '06 campaign and form. Phoenix is significantly worse off with Shaq. We own the Jazz and the Nuggets. I think the Lakers, Rockets, and Hornets are the teams taht we have to keep an eye on especially the Lakers. We typically lose to them.

[semi-sentient]

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the Lakers (particularly injuries), so I don't see this being their year to come out of the West, regardless of how good they look on paper. They have to make a nice run in the playoffs and gel as a team, win or lose, before they can realistically take that next step. Having said that, I think it's absolutely vital that they do get passed the first round this year, so it may be necessary for Kobe to hold off on his surgery until they get bounced. It'll give them something to build on for next years playoffs, and getting past the 1st round is definite progress. Heck, who know? They may get as far as the WCF if Bynums gets back into the flow of things, meaning that Kobe (injured or not) will have a lesser scoring/play-making role.

So, I think the reality is that San Antonio and Phoenix are the two true contenders at this point. I've been impressed with Phoenix' ability to win games despite not having Marion, particularly with that win against the Mavs, who I can't really consider a contender at this point. I think Phoenix will improve once they get Shaq if for no other reason than they have a big body down low to help Amare out a little. I don't think he's going to have a huge defensive impact, but it'll be quite enough considering how the Lakers almost took them out with Kwame starting at center. The Suns now have the size to compete against teams like San Antonio and Boston, so I have to say I like their chances this year (and this year only).

With San Antonio, it's hard to tell. One thing I know is that the road to the Finals is likely going to go through them, so teams like Phoenix simply have to kick it up a notch and take care of business when the time comes.

So, in summary, I'm torn between San Antonio and Phoenix at this point, but I'm almost positive it will be one or the other providing that they can avoid any major injuries.

[Dtown84]

Health issues keep me from saying the Lakers, next year with a healthy team I can call them the favorites. But dealing with Bynum's comeback, a 80% Kobe, and figuring out everyone's roles once they actually have the full starting line up; I just can't see them coming out of a west this stacked.

Spurs, I think it depends on Parker. Healthy Parker by the playoffs they're the favorite, that simple. Without him it's basically chaos. Can the Hornets keep it together, will Shaq give the Suns the boost they need? Can the Mavericks get their act together?

[Toronto BC 07]

I am having second thoughts now of choosing the Lakers because of Kobe's status. San Antonio I agree is the safe bet, even though they don't win back-to-back.

I am hoping Steve Nash wins one though before he retires. So confused. :S

[Magz50]

What's all this "they don't win back to backs". It makes more sense to say they HAVEN'T won back to back. You could say they don't win back to backs about every single team in the NBA. Doesn't mean it won't happen this year.

[Captain_Obvious]

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the Lakers (particularly injuries), so I don't see this being their year to come out of the West, regardless of how good they look on paper. They have to make a nice run in the playoffs and gel as a team, win or lose, before they can realistically take that next step. Having said that, I think it's absolutely vital that they do get passed the first round this year, so it may be necessary for Kobe to hold off on his surgery until they get bounced. It'll give them something to build on for next years playoffs, and getting past the 1st round is definite progress. Heck, who know? They may get as far as the WCF if Bynums gets back into the flow of things, meaning that Kobe (injured or not) will have a lesser scoring/play-making role.

So, I think the reality is that San Antonio and Phoenix are the two true contenders at this point. I've been impressed with Phoenix' ability to win games despite not having Marion, particularly with that win against the Mavs, who I can't really consider a contender at this point. I think Phoenix will improve once they get Shaq if for no other reason than they have a big body down low to help Amare out a little. I don't think he's going to have a huge defensive impact, but it'll be quite enough considering how the Lakers almost took them out with Kwame starting at center. The Suns now have the size to compete against teams like San Antonio and Boston, so I have to say I like their chances this year (and this year only).

With San Antonio, it's hard to tell. One thing I know is that the road to the Finals is likely going to go through them, so teams like Phoenix simply have to kick it up a notch and take care of business when the time comes.

So, in summary, I'm torn between San Antonio and Phoenix at this point, but I'm almost positive it will be one or the other providing that they can avoid any major injuries.

Yeah what was clearly a quality win, Dallas without 3 of their best players and the Suns without Shaq, his impact is a unknown.
How can you state that you pick the Suns as a contender ref this game? lol, Mavs were even on a back2back.[/b]

[speedkillz]

CP3, Mo-Pete, Peja, Chandler, D West..... Can I take the Hornets Please... Personally I think any team from the west can come out depending on who gets hot at the right time; the west is gonna be a crap shoot this season, IMHO.

[Hard2dhole]

Spurs repeat. Dallas has gone soft and went AWOL from their '06 campaign and form. Phoenix is significantly worse off with Shaq. We own the Jazz and the Nuggets. I think the Lakers, Rockets, and Hornets are the teams taht we have to keep an eye on especially the Lakers. We typically lose to them.

Really? Because this year the Spurs are 1 and 1 against each of these teams and the win over Utah happened before the Korver trade.