Western Conference predictions

[monopoman]

No one eating crow on the Wolves?

I know it’s probably more of an appetiser than the full course, but come on. Majority of people had us 12 or lower and yet we’re a solid 7 seed.

Don't you get it people on this thread only bring up their correct predictions. It's like some moron claiming he was a genius for claiming the Suns would be the #1 seed despite the fact that the rest of his playoff bracket was wrong.

Gotta love the patting themselves on the back though, people that need to prove they were so damn smart. Even though as I said a broken clock is right twice a day.

I would be more impressed if these dudes put money down then showed that they won it, if they were so damn sure about their predictions they would have made big bank on the over/under on total wins that season. As they say put your money where your mouth is if you really believe something.

[laronprofit9]

Aren you 2 crazy???
6 HoF players
shooters everywhere
Young and talented players like THT and Nunn...
Seriously WTF are u talking about???

I said it's a team hard to predict. The Lakers can be the best team or the eighth because of the "healthy factor". I may have put the Lakers in the eighth season because I am root against The Lakers. I had to guess a position. I could not give a range of positions that The Lakers will probably end the season.

The Lakers will rely more on Anthony Davis's condition. Lebron should get a lot of load management or he will probably miss a lot of time due to injuries again. WB and LeBron are not a great pairing. Both need the ball all time. The lack of space can be a problem.

WB is a 2 edged sword. He is a wonderful playmaker and rebounder but he is a kind of chucker. In Houston and Wizards, he started the season very slow and he got more efficient only at the second half of the season. Besides he is not so durable as once he was. And his style of game relies on athleticism and is injury-risky.

Do you still think about Melo, Gasol, and Howard as Hall of Fame players?

Melo is a shadow of himself and a liability on the defensive end.

Gasol cant get healthy and he averages less than 20 minutes.

Howard can only play 15 minutes a game and he is more interested in trash-talking opponents than playing the game.

Ellington is not a reliable shooter. He was very bad in the Knicks 2 years ago. His accuracy can drop if the team lacks spacing.

Baze was not very useful to the Warriors last year. Although GSW had a bad roster full of raw rookies, he averaged less than 20 minutes a game. Weird situation.

Ariza is 36 years old and shoots below average from deep. He was not a key rotation guy for Miami last season.

Monk never started a game after 4 seasons playing for The Hornets. Only the last season he shot above average from deep.

THT is a good player. But he is not a shooter. An awful compliment to a team that is full of no-shooters. WB, LeBron and Howard.

Lakers need another Center. Due to health and stamina factors, I bet Gasol and Howard's cant play the majority of the games. They need another Center who may be the main Center for the season. If they move AD to the Center spot, they dont have anyone to play PF besides Melo.

My analysis at the time was not wrong...

Really good

[spanishninja]

Yeah Blazers are only as low as they are due to injuries and trading away their older players. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, he also vastly underrated the Warriors who will likely finish with a top 2 record in the West.

Trying to claim that he knew Dame would end up injured all year nearly before the season began is beyond ridiculous.

oh right as if it is somehow unusual for the blazers to be injured this season.

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[monopoman]

Yeah Blazers are only as low as they are due to injuries and trading away their older players. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, he also vastly underrated the Warriors who will likely finish with a top 2 record in the West.

Trying to claim that he knew Dame would end up injured all year nearly before the season began is beyond ridiculous.

oh right as if it is somehow unusual for the blazers to be injured this season.

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Dame is rarely injured in fact he played at least 66 games in every season until this year. Acting like he is injury prone is ridiculous.

[jkvonny]

1. NBA darlings the lovable Phoenix Suns. What a fine collection of young men assembled by one of the best run organizations in the league. Easily the NBA's most dedicated and classiest fanbase too. After a dominant 12-4 run through the western conference, an improved roster, and the internal development of its young core, the mighty Suns should be shining even brighter this year. For fans of basketball played at its purest form, be sure to check out the Phoenix Suns this year. A sight to behold and a delight to the senses!
2. Jazz. Improved an already solid roster. I think Gobert will respond well to struggling against the Clippers' small ball lineup last year.
3. Denver. Young team with lots of potential. Solid core around Jokic, Murray and MPjr.
4. Mavericks. Luka alone is enough to have this team playing in the 4-6 range.
5. The Memphis Grizzlies. Will improve due to their young core getting better. Didn't like their offseason moves, but Adams will still look good on this team.
6. Those pesky Los Angeles Clippers. Had a solid offseason bringing back Reggie Jackson (I thought for sure he would be gone). Would have been higher if it wasn't for the Leonard injury.
7. Golden State Warriors. IMO this team should have gone all in trading away the picks they got from Minny for proven contributors. That being said, if steph and klay can stay healthy this team will be dangerous.
8. Defending play-in champions the Los Angeles Lakers. Will they repeat as play-in champs? That's yet to be seen as they'll face fierce competition from the pelicans and wolves - two teams loaded with young talent going up against the aging and rapidly declining Lakers.
----
9. The Pelicans
10. The Wolves
11. Kings
12. Blazers
13. Spurs
14. Rockets
15. Thunder.

I think this.

TWolves/Kings (trying to break a long non playoff streak, gettin there!) can go either way. Fighting for last play in spot. Both young, up and coming teams. Kings need a better coach though. So may leans towards Minny.

We were pretty close here!
Back in August 2021.

Definitely knew Suns, Jazz would be up there. They are there now. Top 4. Suns #1, Jazz #4 so far.
Nuggz and Mavs are near Top 4 but at the middle as of now (#5 and #6) . Had some injuries earlier in the season. I think Murray still out for the Nuggz?
Grizz & Warriors I figured would be mid-tier playoff teams, but they have exceeded expectations so far! # 2 and #3.

Clips I figured would be where they are at right now. Key injuries, Leonard still out, too. But doing really well so far (fringe playoff team) considering! #8 so far

Lakers.....no comment! Had them at #8 (fringe playoff team) . Many of us had seen this from the very beginning. Old, injured team. No real team chemistry. Younger/up and coming teams like Pelicans and TWolves would give them fits for the final playoff spots. Guess what?? That's exactly whats been happening Minny and NO gives LAL fits head to head games. Lakers are a handful of games under .500 so far and are a fringe playoff team (# 9). They are kinda where I thought they be at (mid tier to fringe playoff team) but 7 games under .500?? This late into the season?? Didn't really think that. And they could still miss the playoffs! Pelicans, TBlazers, Spurs, and Kings could steal the last playoff spot from Lakers! Still some time left. Even my Spurs gives the Lakers fits and we stink!
Pelicans (#10) are where I thought they be at. So far. Fringe playoff team.

Was right about the TWolves! They are gonna get back to the playoffs, doing great! # 7 so far.
Was wrong about the Kings (they have to wait til next season again for breaking non-playoff streak). Started early well, then went on an early slump. Finally fire Walton (may benefit them in the future)! Been up/down ever since. Mostly down.
Hang in there, Kings fans! Its gonna happen sooner or later. Patience.

TBlazers and my Spurs are where I thought we'd be at. Near the bottom, lottery teams. But also slightly good enuff to threatened playoff fringe, but not really. lol. We stink. Lottery bound Port #11 and SA # 12 so far.

Was right about the Thunder/Rockets.

[jkvonny]

1 Jazz (They would have won the WC by 5 or 6 games last year if it weren't for injuries in the last 6 weeks. Their defense/rebounding is improved with Gay/Whiteside. Expect them to be top 5 in both offense and defense again.)
2 Suns (They're good. Get used to it. Chris Paul is 36, but they found their groove as a team, and Ayton is still improving.)
3 Lakers (Not sure how they mesh, but they have to load manage and go easy on Davis during the season. Their defense looks like it will be down a notch, and their half-court scoring is still a question mark. Two weeks into the season, it will become obvious that Marc Gasol can no longer play effectively and Dwight has to start or Davis needs to move to the 5.)
4 Nuggets (Murray may come back by the end of the season. They may very well pass the Lakers in the regular season standings.)
5 Warriors (Back in the thick of the playoffs, but not dominant. Depth is an issue, but the rookies look playable.)
6 Mavericks (This is their spot every year, it seems.)
7 Clippers (They're still a playoff team without Kawhi.)
8 Blazers (Same ole, same ole. New coach, maybe they'll defend this year. Not much roster improvement, but Powell is back.)
9 Memphis (Roster shakeup, but some nice young talent growing with Ja.)
10 Pels (They could be a surprise team this year and be better than this if things start to gel.)
11 Kings (Their guard rotation is really becoming legit. Richaun Holmes is back. They could make the play-in.)
12 T'wolves (They have good, young athletes next to KAT. Ant should take a step forward. They have to start winning at some point.)
13 Spurs (I always underestimate them, and they always find wins.)
14 Thunder (Still building through the draft.)
15 Rockets (Just too young to win, but I doubt they tank for 20 straight losses.)

I underestimated the Suns (I thought CP might fall off a bit) and way underestimated the Grizzlies.
Jazz had a rash of injuries at the same time covid hit.
I didn't think the Lakers would be THIS bad.
Clippers would be a solid team if PG could play.
Didn't expect the Blazers to implode. First, CJ has a collapsed lung, then Dame sits out half the season.
Pels doing well considering that Zion never showed up.
Kings fell apart. Shouldn't be surprised.

Good takes TBH!

[jkvonny]

I just don't see the Lakers being on the same level as teams like the Grizzlies and Mavericks, so the highest I can put LAL is 8th.

Trust me, buddy, I know basketball.

Where you at Worthy? Show me them giggles and pearly whites again

In Mr Puddles we trust!

[jkvonny]

No one eating crow on the Wolves?

I know it’s probably more of an appetiser than the full course, but come on. Majority of people had us 12 or lower and yet we’re a solid 7 seed.

Not me!
I had them possibly sneaking into the playoffs this year.
At least #10.

[jkvonny]

No one eating crow on the Wolves?

I know it’s probably more of an appetiser than the full course, but come on. Majority of people had us 12 or lower and yet we’re a solid 7 seed.

Don't you get it people on this thread only bring up their correct predictions. It's like some moron claiming he was a genius for claiming the Suns would be the #1 seed despite the fact that the rest of his playoff bracket was wrong.

Gotta love the patting themselves on the back though, people that need to prove they were so damn smart. Even though as I said a broken clock is right twice a day.

I would be more impressed if these dudes put money down then showed that they won it, if they were so damn sure about their predictions they would have made big bank on the over/under on total wins that season. As they say put your money where your mouth is if you really believe something.

But, do the Lakers suck?
That's the real question here!

[spanishninja]

Yeah Blazers are only as low as they are due to injuries and trading away their older players. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, he also vastly underrated the Warriors who will likely finish with a top 2 record in the West.

Trying to claim that he knew Dame would end up injured all year nearly before the season began is beyond ridiculous.

oh right as if it is somehow unusual for the blazers to be injured this season.

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Dame is rarely injured in fact he played at least 66 games in every season until this year. Acting like he is injury prone is ridiculous.

i'm not talking about Dame, i'm talking about everybody else. somebody important is always injured every year.

[ejftw]

I don't see how the clippers are automatic for most folks. KL is out and George is good to miss 15-20 games a years leaving them working from a very small amount of games for wins.

Insane how PG has missed much more, along with numerous other key cogs (Batum, Morris and now, Powell) and the Clippers are still up around the average of this thread. I got to credit PatBev, his culture is what we are witnessing.

Not quoting you to troll, just think what they are doing, in context, is incredible.

[Johnny Bball]

I don't see how the clippers are automatic for most folks. KL is out and George is good to miss 15-20 games a years leaving them working from a very small amount of games for wins.

Insane how PG has missed much more, along with numerous other key cogs (Batum, Morris and now, Powell) and the Clippers are still up around the average of this thread. I got to credit PatBev, his culture is what we are witnessing.

Not quoting you to troll, just think what they are doing, in context, is incredible.

They are in 8th place. They have to win play-in games if it ended today, and they still may not be in the playoffs, that is exactly the definition of not automatic. So why would you be trolling me when I'm right?

[Beethoven]

I foresee a couple of huge upsets in the first two rounds of playoffs.

[iamworthy]

Where you at Worthy? Show me them giggles and pearly whites again

In Mr Puddles we trust!

Just checking in. I don’t come to this site much anymore but wanted to acknowledge I was quoted

[liquidswords]

The West is essentially 2.5 contenders and a bunch of pretenders. There SHOULD be numerical upsets in the playoffs because of that

[kwsqd]

No one eating crow on the Wolves?

I know it’s probably more of an appetiser than the full course, but come on. Majority of people had us 12 or lower and yet we’re a solid 7 seed.

Don't you get it people on this thread only bring up their correct predictions. It's like some moron claiming he was a genius for claiming the Suns would be the #1 seed despite the fact that the rest of his playoff bracket was wrong.

Gotta love the patting themselves on the back though, people that need to prove they were so damn smart. Even though as I said a broken clock is right twice a day.

I would be more impressed if these dudes put money down then showed that they won it, if they were so damn sure about their predictions they would have made big bank on the over/under on total wins that season. As they say put your money where your mouth is if you really believe something.

take a deep breath dude

[jkvonny]

The West is essentially 2.5 contenders and a bunch of pretenders. There SHOULD be numerical upsets in the playoffs because of that

I think 5 and 1/2
3 of them very strong contenders (Suns.....Grizzlies/Warriors).
Utah Jazz


Nuggz/Mavs.

I don't see a ton of upsets. But, we'll see.

[jkvonny]

Where you at Worthy? Show me them giggles and pearly whites again

In Mr Puddles we trust!

Just checking in. I don’t come to this site much anymore but wanted to acknowledge I was quoted

Kudos!
✌

[jkvonny]

I foresee a couple of huge upsets in the first two rounds of playoffs.

Suns, Grizz, Warriors, Jazz losing in the 1st round?

I don't know...

[HMFFL]

Utah needs to find another all-star talent this off-season. It's as if, they need the final piece to complete a well constructed team that will be a serious contender, but I don't know who wil be available to them.

Denver will desperately need a healthy Murray back. I don't believe Porter Jr even if healthy adds all that much. Unless, he has made some big leaps from last postseason where he wasn't the #2 option Jokic needed.



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