bondom34 wrote:wjun15 wrote:bondom34 wrote:They were on a 45 win pace 2 years ago, and Ibaka was out then too. I'd bet anything they're an 8 seed, easy. Again, Ibaka missed 18 games, Adams and Collison and Roberson were out, they were starting Waiters. Singler too, now they have those guys healthy minus Ibaka, w/ an improved Adams, Oladipo, and Kanter the full season. They should be 45-50 wins barring bad health.
After the top 3, there aren't any great teams. Utah's young, Portland's iffy, Dallas the same. Memphis could be good if healthy. OKC to me has the talent to hang with that group.
Im not saying OKC isnt making the playoffs, Im just questioning 4th seed...Their starting 5 is nice (assuming Kanter starts) but the bench is almost nonexistent unless Singler just balls out. I guess its possible depending on how the other teams do...
Portland was on 50+ win pace after December too. I dont know how they are "iffy" and okc isn't. You can't be basing this on games because OKC didn't play a whole season without KD/ibaka either. The Blazers lost 4 starters coming into last season and found chemistry 20 some games into the season. It was CJ Mccollum's first season playing any sort of consistent minutes. Continuity + Good Coach + free Ezeli and ETurner I would def. have them over OKC if healthy. PDX and OKC is basically the same when it comes to strong backcourt but Portland has more depth at every position.
I see (if healthy)
GSW
SA
LAC/PDX/MEMPHIS
HOU/OKC/UTAH
DALLAS/NO
I dont think Minny is ready but they will be fighting for 8th
edit: i forgot ersan was on okc. he will add a little bit i guess. lol.
Ersan will start over Kanter. I'd put OKC in with PDX/Memphis, or at least PDX. I'm not sold they're as good as any of the others behind them. They were a 44 win team who added essentially nobody and don't have a good big on the roster. OKC has a good coach, an upgrade at SG, better big men, and Westbrook is better than Lillard. To add, I'd take either Adams or Kanter over any big PDX has.
Also, I think their ceiling is 4, which I think is the ceiling for PDX too. I think 4-7 is some combo of OKC/PDX/MEM/Utah. Wouldn't be too shocked in any combo of the 4. But Portland to me didn't do anything to be a tier above at all.
OKC has Steven Adams and Enes Kanter and Nick Collsion and a rookie D. Sabonis. Two of those guys are proven rotational players.
PDX has Mason Plumlee, Festus Ezeli, Ed Davis, Meyers Leonard, Noah Vonleh (3-4 guys that have proven they are rotational players) Adams may be the best of out of the bunch but hes not even close to all star level.
I'll take Crabbe, Harkless, Aminu, Turner at the wing over Singler/Roberson/Morrow/Ersan any day.
They added Turner and Ezeli who were solid rotation players for their previous teams. Henderson is not going to be a big loss by any means.
Westbrook may be a better player than Lillard overall (everything besides 3pointers and clutchness) but I'd take CJ over Oladipo any day. I know you are going to point to defense, but tony allen aint better than james harden.
That 44 team was the whole season. Keep in mind they were 16-24 at one point in the season. Yes 4 new starters and new players at every position except Dame. Their chemistry was great the 2nd half of season and I expect it to continue with improvements. Evan Turner at 27 years old is the oldest player on the team (outside of Kaman who doesn't play)
