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Denver and OKC are currently tied for best record in the West. Conf. Portland is a half-game back. Out of these three teams, which do you think has the best chance as of now to represent the West in the Finals? I know its early, but thats the point of this forum.

I'm a Raptors fan and beside watching Minnesota games for Ricky Rubio; Denver is probably the most entertaining team in the league. They are a unselfish, team-first basketball. They don't have a superstar but make up for with team play.

I am voting for Denver because they have speed and DEPTH which will come into use in a shortened season with lots of back-to-backs and a few back-to-back-to-backs.

Danilo Gallinari has a chance to make the all-star game. Rudy Fernandez has been awesome off the bench and made nice passes. If Rudy can get his 3 pt shot going, Denver will be very dangerous. Kosta Koufos has been a pleasant surprise. Fun, enjoyable team to watch.

I'm rooting hardcore for Denver and Minnesota to succed this season.

OKC or Portland. Assuming Denver makes it to the playoffs they have NO CHANCE of getting out of the first round.

They've got depth but no closer or reliable go-to scorer.

I have lost interest in watching the Raptors this season, despite the outstanding early season play of Bargnani. I am waiting for Jonas Valanucias to come over in November 2012...only 10 more months...RAPS IN 4

stephGRAHAMbury wrote:OKC or Portland. Assuming Denver makes it to the playoffs they have NO CHANCE of getting out of the first round.

They've got depth but no closer or reliable go-to scorer.

Other than being gifted free throws by the officials, why is it so important to have a 'closer'? Does playing team basketball and passing the ball not work in the 4th quarter? I never understood the rationale behind this.

Manimal wrote:

stephGRAHAMbury wrote:OKC or Portland. Assuming Denver makes it to the playoffs they have NO CHANCE of getting out of the first round.

They've got depth but no closer or reliable go-to scorer.

Other than being gifted free throws by the officials, why is it so important to have a 'closer'? Does playing team basketball and passing the ball not work in the 4th quarter? I never understood the rationale behind this.

Game slows down, defensive intensity increases, and if you don't have someone that can create their own shot, it's going to be significantly harder to score.

All three are looking good.

Utah and Minnesota are looking like they'll be good in a season or two as well.

Northwest division will once again be the Northbest division.

OKC 1/3
Blazers 1/20
Nuggets 1/50

Jay From LA wrote:

Manimal wrote:

stephGRAHAMbury wrote:OKC or Portland. Assuming Denver makes it to the playoffs they have NO CHANCE of getting out of the first round.

They've got depth but no closer or reliable go-to scorer.

Other than being gifted free throws by the officials, why is it so important to have a 'closer'? Does playing team basketball and passing the ball not work in the 4th quarter? I never understood the rationale behind this.

Game slows down, defensive intensity increases, and if you don't have someone that can create their own shot, it's going to be significantly harder to score.

Pretty much.

I see the Blazers as super denver almost. A team with a ton of depth like Denver, but slightly more talent and a primary guy (Aldridge).

If I had to bet on it, I'd go OKC, Portland, then Denver.

I really hope we get at least one matchup between these teams in the playoffs. Ideally two (How great would a OKC-Denver 2nd round then OKC/Denver-Portland WCF be?).

OKC
Portland

Denver

in that order. Won't matter though, the winner of the Chicago/Miami matchup will win the Championship. Those 2 are a level above anyone else.

dream_catcher_9 wrote:OKC
Portland

Denver

in that order. Won't matter though, the winner of the Chicago/Miami matchup will win the Championship. Those 2 are a level above anyone else.

I think OKC is just as good as both MIA and CHI if Westbrook can turn things around this year and Harden really is as good as he's been playing.

Lob City is better than all three of those. They already killed Portland. Denver has no goto player so they will get nowhere in the playoffs. Okc is good but they had no post scoring and that will kill them in end.

Clips have best chance to take a swipe at Miami with two top 10 players. They just need to progress on their team defense and get their chemistry together.

Watch them slaughter the deers tonight on NBA TV.

Sinant wrote:I see the Blazers as super denver almost. A team with a ton of depth like Denver, but slightly more talent and a primary guy (Aldridge).

The thing is they aren't deep. They have two great, great players off the bench but nothing past that. They run a short 8 man rotation.

As I said in another thread, relying on Aldridge for nearly 40 mpg and running a short rotation will really start to drag on them in this wild condensed season.

Denver/Portland
OKC

Anyways, I think this is quite clearly OKC. Individually they really dont have things together with Perkins, Westbrook, and Ibaka all playing poorly yet they are still at the top of the west.

The Lakers


nice roll bread

Jay From LA wrote:

Manimal wrote:

stephGRAHAMbury wrote:OKC or Portland. Assuming Denver makes it to the playoffs they have NO CHANCE of getting out of the first round.

They've got depth but no closer or reliable go-to scorer.

Other than being gifted free throws by the officials, why is it so important to have a 'closer'? Does playing team basketball and passing the ball not work in the 4th quarter? I never understood the rationale behind this.

Game slows down, defensive intensity increases, and if you don't have someone that can create their own shot, it's going to be significantly harder to score.

Considering the Nuggets are the number 1 defense in the league right now I would not be so quick to write them off.

Besides, while they might not have a "go to scorer" in the strictest sense of the word, Gallinari, Lawson, and Nene can all create their own shot.

dream_catcher_9 wrote:OKC
Portland

Denver

This.


Just like last year, we saw that Denver was a pure regular season team. They got destroyed in the Playoffs. I actually really like this Portland team, I think they'll finish as the 3 seed.

OKC easily. They have Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. Denver and Portland don't.