Official West Predictions Thread, Let's Go Baby!

[SlimShady83]

I know some already done there's but I feel like most teams are now set except for 1 or 2 trades that might still happen or buyout players etc?? Last year we all did them way too early, most of us learnt from that now lols.
For the east thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2471468&p=119477160#p119477160

• I want to stir up the pot with some of you here , place your predictions first and Bring it On!. Bump thread end of season

FYI; Last time I placed a legit bet it was on Dallas back in 2011 to win the regular season, I placed $500aud on them to win regular season, they came I think 3rd from memory and I lost lols.

Only and I state only if healthy will this happen

Luka MVP!

Date is 8/8/2025 for future reference

1. Dallas, It's now or never for Dallas, if and only if healthy, they got size and talent but health is key - I know, I know.
2. OKC, strong team, but won't repeat heard it here first from your boy Slim lols.
3. Lakers, I want all LA first round, Clippers first round let's go please make this happen NBA lols
4. Den, enough said.
5. Wolves, enough said.
6. Clippers, I placed them here, because I want all LA first round.
7. Kings, still good team, but West is tough man, might even drop lower depends on Mem/Hou
8. Rockets. KD enough said
9. Mem, might be higher but like the Kings West is tough.
10. Spurs, will by my surprise team, if healthy Wemby!
11. Suns, play in team but that's about it.
12. Warriors, all depends on Kuminga situation does it not?
13. Jazz, can you guys finally stop tanking please or very least give Lakers Kessler
14. Pelicans, If healthy i move them up to maybe GSW
15. Blazers, sorry Blazer fans but it's true.

[UcanUwill]

You have Blazers last, wtf? My prediction Blazers make play offs and is a better team than Kings and Memphis at least/ OKC first seed, Denver second, Kings do not even make play in, Dallas will be closer to play in or in play in, they are definitely not a number 1 seed. Those are my predictions.

[SlimShady83]

You have Blazers last, wtf? My prediction Blazers make play offs and is a better team than Kings and Memphis at least/ OKC first seed, Denver second, Kings do not even make play in, Dallas will be closer to play in or in play in, they are definitely not a number 1 seed. Those are my predictions.

Yep sorry bro place your entire predictions, don't be nervous it's all good

[UcanUwill]

You have Blazers last, wtf? My prediction Blazers make play offs and is a better team than Kings and Memphis at least/ OKC first seed, Denver second, Kings do not even make play in, Dallas will be closer to play in or in play in, they are definitely not a number 1 seed. Those are my predictions.

Yep sorry bro place your entire predictions, don't be nervous it's all good

Ok, I will try, but I am doing this quick, without much analysis, this what I think now, August 8

1. OKC
2. Denver
3. Houston
4. Minny
5. Lakers
6. Clippers
7. Dallas
8. Spurs
9. Warriors
10. Portland
11. Memphis
12. Pelicans
13. Sacramento
14. Suns
14 Utah (lock this one down, they are last)

Well, I do think Portland at least make the play in, but my bold prediction that they might sneak in in the play offs. I am counting on some teams like Dallas, Spurs or Warriors to crap the bed, I think they have more potential to crap the bed than Portland, Portland is not reliant on one guy, so at worst they will be in the mix even with injuries. But if like Steph, Victor or AD misses some time, their team can fall hard.

I think Clippers are better than the Lakers, but they are old and I doubt they try that hard in regular season.

Houston was number two seed this year, you must really hate KD if you think they are in play in now.

[bonita_the_frog]

1. Rockets = i know people don't trust KD's health, but he'll get WAY more help at the defensive end this year, so he can coast more than usual.
HUGE DAYLIGHT
2. Thunder
3. Timberwolves = last season the Wolves finishes the year 17-4, so now they have chemistry they'll have a full year of success.
4. Nuggets
5. Clippers
6. Mavericks = this is the most unpredictable team, because its hard to predict how dominant Flagg will be, and Irving's return.
7. Warriors
8. Spurs = another very unpredictable team, and could finisher higher than 8th.
9. Lakers
10. Grizzles
11. Blazers
12. Pelicans
13. Kings
14. Suns

[JXL]

1. OKC
2. Houston
3. Denver
4. LA Lakers
5. LA Clippers
6. Minnesota
====================
7. Dallas
8. Golden State
9. Memphis
10. San Antonio
====================
11. Phoenix
12. Sacramento
13. Portland
14. New Orleans
15. Utah


-OKC's roster is not even in their prime. They're the obvious choice to go back #1
-Houston's roster has greatly improved, and they may challenge OKC for #1, but they're staying at #2
-Denver also improved. Another easy choice.
-Things get a bit complicated from there. I put the Lakers at #4 cause skinny Luka is coming for heads. This could also be LeBron's last season, so he wants this to be a big time season.
-Minnesota, Dallas and Golden State could be candidates for the last guaranteed playoff spot, but I chose Minnesota for the continuity and Antman's growth as a top tier All-Star player. Dallas gets the 1st play-in spot as Cooper Flagg could come out the gates with a dominant first month. Warriors can make up for a slow start with a great finish.
-Memphis and San Antonio take the the other play-in spots with Memphis transitioning to semi-rebuilding and San Antonio wanting to compete now, but I still think they need another year before making a postseason jump.
-The bottom of the West is to be expected. Phoenix's roster around Booker is gutter trash, Kings went backwards, and the rest are ways away from being good (Pelicans need to trade Zion already).

[nomansland]

(edited with comments)

This is regular season standings. I think the playoffs will be a different story.

OKC- they're not going to win 68 again, but they're going to win a lot
HOU- 2nd place last year, upgraded scoring with Durant, he's an excellent fit there
LAC- won a lot without Leonard, really improved their depth, don't care if they're old, they're going to be a challenge for anyone
DEN- this is kind of a reverse jinx prediction, they could be way higher, but I also think it'll take 15 or so games at first for them to find their groove
MIN- great team, the west is just tough
LAL- not impressed with the Ayton pickup, LeBron drama is going to bubble up at some point
GSW- 2 great players who can produce great results, but they're old and vulnerable to injuries, and the rest of the team isn't exactly scary
DAL- this isn't their year, when Irving comes back it'll be a different story, but even if he comes back in, let's say February, they'll have a lot of ground to recover
SAS- another year of improvement but they're still really young
MEM- just don't trust them to stay healthy and productive for an entire season, and the west is too tough
SAC- really questionable off-season moves, this is going to be rough for them, but they still have some good players
POR- they are going to be a lot better than most people think, but they're still really young and have a tough hill to climb
PHX- that roster is a mess
NOP- some interesting players, but this team cannot be trusted to put it all together for an entire season
UTA- pretty obvious, I feel sorry for their coach being made to tank year after year

[Yank3525]

Top 6

1. Thunder
2. Rockets
3. Nuggets
4. Clippers
5. T-Wolves
6. Lakers

Play in

7. Warriors
8. Mavericks
9. Grizzlies
10. Spurs

Lottery

11. Kings
12. Pelicans
13. Blazers
14. Jazz
15. Suns

[Moahst]

1. Thunder - champs, but I do like the way the Rockets match up head to head w/ them
2. Rockets - the offense will be so much better
3. Nuggets - Joker alone will drag them into the top 3
4. T-Wolves - don't love their offseason but Ant is a rising star

5. Lakers - Gluten free Luka coming for those regular season wins
6. Clippers - if these guys can all get on the floor at the same time they will win a lot of games (classic Clippers season)
7. Mavericks - Similar to Clippers, health will dictate success

8. Spurs - If Wemby plays 70+ games the Spurs are in the playoffs
9. Warriors - Good enough to maybe make the playoffs but too old to go very far

10. Grizzlies - they mortgaged the present for the future and probably got a bit worse
11. Pelicans - adding Jordan Poole to the starting line up should net them -3 wins
12. Kings - treadmill pt. 9
13. Blazers - young
14. Suns - Jalen Green is the point guard?
15. Jazz - young and bad

[SlimShady83]

You have Blazers last, wtf? My prediction Blazers make play offs and is a better team than Kings and Memphis at least/ OKC first seed, Denver second, Kings do not even make play in, Dallas will be closer to play in or in play in, they are definitely not a number 1 seed. Those are my predictions.

Yep sorry bro place your entire predictions, don't be nervous it's all good

Ok, I will try, but I am doing this quick, without much analysis, this what I think now, August 8

1. OKC
2. Denver
3. Houston
4. Minny
5. Lakers
6. Clippers
7. Dallas
8. Spurs
9. Warriors
10. Portland
11. Memphis
12. Pelicans
13. Sacramento
14. Suns
14 Utah (lock this one down, they are last)

Well, I do think Portland at least make the play in, but my bold prediction that they might sneak in in the play offs. I am counting on some teams like Dallas, Spurs or Warriors to crap the bed, I think they have more potential to crap the bed than Portland, Portland is not reliant on one guy, so at worst they will be in the mix even with injuries. But if like Steph, Victor or AD misses some time, their team can fall hard.

I think Clippers are better than the Lakers, but they are old and I doubt they try that hard in regular season.

Houston was number two seed this year, you must really hate KD if you think they are in play in now.

Yeh sorry man. I don't see it with Blazers, they might not be deadlast but I can see them being way lower then where you expect, why you think Mem and Kings will drop that low?

Blazers, lost Ayton in buyout, have no real center unless I'm missing something Clingan?? Dame is out for who knows how long and how will he be once he returns, Grant IMO is washed up not the same player, RW is injury prone and I think out for a few months? You really counting on Jrue/Sharpe/Scoot/Thybulle to take them to the 10th seed in the tough West?

[BelgradeNugget]

1. Denver
.
.
.

[mkot]

1. Denver
.
.
.

I'm high on them too, I actually have them winning it all next season, but they probably won't be the #1 seed. They are a great playoff team, but were never a very good regular season team, pretty much the opposite of the Thunder and Cavs. But we will see how they approach the regular season now they have more than 6 real rotation guys.

#1 OKC
#2 Houston
#3 Denver
#4 Clippers
#5 Lakers
#6 Minnesota
#7 Warriors
#8 Dallas
#9 San Antonio
#10 Kings

[SlimShady83]

1. Denver
.
.
.

lol I should have done that for the Lakers

[BelgradeNugget]

1. Denver
.
.
.

I'm high on them too, I actually have them winning it all next season, but they probably won't be the #1 seed. They are a great playoff team, but were never a very good regular season team, pretty much the opposite of the Thunder and Cavs. But we will see how they approach the regular season now they have more than 6 real rotation guys.

I think they'll be much better regular season team next year because of improved bench. In the past they knew whatever adventage they create with starters bench will lose it. So they preserved energy at the start of games. But at the end of games, in the cluch, in 23-24 season they had crazy +- with 2nd best defense .
Last year was about Malone and team not bying his philosophy any more.
This season with Adelman and improved bench I think they will go all-inn from the start of games and we will see more blowouts from them.
I see 60 win season comming.

[giberish]

Teams on the same line are very close and essentially interchangeable

OKC
Denver Houston
Minny LAC
GSW LAL SAS
Portland Dallas Memphis
Phoenix Sacramento NO
Utah

[DudetheObscure]

I know some already done there's but I feel like most teams are now set except for 1 or 2 trades that might still happen or buyout players etc?? Last year we all did them way too early, most of us learnt from that now lols.

• I want to stir up the pot with some of you here , place your predictions first and Bring it On!. Bump thread end of season

FYI; Last time I placed a legit bet it was on Dallas back in 2011 to win the regular season, I placed $500aud on them to win regular season, they came I think 3rd from memory and I lost lols.

Only and I state only if healthy will this happen

Luka MVP!

Date is 8/8/2025 for future reference

1. Dallas, It's now or never for Dallas, if and only if healthy, they got size and talent but health is key - I know, I know.
2. OKC, strong team, but won't repeat heard it here first from your boy Slim lols.
3. Lakers, I want all LA first round, Clippers first round let's go please make this happen NBA lols
4. Den, enough said.
5. Wolves, enough said.
6. Clippers, I placed them here, because I want all LA first round.
7. Kings, still good team, but West is tough man, might even drop lower depends on Mem/Hou
8. Rockets. KD enough said
9. Mem, might be higher but like the Kings West is tough.
10. Spurs, will by my surprise team, if healthy Wemby!
11. Suns, play in team but that's about it.
12. Warriors, all depends on Kuminga situation does it not?
13. Jazz, can you guys finally stop tanking please or very least give Lakers Kessler
14. Pelicans, If healthy i move them up to maybe GSW
15. Blazers, sorry Blazer fans but it's true.

I didn't even make through of this drivel and I want all the IQ pts. I lost back. Let me talk to the manager.

[SlimShady83]

I didn't even make through of this drivel and I want all the IQ pts. I lost back. Let me talk to the manager.

Good for you.

[Jedi32]

1. Denver
.
.
.

I'm high on them too, I actually have them winning it all next season, but they probably won't be the #1 seed. They are a great playoff team, but were never a very good regular season team, pretty much the opposite of the Thunder and Cavs. But we will see how they approach the regular season now they have more than 6 real rotation guys.

#1 OKC
#2 Houston
#3 Denver
#4 Clippers
#5 Lakers
#6 Minnesota
#7 Warriors
#8 Dallas
#9 San Antonio
#10 Kings

Okc is more than likely repeating, and denver is going to miss mpj more than realgm realizes.

[Lalouie]

clips
den
okc
hou
lakers

im really pulling for the old guys. so its a sentimental pick

[SlimShady83]

clips
den
okc
hou
lakers

im really pulling for the old guys. so its a sentimental pick

If that happens I'll buy you a drink