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I need everybody Opinion and please if it dosen't pertain to the question I'm asking please don't respond. Thanks

Me and a group of guys at work were in the shop going back and forth about with team would make the playoffs and which one would weather the storm and come out of the west. We all agreed that the Lakers, Mavericks, Suns, and Spurs are the top fantastic four of the west. We kinda over looked the Hornets because they haven't been to the playoofs and don't have a bench.

The teams that were said to be fighting for a playoff spot would be the Rockets, Warriors, Nuggets, TrailBlazers, and Kings. The first six spots are locks, the order could change. We also agreed that the Jazz would remain the 4th seed just because of winning the divison. Now here is the part where in the FUGLY. I said the Lakers rule the west hands down and I went on to say that the Suns, Mavericks and Spurs wouldn't want to face us in a 7 game series.

Evreyone was heated from what I said. One of my guys shot back that if the Mavericks got Kidd that they would destroy the west. Me being th person that I am got somewhat bothered so I shot back the if they traded for they would have no bench at all. Then the Suns got shot down when someone stated that their front line couldn't be beaten. He went on and on on how the Suns would own the west and then he was shot down when another guy said the your fron't line leads the leauge in fouling other players. That shut his rump up right then and there.

The Spurs came up and it wasn't that much going back and forth about them because that always play this way and become monsters in the playoffs. We all agreed that until they are beaten then we still have to keep an eye on them. I really went off on them when one of my guys stated thet the Lakers were the bottom of the four teams. He's a Suns fan. I told him as of right now your the bottom of the of the four. I went on to ask him if they were scared of us because we owned them with Bynum and now we have Gasol to team up with Bynum. I dug deeper when I asked how you felt went you guys trade for Shaq in fear that we would put you guys out of the playoffs.


Everybody got quite for awhile. The another guy said yeah you guys gave up a lot of defence as well. The fact that you guys never play defence isn't helping that either. He never said anything after that. So after the dust settled, we all agreed that it would goes as follow:


1.Lakers-Bryant-Odom-Gasol-Bynum
2.Spurs-Parker-Ginobili-Duncan
3.Mavericks-Kidd???-Terry-Haward-Nowitzki
4.Suns-Nash-Stoudemire-O'Neal
5.Hornets-Paul-Stojakovic-West-Chandler
6.Jazz-Williams-AK47-Boozer-Okur
7.Warriors-Davis-Ellis-Jackson
8.Rockets-Alston-McGrady-Yao

keep in mind that this is how we ranked them, not how they would place in the playoffs.

My question to you guys is who would have the best chance to winning the western conference?

spurs. I got to see them be beat to believe it.

lakers

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=762021

But, the Spurs don't win back-to-backs. So, if every team is healthy, I'll take the Lakers.

It's Spurs time for a repeat.

Toronto BC 07 wrote:http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=762021

But, the Spurs don't win back-to-backs. So, if every team is healthy, I'll take the Lakers.

Iknow you did one already but as someone statedthat you for gotthe other teams. So I made my own to include the other team. Just toletyou know I didn'tdo it in spiteofyou tho. Much love man

V/r Joe.Linnen

joe.linnen wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Iknow you did one already but as someone statedthat you for gotthe other teams. So I made my own to include the other team. Just toletyou know I didn'tdo it in spiteofyou tho. Much love man

V/r Joe.Linnen

isyourspacekey brokenorsomething? justcurious

joe.linnen wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Iknow you did one already but as someone statedthat you for gotthe other teams. So I made my own to include the other team. Just toletyou know I didn'tdo it in spiteofyou tho. Much love man

V/r Joe.Linnen

Nah, no problem man, I didn't mean it like that anyways.

Spurs. .

I don't see the Lakers big group playing together enough before the playoffs to develop much chemistry although their raw talent level may well be the highest.

1. Spurs
2. Mavs
3. Hornets
4. Jazz
5. Lakers
6. Suns (that trade hurt)
7. Nuggets
8. Rockets

Toronto BC07 wrote:But, the Spurs don't win back-to-backs.

They haven't. But that doesn't mean it's not a good possibility they don't.

joe.linnen wrote:We all agreed that the Lakers, Mavericks, Suns, and Spurs are the top fantastic four of the west. The first six spots are locks

Two very faulty assumptions right there. Last I checked, the difference between first place and ninth place in the West is still a mere 4 1/2 games, and there is no "fantastic four" or "holy triumvirate" anymore. Anyone and everyone in the West is in danger of missing the playoffs. One 4 game losing streak while trying to readjust after a major personnel change and you're down from 1st to 7th. There are no locks in the West, period. Lots of basketball still left to be played. Things are no longer the same way they used to be.

xcomputerman wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Two very faulty assumptions right there. Last I checked, the difference between first place and ninth place in the West is still a mere 4 1/2 games, and there is no "fantastic four" or "holy triumvirate" anymore. Anyone and everyone in the West is in danger of missing the playoffs. One 4 game losing streak while trying to readjust after a major personnel change and you're down from 1st to 7th. There are no locks in the West, period. Lots of basketball still left to be played. Things are no longer the same way they used to be.

+1
Best post in this thread. I've said the same thing on other threads!

Here is how I'd rank the top 6:

1. Spurs
2. Lakers
3. Suns
4. Utah
5. NO
6. Dallas


The advantage that the Lakers have is that out of all the TOP teams, they have the fewest games against the other top teams. This means that the Suns, Hornets, Spurs (etc) still have to play each other a lot, while the Lakers have already played those teams. So when those other teams play each other, that is when we'll start seeing the Lakers create some separation.

But anyway, whoever wins it will have to go through San Antonio. I think the Lakers have more talent, but the Spurs make up for that with experience. So I have the Spurs at #1.

To the guy who said the Lakers' front line won't have enough time to gel, just remember Bynum didn't really have any plays called for him. They ran pick 'n roll with him or just threw lobs up there where only he could reach it. He was a great clean up guy. That kind of player is easy to throw into the mix.

Plus, Gasol is the perfect fit next to Bynum. He's been making those midrange jumpers with consistency since he joined the team, so he'll allow Bynum to operate in the low post without clogging up the paint. Bynum brings the raw power, Pau brings the finesse, Kobe is the heart and Fisher brings leadership, and Odom is just the versatile 5th wheel who fills up the stat sheet and doesn't care about scoring. It's the perfect mix of talent.

That being said, I would have the Spurs at #1 because they are proven. Then the Lakers at #2.

3) Suns - The Suns are a big question mark. Shaq basically took half the season off (again), so he'll be ready to go. Whether he can stay healthy long enough is the question. But with Amare and a gimpy Shaq, along with that 3 point shooting back court, I'd put them as 3rd best.

4) Utah - they are coming together and playing excellent basketball. Sloan is one of my favorite coaches even though he's been pretty Belichick-y about running up the scores this season. Deron with another year of experience, with Boozer in the paint and the development of Brewer. This team seems like it's built for the playoffs. They just need a defensive center and they could be contenders.

5) New Orleans - They have a great trio with Paul, West and Chandler. Byron Scott is doing a great coaching job. I like the toughness of this team. That's why I think they're going to be scary in the playoffs. The only reason I have them this low is they have an anemic bench. Their starters would all have to play 40+ minutes per game to have a CHANCE of beating the above teams in a 7 game series.

6) Dallas - I just don't see Dallas as a threat. They don't scare me. It's nice that they might add a PG like Kidd, but they already had a good PG. Their biggest weakness is their interior. They are soft in the paint, and that softness will get exposed in the postseason by the above 5 teams. They're still lacking that one guy who will just crash the boards and anchor the defense, which all of the above teams have (well, except maybe Phoenix)

The 7th and 8th are a crapshoot. It's hard to believe those 6 teams above are in the same conference. It's scary how deep the West is. It's also a shame we don't get to see how the Celtics or Pistons would rank against the West. They got it good over on that side of the Mississippi.