RealGM

i don't know if this is different enough to warrant its own thread but what the hey. i always see people say that they wouldn't be surprised if any of the west teams made the 2nd round/conf. finals/finals. i just don't believe its really that wide open.

what are your 2-3, no more or less, favorites to come out of the west (in order)?

mine?
1. spurs
2. suns
3. lakers

i'd be surprised if any other team made it, i'd be shocked if that other team was the rockets or nuggets.

Spurs
Lakers with Bynum
Suns
Jazz
Lakers without Bynum

my top 5

i said 2-3!!!!

lakers are without bynum until he actually plays. no sense in speculating.

dcash4 wrote:i said 2-3!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMX_rqZx4Y4

Jazz should probably be top 3....they are looking good.

The team with homecourt advantage in any given series is the favorite.

The Jazz could face two very favorable match ups against Houston in the first round and New Orleans in the second round if both were to advance.

Could make for a possible return to the WCF.

the only teams I can see winning the West are the Spurs, Laker or Suns..BUT all 3 of these teams have weaknesses, and can be beaten with the right matchup..

if the Lakers D holds up without Bynum for the entire playoffs, this team is going to be very difficult to beat..the Suns D is inconsistent, so that'll be interesting..the thing that kept them in the game vs. the Spurs when Shaq and even Amare were in foul trouble, was their role players..Diaw especially..we'll see if the role players and defense can stay consistent in the playoffs..

the Spurs are the complete opposite..the D has been great, but the offense has been terrible..bad stretches all the time, especially the poor shot selection..if the offense returns to the same form as the pre-injury Spurs, the Spurs will be in the finals..big if though..Barry will also help, but it's going to be up to Duncan in the playoffs IMO..

I can't really give an order..but I'd be surprised if it isn't one of these 3..it's also starting to look like 2 of them will play each other in the 1st round..hopefully it's the Lakers and Suns

Dallas, Utah and New Orleans will definitely be tough outs though..I'm not gonna doubt these 3 teams..

The Suns are much better with Shaquille O'neal.

Man I could care less, I'm just licking my chops for the playoffs picture

If the Playoffs started today:

Lakers vs. Dallas (If you've seen the past 3 games, you know it is gonna be an really fun to watch series)

Hornets vs. Nuggets (Both offensive power teams, Paul is gonna have to guard Iverson and vice versa)

Spurs vs. Suns (If you watched last years series, you're in for a treat)

Jazz vs. Rockets (Could this one go the 7 game distance again?)

I serious cannot wait! Ohh babyyyy

the Number 1 seeded New Orleans Hornets have been extremely disrespected in this thread. Why would that Jazz have favorible matchups against the Hornets and Rockets? Playoff experience is extremely overrated ont his board, how much playoff experience did the Jazz have last year? The Warriors?

maybe cuz that jazz have badly outplayed the hornets 3/4 times this year?

1. Jazz They are the most balanced team and beasts at home. Lately they are even winning on the road.

2. Suns Shaq baby! Who's doubting now?

3. Lakers They have the best player in Kobe, and depending on how Bynum gels once he's back they could be my favorites.

1. Lakers
- best player in the league, particularly in the clutch, in Kobe Bryant
- a great coaching staff
- an excellent offense with two of the best passing bigs running it (Odom and Gasol)
- excellent outside shooting
- solid perimeter defense

2. Jazz
- best offense in the league, executed with patience and precision, drawing plenty of fouls
- virtually unbeatable at home, and have beaten all top teams on the road (except Lakers), despite a comparatively dismal road record
- an exceptional bench
- will likely avoid the Lakers, Spurs, Suns and Mavericks until the conference finals
- Deron Williams

3. Spurs
- league-best defense
- Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili
- sure, they've looked a little old and decrepit at times, but they're the Spurs; they've only just started caring

Assuming the standings stay the way they're now I say when the dust clears and either the Lakers play the Suns or Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, the winner of that semifinal series is going to represent the west in the finals. If the Lakers had a healthy Andrew Bynum for twenty games (in order to gel with Pau Gasol) I'd say the Lakers, but right now without Trevor Ariza and Andrew Bynum out I think whoever comes out of that series will be in the finals.

Some one may argue Gasol took no time to gel with the rest of the Lakers, well that's because he didn't have to compete with any post presence for the ball in Los Angeles. (No disrespect to Ronny) With Bynum it's going to take the two more time for there to be good chemistry with Gasol at PF and Bynum at C. .

lakers just moved into first, putting the hornets in the difficult spurs/suns bracket.

my contenders are still the same, with the lakers leaping the suns if they keep the number one seed.
1. spurs
2. lakers
3. suns

pretenders:
1. warriors/nuggets
2. rockets

1) Spurs, what can you say? This team should be #1 on everyone's list for obvious reasons. I really don't care that their offense isnt as good as it can be, because you know they will be on fire by the time they reach the western conference finals.
2) Jazz, good defense and if they get their offense going I don't think many teams can beat them.
3) Suns, I am a fan so obviously biased. However I do feel that they can win it all if they play consistent defense. It seems like they can only do so for the big games against the Spurs, but not against other teams with less on the line.

No lakers in there, because without Bynum they just arent good enough. I feel bad for not including the Hornets, because they do deserve some praise. However like most here I have to see them perform first, before becoming a believer.

you guys are giving the Spurs too much credit..we're just not that good right now..injuries have killed the geling and chemistry, and we haven't recovered..

farzi wrote:Spurs
Lakers with Bynum
Suns
Jazz
Lakers without Bynum

my top 5

Jazz above the Lakers without Bynum? Be serious; they smashed the Jazz on their own floor without Bynum AND Gasol.

HarlemHeat37 wrote:you guys are giving the Spurs too much credit..we're just not that good right now..injuries have killed the geling and chemistry, and we haven't recovered..

i do not think they will the championship again, they never do in consecutive years, but it's hard to imagine they lose in first round, i don't want to see them.