Yes or No: Winner of Memphis/Lakers wins the West

[OhayoKD]

Wanna see how this hot-take is received. Honestly had Memphis as the outright favorites before their big-rotation got injured, but without collins and adams I think the Lakers have a shot.

I think the biggest factor is going to be whether or not JJJ can stay on the court. The Grizzlies are 50ish wins without Ja. They're .500 without Jackson Jr. I think JJJ is probably their most valuable player per possession. With adams and collins, I think Grizzlies could survive playing AD without Jackson. Without, JJJ really can't afford to be playing 30 minutes a game.

If Memphis survive I don't think any of the other Western teams have the personell to punish Memphis that well.

If the Lakers survive, Lebron and Davis are a clear step up from the top-end of significantly shallower opponents. The Suns are considered the favorites, but they're in a similar place in terms of depth as the Lakers and Lebron is better than Durant to me and Davis has the theoretical capacity to play better than Durant ever has.

But I'll leave it to y'all. Will Memphis vs LA end up being the real WCF? Who would you pick over them?

[MyUniBroDavis]

Wanna see how this hot-take is received. Honestly had Memphis as the outright favorites before their big-rotation got injured, but without collins and adams I think the Lakers have a shot.

I think the biggest factor is going to be whether or not JJJ can stay on the court. The Grizzlies are 50ish wins without Ja. They're .500 without Jackson Jr. I think JJJ is probably their most valuable player per possession. With adams and collins, I think Grizzlies could survive playing AD without Jackson. Without, JJJ really can't afford to be playing 30 minutes a game.

If Memphis survive I don't think any of the other Western teams have the personell to punish Memphis that well.

If the Lakers survive, Lebron and Davis are a clear step up from the top-end of significantly shallower opponents. The Suns are considered the favorites, but they're in a similar place in terms of depth as the Lakers and Lebron is better than Durant to me and Davis has the theoretical capacity to play better than Durant ever has.

But I'll leave it to y'all. Will Memphis vs LA end up being the real WCF? Who would you pick over them?

The entire top 7 is a tossup to me tbh, sac seen like the odd ones out but I wouldn’t be suprised if they beat golden state as well

[Dutchball97]

Goes to show how open the west is this year as I'm a pretty firm believer that whoever wins the Grizzlies/Lakers match up will be bounced in the second round.

[SpreeS]

I can't believe it, but the Warriors have only themselves to blame if they don't play in WCF.

[OhayoKD]

Wanna see how this hot-take is received. Honestly had Memphis as the outright favorites before their big-rotation got injured, but without collins and adams I think the Lakers have a shot.

I think the biggest factor is going to be whether or not JJJ can stay on the court. The Grizzlies are 50ish wins without Ja. They're .500 without Jackson Jr. I think JJJ is probably their most valuable player per possession. With adams and collins, I think Grizzlies could survive playing AD without Jackson. Without, JJJ really can't afford to be playing 30 minutes a game.

If Memphis survive I don't think any of the other Western teams have the personell to punish Memphis that well.

If the Lakers survive, Lebron and Davis are a clear step up from the top-end of significantly shallower opponents. The Suns are considered the favorites, but they're in a similar place in terms of depth as the Lakers and Lebron is better than Durant to me and Davis has the theoretical capacity to play better than Durant ever has.

But I'll leave it to y'all. Will Memphis vs LA end up being the real WCF? Who would you pick over them?

The entire top 7 is a tossup to me tbh, sac seen like the odd ones out but I wouldn’t be suprised if they beat golden state as well

Sac doesn't seem like a 2015 hawks situation to you?

[kendogg]

lol the west is not open the only contenders from the west are the suns and the warriors, but it is doubtful either team will win the finals. the bucks, celtics, and maybe sixers are all favored in a finals series. the rest of the west teams are too flawed in some major way. suns and warriors are flawed too but they just got back durant and wiggins respectively which might give them a chance.

[Narigo]

No, I think the suns are coming out the west thisyear

[Colbinii]

No.

My current numbers for coming out of the West would look something like this:

GSW: 30%
PHX: 20%
DEN: 20%
LAL: 15%
SAC: 10%
MEM+MIN+LAC: <5%

[Colbinii]

Wanna see how this hot-take is received. Honestly had Memphis as the outright favorites before their big-rotation got injured, but without collins and adams I think the Lakers have a shot.

I think the biggest factor is going to be whether or not JJJ can stay on the court. The Grizzlies are 50ish wins without Ja. They're .500 without Jackson Jr. I think JJJ is probably their most valuable player per possession. With adams and collins, I think Grizzlies could survive playing AD without Jackson. Without, JJJ really can't afford to be playing 30 minutes a game.

If Memphis survive I don't think any of the other Western teams have the personell to punish Memphis that well.

If the Lakers survive, Lebron and Davis are a clear step up from the top-end of significantly shallower opponents. The Suns are considered the favorites, but they're in a similar place in terms of depth as the Lakers and Lebron is better than Durant to me and Davis has the theoretical capacity to play better than Durant ever has.

But I'll leave it to y'all. Will Memphis vs LA end up being the real WCF? Who would you pick over them?

The entire top 7 is a tossup to me tbh, sac seen like the odd ones out but I wouldn’t be suprised if they beat golden state as well

Sac doesn't seem like a 2015 hawks situation to you?

It's worse--Hawks were a legitimate Top 6 defense and Top 6 Offense. Sacramento is a Bottom 6 Defense.

[Texas Chuck]

I'd comfortably take the field.

[OhayoKD]

No.

My current numbers for coming out of the West would look something like this:

GSW: 30%
PHX: 20%
DEN: 20%
LAL: 15%
SAC: 10%
MEM+MIN+LAC: <5%

sac over mem is spicy

[Dr Positivity]

No way, I have Phx as the favorite.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Wanna see how this hot-take is received. Honestly had Memphis as the outright favorites before their big-rotation got injured, but without collins and adams I think the Lakers have a shot.

I think the biggest factor is going to be whether or not JJJ can stay on the court. The Grizzlies are 50ish wins without Ja. They're .500 without Jackson Jr. I think JJJ is probably their most valuable player per possession. With adams and collins, I think Grizzlies could survive playing AD without Jackson. Without, JJJ really can't afford to be playing 30 minutes a game.

If Memphis survive I don't think any of the other Western teams have the personell to punish Memphis that well.

If the Lakers survive, Lebron and Davis are a clear step up from the top-end of significantly shallower opponents. The Suns are considered the favorites, but they're in a similar place in terms of depth as the Lakers and Lebron is better than Durant to me and Davis has the theoretical capacity to play better than Durant ever has.

But I'll leave it to y'all. Will Memphis vs LA end up being the real WCF? Who would you pick over them?

The entire top 7 is a tossup to me tbh, sac seen like the odd ones out but I wouldn’t be suprised if they beat golden state as well

Sac doesn't seem like a 2015 hawks situation to you?

By odd ones out I mean the ones I think are the worst in that group

[parsnips33]

I will never not be scared of Lebron and AD on the same team. To think Minny was so close to sending them to the other side of the bracket

With that being said, I'd probably take the field

[Colbinii]

No.

My current numbers for coming out of the West would look something like this:

GSW: 30%
PHX: 20%
DEN: 20%
LAL: 15%
SAC: 10%
MEM+MIN+LAC: <5%

sac over mem is spicy

Thats wrong. SAC should be in the <5% and PHX should be 25%.

[ShaqAttac]

ppl really pickin pho huh. guess y'all forgot wut happened to durcants last superteam

[Colbinii]

ppl really pickin pho huh. guess y'all forgot wut happened to durcants last superteam

Injuries in 2021 or an easy title.
Injuries in 2022.

Yeah, people are assuming no injuries.

[rk2023]

Indicators are there for Phoenix, but the jury (myself) is still out. I assume they beat the Clippers. This would have them playing Denver in all likelihood essentially. How do you think they steal games in the hardest arena to play in with the altitude being a factor too? I see that wearing and throttling down someone like Chris Paul (maybe even KD) over the course of a series. I think both teams offenses will be potent, but could any of you see that as a factor?

General thoughts about that matchup appreciated too

[ShaqAttac]

ppl really pickin pho huh. guess y'all forgot wut happened to durcants last superteam

Injuries in 2021 or an easy title.
Injuries in 2022.

Yeah, people are assuming no injuries.

wasnt even best player on his tm in 2021, luka did better vs the clipps with no help, kd sucked in 22, nets only tm to get swept. kd never won **** without superteams, bro aint doin nuthin with washed cp n d book

[RCM88x]

Easy answer is no. Even if LA looks good against Memphis I just think they'll run out of gas well before the Finals. Plus I think GS and SAC both match up really well against them. Now if Memphis really looks strong in this series I could really see them giving GS a good fight, but still probably not enough for me to favor them.

Phx vs. Denver is interesting because I really don't think Phx has what it takes to exploit Denver's defensive issues, and I also question their ability to guard Denver on the other end. Overall I don't really trust the Denver supporting cast that much (not that Phx instills great confidence either) so I won't really feel great about picking them to win multiple series against anyone.