How would you re-seed the playoffs in the west?

campybatman · Post #1 » by **campybatman** » Mon Aug 4, 2008 6:04 pm

That is to say, does the acquisition of Artest by Houston change at all your opinion of who'll be the eight teams in the playoffs in the western conference and where you would seed them?

Here's my take, I feel that if the Suns can sign a back up to Nash (rumor has it S. O'Neal is asking for J. Williams) and if S. O'Neal enters the season healthy, somewhat slimmed down and motivated. Then they're my favorite out if the gate. There's few reasons why Phoenix can't be the top seed in the playoffs. I'm still on the fence about deciding whether or not the Rockets will go up or down after that trade. As I'd said in my other thread, you can't trust either Ming or McGrady to remain healthy through an entire 82-games season. I like the Spurs to finish high, but I wonder about their bench.

These would be my pre-season brackets assuming every team's healthy. Especially, with everyone's big three. I'm going with the Rockets rather than the Lakers for the second seed due to their defense. While the Jazz get the third seed by default. And my surprise team wasn't hard to choose. My alternative would either be the Warriors or Clippers but that might be reaching some. Which means I believe that the Nuggets will regress.

1. Suns
8. Trailblazers

4. Spurs
5. Hornets

3. Jazz
6. L.A.L

2. Rockets
7. Mavericks

lojowo · Post #2 » by **lojowo** » Mon Aug 4, 2008 7:12 pm

Wow, Lakers are 6th. I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the LA Board now.

If Shaq is back, Suns could finish ahead of them, but I cant beleive the will drop below 4th is Bynum is the 2nd coming of Russell/Chamberlian combined.

Based on Suns over Lakers:

1) Suns
2) Spurs ( they were hurt in the playoffs last year )
3) Jazz
4) Lakers
5) Rockets ( Artest, Yao and Mcgrady only played 65-75 percent of games the last three years )
6) Hornets
7) Portand
8) Dallas

Tricky Ricky · Post #3 » by **Tricky Ricky** » Mon Aug 4, 2008 7:27 pm

1. Spurs
2. Lakers
3. Rockets
4. Hornets
5. Jazz
6. Suns
7. Mavs
8. Clippers

campybatman · Post #4 » by **campybatman** » Mon Aug 4, 2008 8:46 pm

In my opinion, the top seed in the west could've gone to either the Spurs or Hornets this season. The Lakers really benefited more so than Boston in clinching home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

I think it's almost a lock that the Suns (or even the Spurs) and Jazz clinch both the first and third seeds. Therefore, the Lakers can clinch the second seed at the most which I don't see happening. Too much is being made of Bynum, prematurely. And let's not forget... Odom could still be traded before the trade deadline. Even with a healthy Bynum, it's really hard for me to envision their team with few changes from this season's roster to beat out Houston, San Antonio or New Orleans for the second seed. Quite frankly, the Lakers give up way too much on defense to take them more seriously than the Suns who play little to no defense as well. But, I would side with a trio of Nash, Stoudemire and S. O'Neal over a K. Bryant, P. Gasol and Bynum or Odom. I mean the Suns and Rockets are too deep of a team not to dominate if everyone's healthy. That's a big "if" for both of those teams, but I still like their chances ahead of the Lakers. You can't just have Kobe and maybe Ariza playing defense. That isn't enough... A sixth place seeding is low for them. But, more realistic then having them finish second. I just don't see it, right now. Unless either the Suns or Rockets experience a monumental collapse and even then there's still the Spurs and Hornets ready to fill-in.

Desiderium · Post #5 » by **Desiderium** » Tue Aug 5, 2008 4:17 pm

even though rockets got artest, i still dont think they'll finish in the top 3. something will happen to yao again, out the entire year.

Athanacropolis · Post #6 » by **Athanacropolis** » Tue Aug 5, 2008 4:41 pm

1. Hornets
2. Lakers
3. Jazz
4. Rockets
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Trailblazers (my bold prediction)
8. Mavericks

captain_cheapseats · Post #7 » by **captain_cheapseats** » Tue Aug 5, 2008 5:08 pm

#1: Hornets
#2: Lakers
#3: Jazz
#4: Rockets
#5: Suns
#6: Spurs
#7: Mavs
#8: Nuggets

Post #8 » by **I love heinsohn** » Tue Aug 5, 2008 5:37 pm

Athanacropolis wrote:1. Hornets
2. Lakers
3. Jazz
4. Rockets
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Trailblazers (my bold prediction)
8. Mavericks

Thank you for posting (almost) my exact thoughts! PHX is mostly getting older and worse, NOT better. Shaq hasn't been in shape to start camp since his first year in Miami and he will be 36 this season. Grant Hill is also 36 and Nash will be 34. Not saying they'll miss the playoffs, but I have a really hard time seeing them beat out younger/better teams for the top spot in the West.

The Hornets on the other hand have a great tandem and just added a really solid glue guy (I see Posey as the yang to Peja's ying). Lakers should be better quicker with Gasol out of the gate. Jazz should rebound a bit from last year and so on...

My order:
1. Hornets
2. Lakers
3. Jazz
4. Spurs
5. Rockets
6. Mavs
7. Suns
8. Blazers

Athanacropolis · Post #9 » by **Athanacropolis** » Tue Aug 5, 2008 6:25 pm

I love heinsohn wrote:
Athanacropolis wrote:1. Hornets
2. Lakers
3. Jazz
4. Rockets
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Trailblazers (my bold prediction)
8. Mavericks

Thank you for posting (almost) my exact thoughts! PHX is mostly getting older and worse, NOT better. Shaq hasn't been in shape to start camp since his first year in Miami and he will be 36 this season. Grant Hill is also 36 and Nash will be 34. Not saying they'll miss the playoffs, but I have a really hard time seeing them beat out younger/better teams for the top spot in the West.

The Hornets on the other hand have a great tandem and just added a really solid glue guy (I see Posey as the yang to Peja's ying). Lakers should be better quicker with Gasol out of the gate. Jazz should rebound a bit from last year and so on...

My order:
1. Hornets
2. Lakers
3. Jazz
4. Spurs
5. Rockets
6. Mavs
7. Suns
8. Blazers

Exactly how I feel about the Suns too, as evidenced by my low ranking. My thoughts are:

1. Hornets: Barely missed the 1 seed, and got better.
2. Lakers: Will be fantastic from the beginning of the season with Gasol already in place.
3. Jazz: Solid team. Boozer and Williams continue to be effective.
4. Rockets: Artest makes a good team tougher.
5. Spurs: Any team with Tim Duncan is always a threat. I could see them yet again limping into the playoffs, but making it to the Finals any given season.
6. Suns: See I love heinsohn's post.
7. Trailblazers (my bold prediction): All that youth will come together. Roy is for real.
8. Mavericks: Barely good enough to squeak in past the Nuggets and the Warriors.

BakersDozen · Post #10 » by **BakersDozen** » Tue Aug 5, 2008 9:00 pm

1. LAL
2.New Orleans
3. Utah
4. Houston ( their big 3 NEED to stay healthy for the four spot)
5. Spurs
6. PHX
7. Dallas
8. Trailblazers

1 LAL
8 Blazers

4 Houston
5. Spurs

2. Hornets
7. Dallas

3. Utah
6. Phx

campybatman · Post #11 » by **campybatman** » Wed Aug 6, 2008 4:01 am

Scandalouzzzz wrote:even though rockets got artest, i still dont think they'll finish in the top 3. something will happen to yao again, out the entire year.

Ming and McGrady are Houston's Achilles' heel. You can't expect to win a NBA championship if you've one. Hence, where Artest's help comes in.

This is why the western conference is more apt to draw ratings: You don't know what could happen with so many good teams competing for playoff spots. But, I still think Houston's defense will lead them far in the playoffs. We'll have to wait and see if Artest gets along through an entire season with McGrady or Ming. Because everyone will say the right things now.

avi623 · Post #12 » by **avi623** » Wed Aug 6, 2008 12:56 pm

Looking at the Suns roster, I dont see any way the Suns can finish in the Top 4. They have no depth, they are old, Raja Bell was awful last year, and they have a rookie coach. "If" they sign a backup to Nash? there are no point guards left out there, and they have no trade chips. The Lakers are the cream, with or without Bynum, the Spurs will tank the regular season as they always do, and the Rockets will rise. In fact, I think the Rockets may do what we did in the regular season this year: come out with so much excitement that they will look to bulldoze everyone in the regular season, unlike the Spurs who pace themselves. Also, people are looking into Artest's head too much, he is in a contract year and he does not make much considering his talent, so he will be looking to cash in. Also, the Hornets will still be top 3, but they did not address their glaring holes at shooting guard and with depth. They wasted their MLE with the Posey signing, as Julian Wright is too valuable a player not to be getting more minutes at the three this year, although I have heard they are trying to make him a point forward, and he has looked good doing it. And the Blazers will surprise people, much the way the Bulls did a few years ago. I know everyone is picking them to be an 8 seed, but they may be better because although they're young, they have no real holes on their roster and can show a lot of different lineups with their versatility.

1. Rockets - they are going to play extremely motivated, and Artest is in a contract year, will be on his best behavior
2. Lakers - There will be some adjustment to Bynum/Gasol together, but they are the true favs
3. Hornets - will win because of CP3, but only his, TC, and JW's improvement will affect this team positively
4. Jazz - They may trade Boozer, so this team is in limbo. As a whole they are Top 4 though
5. Spurs - still are not any younger, which makes tanking the reg. season tougher and tougher
6. Trail Blazers - They will have an unbelievable backcourt with Roy, Fernandez, and Bayless
7. Suns - Rookie coach, old team, not much depth, no backup for Nash, recipe for big fall
8. Mavs - May actually end up being better than this with Carlisle as coach, but they have made huge roster mistakes and need to do something about J Howard

Rockets beat Mavs, Lakers beat Suns, Hornets beat Blazers, Spurs beat Jazz

Lakers beat Hornets, Rockets beat Spurs

Lakers beat Rockets

Rocky5000 · Post #13 » by **Rocky5000** » Wed Aug 6, 2008 1:23 pm

1. Rockets
2. Hornets
3. Jazz
4. Lakers
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Blazers
8. Mavericks

DEEP3CL · Post #14 » by **DEEP3CL** » Wed Aug 6, 2008 10:02 pm

As long as we're in the top 3 I don't care, but 6th as bonsaiflipflops suggested is a bit of a reach even if you don't like our defense. All summer when ever our guys have been on radio or TV they all mention that they must improve on the defensive end to win a title. And weather you guys believe Bynum is good or not one thing is certain he will improve the middle of our defense period.

If you look at all the West teams the one area we have them all beat at is the interior. We have more bigs them all of them. Quickly who's Shaq back up in Phoenix ? Yao back up ?

Most likely along with Bynum we have Chris Mihm, DJ Mbenga ( not signed yet but will be ), Pau who will get minutes at the 5 also. Thats more then most of those teams. Bottom line is we still have to bring it on the defensive end nightly.

Post #15 » by **canman1971** » Thu Aug 7, 2008 12:19 am

Like with any year, IMO, you start with the best from the previous year. Lakers are #1 because they earned that title from the previous year and haven't done anything to lose that title. Just like the Cs in the East. I don't think adding Artest is going to make much of a difference for Houston. When has Artest actually made a significant difference? I see the Hornets as lightning in the bottle. They are good, but I don't think think they are that good. The Jazz, well, I see them as the Hornets. Could win 60. Could win 50. I don't see the West as being as tough as recent past. The Lakers are as good as any team. I think with those I mentioned, you could see any variation along with Dallas, Phoenix, SA (of course). Portland is too young and the rest is just meh.

pballa · Post #16 » by **pballa** » Thu Aug 7, 2008 7:19 am

Athanacropolis wrote:1. Hornets
2. Lakers
3. Jazz
4. Rockets
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Trailblazers (my bold prediction)
8. Mavericks

Fencer reregistered · Post #17 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Sat Aug 9, 2008 10:55 am

So much of this has to do with post-Olympics health that it's very hard to predict.

Rockets, Spurs, Lakers, and Mavs are particularly exposed.

DEEP3CL · Post #18 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sat Aug 9, 2008 6:55 pm

Fencer reregistered wrote:So much of this has to do with post-Olympics health that it's very hard to predict.

Rockets, Spurs, Lakers, and Mavs are particularly exposed.

I wish Peirce would've been there too so you guys could be factored in that equation lol ! Just joking, but seriously from a Laker fan point of view I'm glad he's not getting burned out by playing a lot. Plus Kobe is in such good physical condition he should be good but all remains to be seen, getting rest at some point will be key.

The Rockets should be more worried given Yao's history and the Spurs Ginobili will be a question mark until he gets back to really being him again.