Seed the West

[Mattya]

PF you have Love and DWill at the 4.

Jazz have Favors and Millsap.

Thats quite obviously an advantage in the Wolves favor.

Jefferson > Pek

I'll call that undecided since Pek is way more efficient that Big Al.

The only position that the Jazz are clearly better at is SG.

[jazzfan1971]

Fair enough. I'll still take an undecided at PF if you don't mind though.

[black bart]

PF you have Love and DWill at the 4.

Jazz have Favors and Millsap.

Thats quite obviously an advantage in the Wolves favor.

Jefferson > Pek

I'll call that undecided since Pek is way more efficient that Big Al.

The only position that the Jazz are clearly better at is SG.

Debatable. Shved looked impressive.

[Mattya]

Fair enough. I'll still take an undecided at PF if you don't mind though.

We can agree to disagree.

[youngthegiant]

1.)Oklahoma City
2.)San Antonio Spurs
3.)Denver Nuggets
4.)Memphis Grizzlies
5.)Los Angeles Clippers
6.)Los Angeles lakers
7.)Dallas Mavericks
8.)Utah Jazz
9.)Phoenix Suns
10.)Minnesota Timberwolves
11.)Golden State warriors
12.)Sacramento Kings
13.)New Orleans Hornets
14.)Portland Trail Blazers
15.)Houston Rockets

[nuposse04]

Assuming Howard isn't traded to the west...

1-OKC
2-Spurs
3-Mem
4-LAL
5-DEN
6-UTAH
7-DAL
8-MINN
9-LAC
10-POR
11-GSW
12-SAC
13-PHX
14-NO
15-HOU

I predict everyone in 6-11 will be close for playoff seeding. I think Utah makes necessary improvements along with Minn staying healthy. I'm trying to be positive regarding Dallas and assuming their new players buy into a defensive oriented system down there, but there is a real chance they could be a 13 seed as well. I think the clippers massively fall off compared to last year. Blake needs to come back with a jumpshot now because they don't have as many 3 point threats. If the new flopping rules are legit, their team defense ought to suffer a tad. I'm more concerned about their rebounding without evans though. Blake and evans were monsters on the boards, I have little faith in DeAndre showing signs of intelligence this year. GSW could make noise as well, but that team has trouble staying healthy so I can't put them higher for now.

[Trader_Joe]

I know I spoke my piece earlier but again...

The Wolves were making the playoffs until Rubio went down last season

Assuming he is healthy this year they have added...

AK who is a major addition (MVP and DPOY in CSKA last year.. and healthy)
Roy who is a risky, but potentially major addition
Shved who I think will impress and has chemistry with AK
Steisma who is a better back up Center than Darko
Budinger who adds much needed shooting and athleticism at the 3.
They also can expect continued improvement from Rubio, Love, Pekovic, D.Will.
And the Wolves have more assets to move in trade to get better now (D.Will mainly), while Utah may seemingly move Milsap or Jefferson at some point to give more PT to Favors and Kanter.

The Wolves literally looked to have improved at every single position both as starters (from either additions or the youth getting better) and the bench.

Also, I think Minny is going to be getting a lot of fan support and support from the NBA with their international players and style of play. I don't see them surpassing LAL, LAC, SAS, OKC but I don't see why they can't overtake DEN, DAL and MEM.

Rubio / Ridnour / Barrea
Roy / Shved / Lee
AK / Budinger
Love / D.Williams / Cunningham
Pekovic / Steimsa

I tried telling people last year they are going to be the next big thing (popularity and on court play). Just watch...

[Thugger HBC]

1.)Oklahoma City
2.)San Antonio Spurs
3.)Denver Nuggets
4.)Memphis Grizzlies
5.)Los Angeles Clippers
6.)Los Angeles lakers
7.)Dallas Mavericks
8.)Utah Jazz
9.)Phoenix Suns
10.)Minnesota Timberwolves
11.)Golden State warriors
12.)Sacramento Kings
13.)New Orleans Hornets
14.)Portland Trail Blazers
15.)Houston Rockets

One of the Clips or Lakers has to be in the top 4 for winning their division.

[510TWSS]

Has Minnesota addressed their defensive center position? I like Pek, but I still think their defense has a lot of room for improvement. Rubio is important to their defense as well, so I guess I should expect them to be better if he's completely healthy all year. I just have some reservations about Minnesota only because I think their defense will give away a lot of wins.

[Mattya]

I know I spoke my piece earlier but again...

The Wolves were making the playoffs until Rubio went down last season

Assuming he is healthy this year they have added...

AK who is a major addition (MVP and DPOY in CSKA last year.. and healthy)
Roy who is a risky, but potentially major addition
Shved who I think will impress and has chemistry with AK
Steisma who is a better back up Center than Darko
Budinger who adds much needed shooting and athleticism at the 3.
They also can expect continued improvement from Rubio, Love, Pekovic, D.Will.
And the Wolves have more assets to move in trade to get better now (D.Will mainly), while Utah may seemingly move Milsap or Jefferson at some point to give more PT to Favors and Kanter.

The Wolves literally looked to have improved at every single position both as starters (from either additions or the youth getting better) and the bench.

Also, I think Minny is going to be getting a lot of fan support and support from the NBA with their international players and style of play. I don't see them surpassing LAL, LAC, SAS, OKC but I don't see why they can't overtake DEN, DAL and MEM.

Rubio / Ridnour / Barrea
Roy / Shved / Lee
AK / Budinger
Love / D.Williams / Cunningham
Pekovic / Steimsa

I tried telling people last year they are going to be the next big thing (popularity and on court play). Just watch...

Good summary. This is what we hope as Wolves fans.

[Swimmer]

Has Minnesota addressed their defensive center position? I like Pek, but I still think their defense has a lot of room for improvement. Rubio is important to their defense as well, so I guess I should expect them to be better if he's completely healthy all year. I just have some reservations about Minnesota only because I think their defense will give away a lot of wins.

Rubio is a decent defensive point guard. Whoever plays at SG should be a defensive upgrade to Ridnour, if for nothing but size/length/athleticism reasons. Kirilenko is a defensive upgrade at SF to Beasley. Pek is not a shot-blocker, but he is huge, unmovable, and unlikely to give up defensive position to an opposing center. And he is backed up by Stiemsma, who is a defensive shot-blocker.

[Mattya]

The Wolves were above average defensively last year when Rubio was healthy, I think they were statistically the most improved defensive team in the league.

[HotrodBeaubois]

1. OKc
2. SAS
3. LaL
4. MeM
5. MiN
6. DeN
7. GsW
8. LaC
9. UtA
10. DaL
11. PoR
12. SaC
13. PhX
14. NoH
15. HoU
More based on who I think will stay healthy. Gsw gotta have one healthy season. Dallas got real old. If Min stays healthy they are dangerous.

Dallas got Real Old?

Dallas Roster start of the season 2011/2012

PG-Kidd 38 / West 28 / Dojo 22
SG-Carter 34 / Terry 34 / Roddy 23
SF-Marion 33 / Odouche 31
PF-Dirk 33 / Yi 24 / Cardinal 34
C-Deadwood 31 / Mahinmi 24 / Wright 24 / Williams 25

Average Age of Starters-33.8
Average Age of Bench-26.9
Average Age of Team-29.2

Dallas Roster start of the season 2012/2013

PG-Collison 25 / West 29 / Cunningham 21 / Dojo 24
SG-Mayo 25 / Roddy 24 / Dahnty Jones 31
SF-Marion 34 / Carter 35 / Crowder 22
PF-DIrk 34 / Brand 33
C-Kaman 30 / James 27 / Wright 25

Average Age of Starters-29.6
Average Age of Bench-27.1
Average Age of Team-27.9

[Bandwagon1]

1. LAL
2. OKC
3. SAS
4.LAC
5. MEM
6. DAL
7. GSW
8. DEN

If its true then OKC and GSW first round matchup would be crazy

[spearsy23]

Seed the West? Didn't Shawn Kemp do that in the 90's?

[TheNewEra]

People are really underrating the fact the Clippers have a set bench to start this year and will actually have a training camp to gel. Starting last year Bledsoe was out for a good portion to start the season and when he returned it took weeks for him to get his legal back under him. RYAN GOMES was our back up SF! Reggie and Martin came on late with Reggie being hurt and Martin in China our bench was terrible to begin the year and for a couple of months but the starters held us together.

This team is ready to go and even though Mo Williams was strong to start the year the rest of the bench was so bad it was Mo or nothing and it cost us some games. Hill, Crawford, Odom,Turiaf and Bledsoe are ready and will bring an immediate impact that will help the team makes up for some of last seasons lack of bench production during the start of the season.

Blake will also be healthy by then.

[Paul Overt]

1. Los Angeles lakers
2. Oklahoma City
3. San Antonio Spurs

4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
8. New Orleans Hornets

9. Denver Nuggets
10. Utah Jazz
11. Phoenix Suns
12. Portland Trail Blazers
13. Golden State warriors
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Houston Rockets

[nuposse04]

People are really underrating the fact the Clippers have a set bench to start this year and will actually have a training camp to gel. Starting last year Bledsoe was out for a good portion to start the season and when he returned it took weeks for him to get his legal back under him. RYAN GOMES was our back up SF! Reggie and Martin came on late with Reggie being hurt and Martin in China our bench was terrible to begin the year and for a couple of months but the starters held us together.

This team is ready to go and even though Mo Williams was strong to start the year the rest of the bench was so bad it was Mo or nothing and it cost us some games. Hill, Crawford, Odom,Turiaf and Bledsoe are ready and will bring an immediate impact that will help the team makes up for some of last seasons lack of bench production during the start of the season.

Blake will also be healthy by then.

although not related to the regular season, the clippers lived and died by the 3 point line in the playoffs. The wing players they lost all had faults, but they were all way better deep shooters than the people they've brought in. They've replaced Martin and Evans with Turiaf+Odom, that is a serious downgrade. Especially considering the way Odom played last year.

[Catchall]

I know I spoke my piece earlier but again...

The Wolves were making the playoffs until Rubio went down last season

Assuming he is healthy this year they have added...

AK who is a major addition (MVP and DPOY in CSKA last year.. and healthy)
Roy who is a risky, but potentially major addition
Shved who I think will impress and has chemistry with AK
Steisma who is a better back up Center than Darko
Budinger who adds much needed shooting and athleticism at the 3.
They also can expect continued improvement from Rubio, Love, Pekovic, D.Will.
And the Wolves have more assets to move in trade to get better now (D.Will mainly), while Utah may seemingly move Milsap or Jefferson at some point to give more PT to Favors and Kanter.

The Wolves literally looked to have improved at every single position both as starters (from either additions or the youth getting better) and the bench.

Also, I think Minny is going to be getting a lot of fan support and support from the NBA with their international players and style of play. I don't see them surpassing LAL, LAC, SAS, OKC but I don't see why they can't overtake DEN, DAL and MEM.

Rubio / Ridnour / Barrea
Roy / Shved / Lee
AK / Budinger
Love / D.Williams / Cunningham
Pekovic / Steimsa

I tried telling people last year they are going to be the next big thing (popularity and on court play). Just watch...

I like to see the T'wolves making progress. I'm happy if there's a rivalry in the NW division between them and the Jazz. But certainly, the Jazz know who AK is. They let him walk twice now. The Jazz were a broken team last year with a PG who didn't fit, suspect shooters on the wing, and no one really qualified to start at SF. Their PGs were outscored by 15 - 25 points every night, and they got nearly all their scoring from Millsap and Jefferson. Yet they were still on pace for 45 wins (over an 82-game season) and tied with Dallas at the end of the year. The big change with the Jazz is the continued improvement of Favors who emerged as a near-elite defender and rebounder last year. Plus, Burks is a legit talent who is learning the NBA game, and Hayward is becoming consistent. Meanwhile they brought in three rotation players who plug the holes. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Jazz and Wolves close in the standings, but the Jazz are a deep and talented team who will push Denver and Memphis for the 5 or 6 seed.

When is Rubio supposed to play again?

[Bskey]

Seed the West? Didn't Shawn Kemp do that in the 90's?

Been saying since the Sonics left that Seattle should get a new team comprised of his offspring.