ESPN Ranks Lakers 12th in NBA for 2013 KB Responds

[Edrees]

Look at last year's predictions vs results:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/82738 ... -standings

ESPN:
1) OKC
2) LAL
3) SAS
4) LAC
5) DEN
6) MEM
7) DAL
8) UTA
9) MIN
10) GSW
11) POR
12) HOU

ACTUAL:
1) OKC (Correct)
2) SAS (Close)
3) DEN (2 spots off)
4) LAC (Correct)
5) MEM (Close)
6) GS (Had them COMPLETELY wrong)
7) LAL (LOL, had the COMPLETELY wrong)
8) Hou (LOL, had them COMPLETELY wrong)
9) Utah (Close)
10) Dallas (LOL, had them COMPLETELY wrong)

What does that tell you? They aren't very good at predicting the low seeds, but are good at predicting high seeds. Personally I feel Lakers will end up the 6th seed.

most notably they had the Lakers wrong by a gross 5 spots. If they are 5 spots wrong on us again, we could land the 7th seed.

[leeprettyp]

Last year shouldn't even matter IMO... Injuries and coaching changes really ruined the season. We were 28-12 the last 40 games. Now imagine if Nash didn't break his leg the 2nd game and there was no coaching change during the season. We were on pace to be a +55win team last season if you think about it

[crazyeights]

Anyone thinking GSW is a lock doesn't seem to know Curry's ankles.

[what would jack bauer do?]

Denver will be competitive but won't make the playoffs. Danilo's torn acl and iggy being gone is a huge blow.

[Beethoven]

I can easily place twelve teams ahead of lakers based off of last year's strength and actual production (and two for speculation of strength this year)

Miami
San Antonio
okc
Denver
Gs
Clippers
Memphis
Indiana
Chicago
Houston
Dallas
New Jersey





So yeah. I put lakers right in the middle of the pack of all nba teams.
I wouldn't have it any other way. I rather go in as an undercard and then expose everyone like we did during 2010 playoffs.

[ak7]

I can easily place twelve teams ahead of lakers based off of last year's strength and actual production (and two for speculation of strength this year)

Miami
San Antonio
okc
Denver
Gs
Clippers
Memphis
Indiana
Chicago
Houston
Dallas
New Jersey





So yeah. I put lakers right in the middle of the pack of all nba teams.
I wouldn't have it any other way. I rather go in as an undercard and then expose everyone like we did during 2010 playoffs.

They ranked them 12th in the West.

[DEEP3CL]

And they'll be wrong again, no way in hell the Mavs, Blazers and Minny are going to be better or head and shoulders above the Lakers. I like our roster. If we can be decent on D we'll be ok.

[Durins Baynes]

It's possible that the Lakers finish ahead of those teams, and it's also possible that those 3 teams finish ahead of the Lakers. I mean come on, the Mavs were a 500. team last year despite Dirk playing only 53 games (starting only 47 of those, as he slowly worked himself back into shape from his offseason injury setback). This year the Mavs have a better team around Dirk, so the idea that with a healthy Dirk they can't do significantly better is pretty odd. For instance, better than 45 wins... which is what the Lakers did last year with Dwight and Artest... who they don't have this year.

[DEEP3CL]

So ESPN is saying the Pelicans are going to have a 10 game turnaround, the T-Wolves 9 and Denver a 14 win reduction but still finish 7 th ? How the F does that make any sense ? This is why I don't respect that crappy media outlet.

Yes teams can in reality have reasonable turnarounds in a season but the progress has to be seen maybe a season or two before then. Much like when Cedric Ceballos came to the Lakers in 1994 and they went from 33 wins to 48 and a second round playoff exit. Then the next season they won 53 which was enough to entice Shaq in 96 to come and see himself as the difference maker.

It's a progression not a leap frog in one season. It took the Lakers those 2 seasons to move up. And here it is ESPN just thinks teams like the T-Wolves and Pelicans will just do a 360 when they've been horrid for the last 4-5 seasons. Miss me with the bull...

[Durins Baynes]

There are rational reasons to think the Wolves and Pelicans will have huge turnarounds this year. The Wolves looked like they were turning the corner in 2012, got more pieces, then got crippled by injuries. It wasn't really their fault. Then their coach had to take time off, because of personal disaster. In the games Adelman actually coached the Wolves record wasn't half bad (despite the crippling injuries they had). Healthy there is a lot of reason to think they can be a playoff team.

The Pelicans were better than their record suggested last year. For one thing, the front office did a lot of things to slow them down and make them lose more. They made the coaches play Davis only 30 mins per game for eg, which was justified as a "health precaution" in the wake of his concussion... which made no sense, because the affects of the concussion didn't last weeks and months. He could have played a lot more than that. They held him back from games despite noises that he was healthy to play. Again, a "precaution" said the front office. The team also put no pressure on Eric Gordon to suit up and play, despite the fact they knew he could. They let him mope on the sidelines gleefully, knowing it would improve their pick. When Gordon finally realised the Pelicans wouldn't trade him, and that he was just hurting his image, he suited up and the Pelicans went 16-26 with him playing. The Pelicans were more like a 35 win team last year, who intentionally lost an extra 8 games. Indeed, in spite of the injuries and tanking, the teams SRS was actually higher than Toronto (34 wins), Philly (34 wins), and only a little below the 33 win Blazers.

The differences between last season and this season:
- Added Tyreke to be their super-sub off the bench
- Added an all-star point guard
- Added Morrow to play next to Reke as the shooter off the bench
- Got Gordon to stop pouting, he should be fine to play the starting SG spot for about 30mpg this year
- The youth is now 1 year more experienced, especially Davis (who won't be "rested" to lose games next year).
That's an awful lot of improvements to a team who were probably worth about 34 wins last year if they tried. I think the playoffs are very, very possible next season for them.

Meanwhile the Lakers look considerably worse if anything with Dwight, Clark and Artest gone, and Kobe's health in doubt, while the Mavs, Pelicans, Blazers and Wolves all have good reasons to look improved.