Reasons why the Lakers are playoff team worthy.

[RingsDontLie]

I feel like the Lakers are a playoff team this season, and their ceiling is possibly contending if they are able to get more depth in free agency.

I'm pretty optimistic about the team moving forward, especially since I feel Russel has all the makings of a superstar.

My arguments for this team being a playoff team is based on potential and certain known factors of specific players. This is a playoff team with a contender ceiling if:

1 - Kobe returns to 2011-2012 form. Byron manages his minutes better, optimizing kobe's effectiveness when he is on the court, and saving his legs so that he becomes a better closer. feel there is a strong possibility that this will happen.

2 - Russel shows superstardom from the get go. I was high on the Lakers picking Russel and were glad they did. Okafor I felt, could be a Duncan, or could be the next Kwame Brown which is what I was afraid of. It is highly possible Russel reaches stardom early on and becomes the next best PG for the Lakers like Magic was...which to me is a high possibility based on this kid's confidence level, high IQ, and leadership mentality he possesses at such a young age.

3 - Randle becomes a premiere power forward. This guy has the makings to be one of the most dynamic forwards in the league. I think we all know that.

4 - Lou Williams plays at his 6th man of the year level. With Lou Williams coming off the bench, the Lakers won't lose too much offensively when Kobe is sitting.

5 - Hibbert returns to the same form when the Pacers went to the ECF. Maybe he really only needs a new atmosphere to regain his confidence level. He's going to be a vet amongst a younger group of guys, so I think he may find his stride in LA.

6 - Clarkson continues to be solid. He's only going to have more help now, so there is no doubt that the game will come easier to him. Some say his numbers were inflated on a weaker team...i beg to differ...when you have better players around you, his game will just get that much easier.

7 - Lakers continue to add more depth in free agency. Brandon Bass to me, is a good start.

[crazyeights]

1. Golden State
2. Houston
3. LA Clippers
4. Portland***
5. Memphis
6. San Antonio
7. Dallas
8. New Orleans

9. OKC
10. Phoenix
11. Utah
12. Denver
13. Sacramento
14. Lakers
15. Minnesota

***right now Portland is looking to be the prime candidate to be bumped from the playoffs next year.

OKC will almost surely make the POs again.

Dallas is sort of unknown to me, but if healthy they seem like a 7th seed again to me.

The Clippers lost their defensive stud, but with CP3 and Blake, I can't see them totally missing out.

Minnesota should be better (if healthy) with Towns and Wiggins getting older. Also heard that Rubio's shot is looking much improved thanks to Mike Penberthy as their shooting coach.

Phoenix looks like a bubble team, again.

Denver hired Malone, but I wonder if Lawson is gone.

Sacramento is a mess, but they have talent on their roster....

I can see us being a dark horse 8th seed if nearly everything goes well--and I mean everything...but we'll see. Way too many unknowns right now. Our margin of error is about as small as I've ever seen it. That said, I think if we don't tank and just try to win games, next year will be actually fun to watch.

[ArC_man]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves just because we signed 2 decent players. I'll be extremely happy if we can stay around .500

[Star-Lord]

Mike Penberthy is Minnesota's shooting coach? That's the coolest thing I've heard all day.

A .500 season would be pretty astounding, considering how thoroughly awful last year was. Right now, I'm thinking somewhere around 35-37 wins while being actually watchable is what we'll get, which is totally fine with me at this point.

[thegamefritz]

Portland will be out from the playoffs

Clippers will also be out! As of now, I think we are way better than the clips
They are now crippled! CP3 and Blake can not do it by themselves, they don't have a C and their supporting cast are not enough

OKC will be back, The pelicans (which did not add anything) and the lakers will compete with the 7th or 8th seed

[Kilroy]

Too early to tell... But stranger things have happened. From what I've seen of Randle, he looks like a beast. No reason to think Clarkson won't be even better this year. Kobe will be back in some form. Hibbert is an upgrade over any of the bigs we had last season. I personally think swapping Young for Williams is an upgrade... And we're not done yet.

I think most people who think of themselves as "realists" are actually pessimists... No reason to shut the door on the playoffs before the season starts.
There have been a lot of changes to teams this off season... I think the top 2 or three are set, but I think it's too soon to call the top 8.

[Marionettetc]

I've said the same thing about the Lakers for the past 3 years now, we will know 20 games into the schedule what kind of team we have. Impossible to know right now.

[dockingsched]

It's important to remember that aside from all time great rookies like Magic Johnson, shaq, or Lebron, most rookies are never a net positive on their teams.

You can't really expect much going from the rookies and any predicted improvement will be dependent on Kobe and the free agents.

[LFAHFN22]

We will be near the bottom of the West this season unless Russell has, at the very least, Lillard-esque impact, with Clarkson greatly improving, and Randle being the James/Griffin hybrid that everyone here believes he'll be. I don't know how effective Hibbert will be, especially once you consider the fact that the Western Conference has almost always thrived on pace. I'm not really enamored with the Williams signing, and though I think the Bass signing is solid, the overall roster inspires a "meh" out of me. If I were a better man, and I am, I'd bet that we end up bottom three (league-wide) before I bet that we make the playoffs, or are "playoff worthy". This team is nowhere near the caliber of last year's eighth seed.

I don't even want to start noting my thoughts on Bryant's impact-- It won't end well.

[aaron_gray]

Do you guys think Malone and Ed Pinckney can turn Denver into a top 10 defense?

[TyCobb]

We still have a ways to go. Right now the goal should be getting into the 30's for wins.

[Gus McCrae]

I think #3 and #5 are the least likely to occur and #2 is asking a lot of a rookie. I do like the optimism though!

[ak7]

If we make the playoffs this year, I'll wear a sig/avatar of EArl's choice. No chance of it happening.

[ROballer]

****...I'll even quit the fantasy team

[PKABOOICU]

I just hope randle/clarkson/russell don't get injured...the 3 of them having a successful season together is good enough for me. slow and steady will win the race, be it in 3 years or 6 years. These guys just need to spend time on the court together to get a feel for each others game and accustom themselves to the grind of the regular season...that, in itself, should be a successful regular season to most lakers fans at this stage of development..successful playing time.

[TylersLakers]

I'd say we'll be in the 8-10 range.

1- GSW
2- San Antonio
3- Houston
4- Oklahoma City
5- Mavericks
6- Memphis
7- Clippers
8- New Orleans

9- Lakers
10- Utah

[TylersLakers]

Anything more depends totally on the development of Randle, Russell, and guys like Upshaw, Brown, Nance.

[JohnVancouver]

How I reckon the top tier in the West

1. Golden State
2. San Antonio
3. Houston
4. OKC
4. Clippers
Dallas
5. Memphis
6. Utah
7. New Orleans
8. Minnesota
9. Lakers
10. Denver
11. Phoenix
Sacramento

Portland? No clue, anywhere from six to 12. PHX could be worse, given they have to unload Keef Morris and I think the roster is crumbling. I think Sacto implodes with a huge cloud of dust and debrisat some point

[Gus McCrae]

Steve mason is cracking me up on 710 right now saying to fire everyone including John Ireland lol

[One Love]

We are making a handful of assumptions but I guess that is the deal during the off season therefore the following is my optimistic breakdown:

1. GS
2. OKC
3. Houston
4. San Antonio
5. Memphis
6. Clippers
7. New Orleans
8. Lakers