Discuss the Altered & Fascinating WC Balance of Power

exculpatory · Post #1 » by **exculpatory** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 9:52 am

This deserves its own long thread IMO.

Now the Clips with Kawhi & PG3 VS the Fakers with the Queen & the Brow VS the KD-LESS Dubs with the unsanitary mouth guard chewer, Klay and Green VS the Rockets can beat each other up to a pulp on a regular basis - and simultaneously deal with the Blazers, the Jazz, & the Mavs with the Zinger & Doncic. Whoever comes out of the WC will be much bloodied.
More from me when I have time.

Andrew McCeltic · Post #2 » by **Andrew McCeltic** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 11:11 am

We'll see how teams react, but right now LAC, Utah and Portland look like the best teams in the conference, and Sacramento, Utah and maybe Dallas have the brightest futures. OKC could go in any direction.. Oh, and Denver.

sam_I_am · Post #3 » by **sam_I_am** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 11:30 am

Clippers are team to beat by adding George and Kawhi without losing their core. Lakers of course with their awesome 1-2 punch are right there. The Rockets with their experience might be ready to finally get it done. Nuggets and Jazz will be nipping at their heels. Blazers with a healthy Nurkic too. My dark horse candidate is GSW. They will miss Iggy but if Klay comes back 100%, Curry, DLo, Klay, Green is still formidable and dangerous.

cloverleaf · Post #4 » by **cloverleaf** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 11:34 am

It's as it has been for decades out there: Jerry West rules. The man btw is 81yo.

s1ickd · Post #5 » by **s1ickd** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 2:51 pm

A lot might have to do with where Cousins goes too.

Clippers
Lakers
Portland
Houston
GSW (klay out and DLo unproven)
Denver
Utah
Okc (if russ stays)

brackdan70 · Post #6 » by **brackdan70** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 2:59 pm

I am going g to Vegas to lay my daughters college fund down on the Jazz.

azee2890 · Post #7 » by **azee2890** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 3:20 pm

Andrew McCeltic wrote:We'll see how teams react, but right now LAC, Utah and Portland look like the best teams in the conference, and Sacramento, Utah and maybe Dallas have the brightest futures. OKC could go in any direction.. Oh, and Denver.

Pelicans have the brightest future so long as they don’t mess it up.

Green89 · Post #8 » by **Green89** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 3:21 pm

My prediction:

1. Nuggets
2. Clippers
3. Blazers
4. Jazz
5. Rockets
6. Lakers
7. Warriors
8. Mavs

celticfan42487 · Post #9 » by **celticfan42487** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 3:33 pm

Warriors
Jazz
Lakers
Clippers
Rockets
Nuggets
Trailblazers
Spurs or Mavs (90% Spurs, but Mavs are the only other playoff worthy team I see in the conference)

That's how I see the 8. Seems to be just about all the teams I'd say are playoff worthy out West make the playoffs this year.

I see both of the LA teams doing quite a bit of DNP-REST days for their respected LeBron, AD, Kawhi stars. Following the trend Toronto showed for Kawhi.

And while the Warriors is more of a fun pick then as viable as possible. I mean they still have 3 all-stars for most of the regular season in Curry, Dlo, Green. And they'll have a 4th one in Klay for the last month or two. That still makes them the most stacked regular season team to me. Come playoffs though having a backcourt of Curry, Dlo will dramatically hurt.

ermocrate · Post #10 » by **ermocrate** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 3:51 pm

GSW again on top, the Jazz and the Nuggets to watch closely.

radcot · Post #11 » by **radcot** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 5:20 pm

Really difficult to say how things will sort out in the West. As with us last season, much will depend on chemistry - especially with Clips, Lakers, and Warriors.

Post #12 » by **Spin Move** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 5:39 pm

Tier 1
1. Clippers
2. Lakers
Tier 2
3. Jazz
4. Nuggets
5. Rockets
6. Portland
Tier 3
7. Warriors
8. OKC
Tier 4
9. Spurs
10. Wolves
11. Mavs
Tier 5
12. Suns
13. Kings
14. Pels
15. Griz

greenroom31 · Post #13 » by **greenroom31** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 5:43 pm

Barring catastrophic injuries, my expectation is that each time will finish in their group (i.e. Portland finishes 5, 6 or 7; Clippers finish 1, 2, 3 or 4).

1. Denver
2. Utah
3. Clippers
4. Golden State

MIND THE GAP

5. Houston
6. Portland
7. Lakers

MIND THE GAP PART 2

8. Dallas
9. Kings
10. Pelicans
11. Spurs

Triple M · Post #14 » by **Triple M** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 6:00 pm

Maybe this isn't the right place for this, but how do we adjust to players teaming up with players under contract on a new team? I can't see how that works to our favour any time soon

celticfan42487 · Post #15 » by **celticfan42487** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 6:39 pm

Triple M wrote:Maybe this isn't the right place for this, but how do we adjust to players teaming up with players under contract on a new team? I can't see how that works to our favour any time soon

There's nothing you can do to adjust for it but be extremely sad and put pressure on the league to implement franchise tags in the next CBA.

Post #16 » by **Bleeding Green** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 6:53 pm

Jazz are the best regular season team in the West for me, that's gonna be a deep and nasty defensive team and they won't have to rely on Don Mitchell for all their offense now.

Regular season is just gonna be who rests their stars the most. I think you have Denver, Utah, LAL, LAC, Golden State, Houston, Portland, San Antonio all for sure in the playoffs barring injury. Seeding them, I have no idea. Could have the 8 seed just 3-4 wins from the 2 seed.

Houston was very anti-resting Harden, but what has that gotten them? I guess they have no depth, so resting him is out of the question. Kawhi is gonna manage his load for 15-20 games. AD needs to be managed or he'll be dead by Game 1 of the first round. Jazz and Nuggets look like the deepest teams in the West (and San Antonio if everyone is healthy), so they have a leg-up in the regular season there. Dallas is a wildcard team for me; I'm very anti-Kristaps, but if he's fully healthy and plays a full season (for the first time ever) that is potentially a playoff team. Honestly OKC didn't even get that much worse, especially if Gallo can put in a healthy season. They could make the playoffs if everyone is healthy.

Minny, Phoenix, Memphis, New Orleans and Sacramento are all definitely out is all I feel confident saying I guess.

Post #17 » by **Bleeding Green** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 6:54 pm

Triple M wrote:Maybe this isn't the right place for this, but how do we adjust to players teaming up with players under contract on a new team? I can't see how that works to our favour any time soon

You can't, barring some insanely rigid rules in a new CBA, which doesn't happen until 2024. The CBA is already rigid enough. OKC got a **** haul or else they wouldn't have traded George anyway.

GoCeltics123 · Post #18 » by **GoCeltics123** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 7:41 pm

Clippers are stacked. They're my title favorites.

3D Chess · Post #19 » by **3D Chess** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 7:44 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:Clippers are stacked. They're my title favorites.

Same. Kawhi and PG on the same team is unfair enough, but they retained the nucleus of a damn good squad to go along with them.

GreenTeamah · Post #20 » by **GreenTeamah** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 8:38 pm

Lakers filled up the roster pretty good I hope Kawhi can do the same thing with the Clippers but it won’t be a cake walk, GS isn’t going anywhere either as long as Klay gets back to me it’s a 3 team race, but Denver, Utah, Portland and Sac will make it interesting