Sucks, but I really like what the Mavs have done this offseason. They should have a healthy Dirk coming back, and they have added Calderon and Ellis, two of my favorite non-Rockets. They will be an INCREDIBLE shooting team. With Carlisle at coach, their defense will at least be average. I think you can definitely make an argument that they are better than the Rockets, but I wont. Unfortunately, I believe Minnesota and Portland will be too competitive for us to pry Love or Aldridge at the deadline. I'll say the top 8 will look VERY similar to this... 1. San Antonio 2. Houston 3. Oklahoma City 4. Golden State (only because the division thing, Dallas gets home court vs. them) 5. Dallas 6. LAC 7. Minnesota 8. Memphis Just for fun here is the rest of the West... 9. Denver 10. Portland 11. New Orleans 12. Sacramento 13. Phoenix 14. Utah 15. LAL (this team was old and slow last year. Now you've taken away two of their most athletic players from last season in Kobe and Howard. Lakers fans are in for a LONG season.) 1 San Antonio over 8 Memphis 2 Houston over 7 Minnesota 6 Los Angeles C over 3 Oklahoma City 5 Dallas over 4 Golden State 5 Dallas over 1 San Antonio 2 Houston over 6 Los Angeles C 2 Houston over 5 Dallas
I don't know if I would call Dallas defense decent. With Calderon, Ellis and Dirk they have among the worst defenders at their respective positions. Their offense could be nice, but I don't expect anything too special. My rankings: 1. OKC 2. Houston 3. San Antonio 4. LAC 5. GSW 6. Memphis 7. Portland 8. Lakers (they will have better chemistry this year and a team run by Nash with Gasol in the post might be pretty good - and I don't bet against Kobe...)
Dallas will be fighting for the 8th seed. Treadmill of mediocrity. The past Rockets minus the young assets.
You could definitely be right on Dallas' D. I just think Carlisle will get that team to at least play good enough team D. As far as the Lakers go, I just think with Kobe most likely out until Jan/Feb they will be so far down in the standings that they might as well tank. Even Kobe would see the benefit at that point of going all in for Wiggins.
1 - OKC 2 - Houston 3 - San An 4 - Golden State 5 - Memphis 6 - LAC 7 - Denver 8 - Dallass 9 - Minnesota 10 - Portland 11 - Nola 12 - LAL 13 - SAC 14 - Phoenix 15 - Utah OKC over Dal Houston over Denver SA over LAC GS over Mem GS over OKC Hou over SA Hou over GS I am a homer on this, and I have zero intention to change that
Ellis will have more open shots than he's ever had in his career with Dirk drawing double teams. He will actually get to spot up some, something he's never really been able to do much of.
Dallas are a playoff team. They barely missed it last year without dirk most of the season, and they upgraded at pg. However, there are more than 8 playoff teams in the west, so like last year with the mavs and wolves missing it due to injuries, this year will come down to health. The teams that miss it will probably be the teams who suffer major injuries
1. OKC 2. Hou 3. GS 4. SA 5. LAC 6. Mem 7. Dallas 8. Minny 9. Denver (stupid moves in the FO plus losing Iggy will cause a drop) The rest are irrelevant (feels good not being in that group anymore) Except for LAL who will tank hard for wiggins (encouraging Kobe to delay his return due to concerns about an aging body)
Ellis arms are very short and he is ranked by synergy as the 3rd worst defensive guard in the NBA. Offensively he was great in 2007 and who knows he might be able to resurrect his offense on the Mavs but it is a true gamble. Also he is predictable as he goes right the overwhelming majority of the time which accounts for at least part of his declining shooting percentages over recent years. As long as he's not a starter his decent post game can help them but his serious shortcomings will stick out too.
Dallas as the 5th seed?!?! Bahahaha! I'll go with -- (top tier) 1. Clips 2. Rockets 3. OKC 4. Spurs 5. Memphis 6. GSW (mediocrity) 7. Blazers 8. Wolves 9. Nugs 10. Pelicans 11. Mavs 12. Lakers (dreadful) 13. Kings 14. Jazz 15. Suns
I actually had the same reaction to you having the Clippers as the #1 seed. That team is still limited in some major areas. I don't think a coaching upgrade is enough to get them all the way to the top. Like an earlier post said, Dallas barely missed the playoffs last year with Dirk missing much of the season. They are definitely an improved team from last year. 5th seed is not out of the question.
Dallas will NOT make the playoffs. Dude they are old and they will not be able to guard anyone. When your starting backcourt is Calderon and Ellis, you might be able to score but you will not, in any way whatsoever, be able to stop anyone. Plus what, they're getting Dalembert as their starter now?! Who's on their bench? Vince Carter? Please. The Clippers aren't a surefire #1 seed. This is true. But they are a top 3 team WITHOUT QUESTION. Dudley, Reddick, and Crawford are a fantastic trio of shooters to put around Paul/Griffin. Add to that their already dynamite pick and rolls, these guys are going to get open looks like crazy. And if they don't, it's dunk/mid range jumper time. Even their bench is great.
It's really hard to do this. I'll project like this: Playoff locks: San Antonio, OKC, Houston, Clippers Playoffs Almost Locks Memphis and Golden State Fighting for the last two spots: Portland, Dallas, Minnesota, Lakers
I think it's gonna be 1) OKC 2)Houston 3)LAC 4)Mem 5)SA 6)GSW 7)MINN 8)DEN OKC vs Denver will be interesting but ill lean towards OKC Houston over MINN LAC vs GS is gonna be a great series as well! I'm leaning towards LAC in 7 Mem vs SA, I'll go SA HOU over LAC and a healthy OKC over SA We took OKC to 6 without Dwight! You better believe that we will beat them in 7 with him!
