With the west being as tight as it is many good teams will be left out, my predictions for the West are: 1. Sacremento (Too Deep, Too Good) 2. Dallas (All that talent will finally come together right?) 3. L.A.L ( Kobe and Shaq don't need the best record to win titles) 4. San Antonio ( Last year of the Twin Towers and Spurs cracking 1st round home court.) 5. Portland ( Even with all of the personnel problems still manage to win.) 6. Minnesota (If Brandon stays healthy the team should go here.) 7. Los Angeles Clippers (Still no andre, haven't signed Kandi man should still get 7th seed.) The Last Spot is between the Rockets Phoenix Utah and Seattle The Clippers could miss the playoffs but each year its more unlikely. Being a Rockets fan I predict them getting 8th and Utah not in the Playoffs for the first time in forever.
Unfortunately if you are correct about the 8th spot coming down to Utah vs. Houston then I would have to say it, although I hate the Jazz, that Utah will probably make it. Utah hasn't missed the playoffs ever since those 2 cheaters have been there and I wouldn't bet against them making it again. Hopefully the rockets will be higher up and not have to worry about the Jazz.
Damn, you look at that list and you see its not hard to imagine the Rockets not making the playoffs...unless of course you start using the arguements everyone uses (i.e, Jazz are old, Clips are young, Portland is disfunctional, etc.) I think however that there are enough teams close enough that the Rockets could squeeze into the playoffs, but it will be tough.
No. Until one of their players learns to play interior defense, they won't beat the Spurs for the division title, much less contend for a championship.
I am not sold on Minnesota making the playoffs. Losing Billups really hurt them and I am not sold that Brandon will be healthy all year. There is a huge hole at PG for them. I also think the chemistry on that team with Wally and KG is not all that good. I think you could see this team really fall this year. Chris
I'm thinkin this: 1. Sacremento 2. LAL 3. San Antonio 4. Dallas 5. Portland 6. LAC (if a leader appears) From that I don't know. Minnesota maybe is Brandon recovers quickly and returns to form. Utah will be in the mix for sure. Rockets have a pretty good shot this year if they stay healthy. That's all I can really think of, but then again, I'm not really much of a thinker.
My bad, I meant "Minnesota maybe if Brandon rcovers quickly and returns to form." I'm with Deuce on the chemistry thing, too. The more I think about it, the less I think they're gonna make the playoffs.
If you put a gun to my head and made me pick the playoffs, here it is: 1.) Sacramento - basically the Utah Jazz as far as efficiency. 2.) San Antonio - A lot better then people realize, if David Robinson is healthy they can get to the Finals 3.) LA Lakers - Still the team to beat in the playoffs, lack of depth was exposed last year despite winning the championship, and isn't much better this year. 4.) Dallas - A whole lot of talent, and zero defense and very little interior presence. "Elite" team most vulnerable to a first round upset 5.) Portland - Sheer talent 6.) Houston Rockets - assuming everybody is healthy and clicking they have an answer at every position 7.) Minnesota - lack of depth, and inability to improve the team will catch up with them. If Wally doesn't return and they don't replace him they will miss the playoffs. They need more scoring help 8.) Utah - The sun rises in the morning, rain is wet, snow is cold, hell is hot and the Utah Jazz always find a way. Phoenix isn't any food, that's a bad basketball team. Penny will improve them, but they're not making the playoffs. The Clippers could beat out the Jazz for that last playoff spot, or the Sonics if they re-sign Lewis. And either team could take the Rockets spot as a 6th seen and push them down. Golden State is also a sleeper playoff team.
