Dare I say these rankings are more-or-less right on. 4) Houston Rockets (55-27) - They played great with Yao Ming, great without him, and now add Ron Artest (trade is not yet official), who despite his wacky ways InsideHoops.com believes will fit right in. The Rockets should be in the West's true championship contender mix, which is to say that they also could go out in round 2, simply because of how good the conference is. http://www.insidehoops.com/power-rankings.shtml Translated, in terms of playoff-seed rankings: West: 1. Los Angeles Lakers 2. New Orleans Hornets 3. Houston Rockets 4. San Antonio Spurs 5. Utah Jazz 6. Phoenix Suns 7. Dallas Mavericks 8. Denver Nuggets East: 1. Boston Celtics 2. Detroit Pistons 3. Orlando Magic 4. Philadelphia 76ers 5. Cleveland Cavaliers 6. Washington Wizards 7. Toronto Raptors 8. Miami Heat
I hate to say it, but I think San Antonio should be up there (as in above Nola but of course under us )
Switch us and the hornets and were set. Lakers Rockets Hornets Jazz Spurs Blazers Clippers Warriors East Celtics Pistons Raptors Cavs Philly Bucks Hawks Knicks
Warriors are not gonna make playoffs, belive me. They lost Davis who was their main guy, he carried the team. I doesnt look like Nelson is gonna chenge his mind and start playing defense. Unless that happens they won't win anything, especially without Davis...
Ellis will stepup bigtime. hew is a future allstar. you're underrating him bigtime. i think he's now ready to run that team now. Ellis Jackson Maggatte Harrington Bideris Bench of Azbuika, turiaf, wright etc.. is not bad. certianly better them the nuggets and other playoffs fringe teams. BTW, Noway nuggets who lost there only solid reliable shot blocker will make the playoffs ahead of the warriors. i think the combination of ellis stepping up and maggatte will somewhat offset davis departure.
The problem with Golden State is that they lack a real point guard that could distribute the ball. They do have a bunch of scorers, but you really don't win it simply by chucking. Hey at least they had a game plan to execute last season! Portland however, is a force to be reckoned with. I'd put Utah at 4th seed, and San Antonio at fifth, and BTW, the Nugs plain suck now.
East Celtics Pistons Raptors Cavs Philly if iggy stays Magic Bulls Bucks. Fringe hawks, bucks and maybe knicks.
IF this team clicks and plays together as a TEAM and IF they stay healthy, this is is the number ONE team in the NBA. People are underestimating Yao Ming and how much of an impact it had on the Rockets when he was missing last season. Do we still remember the short period when Alston/Tmac/Battier/Scola/Yao were the starting five? Though it didn't last long, that was extremely exciting to watch. I can't wait for this team to come out and show all these doubters what we are about, especially if we stay healthy. If we have health + chemistry, we = NBA's best team
Dallas, Suns and nuggets are not making the playoffs. ok maybe the suns in place of the clippers, but dallas and denver are fading fast. there on the decline.
I hope people continue to underestimate the rockets so they can come out with chips on they shoulders ready to prove we deserve that number one spot.
I understand Ellis is a great player but for me he is more of a shooting quard, he likes to score the ball and i don't know if he is really ready to run this team. Maggette is pretty good but he won't replay Davis. And they don't play defense at all...
Hoooooooorible seedings. There is no way the Clippers, Warriors, Knicks or Bucks make the playoffs next season. The Hawks could easily slip as well. The Suns, Magic and Wizards are still strong. Dallas could be a bubble team in the West (the Kidd trade did them in as true contenders), but I still expect them to at least be an 8 seed. Other possible bubble teams include Denver, Portland and I think Chicago. Actually I'll take back the Warriors not making the playoffs and throw them in as a bubble team to possibly supplant Dallas or Denver.
You dont think the blazers will make it?. they'll get a defensive beat like oden into a fold to a team that at one stage won thirteen straight games. not to mention roy, alridge are one year more expierenced. The knicks one is a riddel, but coach D will get the best out of them. there talent is up there with anyone in the east. all they need is a coach who can maxamiaze there talent. marbury, crawford,Richardson, Randolph and curry. then you got fred jones, david lee, nate robinson.... Celtics Pistons Raptors Cavs are Lockeds. then the wizards, Magic bulls and philly in no order. from there on the hawks, bucks and knicks all have a chance. people are forgetting how talented the bucks are. MO willams Redd Jefferson Charlie V Bogut Thats a hell of a starting 5 in the east.
I think Portland deserves a spot, not Denver. Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, Jerryd Bayless.. and company. Right after the Rockets I like this team. Plus they'll give utah a run for their money rather than taking someone elses playoff spot in at number 4. Anyway I know I am being a bit too optimistic, but come on I like the way the team played last year. Just imagine what they can do with Goden and Jerryd "Payless" Bayless. This would be awesome. Plus it would be a really good game against the Rockets in the playoffs. Goden vs. Yao... Of course Yao would dominate, but I just want to solidify the point that he IS the best Center in the league.
Portland is something of a mystery -- it all depends on the coaching and chemistry, plus how well Oden comes back. There aren't many examples of players who have come back from microfracture surgery and been comparable to what they were before. Amare is the only one I can think of. Lots of talent on that team, though. Nuggets are probably out of the playoffs this year. Without Camby, their defense is absolutely horrendous, and their offensive balance is awful. Dallas will still be competitive, though they downgraded by adding Kidd. He's barely better than Rafer at this point.
