25% into the season, which team will not make the playoffs?

Dallas probably, since I think Phoenix will turn around and come out big.

 

The Hornets better build themselves enough cushion for the later part of their season. Their schedule in April is scary, look at their final 7 games.

 

Its still phoenix. Richardson has talent, but chemistry is a bigger problem for the suns. Plus JRich will give you highlights, but his effect on win-loss will be small (as usual).

 

it will be close. But Portland's consistency will be questionable as they were also had a great start but screwed at mid season

 

They have had it pretty easy so far, i expect them to finish 6th or worse this year. In the same group with Dallas/Phoenix.

The season is still young, no telling whats going to happen this early in, i would like NO to drop out of the race, then David Stern would need to find him another team to love on.

 

After the JRich trade, the Suns are dead in the water if an injury hits. For that matter, they could be dead anyway now that nobody on their team can play defense. As someone implied earlier, with both Marion and Bell gone, Nash will get chewed up and spit out as teams constantly attack him.

Starters:
Nash
JRich
Barnes
Amare
Shaq

Key Reserves:
Barbosa
Hill
Robin Lopez

Tell you what, IF the Suns make the playoffs, they will be too gassed to win a series.

 

I chose Portland and New Orleans.

I know most (so-called) analyst over at ESPN will probably pick Denver and us.


Especially, remember Stephen A Smith, Greg Anthony, and someone else pick us to miss the playoffs, indefinitely and we started the 22 game winning streak a few weeks later.

It happened the year before, when Yao went down with an injury...and we went 20-12.

 

Portland could fall off the wagon despite their talent, and the fact that their schedule will ease up. The problem is that they have no veteran leadership (okay, Pryzbilla's been around since 2000 but he's still very young). If they do wind up trading Outlaw, it shouldn't be for Conley but a veteran leader to right the ship. Roy is an archetypal leader but he needs more experience to be as effective as needed.

Some of their bigs (Oden and Frye in particular) need more fire.

 

My gut feeling is that the Suns or the Blazers will be the odd team out.

The Rockets are too good to miss the playoffs. There, I said it.