It's a public poll so you can click on the number of votes to see who voted for what. The five that voted for less than 40 are 523744, garthomps, huby_n1, magnomonkey and SuperS32
I don't see us standing pat through the trade deadline and though the poll had the caveat "with this roster," I think we will go into the regular season with this roster plus one waived guy, though I don't know (who does) who. Assuming we go into the season just as we are (plus or minus a bit player), JVG should have great results having all the guys from last year in the system ready to go. The way TMac and Yao got comfortable with each other at the end of last year and through the playoffs, I think we can expect great things from throwing a guy like Swft between them in the frontcourt. They should be, if not THE best frontcourt in the NBA, certainly one of the two best in the league. The backcourt was disappointing last year, but it was worst right at the beginning of the year with no Sura, no Wesley, no Barry, and Lue starting with Strickland backing him up. Take away that 6-11 start and we could have been competing with Dallas for that 4th spot at the end of the year. I wouldn't be upset at all going into the season with the guys we have, keeping in mind that they are a big part of what propelled us to a 45-20 finish to the season. If we go out with the guys we have, we will do very well during the regular season and we can take the time to assess our strengths, collect information about possible moves, and then acquire one more piece before the trade deadline. Starting with continuity will turn that 6-11 start around to 14-3 and we will be fighting with SA for the tops in the division. We have the personnel right now to win 60+ games (my vote), especially since the WC has gotten just a touch weaker IMO. The key to the playoffs next year, IMO, will be Yao's attitude. If he has decided that he wants to dominate and takes steps towards that during the regular season, we will be very tough to beat. If he lets the refs take him out of the game (I personally think he needs to talk to the refs more) like he has for the first three years, we are very beatable. If Yao is able to turn it on and be a dominant player, we can win the Finals. If Yao struggles with the "killer instinct," we are second round or WC championship round and out.
I voted somewhere between 51-55, I think they will have a much more stable season, fewer lows and highs. The real test will be the playoffs, which I think they can make it to the WCFs.
we had such a poor start if we started off the way we ended the season I think we will be battling SA / Suns for the best record in the West. J
Thanks Blatz, I didn't know. I normally don't use words like 'whackos' but with the disclaimer of the poll being this team as is (on paper), it's difficult to see us regressing from last year.
At the beginning of the year it was Ward starting with Lue as the backup, still the worst in the league. Strickland didn't come until later (and left soon after). The backcourt should be much better this season. None of the top 5 guards — Sura, James, Wesley, Barry and Head — was on the active roster at the start of last season, and there could be more additions to come. Put me down for 58-24, second in the division and the #4 seed overall.
I think that we will win 56-60 games next season. I reserve any prediction about postseason until next March or April. We need to understand that any season ending injury to Yao or TMac and our season is over.
