Now with Shaq gone to the west, let's rank the WEST

1. Minnesota
2. San Antonio
3. Houston
4. Sacramento
5. Memphis
6. Dallas
7. Denver
8. Utah
9. Phoenix
10. New Orleans
11. Clippers
12. Lakers
13. Portland
14. Golden State
15. Seattle

Anyone's guess is as good as any other's. It's a toss up at this point, especially given all the turmoil this offseason. Kobe's best bet is to jump to the Clippers, in which case, I think they're fighting it out with Dallas, Denver, Utah and Phoenix for the final playoff spot.

 

Because it's July, we're in between deals (hopefully ), and there's nothing else to do...

 

1. San Antonio
2. Minnesota
3. Sacramento
4. Houston
5. Memphis
6. Dallas
7. Lakers
8. Nuggets

9. Jazz
10. Suns

 

ALL I KNOW IS THAT IS GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE FROM 7-11

1. Spurs
2. Minn
3. Kings
4. Rockets
5. Dallas
6. Lakers

7-10 any orde: (Utah, Phoniex, Denver, Memphis)

 

How does this affect how they'll do in the regular season?

I'd like to take the time to point out the McGrady trade INCREASES our playoff experience. Francis and Mobley have played a combined 14 playoff games- McGrady has played 18. Cato played 17 playoff games, mostly as a bit player for Portland. Lue has played 18 playoff games himself, and Howard has been in 13.

1.) San Antonio
2.) Minnesota
3.) Houston
4.) Sacramento
5.) Memphis
6.) Dallas
7.) LA Lakers
8.) Denver

9.) Utah
10.) Phoenix
11.) Portland
12.) New Orleans
13.) Seattle
14.) LA Clippers
15.) Golden State

 

I would like to wait a bit and see how free-agency ends before deciding power rankings.
There arer couple of issues to be resolved:
1) Where would Kobe end?
There is no gurantee that Kobe will sign with the Lakers IMO. Clippers with Kobe, in my view, are on the same level with us, Kings, and Wolves.
2) How will Nugget spend their cap-space? With K-Mart, I think Nuggest will be very dangerous.
3) Will Kings, Mavs and others be active on trades?
Anyway, I expect the team to finish like this at the end of year:
1) Spurs
2) Kings
3) Rockets
4) Wolves
5) Mavs
6) Nuggets
7) Grizz
8) Suns
9) Jazz
10) Lakers

 

Assuming we get a good point and backup C, it'll take some time for us to gel as a team. LA is in the same spot, but I think they'll do better, not at first, but as the year progresses, due to their veterans.

Minnesota
San Antonio
Lakers
Sacramento
Houston
Memphis
Dallas
Denver

Next year, I believe we'll be top 3 in the regular season. But, once the finals get here? Look out. I believe it'll be a dogfight between Minnesota, San Antonio, Houston and the Lakers. Rudy is a master at getting his team to peak going into the playoffs, and JVG's defense will take us far. It would not surprise me to see the Lakers and Houston in the Western Finals.

 

1- San Antonio
2- Houston
3- Sacramento
4 -Minnesota
5- Dallas
6- Lakers
7- Utah
8- Memphis
9- Phoenix
10- Denver
11- Portland
12- New Orleans
13- Clippers
14- Seattle
15- Golden State

 

1. Minnesota
2. San Antonio
3. Sacramento
4. Houston
5. Dallas
6. Lakers
7. Memphis
8. Denver

------
------

9. Phoenix
10. Utah
11. Portland
12. Clippers
13. New Orleans
14. Golden State
15. Seattle

 

it's really amazing how good (at least on paper) some of the teams that will miss the playoffs are. utah has a solid squad and sloan coaching and could miss. phoenix has nash, johnson, marion, and amare and could miss. dallas is loaded but doesn't seem to be a guarantee. denver has great young talent and still some extra cap room and could miss. hell, if we don't get a solid pg and backup C i'm gonna be a little nervous about us.


somehow, the west seems deeper than ever, though maybe not as dominant at the top as it used to be.

 

how can u put clippers that low, if they are healthy and get kobe they will make playoffs, but even if they dont get kobe but remain healthy they wont be the last placed team in the west =\

(assuming kobe resigns with lakers)
1- Minnesota
2- San Antonio
3- Sacramento
4 -Houston
5- Dallas
6- Lakers
7- Memphis
8- Phoenix
9- Denver
10- New Orleans
11- Clippers
12- Seattle
13- Portland
14- Utah
15- Golden State

 

.

 

Isn't it a little too early in the off-season to rank teams? Someone re-start this topic in the end of August.

 

Good points! I agree. I think this year there will be 10 deep in terms of the Western Conference. I think 2 teams will get snubbed come playoff time.

And the East is as weak as ever. At least chances are Shaq is going over there to give the East SOMETHING!

I mean the East is poised to lose these post players. Martin, Odom, Okur, Boozer. And they are only getting Shaq. The West has all the post players!

 

1. Minnesota
2. San Antonio
3. Sacramento
4. Memphis
5. New Orleans
6. Houston
7. Denver
8. Phoenix

9. Dallas
10. LA Lakers
11. Utah
12. Seattle
13. Portland
14. LA Clippers
15. Golden State

 

isn't this the year of realignment and 3 divsions? i would then think that the winner of each division are 1,2 and 3 seeds, in order of record. then again, i guess this is power rankings, not actual playoff seedings.

i'd appreciate it if someone could post the realigned divisions. i recall ours is just stacked with SA, Dal, Houston, NO and perhaps another team.

My power rankings:

1. SA
2. Minny
3. Sac

these are the clear top 3, based on projected rosters and recent performance

4. Dal
5. Hou
6. LA
7. Mem

I think these are the next 4 that are potentially interchangeable. Dallas and Mem have hit the ceiling and are unlikely to push into the elite group. Houston can push upward if Yao fulfills his potential and meshes with Tmac. LA can only make it if Kobe is as good as he thinks he is.

8. Utah
9. Den
10. Phx
11. NO

Utah and Denver could push into the pack above. Three good teams are going to get screwed out of the playoffs.

 

New Orleans a five seed out West?

 

It's still way too early for this. What if Cavs match, then Utah slides far. What if Cavs don't match and Harpring is traded for more help at need positions?

San Antonio is not finished, Kidd on the way?

Hudson coming back to Minny? Wally leaving? For whom?

What if Clips sign Kobe? Nugs KMart? Etc Etc Etc

And by the way -- Rox ain't done, not by a long shot? Right? Right? Please, right!

 

Houston 6?

New Orleans 5th?!?! They're going to get f'ed in the a in the Southwest Division (AKA: THE BEST division in the NBA).

 

why do you guys automatically rank Memphis below us?