Everyone knows the West is going to be crazier than it's ever been. I feel like this year, the top 7 seeds will be separated by a one or two games, so seeding might come down to head-to-head meetings and conference records. This has to be the most competitive conference in the history of all sports. So, it will be fun to predict where teams will be seeded based on what we have seen so far, and then keep up with this thread as the season unfolds. Here is how I predict the West to turn out: 1st) Grizzlies (59-23): Surprised? I think that once it becomes clear that the Thunder will get that 8th seed, teams will start positioning themselves away from the 1st seed. The 1st seed will be open and I think Memphis would welcome it with open arms. They have faced OKC the past two years some with success, so I don't think they 'fear' OKC like other teams do. 2nd) Warriors (58-24): This team is almost unfair. They have the luxury to bring Iguodala and David Lee off their bench along with Livingston and Speights. They can run away with the 1st seed based on how they have started and their depth, but I think they will fall off a little bit. If it becomes close, wouldn't be surprised they lose some games to avoid OKC in the first round. 3rd) Rockets (56-26): Probably best case scenario would be for this team to get a 2nd or 3rd seed as we will get home court and can avoid OKC/Memphis/Clippers until the WCF. I really think the best is yet to come with this team. With the ability to add potentially a secondary playmaker and/or a real back up center this team can be dark horse contenders. 4th) Blazers (56-26): Those pesky (and annoying) Blazers. They will have the same record as us but will get the 4th seed based on our head to head matchup. Lillard and LMA are damn scary, just saying. 5th) Clippers (54-28): Clippers really need some help; they are so inconsistent, but they have the talent to be serious players any night. 6th) Spurs (53-29): They'll turn it on at some point but they might be too far to make any serious move up to the top 4 seeds. And Pop will sacrifice seeding if it means his guys are healthy come playoff time. 7th) Mavericks (52-30): I'm not biased (only slightly), but I think they are going to fall off and expose themselves to be more pretenders as the season passes. They don't have a defense and rely on offense too much. We saw last year how that is not a recipe for success. 8th) Thunder (49-33): The wildcard. This team is arguable the best in the West and they will have to fight for the 8th seed. I think they will make it, though. They can turn the West on its head if they catch fire. How do you think the West will turn out?
Rockets are on pace to win just two more games than last year, but the West is a meat grinder. They'll need to slightly improve their win percentage to reach 60 victories.
If we get back our defensive Mojo, we should be up there. Offensively, it can certainly help if we improved but it's on the other side of the floor which caused us to get knocked out last year. Defense is what we focused on during training camp and it should remain the same.
we lucked out on the pels pick, that pick wont be worth much in the coming years... morey better ship that out for gogi if that offer is indeed on the table
Your guess is as good as any right now seeing as we are not even half way yet. I am going to stick to my original prediction and say that we are about the same as last year and get the 4th seed for now. I don't don't see OKC as all that right now. We see that Westbrook is coming down back to earth finally but they should be able to make the playoffs. Dallas took a big hit in depth. GSW are up there but we all know Curry has glass ankles and always has to sit every year for a good part of the season to get ready for the playoffs.
Warriors Blazers Grizzlies Clippers Spurs Rockets Mavericks Thunder (Suns) (Pelicans) I'm sorry to say I have that little faith in the Rockets, but the West is damn tough. WCSF: Warriors over Spurs, Grizzlies over Blazers WCF: Warriors over Grizzlies
Golden State Warriors Portland Trailblazers Memphis Grizzlies Houston Rockets Dallas Mavericks LA Clippers San Antonio Spurs Phoenix Suns
1) Memphis 2) Golden State 3) Portland 4) Houston 5) Dallas 6) LA Clippers 7) San Antonio 8) Oklahoma City MEM vs HOU in Semis GSW vs POR in Semis HOU vs POR in WCF
Portland Trailblazers Memphis Grizzlies Golden State Warriors Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets San Antonio Spurs OKC Thunder LA Clippers ---------------- PHX NO
Golden State Memphis Portland Dallas Houston San Antonio LA Clippers Phoenix Yes, Phoenix in over OKC. Rockets go to Dallas in Rd 1.
55+ wins, 4th seed. Warriors with the top seed. When half of the team was injured, we played with great chemistry, nearly the whole game. Now, we are winning based on talent, seemingly playing well in portions of the game. This year, the West is wide open, and there is no reason why this Rockets could not come out of the West. However, to accomplish that, they will have to increase their defensive intensity and keep it up for the vast majority of the game. In other words, use the old gel formula where defense creates offense. We have tremendous depth, especially when Jones comes back, but as another poster alluded to, individual sacrifices will have to be made. It would help tremendously if McHale could have team and individual talks with players as to what he expects from them. That's how you build chemistry.
1. Golden State Warriors 2. Portland Trail Blazers 3. Dallas Mavericks 4. Memphis Grizzlies 5. Los Angeles Clippers 6. Houston Rockets 7. San Antonio Spurs 8. Phoenix Suns We channel the spirt of the '95 team and shock the world.
Seriously? The Rockets are on course to add a true PG and maybe Brandon Wright. I would hold off till the trading deadline to start writing off the Rockets.
This year is different than I'd say the last 7 years in the NBA. There is no clear cut favorite to win it all. Miami has been for the past 4 years, than it was Lakers and Boston in 07/08. This year it's all up for grabs.
