I don't understand you guys' rankings! For the most part they're solid, but some of you are ranking teams foolishly! Outside of indaclubam2pm and Smeg's rankings, the rest seem slightly imperfect. These are locks for the top 3 seeds: Minnesota, San Antonio, Sacramento Houston could very well be up there, but I doubt the chemistry bonds perfectly this upcoming season; '05-'06, however, should have Houston as a top 2 seeded team. The rest I'll just rank since it's hard to describe different tiers, but I'll give a little input afterward. 1. Minnesota 2. San Antonio 3. Sacramento 4. Houston 5. Lakers 6. Dallas 7. Denver 8. Memphis Firstly, there's no way the Suns of Jazz make it when it's more than likely the Grizz and Nuggets finish as 5-8 seeds. They're great teams, but this is what the West is about. Dallas is in 6th (could very well be in 5th) because of the abundance of misused talent. You have to assume they aren't done trading; I think they have a great shot at Kidd if they chose to go after him. If he did end up in Dallas, they would definitely be a top 5 seeded team or higher, depending on if Sacramento can hold up. My ranking of Sacramento is based on if Vlade stays. It's not much, however, since the talent is still there in Sac-town. I can't see how Sacramento wouldn't finish top three. Lakers will end up 5th or 6th since both Kobe and Payton will stay, and a good shot at Malone. With Rudy T. allowing Payton to regain his 'Glove' status, watch for him to breakout (again) next year. While Memphis and Denver have improved (well, Denver has), they cannot contend (to be a top seed) with their lineups. All Denver is is a high-talent, high-energy, high-scoring, block party. It sounds great, and it will be exciting to watch, but they will get raped in the interior by Duncan, Yao, and KG. Memphis hasn't improved enough so they move down a spot. This might very well be the most exciting year in the history of the NBA!
with the breakup of the lakers, the kings falling off a little from where they used to be, and the spurs seeming vincible, the west isn't as top-heavy as it used to be, but damn is it stacked. i mean, we're seriously talking about a nowitzki, finley, howard, daniels, stackhouse team not making the playoffs. tmac and yao don't seem like a lock unless we shore up our two big weaknesses. denver and utah have added great pieces and you can't say they're definitely in (though i think they will be). the lakers, the freakin' lakers, could miss out. the grizzlies are as deep as anyone and yet maybe they are on the outside looking in. some incredibly deep and talented teams aren't going to be in the playoffs. it's just amazing how the gap between east and west keeps growing (despite the east finally getting some good top teams, the conference as a whole just keeps getting crappier). i mean in what other sport do people basically talk about the two conferences as if they're two different leagues? hell, the west just stole two young, good big men (kmart and boozer) from the east and even when the east does get a big man (shaq) they still had to at least give something up. i know denver lost 3 picks but that won't help the east for a few years. that east/west disparity rant now complete, my rankings are as follows: 1. Minnesota - as long as cassell is healthy i think they can get the most wins again. 2. San Antonio - TD plus good role players is gonna be solid. 3. Sacramento - if webber is healthy and with the team the whole year (or maybe even if he's not), no reason they won't rack up wins like always. top 3 are very close IMO. 4. Rockets - damn i feel like i'm being too optimistic and don't wanna jinx us and it does depend on us filling the pg and backup c holes and jvg getting a clue on offense, but i don't really know who i can honestly say has us undoubtedly outclassed past the big 3. 5. Denver - almost put them ahead of us but possibly see teams adjusting to melo a little better before he makes a big step the next year and hoping kmart was at least partly a product of jkidd and won't have as big an impact as i fear. still will be really good though. 6. Memphis - as deep as a team as there is and hubie is a good coach. doing well last season was no fluke but doing as well as they did probably was. things like posey hitting 40 footers to force overtime don't often happen over and over again. 7. Lakers - I just can't see a team with kobe and at least some help (i.e. odom, which tmac didn't have while the magic floundered) not making the playoffs. teams won't get up to play the lakers like they used to and kobe will always be ready, possibly letting them steal a win or two they couldn't in the past. 8. Jazz - was gonna put them higher until i realized there was no one i could really put them higher than. sloan got two more guys who play hard and can hit a jump shot (two more cogs for the machine), even if mehmet and boozer are overpaid, and they get harpring back. hard to see how they won't win more games than last year and won't make the playoffs. you know what i just realized? i don't have dallas in the playoffs. i suppose if i was being rational i'd realize they still have a bunch of talent and even though we split 2-2 with them they still seem better than us and then i'd put them ahead of the lakers and jazz (and then have the jazz above the lakers) but i just can't shake the thought that a) kobe won't let his team lose and b) the fact that the jazz just won't die no matter what. now if dallas gets vinsanity, it's a whole new ballgame. also, the pessimist in me really wants to put memphis 4th, denver 5th, and the rockets taking some time to gel at 6th, but i don't feel like changing it now (so basically my whole list past the top 3 is a lie ). and this list still doesn't include two teams with quite a bit of talent (portland and phoenix) and a third team with solid, normally playoff caliber talent (new orleans). it's so freakin' stacked out here. you've got about 8 or 9 50 win caliber teams and about 12 41 win caliber teams. now there will be so much competition that you won't get 9 50 win teams and 12 .500 teams but still. i'm thinking the clippers, sonics, and warriors are gonna just get rolled as west teams try to pick up cheap wins wherever they can.
This is going to be an incredible season to be a Basketball fan and Rox fan.. It seems like everyone around the league is excited about the upcoming season.. My rankings (while trying to be objective) 1. Sacramento people might wonder why I selected Sac first? I think of the Western conference playoff teams they play in the easiest division. They have also managed to keep their roster intact.. (BMiller starting at C is an upgrade over Vlade IMO) and everyone is pretty much the same. If CWebb can stay healthy and Peja continues his excellent regular season play they are the team to beat. 2. San Antonio Tim Duncan - what can I say about the guy.. he makes everyone around him better. It would be scary if SA ever gets the 1 - 2 punch of Duncan/Robinson again. However, I think Duncan and comp. will still be a top team w/ Parker, Ginobili. 3. Minnesota Same team if healthy quite dangerous.. however, they lack a real low post threat but make up for it with the play of KG. Who at times is unstoppable.. the health/age of Sam / Spree will start to become a factor and unless they shore up some spots with good young guys this team wont be playoff material for much longer. 4. Houston This will depend on the PG we sign and how well everyone gels together. However, we now have the best 1 - 2 - 3 punch in the league ... Tmac/Jhoward were second to Kobe/Shaq in dynamic duo scoring last year. Now think about adding Tmac/Yao/Jhoward to the mix... Its undeniable how much talent we have on our team... Tmac - scoring champion, excellent perimter defender when he wants to. Yao - next dominate C in the league. Always a low post threat and a presence in the paint. Jhoward - in the right situation could have been an All Star, peoples main gripe about the guy has been his salary not his production. add to the mix the right amount to vet leadership (JJ,Jhoward) and Talent (Yao, Tmac) and sprinkle in a decent PG we have a top team. *every team afterwards is up for debate. 5. Dallas I had to give them the nod.. dont know why people have written them off? SNash is great and maybe was the glue that kept them together but the team still has tons of talent, that can be packaged for players that fit their needs or they can just get by like they always have. Score way more than their opponents. 6. Denver I like the addition of Kmart even though I think hes overrated. He will get you 17pts/10rebs but he brings an attitude that I think will be great for that organization. That team has a surplus of PF's (big men) which they can package for more depth later. I worry about everyone wanting to be the man on this team.. Melo, Kmart, Nene, AMiller .. if they can mesh and everyone knows their roles this is one awesome team. 7. Memphis This team drops a few spots because of the other teams getting stronger. I feel like they were a Cinderella story last year but I dont see them keeping the same drive and attitude as last year. 8. Utah This was a tough pick.. Suns/Lakers/Portland may all deserve a spot but Utah gets the nod from me since they were able to shore up 2 of their biggest weaknesses in one season. Mehmet is vastly overrated but that doesnt mean hes not good. Boozer / Ak47 / Okur will be a very strong frontline that maybe only Denver can match in terms of talent at each position. I think Utah has a well rounded team no one really stands out as All Star Caliber yet (maybe AK) but they are young and that also makes them scary. Under Sloan they will play the right way and win games I just dont see them getting far with a true "star". Honorable Mention. Lakers - will be close this year but chemistry will be a problem (especially when Kobe doesnt pass you the ball) and the addition of Odom/Butler is nice but they dont seem like difference makers. GP still has some game but it seems like he wants to dominate the ball. I think this team still has too much ego with GP / Kobe / Odom wanting to be the man. GP was willing to defer to Shaq but I dont know if he will feel that way about Kobe.. Suns - have had an absolutely talent filled team for a few seasons now but cant seem to get their act together. Same with the Clippers.. Portland - if they make the right moves may steal a playoff spot from someone but I expect their chubby PF to continue gaining weight and not working. This team has the talent but it lacks the leadership.. maybe thats the problem with Suns/Clippers/Blazers they lack someone a leader that pushes and drvies them? J
Like Omega said, thats correct. But I wish they would do away with the 3 division champs getting automatic top seeds. Is that fair?
if dallas gets vince carter that wont be good IMO, they already lost who id say one of their best assets in jamison, now if they lose walker even though i would want to get rid of him, to get a carter, that means u got dirk finley stackhouse and carter who are all injury prone...so u know they will be hard to defeat when all 4 of em r playing, but who knows how many injuries each will suffer
then wat would be the real purpose of having divisions i dunno maybe thers another reason dont get mad get glad
Looking at all the projections of the Rockets for the 2004-05 season... What puts Houston in the top 4 in the West? Still alot of work to do this offseason. TLue would be ok (maybe) at PG, hope like hell JJackson has a season close to last year and beg that JHoward stays healthy. To many questions marks in the current lineup to be looking at home court advantage in the playoffs. All this and still I hope you guys are right. Please show us some movement CD!
1.Spurs 2.Wolves 3.Kings 4.Rockets 5.Mavericks 6.Lakers 7.Nuggets 8.Hornets 9.Grizzlies 10.Jazz 11.Suns 12.Blazers 13. Sonics 14.Clipps 15.Warriors
unless we get a decent PG and back-up center we will not be that good...until we do i rank the west as this spurs kings wolves nuggets dallas rockets lakers jazz
1 - Spurs - can't see the Wolves beating them out 2 years in a row; this team is too good and has arguably the best player in the game in Duncan surrounded by solid role players who know how to play a team game. 2 - Wolves - Duncan isn't the best player in the game by much over Garnett. Along with Sam I Am and Spree, this is one of the most loaded teams offensively but getting up there in years; a major injury would kill them. 3 - Kings - losing Divac hurts but they still have Brad Miller along with Peja. Now if Webber can stay healthy and play up to his potential, but time is running out on this bunch. 4 - Grizzlies - I know that some might think I am crazy for having them this high but this team made a believer out of me last season. They have GREAT chemistry and that is one thing that cannot be stated enough. It is great to make a bunch of moves if you think that improves the team, but if you already have good chemistry to begin with, why mess it up? 5 - Rockets - If the Rockets can solve their PG problems, their team, potential wise, is good enough to hang with the Wolves and the Spurs, IMO. However, chemistry is going to be a key concern, I think. I might be delusional to think that but I really feel that can be a problem. 6 - Nuggets - Good young roster and added much needed enforcer in Kenyon Martin. They will be solid; it is just a matter of maturity for them. BTW - teams 4 through 6 could easily swap places with each other as I feel that those 3 teams are about equal to each other. 7 - Mavericks - losing Nash hurts and this is a team that never seems to have great chemistry. Their recipe for building a team is just get a bunch of scorers and hope for the best. However, you have to feel that they are going to make some moves to try to improve their current team. 8 - Lakers - I almost put them out of the top 8 in favor of the Jazz, but Kobe with some decent players like Odom, Butler, Divac (even if it is for one season) and the mitten aka Payton is enough for them to get by the Jazz, but barely. Should be a great season - maybe the most anticipated one I have had since Barkley's first season with us!
