Okc misses playoffs. Pelicans win the sw division. Despite what people think, the pelicans are going to be a MAJOR problem for every team. Also, the fact that SA Spurs have been to the finals 2 years in a row, those games are going to take a toll. I also don't think the suns are going to beat out the mavericks. 1. Portland Trailblazers: 59 - 23 2. LA Clippers: 58-24 3. NO Pelicans: 58-24 4. SA Spurs: 57-25 5. Houston Rockets: 56-26 6. Memphis Grizzlies: 56-26 7. Golden State Warriors: 52-30 8. Dallas Mavericks: 49-31
i think the east wont be as god awful this year (which sort of buoys the w-l column in the west), of course trades may alter that.
I don't know if the Pelicans are good, but one game against a team perfectly built to suck against them (Orlando can't shoot) should not be indicative of anything. And betting on their health is generally a losing proposition in the past few years.
It's clearly: 1. Houston 2. Jerry Lin 3. irrelevant 4. irrelevant 5. irrelevant 6. irrelevant 7. irrelevant 8. irrelevant