Rank the Top 8 Teams in the West

[mavsfan1000]

For me, it is...
1. Spurs
2. Thunder (With Ibaka)
3. Clippers
4. Grizzlies
5. Mavs
6. Warriors
7. Blazers
8. Rockets

[Kawhi]

Spurs
Thunder
Clippers
Rockets
Trail Blazers
Warriors
Grizzlies
Mavericks

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

Spurs
OKC
Grizz
Clips
Houston
Warriors
Blazers
Mavs

[mavsfan1000]

Spurs
Thunder
Clippers
Rockets
Trail Blazers
Warriors
Grizzlies
Mavericks
lol at Rockets at #4. They played like a number 8 seed in the playoffs.

[Kawhi]

lol at Rockets at #4. They played like a number 8 seed in the playoffs.
niggèr

[Franklin]

Lakers will be back in the top 8 next season with their #7 draft and Kobe back healthy, tbh.

[spurraider21]

^:lmao

[Arcadian]

Mavs should be at least #4 considering they almost knocked off the Spurs.

[mavsfan1000]

Mavs should be at least #4 considering they almost knocked off the Spurs.
Spurs were in a slump.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Spurs were in a slump.

I think the Mavs' success against the spurs is more about Carlisle's brilliance. Spurs weren't necessarily rolling against the Mavs but I don't think the Spurs were in a funk. Carlisle's defensive schemes effectively neutralized our role players and sort of forced the Spurs to play OKC-level offense with Parker and Duncan going 1 on 1.

The Spurs are at their best when every position is a threat on offense. When Parker and Duncan are forced to play more isoball, the Spurs are maybe 5th or 6th best in the West.

[ElNono]

I think the Mavs' success against the spurs is more about Carlisle's brilliance. Spurs weren't necessarily rolling against the Mavs but I don't think the Spurs were in a funk. Carlisle's defensive schemes effectively neutralized our role players and sort of forced the Spurs to play OKC-level offense with Parker and Duncan going 1 on 1.

The Spurs are at their best when every position is a threat on offense. When Parker and Duncan are forced to play more isoball, the Spurs are maybe 5th or 6th best in the West.

Agree about Carlisle. You can also throw Diaw in there being pretty underwhelming to start that series, but he's been an amazing wildcard for us in general.

[HemisfairArena]

Houston>Dallas,,,,easily.

[DMC]

Spurs
Thunder

There are no other teams in the West still playing.

[spurraider21]

Spurs
Thunder

There are no other teams in the West still playing.
there are 15 teams in the western conference. OP didn't specifically mention teams remaining in this year's playoffs

[DMC]

there are 15 teams in the western conference. OP didn't specifically mention teams remaining in this year's playoffs

All other teams have lost. Their seasons are over. They are therefore all ranked behind Spurs and Thunder in a "don't matter" order.

[spurraider21]

All other teams have lost. Their seasons are over. They are therefore all ranked behind Spurs and Thunder in a "don't matter" order.
so the Clippers are not better than the Jazz?

[DMC]

so the Clippers are not better than the Jazz?

Do they have a better chance to win a ring this season?

[spurraider21]

Do they have a better chance to win a ring this season?
nope. i don't think the OP posed that question though

[Beaverfuzz]

I think the Mavs' success against the spurs is more about Carlisle's brilliance. Spurs weren't necessarily rolling against the Mavs but I don't think the Spurs were in a funk. Carlisle's defensive schemes effectively neutralized our role players and sort of forced the Spurs to play OKC-level offense with Parker and Duncan going 1 on 1.

The Spurs are at their best when every position is a threat on offense. When Parker and Duncan are forced to play more isoball, the Spurs are maybe 5th or 6th best in the West.

Nope, it was all Ellis. If you got rid of Carter's three, the series wouldn't have been as close either.

[DMC]

nope. i don't think the OP posed that question though

The better team should have the better chance to win. If the teams have the same chance to win, meaning zero, they are no better than each other. You'd have to pose a hypothetical "if they played" but they don't. If this question was asked before the playoffs began, it would be a different outcome. Easy to rank them when there are only 2 left.

[spurraider21]

The better team should have the better chance to win. If the teams have the same chance to win, meaning zero, they are no better than each other. You'd have to pose a hypothetical "if they played" but they don't. If this question was asked before the playoffs began, it would be a different outcome. Easy to rank them when there are only 2 left.
and yet the thread title did not say "rank the top 8 teams for the 2014 playoffs." ambiguous as the OP was, its your fault for narrowing its meaning. if the OP meant for this playoff run, he wouldn't ask for 8 teams considering there are two left.

[Aztecfan03]

spurs
clippers
thunder
blazers
warriors
grizzlies
rockets
mavs

[mavsfan1000]

Houston>Dallas,,,,easily.
Houston lost to Portland in 6 games. Dallas lost to San Antonio in 7 games. Not easily at all.

[spurraider21]

Houston lost to Portland in 6 games. Dallas lost to San Antonio in 7 games. Not easily at all.
Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock

[mavsfan1000]

Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock
Nice try. What makes a team is what you do in the playoffs. And we know teams 3-8 are pretty even. The playoffs decide the order for those 6 teams.

[spurraider21]

And we know teams 3-8 are pretty even.
that seems like a really convenient assumption. i think dallas played a heck of a series, and houston played a crap series, but i'm not going to let that sample judge where the teams rank.

[Malik Hairston]

1. Spurs
2. Thunder with Ibaka
3. Clippers
4. Mavs/Rockets/Grizzlies/Blazers/Thunder without Ibaka
9. Warriors without Bogut

[mavsfan1000]

that seems like a really convenient assumption. i think dallas played a heck of a series, and houston played a crap series, but i'm not going to let that sample judge where the teams rank.
Yes let the regular season decide it. Smart decision.

[TDMVPDPOY]

thunder no.2 with refs right?

[spurraider21]

Yes let the regular season decide it. Smart decision.
i think they should both factor, but matchups dictate playoff records more so than anything. its also up to you if you want to definitively weigh 6-7 games more heavily than 82

[testies]

In a half-court, tense playoff environment, give me Carlisle+Dirk over any other team bar us and OKC (with Ibaka).

Also, Grizz are still > Clips in a half court playoff game

[Mori Chu]

Suns

[MeloHype]

Houston lost to Portland in 6 games. Dallas lost to San Antonio in 7 games. Not easily at all.
Memphis lost to okc in 7, clippers lost in 6, by your logic grizzlies > clippers

[mavsfan1000]

Memphis lost to okc in 7, clippers lost in 6, by your logic grizzlies > clippers
Well they are close. At least in a playoff situation. They got both defense and a low post game. Who knows what would've happened if Zach Randolph was playing in game 7.

[mavsfan1000]

Suns
Got beat by Dallas and Memphis late in the season. Not quite a top 8 team imo. A solid 9 though. :lol

[Cry Havoc]

Warriors are being too quickly discounted. They gave the Clippers fits without their best defender in Bogut. If they're healthy I think they're 3rd or 4th in the West. The clips have no offensive diversity and Portland is still too young to be a top 4 team. And Houston is laughably one-dimensional.

If healthy:

Spurs
Thunder
Warriors
Memphis
Clippers
Blazers
Mavs
Rockets

[KL2]

1. Spurs
2. Clippers
3. Memphis
4. Mavs
5. POR
6. GSW
7. OKC
8. HOU

[cheguevara]

1. Spurs
2. Clippers
3. Oklahoma
4. Memphis
5. Golden State
6. Dallas
7. Portland
8. Houston