TD 21
07-05-2015, 06:14 PM
Tier 1 Spurs, Warriors, Thunder
Tier 2 Rockets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Mavericks
Tier 3 Pelicans, Jazz, Suns, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves
Tier 4 Lakers, Kings, Nuggets
Better, not just based on additions, but improved health or internal growth . . . Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Pelicans, Jazz, Timberwolves
Same . . . Warriors, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Suns, Lakers, Kings, Nuggets
Worse . . . Clippers, Trail Blazers
Overall, not much has changed.
A few thoughts on the Spurs . . .
Between the addition of Aldridge, the Clippers subtraction of Jordan and the fact that they have no means with which to adequately replace him, they've went from slightly behind the Spurs, Thunder and Warriors, to clearly behind again.
That means getting the 1 seed is extremely important again, as it would mean avoiding the Thunder/Warriors until the WCF and having them wear each other down in the WCSF.
The biggest key to getting the 1 seed for the Spurs, aside from not being decimated by injury, of course, is Parker. Aldridge should be a near seamless fit and they can live with the most recent contributions of the other returning rotation players, but what they can't live with is Parker not having a bounce back. It's not reasonable to expect a return to the form of 3 and 4 seasons ago, but 2 seasons ago probably is and that's good enough.
Tier 2 Rockets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Mavericks
Tier 3 Pelicans, Jazz, Suns, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves
Tier 4 Lakers, Kings, Nuggets
Better, not just based on additions, but improved health or internal growth . . . Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Pelicans, Jazz, Timberwolves
Same . . . Warriors, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Suns, Lakers, Kings, Nuggets
Worse . . . Clippers, Trail Blazers
Overall, not much has changed.
A few thoughts on the Spurs . . .
Between the addition of Aldridge, the Clippers subtraction of Jordan and the fact that they have no means with which to adequately replace him, they've went from slightly behind the Spurs, Thunder and Warriors, to clearly behind again.
That means getting the 1 seed is extremely important again, as it would mean avoiding the Thunder/Warriors until the WCF and having them wear each other down in the WCSF.
The biggest key to getting the 1 seed for the Spurs, aside from not being decimated by injury, of course, is Parker. Aldridge should be a near seamless fit and they can live with the most recent contributions of the other returning rotation players, but what they can't live with is Parker not having a bounce back. It's not reasonable to expect a return to the form of 3 and 4 seasons ago, but 2 seasons ago probably is and that's good enough.