I think the spurs are the favorites

[RON ARTEST]

to win it all next year. shaq is getting older and slower and mourning and payton might retire. the mavs might not recover from thier collapse :lol and detroit is a little disfunctional right now.everyone keeps talking about amare coming back but i think the suns will start off slow with everyone having to adjust to thier new roles and he will have to get in game shape. so i think if the spurs make thier bench a little younger they will be back on top in no time.

[rascal]

Not with the current roster as it is. They still have to make some moves. Phoenix will be better with Amare back. And who knows what other teams will do, even the lakers may land Garnett some how. Every year the landscape of the league changes.

[RON ARTEST]

Not with the current roster as it is. They still have to make some moves. Phoenix will be better with Amare back. And who knows what other teams will do, even the lakers may land Garnett some how. Every year the landscape of the league changes.
yeah but im pretty sure the spurs are gonna make whatever moves they have to. and who knows how good amare will be when he gets back? thats a mystery. and the T-wolves dont want anything the lakers have for KG.

[DallasFan]

I think the top west teams will be:

Mavs
Spurs
Suns
Kings
Lakers (only because of Kobe)...I think the Kings will be tough this next season (Artest)...

[Extra Stout]

No Dammit The Spurs Must Fly Under The Radar

[picnroll]

Too early to tell. Let's see what the rosters look like going into the season and what Amare looks like.

[whottt]

Nash is getting up there in years and has chronic back problems...not sure how long he is going to be able to maintain his recent level of play...and his level of play has a whole lot to do with the ability of Phoenix to contend.

[Extra Stout]

Nash is getting up there in years and has chronic back problems...not sure how long he is going to be able to maintain his recent level of play...and his level of play has a whole lot to do with the ability of Phoenix to contend.
All of his strength is contained within his chest hair.

[MadDog73]

West will be very competitive next year, and my guess is whoever wins the West wins the Championship.

[Texas_Ranger]

I think the top west teams will be:

Mavs
Spurs
Suns
Kings
Lakers (only because of Kobe)...I think the Kings will be tough this next season (Artest)...


Don`t agree with two things.

First: Spurs will be on top.
Second: LAC will be before LAL. :fro

[CubanMustGo]

Jury is still out on Phoenix, IMO. Besides Nash getting older, lots of people have struggled to come back from microfracture surgery and Amare went and injured the good leg when he tried to come back too soon. If nothing else, the mental baggage could prove worrisome.

[Mavs<Spurs]

Jury is still out on Phoenix, IMO. Besides Nash getting older, lots of people have struggled to come back from microfracture surgery and Amare went and injured the good leg when he tried to come back too soon. If nothing else, the mental baggage could prove worrisome.


good points. Still if Amare comes back healthy and they get 1 more good year out of Nash, then Phoenix will be tough this year, much tougher than last year.

In fact, I believe that if those two things hold that Phoenix can and will beat Dallas. I would bet money on it. and I don't say that very often.

Nash, Raja, Diaw, Marion and Stoudamire

Barbosa, House, Thomas off the bench.

That is a very good and extremely athletic team right there.

Dallas best team is small and athletic. But Phoenix's team is quicker, stronger and more athletic than Dallas and their team is much better at small ball than Dallas. Dallas cannot win.

[Mavs<Spurs]

If Nash stays healthy for a year and Amare is recovered fully,
then you can take that to the bank.

Phoenix over Dallas in 5.

[mabber]

Regardless of who you "think" should be favored in the west, the reality is that the Mavs will be the odds on favorite (in Vegas) to win the west again. The Spurs will be close behind with the Suns a little bit behind the Spurs. That's just the way it will open up in Vegas & all internet sportsbooks.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

to win it all next year. shaq is getting older and slower and mourning and payton might retire. the mavs might not recover from thier collapse :lol and detroit is a little disfunctional right now.everyone keeps talking about amare coming back but i think the suns will start off slow with everyone having to adjust to thier new roles and he will have to get in game shape. so i think if the spurs make thier bench a little younger they will be back on top in no time.
Don't you know that if we're the favorites we'll lose? In 1999, 2003, and 2005 we were not the favorites.

[kalikot_boy_kr]

im sure the top team will be:

Spurs
suns
kings
"Da last"

[superfedja]

Don't you know that if we're the favorites we'll lose? In 1999, 2003, and 2005 we were not the favorites.

Not true. We were the favorites in 2005. Every expert and newspaper picked us to win the championship in 2005 ( knowing we have won in 2003 and that only a 0.4 miracle shot from Derek Fisher kept us from getting the ring in 2004 ).

We will be the favorites next year because we were the best basket-ball team this in this year's playoffs ( many experts still think that way). We just lost because of the refs ( it's not whinning and bitching ... it's a fact... the refs took game 3 and 4 from us... we didn't deserve to win against the Mavs because we underestimated them and we didn't do anything do dump Rasho's or Barry's contract ( lesson learned, we will do it this summer) but we were still the best basket-ball team out there ). And for those who don't believe that the NBA favors big market teams ( L.A. , New York, Miami, Dallas, etc) and big superstars ( Wade, TD, Garnett, Shaq, Dirk, LeBron, etc ) then just watch this year's finals and tell me that the Mavs didn't get ripped like we did.

[bigdog]

spurs will be fine, and they will make the moves that they need to get back on top. their current roster wont win them a championship,but believe me they will be ready.sign Jak, trade Scola's rights for a solid big man or a draft pick, and get maybe one or 2 via FA,and we will be back in good shape. the spurs have always found a way to get the guys they want.

[DallasFan]

West will be very competitive next year, and my guess is whoever wins the West wins the Championship.

That's what everyone thought this year...too bad we blew game 3...they got all the momentum after that.

[DallasFan]

If Nash stays healthy for a year and Amare is recovered fully,
then you can take that to the bank.

Phoenix over Dallas in 5.

That's a bold prediction before the season has even started...the Kings will be a lot tougher than people think, and the Spurs will be right at the top as usual as well.

[DallasFan]

im sure the top team will be:

Spurs
suns
kings
"Da last"

..um, DALLAS... ;)

[himat]

Screw favorites. i'm telling you being the favorites suck. Your team gets cocky and it bites em right in the ass when they finally realize they lost. I don't care if my team isn't the favorites actually i like it. I don't think nationally people think spurs are the favorites. Everyone is filling up the miami and Dallas bandwagons

[Nikos]

Not with the current roster as it is. They still have to make some moves. Phoenix will be better with Amare back. And who knows what other teams will do, even the lakers may land Garnett some how. Every year the landscape of the league changes.

No matter who the Spurs get you probably will automatically assume the Spurs are not contenders. They pretty much have to be a MUCH better team on paper for you to admit that they have a decent chance at the title. Was Miami even really that good? We picked them to beat Dallas, but was their roster really that excellent?

If the Spurs had someone like Haslem to guard Dirk (instead of 6'6 200 pound Bowen) they could have easily beat them as well. Don't pretend like it was scoring and lack of roster talent around Duncan that lost the series (at least not where Ginobili and Parker are concerned). They lost because of shitty defense, and no offensive firepower from anyone but Ginobili and Parker with Duncan.

Spurs if they get a backup PG like Speedy, and one decent big can easily be better than any team but the Suns (if Amare ishealthy).

I would agree Garnett to LA and they would be the favorites. But the Spurs are not exactly gaurunteed to not have a chance at the title with their current roster.

[Darkwaters]

Well, lets just consider all of the GOOD teams in the west and not put them in order yet. Who could possibly make the playoffs out of the west.

San Antonio
Dallas
Phoenix
Denver
LA Clippers
Memphis

These all are very good bets to repeat in their playoff berths. But that still leaves 2 slots. Theres a lot of teams that could slip in there.

Houston - If they can pick up a shooter like Redick and TMac and Ming can stay healthy, they're a good bet.

LA Lakers - Kobe alone could make them an 8 seed. But offseason moves might move them further up.

Utah - They finished at 9 last season. They could draft well and surprise you.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City - They're a player away from being a legit playoff team. Chris Paul will be the best PG in the league in a couple of years.

Sacramento - We all know what they can do.

The fact is, the West is going to be a slug-fest. I imagine we'll probably see an Eastern Conference team come out with the best record in the league (Miami? Detroit?) but the West will be favored to win the finals. Before we rank the top 5 teams in the west, who will make the playoffs at all?

[Kori Ellis]

As of today, Spurs and Pistons are the VEGAS favorites.

San Antonio Spurs 4/1
Detroit Pistons 4/1
Dallas Mavericks 5/1
Phoenix Suns 5/1
Miami Heat 5/1
New Jersey Nets 12/1

[himat]

As of today, Spurs and Pistons are the VEGAS favorites.

San Antonio Spurs 4/1
Detroit Pistons 4/1
Dallas Mavericks 5/1
Phoenix Suns 5/1
Miami Heat 5/1
New Jersey Nets 12/1


:wow :wow . You'd expect everyone to fall in love with Dallas and Miami.

[T Park]

would agree Garnett to LA and they would be the favorites

What makes anyone think Garnett and Kobe would get along together well.

[mabber]

As of today, Spurs and Pistons are the VEGAS favorites.

San Antonio Spurs 4/1
Detroit Pistons 4/1
Dallas Mavericks 5/1
Phoenix Suns 5/1
Miami Heat 5/1
New Jersey Nets 12/1

Not in my sportsbook. What sportsbook did these odds come from cuz I want to bet with these odds?

[td4mvp21]

The Heat and Mavericks are the team to beat next year, I don't know if they are favorites though. We'll have to see what happens in the offseason.

[DallasFan]

Dallas cannot win.

I remember feeling sick to my stomach when the season bagan last year because of the Mavs lineup...turned out pretty decent though. You never know.

What about the Clips...I think Cassell is leaving, but he's pretty dry in the tank by now?

[DallasFan]

Well, lets just consider all of the GOOD teams in the west and not put them in order yet. Who could possibly make the playoffs out of the west.

San Antonio
Dallas
Phoenix
Denver
LA Clippers
Memphis

These all are very good bets to repeat in their playoff berths. But that still leaves 2 slots. Theres a lot of teams that could slip in there.

Houston - If they can pick up a shooter like Redick and TMac and Ming can stay healthy, they're a good bet.

LA Lakers - Kobe alone could make them an 8 seed. But offseason moves might move them further up.

Utah - They finished at 9 last season. They could draft well and surprise you.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City - They're a player away from being a legit playoff team. Chris Paul will be the best PG in the league in a couple of years.

Sacramento - We all know what they can do.

The fact is, the West is going to be a slug-fest. I imagine we'll probably see an Eastern Conference team come out with the best record in the league (Miami? Detroit?) but the West will be favored to win the finals. Before we rank the top 5 teams in the west, who will make the playoffs at all?

Dammit, I forgot about Houston and T-Mac...West will be fierce this year (if health prevails). I would take Utah, Memphis, and NO off the list though...hope I don't eat my words :oops

[baseline bum]

The Spurs were huge favorites in 2005. Everyone knew they were winning the title until Tim went down in Detroit. They were on pace to win 65 before that injury, and there was a lot of media write-up about them possibly being one of the 10 greatest teams all-time.

I think Phoenix is the best team in the league next season. What killed them in 2005 vs. the Spurs was their players being tired and thus unable to close the deal in the fourth. That won't be the case next year even if they lose Tim Thomas, because that team has ridiculous depth. In 2005 their bench was Jim Jackson. Now it's going to be Kurt Thomas, Leandro Barbosa, James Jones, and possibly Tim Thomas. I doubt you see those same fourth quarter meltdowns from them next season that you saw from them over and over against the Spurs in 2005. They now have an absolute lock-down defender in Raja Bell, and they have four great three-point threats to ensure Stoudemire's going to have a field day down low. Their interior d will take a hit because Amare is worthless guarding the post, but this 2007 Suns team has filled most of the weaknesses that kept them from the title in 2005. They have tons of experience, and have gone through the heartbreak and tough losses it takes to build the heart of a champion. I think it's their time.

[Extra Stout]

Phoenix probably wins it next year, and then Tim picks up his fourth and final title with the Spurs in '08.

[Louie Vega]

Regardless of who you "think" should be favored in the west, the reality is that the Mavs will be the odds on favorite (in Vegas) to win the west again. .

Then that will make the mavs odss on favorites in 2 categories. The other being "Most likely to choke in the Finals"!

[Louie Vega]

...

[rascal]

What makes anyone think Garnett and Kobe would get along together well.
I do. What says they won't?

We have been down this road before. When the Lakers got Payton and Malone i heard the same thing about not having enough balls to go around and they beat the spurs.

Shaq and Kobe didn't get along well and they beat the spurs in the playoffs more than once.

[StylisticS]

Screw favorites. i'm telling you being the favorites suck. Your team gets cocky and it bites em right in the ass when they finally realize they lost. I don't care if my team isn't the favorites actually i like it. I don't think nationally people think spurs are the favorites. Everyone is filling up the miami and Dallas bandwagons

I agree. Before we even went to the finals, the Mavs was team that was under the radar, nobody believed in them, and had to prove something. That actually is better than being favored. I'd rather fly under the radar than be favorites.

[SPARKY]

We'll see what moves they make this summer.

[Axl Van Dam]

Don`t agree with two things.

First: Spurs will be on top.
Second: LAC will be before LAL. :fro

:spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin

Amen To This!!!!!

:spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin :spin

[Axl Van Dam]

What makes anyone think Garnett and Kobe would get along together well.

:devil Kobe "Ballhog" Bryant will be the first one to complain If The Lakers attempt to land K.G. because he won't be able to keep the ball to himself. He has to share with K.G. Sharing the ball has never been Kobe's characteristic. In fact I think he doesn't even know how to spell the word. :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin :smokin