Did the road get easier for us to return to the finals?

I think a lot of you are overestimating Dwight Howard. He's a stat monkey; he's not a winner. Dwight Howard wants to have fun and clown around. Name me one year in his 8 seasons where he led his team to great heights (2009 is an anomaly because of the serious lack of Eastern conference competition). He's a larger and more athletic Blake Griffin. Until he actually begins to take the game of basketball seriously, he's not a threat to anybody who truly wants to win. I think James Harden will begin to dislike Howard's immaturity at some point.

He got his first taste of Western Conference playoffs and he got his teeth kicked in. He's on a better team now, but I still see him shrinking from the spotlight. It's bizarre how somebody who is so obviously in need of adoration and limelight will duck and cover when asked to take on a leadership role.

Spurs>Thunder>Rockets>Warriors>Clippers>Grizzlies> Lakers. But ball biting close

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Originally Posted by houston spurs fan

Spurs>Thunder>Rockets>Warriors>Clippers>Grizzlies> Lakers. But ball biting close

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Lakers aren't even close to a playoff team, tbh:lol..

Kobe got all the credit last year, but Howard had a great 2nd half of the season and was their most important player during their run to the playoffs, since he was by far the best defensive player on their team, tbh(while Kobe was one of the worst defensive players in the league)..

I'd be absolutely shocked if the Lakers aren't the worst defensive team in the NBA next season, tbh..

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Originally Posted by Pentagruel

Ultimately I think there are more strong contenders this year then last. Last year the west was a two horse race between SA and OKC with possible contender in LA Lakers depending on their chemistry and cohesion. Luckily LA hired MDA to coach a squad featuring Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard as two of their best three players and muscle chestbrook got injured. This year I see the Spurs along with OKC the two prime contenders for the west once again, but Houston and the Clippers both have the rosters to compete as well and I think they have the management and coaching to be dangerous as well. I expect the road to the finals to be more difficult then last year but I see no reason why we shouldn't be slight favorites to get there again.

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I think here, hindsight is 20/20. Throughout the entire year, pundits, as well as fans, talked about how stacked the West was and that it's "anybody's race". It's easy to say now that it was a two-horse race, but at that time, it was anybody's guess who would come out. Remember, nobody, least of all the fans, trusted the Spurs to get back to the Finals.

With this, I feel like it's going to be the same as last year: Two teams who are ahead of the pack record-wise and the rest of the West beating each other up for 3-8. The competition will remain the same, only the order of the records will be different. I believe Houston might take Denver's spot and push the Lakers out of the 8 spot, and that's pretty much all that will change.

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Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

Lakers aren't even close to a playoff team, tbh:lol..

Kobe got all the credit last year, but Howard had a great 2nd half of the season and was their most important player during their run to the playoffs, since he was by far the best defensive player on their team, tbh(while Kobe was one of the worst defensive players in the league)..

I'd be absolutely shocked if the Lakers aren't the worst defensive team in the NBA next season, tbh..

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Well forget the Lakers and Grizz. What about the others?

I agree with your order, although I'd have the Clippers ahead of the Warriors, tbh..

http://homework.never-ends.net/wp-co...ds/gif_huh.gif Who knows.. any team can get good at any moment, think we have a great chance but to say it got easier is just shitting on other teams. That's what people said about us last year, spurs have no chance really to go to the finals but we did and so could okc or clipps or Houston or a surprise team. Will be an interesting and fun to watch season for sure though

I think the Lakers got better

Dallas will be back in the playoffs next season and them mavs have always been a nightmare matchup to the Spurs no matter where they rank on the scale of the whole league, and there has been no gauge of the Rockets yet, but according to some rockets fans the rockets will be a top team in the west. Clippers will also be a better team than last season with a better coach and a higher average IQ.

Uhhhh, I might've been out of the loop today, but did Lin get traded??? I mean he was listed among those "gone" from HOU..

West Predictions:
1. Spurs, (Best all around team in the West)
2. Clippers (Should have good chemistry now in starting line-up, decent bench)
t-3. Houston, t-3. Warriors, (These teams need to work on chemistry, may take another season for them to gel)
t-5. Thunder (No bench, Westbrook recovering from major surgery)
t-5. Grizzlies (Still no Offense)
7-8. Does it really matter?

My reasoning is that it seems as though other teams do not have a bench...

Pending injuries/trades, I feel the Spurs should be favorites from the West. The East looks a lot stronger this year though. Hopefully bruise up Miami a little bit...

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Originally Posted by Rogue

Dallas will be back in the playoffs next season and them mavs have always been a nightmare matchup to the Spurs no matter where they rank on the scale of the whole league, and there has been no gauge of the Rockets yet, but according to some rockets fans the rockets will be a top team in the west. Clippers will also be a better team than last season with a better coach and a higher average IQ.

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You could say that both ways there, Spurs a nightmare for them as well! Vice versa! Rivals always seem to have that factor. I think the Spurs are better no doubt, but the Mavs can upset you or make you have a HARD series.

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Originally Posted by justinandimcool

Clippers got better, Bledsoe is treadmill team material trash. Dudley and Redick are consistent and lethal.

Warriors got slightly better. They lost Jack who won us the series this year. We were able to focus our attention on Curry/Thompson, add in Iguodala and that will be a tough out IMO.

Rockets obviously got better.

TOSB are still the favorites if healthy.

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The Warriors did not get better.

They lost Jack and Landry. Both of them are 6th men caliber players. Curry is injury prone and Jack was a great backup to have. Bogut is injury prone and Landry is a great 4-5 backup.

Iggy creates problems on offense. Barnes is a rising star but you opted to bring in an established former all star who plays the same position. This means that Barnes will have to come off the bench, unless he becomes the backup PF, he won't play nearly as many minutes as he should. Iggy was actually a below average player last season (PER) On a team that pushed the ball and really only had 2 or 3 other legit options on offense. GSW has Curry, Lee, Thompson, Barnes and Bogut in the post. They are also without Ezili until January. They need to fill out their bench as well.

They're after the Spurs, OKC, Clippers and possibly Houston

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Originally Posted by barakz21

Uhhhh, I might've been out of the loop today, but did Lin get traded??? I mean he was listed among those "gone" from HOU..

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Yeah I'm confused, I checked ESPN and Hoop Hype he hasn't been moved. Houston is reportly interested in moving him and or Asik for assets though.

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Originally Posted by barakz21

Uhhhh, I might've been out of the loop today, but did Lin get traded??? I mean he was listed among those "gone" from HOU..

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Not yet but he will be. The Rockets have a dynamic young point guard in PAtrick Beverly they love. Played instead of Lin in playoff games. Lin will be moved before start of season. Jury still out on Asik...

:lol jizzing in your pants over a weaker conference. The MOST PROBABLE thing that prevents the Spurs from a straight-shot to the finals is ourselves... possible injuries to Duncan (knees), Ginobili (everything), Parker (Ankles), Kawhi (Knees), Jeff Pendergraph (Knees). If Pop keeps up the good rotation and sitting out the Big 3 in pointless games like he did this season, then that might help the most in the long run.

can't wait for the season to start. gonna be great.

don't think we'll come out of the west, but you just never know.

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Originally Posted by Interrohater

He's a larger and more athletic Blake Griffin.

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Laughably poor comparison, tbh.... Blake is nothing like Bible Kemp....

It'll be interesting to see how Houston plays with Howard, and to see what kind of effect Doc Rivers has on the Clippers. While I don't think it's easier than last year, the Spurs should be considered the favorites.

Btw, people are really underselling the effects that actual plays, a modern defensive scheme, floor spacing, and legitimate shooters will have on the Clippers.... sure, the Clipps were deep last year, but they had nothing even close to a quality starting wing, and the coaching was laughable.... I still think the Spurs are the better team until proven otherwise and the most likely Western Conference representative in the Finals, but a Spurs/Clippers rematch in the WCF isn't out of the question, tbh....

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Originally Posted by Clipper Nation

Btw, people are really underselling the effects that actual plays, a modern defensive scheme, floor spacing, and legitimate shooters will have on the Clippers.... sure, the Clipps were deep last year, but they had nothing even close to a quality starting wing, and the coaching was laughable.... I still think the Spurs are the better team until proven otherwise and the most likely Western Conference representative in the Finals, but a Spurs/Clippers rematch in the WCF isn't out of the question, tbh....

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I don't think the Clippers make the jump until Blake (or someone on the team) develops as a post threat. Imagine how dangerous that team could be if he demanded a double team in the post?

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Originally Posted by LarryDavid

I don't think the Clippers make the jump until Blake (or someone on the team) develops as a post threat. Imagine how dangerous that team could be if he demanded a double team in the post?

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He's developed a few solid post moves and his PPP on post-ups has improved every year.... now that we finally have a coach whose offense is more nuanced than "bail me out, Chris" and who actually sees the good parts of Blake's game (Doc even brought up Blake's passing skills at his introductory press conference), I'd be shocked if he doesn't take a big step forward this year especially in the post, tbh....

I agree, and as you know, I've been saying that about Griffin all year..

He does have a solid post game and he has improved as a player, despite what the mainstream media and fans seem to believe, tbh..

The problem with Griffin is that the Clippers go to him early, but he stops getting touches the rest of the game..IIRC, he was an elite 1st quarter scorer but the Clippers would forget about him as the game moved forward..

The concern I'd have for the Clippers is the 3rd guy on their team, and even more important, their shitty frontcourt..Jordan is a terrible basketball player, and their backup bigs are weak, tbh..

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Originally Posted by LarryDavid

I don't think the Clippers make the jump until Blake (or someone on the team) develops as a post threat. Imagine how dangerous that team could be if he demanded a double team in the post?

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If OKC doesn't up their game, the Clippers don't need to tbh. The Clippers will be automatic.

Spurs are the clear #1 and their re-signings and new signings show they totally believe in their way of doing things. Signing Ginobili & Splitter were exactly what I thought PATFO was going to do, picking up the likes of Belinelli gives them another shooter/ball handler who helps relieve Manu as 2nd primary ball handler. He'll still handle it alot with Parker to the bench, but hopefully, Marco can help those guys better than Gary Neal ever did. If he can, then perhaps Parker won't be so gassed when he needs to be on the court late. Jeff Pendergraph gives the Spurs some added interior post depth. And until he's officially signed somewhere else, I still think that they may even be in the running for a guy like AK-47 to backup stud SF Kawhi Leonard-

I don't really care about any other teams in the West but if I had to venture a guess, then I will take the teams that favor cohesion over all-star first my turn, then your turn bball
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Teams that trust their systems and play good D will advance further than teams that just dominate on offense.

OKC-They got nothing for Harden now that KMartin is in Minnesota. Will they have enough scoring? Who is their 3rd scoring threat? Scott Brooks is a capable coach but his team need to believe in him.

LAC-Got Doc, need to see the rest of the moves. On Paper, they are solid from top to bottom but I see a weakness in both DeAndre and Blake and their inconsistent mid-range jumpshots. What do they do when the lob is taken away?

GSW-What they did last season is a mirage, unreal what they accomplished with all that went bad for them. They need health and the AI signing was a good one. He simply fits into what that team needs. He's not the disruptive type and he'll do everything that Mark Jackson asks him to.

For the 5th spot, it's between Memphis and Houston. With Memphis, since they have the same core, I'd stick with them. Losing Lionel Hollins is huge but that team still has a solid frontline and a young PG that is starting to recognize his impact on the court.

Houston-has the most upside with bringing in DHo. They will have lots of roster moves to accomodate Howard's contract. It's those losses I think, that will hinder them. They don't scare me out of the box but on paper, they could be a threat.

LAL, Utah, PHX are all LOL and in a state of flux.