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Would like to think the Mavs are 2 , but OKC is tough. Lakers are top dogs of course no suprises w/ that one, but Damn the Suns are sure gonna fall off
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/s...-WestStandings1 Los Angeles Lakers 58 24 .707
The heavyweight champs have given us a True Hollywood Story of classic characters: the loner hero, the European intellectual, the wise old cap'n, the Queensbridge kid, the loopy lefty, the young star on the make, the eccentric owner and his family, and the Zen Master. Oh yeah, they're pretty good at basketball, too.
2 Oklahoma City Thunder 52 30 .634
Is this the same team that stood 1-16 just 20 months ago? Yes, and it's the same team that put a serious scare in the champs in Round 1. In what could be a wild Western scramble for second, our panel gives the Thunder 0.21 wins more than the Mavs, meaning a potential West finals bid for the Durant-Westbrook-Green team.
3 Dallas Mavericks 52 30 .634
We foresee an amazing 11th-straight 50-win season for the Mavericks, again on the shoulders of Dirk, J-Kidd and crew. And with the arrival of Tyson Chandler and the emergence of Roddy Beaubois (once he returns from a broken foot), Dallas will have some fresh blood. The Mavs may not have a ring, but they do have our respect.
4 Denver Nuggets 49 33 .598
The Nuggets hope coach George Karl can return after another bout with cancer, and Karl hopes the Nuggets can return to top contender status in the West. To do so, Carmelo & Co. need to curb their worst tendencies (namely: selfish play, emotional outbursts) and get back to the kind of teamwork preached by Karl.
5 Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598
Portland appears to be a postseason perennial despite front-office turmoil and myriad injuries. And now, with the West in transition (below the Lakers), this season looks like an open invitation for Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden to take the Blazers past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
6 San Antonio Spurs 48 34 .585
Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power. What could reverse the subtle slide from 63 to 58 to 56 to 54 to 50 wins? A healthy season from Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, plus a splash by Tiago Splitter, the Brazilian banger imported from Europe.
7 Utah Jazz 47 35 .573
Utah took some steps back with the departures of Carlos Boozer, Wes Matthews and Kyle Korver, and a step forward with the acquisition of Al Jefferson. How Jerry Sloan fits it all together -- and how the Jazz use the expiring contract of Andrei Kirilenko -- will tell us whether Deron Williams' crew is more contender or pretender.
8 Houston Rockets 45 37 .549
How is Yao? That's the first question for Houston, which has built a strong supporting cast without knowing whether its 7-foot-6 superstar can return from foot surgery to carry the team. But if the big fella can go, the Rockets have the pieces in place, with the experienced Rick Adelman and savvy Daryl Morey for guidance.
9 Phoenix Suns 44 38 .537
Phoenix rose spectacularly from the lottery to the West finals, and now it's back to the lottery for Steve Nash and the Suns, according to our panel. That's despite a 44-win forecast and despite our prediction that Suns expatriate Amare Stoudemire and his Knicks (with just 37 wins) will make the playoffs in the East. No, life ain't fair.
10 New Orleans Hornets 38 44 .463
Chris Paul might renew his trade wishes after seeing our stinging Summer Forecast for the Hornets, which has them stuck at 38 wins, far from the playoffs. Of course, what CP3 and New Orleans need is a healthy CP3, after a knee injury cost him almost half of last season. In any case, his future is a looming issue.
11 Memphis Grizzlies 37 45 .451
On Feb. 2, Memphis was 26-21, tied with OKC for eighth. But it was ultimately another lottery season for the Grizzlies, while the Thunder are the new darlings of the West. We remain lukewarm on the young Grizz, though another season of near-perfect health could clear the way for them to surprise us once again.
12 Los Angeles Clippers 35 47 .427
Our panel is taking the déjà vu of L.A.'s other team: Last season we expected rookie Blake Griffin to carry the Clips to about a .400 winning percentage, and this season we expect rookie Blake Griffin to carry the Clips to about a .400 winning percentage. Let's hope his repaired knee and new coach Vinny Del Negro are up to the task.
13 Sacramento Kings 30 52 .366
Reigning rookie of the year Tyreke Evans has gained a reputation as a -bent driver who's hard to slow down, and not just on the highway. This season, expect another sizable move for the Kings after last season's eight-game improvement, especially if Evans can form a reliable partnership with rookie DeMarcus Cousins.
14 Golden State Warriors 29 53 .354
Warriors fans got their wish when Chris Cohan agreed to sell the team after 15 long years. Now comes the hard part for Golden State: Taking the raw materials on hand and making the team compe ive in a tough conference. With Don Nelson's future and the roster in flux, our panel sees incremental steps, not a giant leap forward.
15 Minn. Timberwolves 20 62 .244
The good news: Our committee of 93 says the Wolves will win 33 percent more games. The bad news: We think the Wolves will be the NBA's worst team. Even worse: Despite a roster with intriguing young talent, Wolves GM David Kahn has us utterly confused regarding how he plans to take Minnesota north in the standings.
Last edited by Ashy Larry; 08-11-2010 at 06:56 PM.
Would like to think the Mavs are 2 , but OKC is tough. Lakers are top dogs of course no suprises w/ that one, but Damn the Suns are sure gonna fall off
according to these "experts" ......... the playoffs would look like
1. Lakers
8. Rockets
4. Nuggets
5. Blazers
3. Mavericks
6. Spurs
2. Thunder
7. Jazz
LOL @ that 3/6 match up ....... it would only be right if that happened again
The Western Conference Playoffs present no bad match ups ...... maybe 1/8 but if Yao is healthy, that's still good
Yeah, I'd rather face the highest seeded team first, cuz if u gonna beat the best, you have to start somewhere.
If CP3 is healthy there is no way the Hornets are a 38 win team.
The OKC Thunder are vastly overrated. Methinks they are are a 5 or possibly 4 seed. Still too young and lack height. Sure they gave the Lakers a good run last year in the playoffs but most experts seem to place too much emphasis on that one series.
agreed...I also think the Jazz (if Jefferson is healthy) could challenge for the #2 spot this year. They finally figured out how to win on the road last year and I think they're pretty solid all-around if they can stay healthy
Agreed. they must get bigger inside.
The Mavericks and the Spurs will go at it again. If not in the first round, then in the second.
I don't think Mavs will do as good as this says I'd place them more 6-8
Anything is possible in the NBA, but I have a feeling this team will be good. I read somewhere where the Mavs will have something like 21 million dollars in expiring contracts come the trade dealine, so I suspect that if u see these Mavs struggling in February to stay in the top 3 out West then Mark might use those assets like he did last year and pull off a blockbuster deadline deal.
lol thunder better than anyone but the lakers
lol portland getting worse
lol espn
lol probably right about the spurs
1. Lakers (60 wins)
8. Spurs (48 wins)
4. Thunder (53 wins)
5. Blazers (52 wins)
3. Hornets (55 wins)
6. Jazz (51 wins)
2. Nuggets (56 wins)
7. Rockets (49 wins)
mavs get a shout out to their streak of 50-win seasons but SA doesn't, in spite of the Spurs' streak being longer? ing pundits.
lol @ no Mavs and the Hornets winning 55 games...... Paul is good but not that damn good
son we would have easily won well over 50 games last season if not for injuries. 55 wins is easily attainable especially with the addition of Ariza. Our starting lineup is very solid.
PG - Paul (superstar, best PG in the world, at least 20+ and 10+)
SG - Thornton (sky is the limit in his sop re season)
SF - Ariza (at least 15ppg)
PF - West (19-22ppg)
C - Okafor (11-15ppg)
pretty much except id switch Hornets with Rockets
Dream big son! Dream big!
Who was your favorite team 2 months ago?
So they expect the Blazers to stay healthy but have fewer wins than last season?
Also with Chris Paul the Hornets should win at least 45 games. And the Thunder still being overrated imo.
Gonna go with:
1. Lakers
2. Blazers
3. Mavs
4. Spurs
5. Nuggets
6. Rockets
7. Thunder
8. Hornets
He didn't even watch basketball two months ago
so with those five, you I take it they are all playing 48 minutes per game right ????
Oh wait..... Posey, yup, a nine seed
Last edited by Ashy Larry; 08-11-2010 at 07:00 PM.
Hornets should be solid. Especially if Okafor pulls his head out.
Me thinks:
1. Lakers 62 (they will try and match Heat for a while and then realize Heat will get 66)
2. Mavs 56
3. Nuggets 53
4. Spurs 52
5. OKC 50
6. Blazers 47
7. Rockets 47
8. Jazz 45
9. Hornets 45
10 Suns 44
I think bottom of West will be fierce ... (7,8,9,10)
And middle (3,4,5) will be fierce ...
Note Nugggets scare me (bad way) I could see Spurs OKC blazers or Rox stealing#3 if they implode ...
What happend to the 2 Nuggets fans we had here ?
Last edited by Killakobe81; 08-11-2010 at 07:19 PM.
Son you and your hate for the Mavs is ridiculous. Show them some respect like the article states son. God bless
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