NBA Western Conference Standings predictions

[Flopper]

1.Jazz
2.Lakers
3.Rockets
4.Hornets
5.Spurs
6.Suns
7.Blazers
8.Nuggets

[xtremesteven33]

No disrespect to you all other teams but my prediction is Lakers will be at the top and then there will be the rest. Not trying to be y, what not, the Lakers are just the kind of team that's built to make major runs during the regular season.

Laugh all you want at "regular season champs", but I have no doubt it's gonna be the Lakers, by a wide margin.

It doesn't mean they're going to be the Finals Champs or win easily in the Playoffs. But in the regular season, they're going to out right kill while keeping their starter's minutes low.

I said before that this will be a 70 win team, I might have to change it to 80 wins. Ok, ok, that part is y

Im not a Laker fan but barring any major injuries i can see them winning close to 70 wins if they focus enough. I havent seen a team this deep and this young...ever.

Those who dont admit this are in denial. And just to let you know ALLANON. Ill be rooting against the Lakers every chance i get...haha

[Tmac&Luther]

Same could be said for LA. Re-adding Bynum, Farmar with another year of development, Ariza getting a whole off season in LA, same with Pau. Who gives a . Games aren't played on paper.

Yeah and that's my point..........EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN BETTER, SO NOBODY HAS VASTLY MADE UP A LOAD OF GROUND!

For sake y'all are stupid..

The Lakers aren't blowing anybody away in this conference and I bet they don't win it by more than a handful of games.......this isn't the damn Eastern Conference of years past where one ing team is just going to ride on everybody.

P.S.

LA is not winning 70 games out west.........in the East yes, they probably would, but this isn't the damn East.

[Tmac&Luther]

Those who dont admit this are in denial.

Okay let's make a Vbookie bet on it.

[xtremesteven33]

Okay let's make a Vbookie bet on it.

[Tmac&Luther]

c'mon you said LA was "miles ahead of everyone"........how many games cons utes "miles ahead of the pack"?

[DPG21920]

Yeah and that's my point..........EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN BETTER, SO NOBODY HAS VASTLY MADE UP A LOAD OF GROUND!

For sake y'all are stupid..

The Lakers aren't blowing anybody away in this conference and I bet they don't win it by more than a handful of games.......this isn't the damn Eastern Conference of years past where one ing team is just going to ride on everybody.

P.S.

LA is not winning 70 games out west.........in the East yes, they probably would, but this isn't the East.

I do not know about 70, but 65 I can really see. I knew the Lakers were the best team going into the season, but I did not think they would be this good this early. If they stay healthy and gel even more, that is scary. If the Mavs sniffed 70, this Lakers team has a shot. But it is early and we will see how things develop.

[Allanon]

Ill be rooting against the Lakers every chance i get...haha

Motha....f.....

c'mon you said LA was "miles ahead of everyone"........how many games cons utes "miles ahead of the pack"?

I don't think we can do vBookie bet but I'd be willing to take on your bet TMAC & Luther. Maybe a sig bet?

How many wins behind or ahead of the Lakers will the next team be?

[DPG21920]

If the West was won by only 1 game last year, and you are saying this year is harder TMac, then a 4 or 5 win gap is huge

[Tmac&Luther]

How many wins behind or ahead of the Lakers will the next team be?

I'm waiting on Mr. Homeboy up there to tell me how many games cons utes "miles ahead of the pack".

[xtremesteven33]

c'mon you said LA was "miles ahead of everyone"........how many games cons utes "miles ahead of the pack"?

i said it already....Lakers 1st place and Rockets 2nd....Lakers ahead 5-10 games...

When i said "miles" it was as in "talent,depth,youth,coaching,offense,defense"

everything......as far as games, im not a betting man but i wouldnt bet against them winnin close to 70 games this year. Im thinking realistically around 60 wins IF HEALTHY.

[Tmac&Luther]

So Lakers ahead 5-10 games, so the over and under is 7.5 games.

Which means they have to finish more than 7 games ahead of everybody out west to win the bet.

[xtremesteven33]

So Lakers ahead 5-10 games, so the over and under is 7.5 games.

Which means they have to finish more than 7 games ahead of everybody out west to win the bet.

I would say 5-10 games seperate them and 2nd place.

everyone else is a rat race

[Allanon]

So Lakers ahead 5-10 games, so the over and under is 7.5 games.

Which means they have to finish more than 7 games ahead of everybody out west to win the bet.

I'll take 7.5 if that's what you want.

Sig bet.

I win, I determine your sig through the ENTIRE playoffs.

You win, you can determine mines.

And yes, only out West. Those Eastern teams have it easy, they might win 67 games again.

[DPG21920]

I'll take 7.5 if that's what you want.

Sig bet.

I win, I determine your sig through the ENTIRE playoffs.

You win, you can determine mines.

And yes, only out West. Those Eastern teams have it easy, they might win 67 games again.

That is why to me 70 seems a little out there. If the Celtics, who beat a very talented Lakers team in the Finals, who also had the best defense in the league could win 66 or 67 games out east, then it is going to be hard to reach 70 no matter how good.

[Lakers_55]

I understand one of the reasons why Spurs fans don't like the Lakers is because of past playoff history between our two teams. The smart ones realizes this Laker team on paper is capable of practicly anything.

However, the Laker franchise is capable of rebuilding, it always has been. One of the reasons I like the Spurs as well is because they are probably the next best in this department. Not to mention they will remain a threat as long as #21 suits up. To me, they are fun to watch. The goal is to win a game. Winning isn't boring. And After TD hangs it up, give the Spurs a few years and they will be in the hunt for a le again.

I think the chances of Laker injuries are diminshed because we can go 10 deep in the rotation. Everyone is going to be out on the court less. Kobe will likely average under 20 points a game and see under 30 minutes playing time many times. with the statistics, this team wants it's own redemption. Kobe can and will win without Shaq. Laker supporting cast does more for the team than Shaq ever did.

[Allanon]

That is why to me 70 seems a little out there. If the Celtics, who beat a very talented Lakers team in the Finals, who also had the best defense in the league could win 66 or 67 games out east, then it is going to be hard to reach 70 no matter how good.

It'll be hard as no doubt and I'm the first to admit that I could very well end up eating my words and look like a laughingstock.

But as pointed out, I'm one of those delusional ST "Laker fan(S)"

[DPG21920]

It'll be hard as no doubt and I'm the first to admit that I could very well end up eating my words and look like a laughingstock.

But as pointed out, I'm one of those delusional ST "Laker fan(S)"

It is not a laughing stock if they win 65 games. That is a ridiculous season. 70 wins people kind of scoff at because you said it kind of matter-of-factly. Like I said, I knew the Lakers were good because I watch almost all of their games, but damn. The scary thing is that they have not even had time to gel and they are steamrolling people.

But the difference between 70 and 60-65 wins is huge. That means no flaws, no injuries, no chemistry problems and a huge separation from the pack. The year the Mavs won 66 or 67, they were impressive, but overvalued. They won a ton of tight games that usually go 50/50. To win 70, you would have to have very little 50/50 games and a lot of domination.

[Roxsfan]

OP is a moron.

[Allanon]

It is not a laughing stock if they win 65 games. That is a ridiculous season.

Thanks for the out.

But you other team fans deal with me spewing 70.

70 wins people kind of scoff at because you said it kind of matter-of-factly.

So I'll take the well-deserved ridicule when I'm wrong.

[anakha]

Quality thread by SpursDynasty.

[SpursDynasty]

Im not a Laker fan but barring any major injuries i can see them winning close to 70 wins if they focus enough. I havent seen a team this deep and this young...ever.

Those who dont admit this are in denial. And just to let you know ALLANON. Ill be rooting against the Lakers every chance i get...haha

Being young is the problem.

One All-Star and a bunch of role players? That's deep? Andrew Bynum? Pau Gasol? Yeah, thats an intimidating roster I'm sure.

[BUMP]

now that the Mavs are no longer contenders SpursDynasty has a new team to pick on. sorry Laker fans but this means immediate doom, you have now been cursed.

whoops, i forgot SD, Mavs were never really contenders to begin with

[JamStone]

The problem with winning 70 games is that a team that is set on course to win 70 games will most likely have a pretty good cushion for the #1 seed and the last week or two, they'd be very smart to be cautious about their starters' minutes and even playing their starters all of the final few games. That's what's so crazy about that 1996 Bulls team that won 72 games. They didn't let up the entire season.

It might be an exaggeration to say the Lakers are "miles ahead" of everyone else in the conference, but it's not that far off. I think they are clearly the best team in the West. And, I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with a 7-8 game lead to win the conference by the end of the regular season. Now, guaranteeing that is another thing. But, to me, that's a reasonable prediction with the way the Lakers look. They have size, athleticism, depth, balance, and the best closer in the game. That's a recipe for great success. But, getting anywhere near 70 would also involve some luck, especially with key players staying healthy, and being able to win those really close games on the road.

I do think the Lakers are clearly a much better team than any other team in the West on paper, barring injury to any team.

[sook]

whoever said 70 games is a complete ing moron, if you saw the bulls 70 win season you would know why in all the NBA seasons only one team was able to achieve it