Odd Man Out: Which Western Conference Team Will Miss The Postseason?

[Xylus]

We shall see, SpursTalk, we shall see!

[barbacoataco]

Amare looks like he has decided to go for individual stats over team success. That is bad for the Suns. If Denver and Portland continue the good play it will be interesting. If Phoenix or New Orleans doesn't make the playoffs that would be pretty shocking given their rosters and talent.
If i were betting I'd say Denver, but that's just based on past performance.

[tomtom]

my gut says suns

[The Truth #6]

Suns, Dallas, and Denver all seem to have issues with chemistry and cohesion. Any one of them could miss out. And, it's not like they would have to have a bad season to get left out. Like last year, the separation between the teams could be very small.

[peskypesky]

Portland

edit:
Damn, I didn't realize how well Portland's been playing. So I have to change my answer.

Dallas.

[exstatic]

Phoenix. They're all whining and not buying into the regular octane offense/defense required by Porter.

[itzsoweezee]

dallas

[J.T.]

careful with your own wishes materializing in your house... wishing someone to get injured? lame... ban worthy actually...

Dude, I wish injuries on people all the time and I never get banned. Don't try to be the forum police just because you're too chicken to admit you scream " yeah" anytime Dirk, Kobe, T-Mac, etc. hurt themselves.

[timtonymanu]

A team with Amare, Grant Hill , SHaq Oneal and steve nash doesnt make the playoff ? You are joking.

three old guys past their prime (Nash has also) and a young player that wants out of his coach's style. i dont think that's playoff worthy.

[Ghazi]

I'm thinking the Suns. Amare cares more about stats than winning, Nash/Shaq are old and disgruntled with their system... their bench isn't very good at all... Shaq is also due to miss more games and decline productivity wise.

They're 12-9 and this is with Shaq playing well.

[1Parker1]

I'm going to go with with Denver and possibily Dallas. Denver is one injury away from Nene/KMart from becoming a lotto team. And considering those two's propensity for injury, it's highly possible.

[urunobili]

Dude, I wish injuries on people all the time and I never get banned. Don't try to be the forum police just because you're too chicken to admit you scream " yeah" anytime Dirk, Kobe, T-Mac, etc. hurt themselves.

I aint no forum police but thanks for the remark.. i wonder where my post involved YOU?

[mrspurs]

It will be Denver or Portland who will lose out in a numbers game. Not buying into Denver yet, and Portland may be a year away still.

Thats my guessing as well.

[mrspurs]

Forum police? lol...... join a real police department.

[Indazone]

I think Phoenix needs Shaq to play significant minutes with regularity this year, and it is doubtful that he will play most of the season. In addition, Nash should start to show his age.

While it is true that Amare is putting up monster numbers, and they seem to get good production from Barnes and Barbosa, I just don't think they have the right pieces to play the D they need to.

Dallas, well we shall see. Kidd is pretty old to be a central piece to the pie for them. But they have enough talent to keep up for the 8th spot.

Den and PORT are young, good teams that should be middle of the pack, but someone has to get the 3rd seed. Utah has had some injury problems, not sure how those will go, but assuming they will recover and not linger.

I think we have a chance to crack the top 4, but it will be difficult. If Houston has sustained injuries (which they seem prone to), I think we can overtake them. NO is having problems, but they are very talented, and should stay near the top.

1 LA
2 NO
3 Port
4 SA
5 Utah
6 HOU
7 DEN
8 DAL

Phoenix could still salvage their season by firing Porter and bring in JVG.

[urunobili]

Phoenix could still salvage their season by firing Porter and bring in JVG.

that's the only Defensive coach with experience out there that could take them over the hump...

Thiebbodeau.. i may be wrong but i think he never was "the man"...

[Indazone]

Van Gundy is an Ass but that Phoenix team needs some ass kicking at least for one or two seasons. JVG will always be a journeyman coach like Larry Brown. His at ude sucks with his players but I will never forget his dubbing of Phil Jackson as "Big Chief Triangle" lol.

I did find this very nice blurb on him while at the Knicks to give people insight as to what a he was and probably still is. His best job is yes as the ESPN announcer.

Yes, some Knicks object to the way Van Gundy micromanages the offense and plays favorites, but even they respect his work ethic and attention to detail and rigid adherence to defensive principles. Also, says Sprewell, "Jeff understands personnel; he recognizes strengths and weaknesses. It's tough to juggle minutes, but you don't hear as much ing on this team as you do on others."
If some still can't resist categorizing him as a cola-swilling, junk-food-loving, ankle-nipping schlemiel, they're missing the essence of Van Gundy—that he is, in fact, fearless. In 1996-97, when nobody wanted to provoke Jackson and the mighty Bulls, Van Gundy mockingly called the Chicago coach Big Chief Triangle. A year later, when opponents seemed more interested in kissing Michael Jordan's four NBA championship rings than in beating him, a disgusted Van Gundy called Jordan "a con man." After scoring 51 on the Knicks the next time they met, Jordan walked past him and snapped, "Calm down, you little f—-."
Van Gundy didn't care how it played with the public. He never has. When guard John Starks questioned Van Gundy's play calling in a huddle later that season, Van Gundy lit into him for all to hear. "F—- you!" he yelled. "F—- you! F—- you! F—- you! F—- you!"

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.c...46/2/index.htm

[SpursIndonesia]

Portland, teams will be more prepared against them as the season goes by.