you heard it here first

[BlackBellamy]

Maybe I put too much stock in that game, but they were at home and not facing elimination. But I don't see any moves that they've made to get better.

Their bloated pay-outs for players put them up creek, while the rest of the play-off contenders in the West (save Houston with injury and Denver more or less staying put) all got better this off-season. It would be a frustrating time to be a Hornets fan.

[Findog]

Their bloated pay-outs for players put them up creek, while the rest of the play-off contenders in the West (save Houston with injury and Denver more or less staying put) all got better this off-season. It would be a frustrating time to be a Hornets fan.

Yeah, I think Dallas is now in the "right there" category. I wouldn't put us ahead of LA or San Antonio on paper, but I think an upset in a 7-game series is possible.

[BlackBellamy]

Yeah, I think Dallas is now in the "right there" category. I wouldn't put us ahead of LA or San Antonio on paper, but I think an upset in a 7-game series is possible.

We (Spurs and Mavs) don't play 'basketball games', we wage epic battles (last year being the anomaly) where certainly, anything is possible. I look forward to testing all these new look teams in the west. The Mavs have done a pretty decent job with their FA, I must admit. They kinda kept it low key, and I didn't know what to make of bringing in the players that they did on an individual level. But in looking over the complete of their additions one must give props to their F.O. addressing the needs of the team to keep some sort of pace with the other elite cities.

[Findog]

We (Spurs and Mavs) don't play 'basketball games', we wage epic battles (last year being the anomaly) where certainly, anything is possible. I look forward to testing all these new look teams in the west. The Mavs have done a pretty decent job with their FA, I must admit. They kinda kept it low key, and I didn't know what to make of bringing in the players that they did on an individual level. But in looking over the complete of their additions one must give props to their F.O. addressing the needs of the team to keep some sort of pace with the other elite cities.

I think the West has lost some quality now. I have it like this right now:

1. LA
2. SAS
3. DAL
4. DEN
5. PORT

The only teams I don't have making the playoffs are the Kings, Wolves and Grizz. Teams like the Clippers, Warriors and Zombie Sonics are long shots and one of them might break through. That leaves the Suns, Hornets, Rockets and Jazz as the mediocre bunch most likely to grab the last three seeds.

[BlackBellamy]

I think the West has lost some quality now. I have it like this right now:

1. LA
2. SAS
3. DAL
4. DEN
5. PORT

The only teams I don't have making the playoffs are the Kings, Wolves and Grizz. Teams like the Clippers, Warriors and Zombie Sonics are long shots and one of them might break through. That leaves the Suns, Hornets, Rockets and Jazz as the mediocre bunch most likely to grab the last four seeds.

Ya, I don't know if it's more a case of the 'rich getting richer', or 'the more things change, the more they stay the same'. I agree with your ranking, but I s'pose we'll both get to see how it all pans out in the regular season. All these new players (even sure thing pick-ups) bring a sense of uncertainty to the conference. One thing is certain, it will be a very interesting year. Uhh... enough with the niceties... Four rings git!

[redzero]

I got some ruth for yo ass... if the Lakers go into the playoffs with HCA in the West, well you know that rest.

The Hornets will sweep them in three and cause Phil Jackson and Jack Nicholson to have heart attacks simultaneously.

[Ghazi]

And the Hornets are a two-man team that has already tuned out their coach. They'll be lucky to make the playoffs next year. Nothing personal against the Hornets, I think they've just regressed.

1 man team is more appropriate. David West is a scrub who would be the 4th-6th best player on a lot of the upper echelon teams (Celtics/Lakers/Spurs/Nuggets/Mavs/Cavs). w/ Gortat/Marion additions the entire starting 5 of Dallas is better than the Hornets' 2nd best player . And I'm truly not exaggerating.

lol 121-63

Nothing personal against the Hornets, but 07-08 was a fluke.

[redzero]

Yeah, the Hornets scored fluke points. West gets twenty fluke points per game. Peja Stojakovic gets 12.9 fluke points per game. Chris Paul scores 22.8 fluke points and gets 10.9 fluke assists a game. The Hornets won 49 fluke games while injured. They get fluke rebounds, fluke steals, force fluke turnovers and have fluke fans.

Every other team wins games or loses games. The Hornets either win fluke games or just lose.

[Ghazi]

I think the West has lost some quality now. I have it like this right now:

1. LA
2. SAS
3. DAL
4. DEN
5. PORT

The only teams I don't have making the playoffs are the Kings, Wolves and Grizz. Teams like the Clippers, Warriors and Zombie Sonics are long shots and one of them might break through. That leaves the Suns, Hornets, Rockets and Jazz as the mediocre bunch most likely to grab the last three seeds.

I anticipate the West may be somewhat like the East last year with a cluster of teams in the 30-40 win range as opposed to 6 atrocious teams as was the case in the West last year. Warriors/Clippers have some talent but were derailed by injuries last year, OKC showed great improvement after an abysmal start... Memphis gets older and improved its frontline w/ Randolph/Thabeet... etc. Not sure about Minnesota, I think they'll blow though.

Sacramento surely will suck though and would have to consider it a good year if they cracked 20 wins

[IronMexican]

Findawg, Portland #5? I think they are #2. Roy, Aldridge and Oden are only going to get better. If they land Odom, I'd have them at #1.

[BlackBellamy]

Findawg, Portland #5? I think they are #2. Roy, Aldridge and Oden are only going to get better. If they land Odom, I'd have them at #1.

They have to quit being this theoretical, critical darling that we're all having to wait on and show me the proof of their legitimacy before I, personally, would ever rank them that high. The team obviously has talent, but I think they could only (at this point) be fairly placed as high as number 4 in the west.

[Buddy Holly]

I honestly don't think Dallas improved much with this trade and potential signing of Gortat. Who I think will be matched.

I think Denver is third in the west with Dallas and Portland battling for 4th place.

[Allanon]

Oh yeah, another Stretch classic...Lakers obviously have no chance.

I've subscribed to this thread so I can easily bump it in May.

[symple19]

Dallas or San Antonio will represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this year.

BOOK IT!

won't be dallas

[Dr. Gonzo]

Nowitzki has been to the finals and Kidd has been there twice.

How did those visits to the Finals turn out?