"Best in the West"

[Prime Time]

Well having dominant starters is way better than squeaking out wins thanks to a deep bench like we do...

They have Mo Williams and McCollum, their frontline depth is worrying but they're most likely gonna be just fine...

Mo Williams sucks. And CJ McCollum?!

Portland relies TOO MUCH on their starting five. Teams like that in the playoffs get exploited anytime they make a subs ution.

Also, everyone on that team is a shot chucker, there's no way all of them can stay hot with that mindset (Fans like to use the logic 'WELL THE THUNDER BEAT US BY MAKING EVERY BUCKET' But at least OKC ran a SYSTEM in 2012.) I'm not saying there's no way Portland will succeed in the playoffs, but sheesh at least wait for them to play a post-season game before we past any kind of judgement. Considering their youth and all

Spurs are winning games with a healthy game-plan and managed minutes. Portland is winning by making a crap ton of shots. Logically, the former would be safer entering the playoffs. I think I'm more intimidated of Houston than I am of Portland.

[DMC]

Huh. That's odd. An Eastern Conference scout directly quoted as saying the Spurs are the best in the West is somehow the opinion of espn.com now. Huh. How about that.

Right these are quotes from scouts, aka Scout Takes, and not the opinion of ESPN.

ESPN.com is a website. It doesn't have opinions. ESPN chooses what to put on their website though, so in essence these scouts are just free lance writers for ESPN. For all intents and purposes, it's an ESPN article and the URL leads to ESPN's website.

Let's not split hairs in an attempt to cherry pick opinions with "depends on what the definition of the word 'is' is"

[Mikeanaro]

They fail to realize that that 2-0 or your record now does not win you les or even win a round or two. Until they do that they are not he best in the West, they need to realize that.

They are just happy and full of confidence, last year Portland didnt make it to the playoffs, now they are fighting for the first spot, from nothing to all in just one season.

[Cry Havoc]

ESPN.com is a website. It doesn't have opinions. ESPN chooses what to put on their website though, so in essence these scouts are just free lance writers for ESPN. For all intents and purposes, it's an ESPN article and the URL leads to ESPN's website.

Let's not split hairs in an attempt to cherry pick opinions with "depends on what the definition of the word 'is' is"

There's a huge difference between a scout for the NBA saying this and Skip Bayless saying it.

[DMC]

There's a huge difference between a scout for the NBA saying this and Skip Bayless saying it.

Both posted on ESPN.com

[cjw]

The same team that dropped 13 straight games to finish last year (granted they mailed it in, but that's still hard to do with ANY talent) is suddenly best in the West? Their DRtg is middling so if the offense stalls out at all, they'll be closer to the middle of the playoff pack in the West instead of the top 2 spots.

[heyheymymy]

if we are top 5 in the standings looking this out of sorts and disinterested, how good are we going to look when we actually care and try?

[Sean Cagney]

They are just happy and full of confidence, last year Portland didnt make it to the playoffs, now they are fighting for the first spot, from nothing to all in just one season.

Hats off to that team! MUCH IMPROVED and very impressive so far! I agree they are happy and rightfully so. I won't take that away from them.

if we are top 5 in the standings looking this out of sorts and disinterested, how good are we going to look when we actually care and try?

You see that part is scary..... VERY SCARY.

[BacktoBasics]

They are just happy and full of confidence, last year Portland didnt make it to the playoffs, now they are fighting for the first spot, from nothing to all in just one season.

Happy? Is this even a basketball term. Its far more than just confidence. They're execution is better, they're trusting their teammates more than ever. The list could on long before you to the technical term of "happy".