NBA: Predict the Western Conference bloodbath

[ambchang]

Ginobili became a good off ball player once he got to the NBA, before that he was always a ball dominant player. You know why he was able to do that transition? Because he's a good passer, a good shooter and has great instincts. All things that both Paul and Harden posses, so I see them easily being able to adapt to that role. Also, Harden began his career alongside Westbrook and Durant, I'm sure he knows a thing or two about playing off ball, tbh.

And the only thing D'antoni needs to do is keep preaching that fast tempo, free flowing offense and things will unfold naturally because he has more talent than ever before (for his style of play). And when he needs to set a midcourt offense just have Paul and Harden taking turns to run the pick and roll, tbh.

I haven't seen ginobili in Italy so I'll take your word for it, but I gotta say I have to wait and see. People has to realize this is t the local y, the structure is dictated by the coach and dantoni is a PG one pass pffense, it's not a free flowing princess on offense. To say that he only needs to push the tempo is way over simplifying it.

[RsxPiimp]

Lakers
GSW

rest doesn't matter

Trust in Lonzo and Lavar

lonzo will be a solid player but he wont be the savior y'll make him out to be. ingram is that dude tho

[Mitch]

lonzo will be a solid player but he wont be the savior y'll make him out to be. ingram is that dude tho

Trust in Lonzo, he wont fail you like Manny Pacquiao tbh

[Raven]

[Raven]

The problem with your reasoning is that CP3 and Harden are both very good shooters. If Wade and Lebron (both unreliable shooters) made it work on offense, I'm sure CP3 and Harden will be just fine.

wade and lebron were also outstanding defenders which cp0 and harden are not, not to mention, they didn't play in antoni's scheme

[ambchang]

lonzo will be a solid player but he wont be the savior y'll make him out to be. ingram is that dude tho

But when it actually was Ingram, people will say Ingram got that good because of Lonzo. Laker fans are generally idiots, and love to give credit to the wrong people.

[DAF86]

wade and lebron were also outstanding defenders which cp0 and harden are not, not to mention, they didn't play in antoni's scheme

Paul is a perennial all-defensive team player. Anyways, we weren't talking about defense.

[BD24]

Could you make it anymore obvious your a lakers fan?

[StrengthAndHonor]

Could you make it anymore obvious your a lakers fan?

Why? Because I picked them to make the playoffs? Even Vegas has them winning 37 games this upcoming season.

They can absolutely win 4 more games, considering how good Lonzo is.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Honestly guys, with Lonzo, every player on the court becomes an automatic offensive weapon (See Kyle Kuzma, Vander Blue and Thomas Bryant, all D-League quality players).

[DMC]

Honestly guys, with Lonzo, every player on the court becomes an automatic offensive weapon (See Kyle Kuzma, Vander Blue and Thomas Bryant, all D-League quality players).

You're an idiot.

[Buddy Mignon]

What do the Grizzlies have. They lost ZBo and Carter. Tony Allen has yet to sign. I just don't see how they make the playoffs. Lakers will be better than Portland, Memphis, Clippas, and Wolves. I got us at the 6th seed.

[BD24]

Why? Because I picked them to make the playoffs? Even Vegas has them winning 37 games this upcoming season.

They can absolutely win 4 more games, considering how good Lonzo is.

Coming from the same guy who though D'Angelo was gonna be a top 5 pg last year

That was also based on a great summer league.

[DMC]

Coming from the same guy who though D'Angelo was gonna be a top 5 pg last year

That was also based on a great summer league.

[BD24]

What do the Grizzlies have. They lost ZBo and Carter. Tony Allen has yet to sign. I just don't see how they make the playoffs. Lakers will be better than Portland, Memphis, Clippas, and Wolves. I got us at the 6th seed.

So your saying you wont be sneaking...

[Killakobe81]

lakers miss playoffs but 35 40 wins are possible ...

mark me down for 37

[ambchang]

Warriors -68
Spurs - 58
Houston - 58
OKC - 50
Minnesota - 48
Clippers - 47
Pelicans - 47
Denver - 45
Utah - 43
Portland -35
Lakers - 32
Memphis - 30
Dallas - 27
Sacramento - 25
Phoenix - 24

The West suck this year.

[RsxPiimp]

lakers miss playoffs but 35 40 wins are possible ...

mark me down for 37

waaay too high bro. you're asking for an 11-14 win improvement. the success of the team appears to fall on lonzo's ability to make his team better.


I just don't think the kid is ready to carry the load. he'll hit a wall and I expect him to really struggle along the way. look at his frame. he's lucky to last 65 games.


32 wins, tops imo.

[DAF86]

waaay too high bro. you're asking for an 11-14 win improvement. the success of the team appears to fall on lonzo's ability to make his team better.


I just don't think the kid is ready to carry the load. he'll hit a wall and I expect him to really struggle along the way. look at his frame. he's lucky to last 65 games.


32 wins, tops imo.

The more losses for you the better.

Lonzo + Ingram + lotery pick + cap space to atract one or two max players. That's a very promising 2018/19 season, tbh.

[dfens]

What do the Grizzlies have. They lost ZBo and Carter. Tony Allen has yet to sign. I just don't see how they make the playoffs. Lakers will be better than Portland, Memphis, Clippas, and Wolves. I got us at the 6th seed.

all that hard work of setting up the bait and then you go on and say lakers > wolves

[Down Under]

The Clippers are going to surprise a lot of people, health permitting IMO. Griffin can finally be unleashed if he can stay on the court, Teodosic is a guru whose defensive shortcomings will be hidden by him having to defend SG's & Beverley will defend quicker PGs. DJ should still get plenty of lobs from Teodosic. Add Gallinari in & that's a very solid starting 5.

GSW
ROCKETS
SPURS
THUNDER
CLIPPERS
GRIZZLIES
BLAZERS
WOLVES

[RsxPiimp]

The more losses for you the better.

Lonzo + Ingram + lotery pick + cap space to atract one or two max players. That's a very promising 2018/19 season, tbh.

lakers has no draft pick in 2018

[Spurtacular]

GS vs. Kawhi and scrubs in the conference finals, maybe; hopefully the semifinals. Would like to play Warriors early.

[Killakobe81]

waaay too high bro. you're asking for an 11-14 win improvement. the success of the team appears to fall on lonzo's ability to make his team better.


I just don't think the kid is ready to carry the load. he'll hit a wall and I expect him to really struggle along the way. look at his frame. he's lucky to last 65 games.


32 wins, tops imo.

didnt we win 27? that is just 10 games and west is top heavy. the bottom half is all mediocre to ty tbh
having lopez replace mozgof who gave us nothing is a huge improvement
besides im not relying on Lonzoto carry us just him pushing tempo should help ckarkson randke nance etc.
luke says he trying to limit ball to 32-33 mins a game anyways.

[ambchang]

Warriors -68
Spurs - 58
Houston - 58
OKC - 50
Minnesota - 48
Clippers - 47
Pelicans - 47
Denver - 45
Utah - 43
Portland -35
Lakers - 32
Memphis - 30
Dallas - 27
Sacramento - 25
Phoenix - 24

The West suck this year.

ESPN, so take it with a grain of salt http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...2017-18-season

Similar to what I had, but they still ranked Houston over the Spurs.

Warriors: 62.1
Houston: 55.0
Spurs: 52.6
Sota: 50.1
OKC: 49.5
Clippers: 48.9
Nuggets: 47.2
Jazz: 44.7
Pels: 44.2
Blazers:43.8
Mavs: 34.6
Grizzlies: 34.6
Lakers: 33.0
Suns: 30.3
Kings: 27.4

ESPN didn't project the level of parity I did. I think the Warriors will win more than 62 games for sure, I am pretty sure the Spurs will win more than 53 games. I may have been too high on the Pels, but I think the Mavs will fall further compared to last year.

Clippers will be better than most people expect, but that obviously depends if Rivers can play a totally different style with Griffin initiating most of the offense, and turn the team to focus more on perimeter defense.