OT: Are you buying the Blazers and Nuggets record?

[RD2191]

Haven't watched much of either this season, are they legit contenders? Do the Spurs have a chance against them in the playoffs?

[Robz4000]

Denver is legit, but Guests...

[Jay.From.NbTx]

Both will come down to earth sooner than later.

[High Plains Drifter]

I was in Denver last week and went to the Nuggets/Jazz game. It was a pretty close game until the 3rd quarter after which Denver was comfortably in control. Mitc was out for the Jazz most of the 3rd quarter after going down with what looked to be a bad leg injury, but he came out of the locker room and played in the 4th. The nuggets were without Will Barton, so it may not have been the best game to judge them by.

All that said, there was no point during the game that Denver looked like they were on another level, and I didn’t see anything the Spurs couldnt handle in a playoff series if they are healthy.

I’m not sure what to think of the Blazers. Lillard and McCollum are as good of a backcourt as there is in the league right now, but the rest of that roster seems very pedestrian. I’ve got to think that you could come up with a game plan that contains the rest of the team and forces those two guys to go absolutely bonkers to win a playoff series. They might be that good, but I won’t buy it until I see it for 4 games in a series.

I think the the road to the western conference finals is wide open as long as the Spurs avoid Golden State in the first two rounds and don’t have any more injuries pile up.

[RD2191]

I was in Denver last week and went to the Nuggets/Jazz game. It was a pretty close game until the 3rd quarter after which Denver was comfortably in control. Mitc was out for the Jazz most of the 3rd quarter after going down with what looked to be a bad leg injury, but he came out of the locker room and played in the 4th. The nuggets were without Will Barton, so it may not have been the best game to judge them by.

All that said, there was no point during the game that Denver looked like they were on another level, and I didn’t see anything the Spurs couldnt handle in a playoff series if they are healthy.

I’m not sure what to think of the Blazers. Lillard and McCollum are as good of a backcourt as there is in the league right now, but the rest of that roster seems very pedestrian. I’ve got to think that you could come up with a game plan that contains the rest of the team and forces those two guys to go absolutely bonkers to win a playoff series. They might be that good, but I won’t buy it until I see it for 4 games in a series.

I think the the road to the western conference finals is wide open as long as the Spurs avoid Golden State in the first two rounds and don’t have any more injuries pile up.

Great analysis. Yeah, I've pretty much come to the same conclusion which is why I ask. The Spurs could possibly make the WCF, which is pretty astounding all things considered.

[RD2191]

Denver is legit, but Guests...

Right. Tlong

[Mugen]

On paper, Portland looks like a matchup nightmare against the Spurs in a playoff series but i'd easily play them if I got to choose the Spurs playoff opponent, provided they make it.

Haven't seen a single minute of the Nuggets this season tbh....guessing Murray made a leap and Milsap isn't completely done....i'd have to think their success is tied to those two factors....

[Beartrucci]

Denver is legit, but Guests...

This. Love Denver but guests are as always a super annoying boring pretender.

[Spurtacular]

Just because they go for 50 wins doesn't mean they're not pretenders come playoffs, tbh. , the Spurs or Lakers could end up with 50.

[Mr. Body]

I don't think Denver is this good. Portland may be, but won't cause much damage when it counts.

[Robz4000]

On paper, Portland looks like a matchup nightmare against the Spurs in a playoff series but i'd easily play them if I got to choose the Spurs playoff opponent, provided they make it.

Haven't seen a single minute of the Nuggets this season tbh....guessing Murray made a leap and Milsap isn't completely done....i'd have to think their success is tied to those two factors....

Murray and Gary Harris have really blossomed. Jokic has also reached another level somehow.

[HarlemHeat37]

They're both good teams, nowhere near legit contenders..

Tough to take Portland seriously after last year, New Orleans showed the blueprint to beat them and they didn't add any significant pieces in the off-season..also, they have like 3 white American players in their rotation, which is suicide in today's NBA..

I like Denver's starting lineup, but I don't think Jokic is aggressive enough to consistently dominate..he's way too unselfish..

[superbigtime]

Guests? Do tell.

[The Closer]

both trash

[Kobe'sAchilles]

Denver is already coming back down to earth and the Guests are trash until they prove otherwise. They have too many chuckers on the team and not enough players who can drive and get easy buckets. Too many fade away 3s tbh. There aren't any scary teams this year in the west. Just a buncha meh teams

[Beartrucci]

Denver is already coming back down to earth and the Guests are trash until they prove otherwise. They have too many chuckers on the team and not enough players who can drive and get easy buckets. Too many fade away 3s tbh. There aren't any scary teams this year in the west. Just a buncha meh teams

Interesting how the East suddenly has all the league's best contenders besides the dubs. West is all around more solid top to bottom probably but no true contenders.

And no I don't think anyone in East is truly competing with Dubs either. It's all relative.

[TimDunkem]

Only two teams really have a chance. Everyone else is a pretender.

Denver and Portland are definitely better than San Antonio though.

[DAF86]

Interesting how the East suddenly has all the league's best contenders besides the dubs. West is all around more solid top to bottom probably but no true contenders.

And no I don't think anyone in East is truly competing with Dubs either. It's all relative.

I don't see many contenders on the East either, tbh. Outside the Raptors, and maaaaybe the Bucks.

Kawhi and his ness, we should be fighting GS for a crack at the championship.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

Interesting how the East suddenly has all the league's best contenders besides the dubs. West is all around more solid top to bottom probably but no true contenders.

And no I don't think anyone in East is truly competing with Dubs either. It's all relative.

I like the way the bucks are playing tbh. It's early of course but their biggest weakness the past couple of years was offense and Bud is teaching them how to actually score. They have the length to bother Golden St and a free flowing offense. Probably the best series we get.
I would say the raptors but I can't imagine the amount of choking Lowry will do in finals. The dude is petrified of the first round and his team is very reliant on him creating for others

[TDMVPDPOY]

i hope guests gets left off on allstar team...lilly will start puffing at the media as usual why the hate

[Philthemage]

I was in Denver last week and went to the Nuggets/Jazz game. It was a pretty close game until the 3rd quarter after which Denver was comfortably in control. Mitc was out for the Jazz most of the 3rd quarter after going down with what looked to be a bad leg injury, but he came out of the locker room and played in the 4th. The nuggets were without Will Barton, so it may not have been the best game to judge them by.

All that said, there was no point during the game that Denver looked like they were on another level, and I didn’t see anything the Spurs couldnt handle in a playoff series if they are healthy.

I’m not sure what to think of the Blazers. Lillard and McCollum are as good of a backcourt as there is in the league right now, but the rest of that roster seems very pedestrian. I’ve got to think that you could come up with a game plan that contains the rest of the team and forces those two guys to go absolutely bonkers to win a playoff series. They might be that good, but I won’t buy it until I see it for 4 games in a series.

I think the the road to the western conference finals is wide open as long as the Spurs avoid Golden State in the first two rounds and don’t have any more injuries pile up.

With Denver I think they're good but lack the experience come playoff time. Very exciting young core and I was saying before the season started they would be fun to watch.

For the Blazers I think you gotta give Terry Stores credit as I would put him as one of the top 5 coaches in the league now. Year in year out he's kept the Blazers compe ive.

[marinoman]

I think the 2-10 seed teams can all beat each other. Spurs might be the 2 seed and lose the first rd or 7 seed and make West finals

[tlongII]

The Blazers are terrific this year. We have Evan Turner playing point forward with the 2nd unit. Stauskas and Curry were nice pickups for the bench. Collins is going to be a star. And Nurk is a top 5 center in the league.

[Kawhitstorm]

Kawhi and his ness, we should be fighting GS for a crack at the championship.

.....yeah with the same squad that couldn't hold a 20 point lead for 10 minutes

[hater]

Lebrante Cunningham