Have the elite teams ever been this far ahead of the compe ion?

[JamStone]

Lakers would still be up there as one of the top 3-4 teams in the league without Odom. They would no longer "clearly" be one of the top 2 teams, only arguably so. Without Odom back with the Lakers, I think Boston alone would be the clear favorites if all teams stay healthy. Then it's the Lakers and Spurs. Then the next group of Cleveland, Orlando, maybe Denver. But teams like Dallas, Portland not far behind that second group.

Losing Odom will hurt the Lakers, but the difference would be clear favorites to one of the favorites.

[SonOfAGun]

6 is actually a lot to be in contention.

During the Spurs run there was like 2 or 3.

[rjv]

back in the 80's this was the case as it was always the lakers and celtics or at least that is what i remember always seeing when i was growing up.

[lil_penny]

The first round Blazers stood pat as well. They lost their back-up power foward as well. Denver lost their starting two guard. Dont expect either of those teams to do well this year.

Channing frye was our back ups back up, outlaw was the back up pf most of last year havnt lost him yet.

[tlongII]

Channing frye was our back ups back up, outlaw was the back up pf most of last year havnt lost him yet.

Not to mention that Channing Frye sucks ass. Anybody that thinks the Blazers aren't an elite team this year is in for a rude awakening. The Lakers are the only team in the West that can compete with us now.

[Cry Havoc]

Not to mention that Channing Frye sucks ass. Anybody that thinks the Blazers aren't an elite team this year is in for a rude awakening. The Lakers are the only team in the West that can compete with us now.

You sound like a Cubs fan.

/is a Cubs fan.

[LnGrrrR]

back in the 80's this was the case as it was always the lakers and celtics or at least that is what i remember always seeing when i was growing up.

Rockets and Pistons were good too, as were the Sixers IIRC.

[Morg1411]

Not to mention that Channing Frye sucks ass. Anybody that thinks the Blazers aren't an elite team this year is in for a rude awakening. The Lakers are the only team in the West that can compete with us now.

You're a riot.

[ElNono]

Not to mention that Channing Frye sucks ass. Anybody that thinks the Blazers aren't an elite team this year is in for a rude awakening. The Lakers are the only team in the West that can compete with us now.

LOL Blazers...
LOL Tshclong...

[kingmalaki]

What we see now has nothing on the superteams of the 80's....when 3 squads had at least 3 HOF players on it (LA, Boston, Philly)....and even Detroit had two and a depth. Now those teams were stacked compared to the rest of the league.

[pauls931]

6 seems liek a lot of teams competing. man growing up it was always celtics lakers, then pistons bulls. I remember many years when it was clear it was coming down to 2 teams except a couple bulls years where no one was remotely close.

[j-money24]

I think the Clippers are going to be better than the Hornets

[Darthkiller]

how the is jefferson past his prime.

[Ghazi]

how the is jefferson past his prime.

He isn't. he just tricks you into thinking he is since he was never that good to begin w/


lol sexual w/ no eyebrows

[redzero]

At least Jefferson isn't a washed up choker who dates criminals.

[Ghazi]

121-63

[BUMP]

It seems like lately there have always been about 3 or 4 team that you'd expect to win it all

Early 2000's
-Lakers
-Kings
-Spurs

Middle 2000's
-Suns
-Spurs
-Mavs
-Pistons

Later 2000's
-Boston
-LA
-Orlando
-Cleveland

This year it has grown because of the economy

-Spurs
-Lakers
-Cleveland
-Boston
-Orlando
-Denver

[jag]

later 2000's
-boston
-la
-orlando
-cleveland

2007?

[spursncowboys]

There have been teams like the bulls, lakers, celts in the past that were just head and shoulders better than other teams but there is clearly 6 teams that are just a lot better than all the other teams. Every one of them has improved themselves dramatically in the off-season while other teams have gotten worse or stayed the same.

-Cleveland upgraded with snaq, and moon
-magic upgraded with vc over turk and keeping gortat, bass, and healthy jameer coming back (some say they might have gotten worse-i don't see it)
-Boston got sheed and daniels, kg coming back
-Fakers got artest (if they lose odom they are still very good, but don't see it as a successful off-season, with odom back though very good move imo)
-Dallas added marion
-Spurs got jefferson, manu coming back, dice, blair

All these teams imo are just way above the rest of the league-some could say portland and Denver are right there but I think with the moves other teams made they have left them in the dust

Dallas lost Wright- so their offseason has them worse. Plus they aren't really an elite team anyway.

[spursncowboys]

Spurs added two losers past their primes, and a guy with no knee caps. Im just saying...

Fisher is another year older and his backup is Farmar. Im just saying.

[peskypesky]

how the is jefferson past his prime.

he's not.

[SamoanTD]

This is true, but unlike Jefferson and Dyse, Fish is far from a loser. RJ is not no better than Marion, and Dirk is going to make Dyse and the guy with no knee caps want to retire.

jefferson is instant offense my friend and he is ok on defense unlike fisher who is ok at shooting that 3 and just damn horrible at defence and dyse mite be a old man bt he hustles everygame even when he knws hes on the losing side nw thats heart to me dyes hasnt lost a step did u see him in this years playoffs even though detroit got the boot he still played his ass off and dnt even get me started with blair he is gna be a flat out stud book it

[DrHouse]

We do this EVERY offseason and the reality is half of the offseason additions don't pan out the way we thought they would.

[Ghazi]

Dallas lost Wright- so their offseason has them worse. Plus they aren't really an elite team anyway.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Dallas as it is, regrettably, is probably in the same class of teams as Denver/Portland... good teams, but not really contenders... probably a notch below the other 5 teams. Our guys in blue can change that though with 1 or 2 more solid additions, preferably a superior center and a solid wing player.

Not sure what to make of the Marion upgrade though... it could be marginal or it could change the entire dynamic of the team, adding a 2 way player, improving the defense, and moving Howard to the 2 guard by virtue of the fact that Wright was horrible, even if Howard isn't really a 2 guard, may be a huge upgrade... plus J-Ho may be playing for contract etc.

Damn, Ghazi, that was a really nice and honest post. I congratulate you! As much as I hate to admit it, the Mavs will be in the thick of it come playoff time. I still think they are one 'real' center away from going all the way.