Burns: Western Conference Rankings (SI.com)

[screw_ston713]

Spurs will be in the mix forsure, im not a hater they can finish anywhere from 1-6. Mavs and Phx were 1 and 2 seeds before last yr, in one year they dropped to 6th and 7th seeds. The west is that tight.

[JMarkJohns]

I'm not exactly sure what the Mavs have done to actually finish better next season than last, considering they were worse off after their big trade. They maybe had two or three victories over playoff teams with Kidd on the roster. I don't think the Suns are any better, but if the Suns are 8th (2 spots worse than last year's finish) then the Mavericks should be no better.

1. New Orleans (-1)
2. Los Angeles (+1/-1)

3. Utah (+1/-1)
4. San Antonio (+1/-2)
5. Houston (+2/-1)

6. Phoenix (+1/-3)
7. Dallas (+1/-2)
8. Portland (+2/-1)

9. Los Angeles (+1/-2)
10. Denver (+2)


I put them into their respective tiers, and added the plus/minus to indicate each potential one way or the other.

[spursfan09]

Last year with Yao not even with the team for majority of the 2nd half of the season the Rockets in one of the toughest years in the west, won 55 games. Spurs fans are really over sensitive. Everyone has their own predictions of how the west will stack up.

i am not oversensitive about anything basketball. I could care less about rankings. My point was more that the rockets always look they are going to be at the top in the west, but something always happens and they end up getting knocked out in the first round. Thats just an observation I have. And yeah rockets won 55 games, but that does not mean anyting other than you had a good season.

[mrspurs]

[Fabbs]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...west.rankings/

Western Conference rankings
Marty Burns


1. Lakers: Turiaf's departure could be a significant blow, as L.A.'s reserve corps played a big role in last season's run to the Finals. Even so, the Lakers still have Kobe Bryant and that's enough to merit keeping them at No. 1 -- at least for now.

The world needs another Kobe kiss ass. Yeah Kobe by himself led the Lakers to the Finals. Try three impressive .500 seasons. As if the Gasol collusion and Fisher being allowed to opt over to L.A. for free didn't change everything.

Agree with the rest of you who point out Turiaf was hardly the "key".

Spurs sad to say are about where they belong and i fear we can no longer call Tim Duncan the best player in the NBA with Popped at the helm. We can hope 'Popped, -excuse me "Phils Bitty", doesn't have to face PJ again in the playoffs. Fetal position will be sure to follow.

[The Third Man]

i am not oversensitive about anything basketball. I could care less about rankings. My point was more that the rockets always look they are going to be at the top in the west, but something always happens and they end up getting knocked out in the first round. Thats just an observation I have. And yeah rockets won 55 games, but that does not mean anyting other than you had a good season.

You're completely right. The Rockets have to advance in the playoffs before they get respect. That's the way it should be. Garnett had questions about his playoff abilities and he had to deal with them until he got a ring. Just like Peyton Manning. McGrady and Yao will have to get the job done in May and June to shut up the haters. Having Artest around will give them a good shot to do so.

[your_pimp]

Stop saying "we" you silly Faker fan. Your team sux ass and is finished. I can't believe I'm even replying to your crap at this point. Someone fix this joker's Fav. Team and avatar please. Damn, I feel like a rookie for even trying to enter into a discussion with you.

Go play on Lakersground and GTFOOH. Your Fakers suck and got humiliated. Mason will be a solid addition to this team that can make shots and defend. His addition will help preserve Manu's minutes. Damn, I can't wait until a healthy Manu slaps your sorry team around.

Gasol is soft as tissue and Odom is a mental midget. The Spurs will be back but it wont be the Lakers weak challenging us, it'll come from a real team like the Hornets. Bynum....that's funny. We own Phoenix too, or did you miss that ? Amare or no Amare.

stupid !

[Dramon]

Who cares about these rankings. The west is so close anyways. Even if he's completely right, after last season theres a good chance that half the teams finish with the same records and the rest of the top 8 within 1-2 wins.

[IronMexican]

Stop saying "we" you silly Faker fan. Your team sux ass and is finished. I can't believe I'm even replying to your crap at this point. Someone fix this joker's Fav. Team and avatar please. Damn, I feel like a rookie for even trying to enter into a discussion with you.

Go play on Lakersground and GTFOOH. Your Fakers suck and got humiliated. Mason will be a solid addition to this team that can make shots and defend. His addition will help preserve Manu's minutes. Damn, I can't wait until a healthy Manu slaps your sorry team around.

Gasol is soft as tissue and Odom is a mental midget. The Spurs will be back but it wont be the Lakers weak challenging us, it'll come from a real team like the Hornets. Bynum....that's funny. We own Phoenix too, or did you miss that ? Amare or no Amare.

God, you make Spur fans look re ed.

and most Spur fans on this site are great, but wow. the IQ has certainly dropped on this site after reading some of your posts

[DROB4EVER]

Who cares about these rankings. The west is so close anyways. Even if he's completely right, after last season theres a good chance that half the teams finish with the same records and the rest of the top 8 within 1-2 wins.

I agree, I think the top 5 teams are likely to be only a game apart each. Looks like the season should come down to the final week like this past season.

[TheMadHatter]

No the WC won't be as close as it was last year. At least not with the same teams.

LAL, HOU, and NOH will be in a class of their own. The rest will fend for scraps.

[screw_ston713]

i am not oversensitive about anything basketball. I could care less about rankings. My point was more that the rockets always look they are going to be at the top in the west, but something always happens and they end up getting knocked out in the first round. Thats just an observation I have. And yeah rockets won 55 games, but that does not mean anyting other than you had a good season.

What is the criteria to finishing 2nd place in the regular season??? I thought finishing with the 2nd best record in the west. What does being knocked out in the 1st round has to do with finishing the regular season with the 2nd best record in the west?

[MrChug]

but it looks as if this San Antonio team will be pretty much the same as a season ago -- only a year older.

That sounded so horrific, but true...DAMN YOU FATHER TIME!!!


Nah, that seems to be the average, run of the mill PRE-season list. The formula? Take the team with the most to gain by trades and signings whether it's good for the team or bad for it and bump them up to give yourself a story when they flounder. It never works, but for the Celtics last year. They were ranked number one, proved they deserved it, and busted everybody's ass and won the championship.

[rascal]

just because we got younger doesn't mean we added anything decent. Mason is not an impact player at all...wow getting 9 points per game on a trash team..big freaking deal. the guy is a bum.

the manu excuse is a load of bull, seems people like you were fine when we beat the suns when amare got suspended..guess that didn't matter yet this manu injury does. you can't blame injury, thats manu's style...he is never going to be healthly and the fact the lakers were without bynum and ariza against us means you can't use the injury excuse at all.

lakers aren't trash they are the best team in the west PERIOD...and may well win the le this year with more experience under their belt and a healthly bynum and ariza.

Agree. The Manu was not healthy excuse is a cop out for those who don't want to accept the truth . The lakers were the better team down the stretch during the regular season after they added Gasol and they were the better team in the playoffs.

[tmtcsc]

God, you make Spur fans look re ed.

and most Spur fans on this site are great, but wow. the IQ has certainly dropped on this site after reading some of your posts

Well, you're right about one thing, most Spurs fans in here are cool but you're a ing dip . Have you even read my takes ? Stop signing in as PIMP and The Game and whoever else. Go away Louis.

My posts are either intelligent, vulgar or inflammatory. It all depends on the level of the audience I'm posting for. So.....go yourself you infant, bathroom stall meat gazer.

Go to Mav talk and discuss how long it will take before the Mavs reach the playoffs again.

I take it back..I just went and read some of your old posts. What you need to do is back away from the computer, the video games and the taco stands. Just go outside and try to make some friends you sad, lonely boy. have you ever even talked to a girl without having to use a credit card ?

[tmtcsc]

Agree. The Manu was not healthy excuse is a cop out for those who don't want to accept the truth . The lakers were the better team down the stretch during the regular season after they added Gasol and they were the better team in the playoffs.

Of course you agree. You're clueless and you hate the Spurs, despite the annoying trend of putting "Spurs" as your favorite team under your avatar. Just put your real favorite team down. Why are you scared that you will be run out of here ? This is Spurstalk. Thick skin around here.

[Spuradicator]

It always amazes me how people can, within the same paragraph, write statements that directly contradict each other.

+1

Especially from a national journalist.

[tmtcsc]

stupid !

tranny chaser