So who makes the playoffs in the West?

[alpha_HaZE]

There are five teams that made the playoffs last year and got better:

Spurs -We are essentially bringing everyone back, and add Dejounte, Lonnie, DeMarre and non other than Marcus Morris.
Nuggets -- One year older and that much more playoff experience.
Jazz --Added Mike Conley and Bojan! And Donovan Mitc at year 3.
Blazers --They added 3 and D guys and if healthy will be better than last year.
Clippers --Duh

Then there are 3 playoff teams that got worse

Warriors, HOU and OKC.

It's safe to say OKC definetely misses and HOU makes the playoffs. GSW is a question mark for me.

Then you have one non-playoff team that improved tremendously.

Dallas --Kristaps and Luka would be fun to watch for year to come.

and another one that's a question mark.

Lakers --Added AD but lost lots of players. New coaches, new players, it will take some time to figure things out. Question is how long and can they still make the playoffs. I have to say, Danny at 15mi is just too much.

So I think its something like this

Clippers
Nuggets
Utah
Spurs
Rockets
Mavs
Blazers
Warriors/Lakers

[JuegaBonito]

There are five teams that made the playoffs last year and got better:

Spurs -We are essentially bringing everyone back, and add Dejounte, Lonnie, DeMarre and non other than Marcus Morris.
Nuggets -- One year older and that much more playoff experience.
Jazz --Added Mike Conley and Bojan! And Donovan Mitc at year 3.
Blazers --They added 3 and D guys and if healthy will be better than last year.
Clippers --Duh

Then there are 3 playoff teams that got worse

Warriors, HOU and OKC.

It's safe to say OKC definetely misses and HOU makes the playoffs. GSW is a question mark for me.

Then you have one non-playoff team that improved tremendously.

Dallas --Kristaps and Luka would be fun to watch for year to come.

and another one that's a question mark.

Lakers --Added AD but lost lots of players. New coaches, new players, it will take some time to figure things out. Question is how long and can they still make the playoffs. I have to say, Danny at 15mi is just too much.

So I think its something like this

Clippers
Nuggets
Utah
Spurs
Rockets
Mavs
Blazers
Warriors/Lakers

[BackHome]

That’s pretty spot on a lot will be determined who can stay healthy the most.

[JuegaBonito]

Wildly disrespectful to say Dallas will finish ahead of the Lakers and warriors. Doubt Kristaps even stays healthy all year.

[slick'81]

Lakers arent finishing 8th

[smaka]

Wildly disrespectful to say Dallas will finish ahead of the Lakers and warriors. Doubt Kristaps even stays healthy all year.

Exactly what I wanted to say. Dallas basically brings back the same team as last year + Porzingis, but I have huge doubts about his health. Doubt they get higher than 11th seed, and I am big Luka fan.

I think those teams make playoffs:
SAS, LAC, LAL, UTA, DEN, POR, GSW, HOU.

[Babyboy]

how did Denver improve lol, same exact team as last year

[Hyperhypo]

Houston
Portland
Warriors
Denver
Clippers
Warriors
Spurs
Utah

[GreekSpursfan]

If Dubs make the playoffs, we are the odd team out tbh.

[tbdog]

I didn't see blazers improving. They lost Aminu and Harkless. They traded Turner for Bazemore. Whiteside is a black horse.

[Biggems]

how did Denver improve lol, same exact team as last year

Experience....a very young team that went 2 rounds deep, and played in 2 game 7. Now they have a taste, a hunger, and a better understanding of the next level. So while they may be the same team, KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE are the huge, and quite underrated, additions they made to the roster.

[Light]

Other than swapping out OKC for the Lakers, I think we'll see the same playoff teams as last year.

[Bonner]

Kings will be in the hunt too.

[ceperez]

Experience....a very young team that went 2 rounds deep, and played in 2 game 7. Now they have a taste, a hunger, and a better understanding of the next level. So while they may be the same team, KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE are the huge, and quite underrated, additions they made to the roster.

I agree experience is huge!

That's why when Spurs didn't call a time out in game 7 with , it was a disaster. Lack of experience. No Parker, Manu or Tim.

[Dverde]

Locks
Utah
Clippers
Spurs
Portland

Probably get in
Lakers

Bubble
Denver
Thunder (Assuming Westbrick stays)
Kings
Rockets
Mavericks

Out
Golden State

[dbestpro]

Locks
Utah
Clippers
Spurs
Portland

Probably get in
Lakers

Bubble
Denver
Thunder (Assuming Westbrick stays)
Kings
Rockets
Mavericks

Out
Golden State

Denver is a lock. The Rockets are the team that I think will go bust. This could be the year the Wolves or Kings sneak into the playoffs. Not sold on Mavs or Lakers. Lakers are extremely fragile.

[Mr. Body]

Denver and Portland will hold steady. Very good teams.

Rockets will dip. Not only didn't do anything and are trying to jettison players, their end-of-series performance was so atrocious, especially Harden, it has to be demoralizing.

Warriors will fall to the second half of the bracket, I think. OKC will push for playoffs with Sacto and Dallas.

Lakers will be better than many say. Their pick-ups aren't bad.

Utah will be better, but not tons better.

I could see the top four from last year not in the top four this year.

[offset formation]

I think the Lakers implode. Too many places where it can all go wrong. One injury to either star. One bad losing streak will create disfunction in the locker room. Coaching jealousy will enter the picture at some point.

I cannot wait to see bad things happen to an organization that only deserves bad things.

[ceperez]

I think the Lakers implode. Too many places where it can all go wrong. One injury to either star. One bad losing streak will create disfunction in the locker room. Coaching jealousy will enter the picture at some point.

I cannot wait to see bad things happen to an organization that only deserves bad things.

This is entirely possible. Lakers don't have enough 3 point shooters.

[vavvi]

Can’t see LeBron missing the playoffs two years in a row. The league won’t let it.

LAL, LAC, Houston are locks for me.
Utah, Denver, Spurs, GS, Portland are almost locks.

Dallas and Sacramento will try to get in but will likely fail

[widowmaker]

I agree not in that order thats just something thats gonna have to play out people still have to put it together on the floor anything can happen

[monty4329]

Injuries will determine who makes the PO. It will be so tight that 11 teams will fight for the 8 spots.
I guess it is safe to say MIN, PHX, MEM, NO don't have a chance. Everybody else can squeeze in, with GS, SAC and DAL probably having the hardest path.

I trust SA will have a fast start that will prove critical in making one of the last two spots.

[BSfromTX]

So hard to predict if everyone is healthy and plays. If load management is in full effect, some teams will pick up unexpected wins. Lakers if healthy should make it. It really comes down to injuries, but it do expect OKC and HOU to be worse

[monty4329]

This is entirely possible. Lakers don't have enough 3 point shooters.

They actually have quite a nice roster now. They might even win it all, frankly. And watch out for the buyout market in february.

[DC23]

Not in order but:

1. Jazz
2. Rockets
3. Blazers
4. Clippers
5. Lakers
6. Spurs
7. Nuggets
8. Warriors

Kings and Mavs will be better but just misss IMO.