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Hoopsworld Ranks the Western Conference

orangello said:
Well, who is he talking about? Does he have something that makes sense or he just thinks that the Jazz can get a boatload in return for those two?
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Na, he's not much of a watcher on trade circuit.
But if you don't think that Kanter and Hayward would garner a lot of interest around the league on the trading block, you're not thinking clearly.
 
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Brown Notes said:
As much as I hate OKC this guy is doing them a tremendous disservice flipping them in his language with LA, talking about how OKC has a chance to "knock off" the L's.

The Thunder are the WC champs and will be until somebody else earns it. He's underrating the Mavs too. Their acquisitions will fit very well and that team will be significantly better. Kidd is so overrated by fans it's not even funny anymore.
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I could not agree more. I just do not understand the love LA is getting for the Howard trade that catapults them to #1 all of a sudden. Kobe has slowed down dramatically, Nash is old (but very effective) and Howard will be coming off back surgery. Nash in order to be at max effectiveness needs shooters (which LA does not have). Howard is a slight upgrade over Bynum, but not a huge jump. Gasol has slowed and played in the Olympics so he will not be fresh either. I just do not think this team is amazing as the national media is portraying. Are they better than last year, yes. Are they #1 in the West, no.
 
TheSilencer1313 said:
I'm not really saying the same things I said last offseason.
I see the Jazz as being the sneaky 5th seed.

1. The Jazz ALWAYS match up well with the Lakers nowdays, because of our size and big man line up (just watch out for Nash obviously). Really, I guess you have forgotten who has beaten us the last few times in the playoffs. The Lakers are better than last year because they have dramatically improved their PG position and they have more depth.
2. OKC usually has a tough time with the Jazz because of length on defense (which is why Marvin was traded for).Without checking I believe OKC has owned us the last few years. I could be wrong but I am certain that OKC isn't concerned about the acquisition of M. Williams.
3. The Jazz obviously know a lot about San Antonio now, so I see those match ups as being very close to maybe.... split.I guess you forgot that the Jazz got swept by SA last year. Besides the fact that they have owned us in SA the last decade.
4. The Clippers should not even be an issue, as the Jazz have just as much athleticism as they do. Favors should shut down Blake completely.I think the Jazz can hang with the Clippers. We have owned them in SLC so I certainly think Utah can beat out the Clips.
5. As far as Memphis goes, they're essentially the same team they were last year. As long as our shooters are shooting as well as they have their entire careers, Memphis won't be too much of an issue. The Jazz have been able to beat the Grizzlies and I feel as though we would win a seven game series but playing them in the playoffs would not be an easy out.
6. This is where Minnesota comes in, because I see the Jazz having a major problem with that team. I certainly think the T-Wolves could be a playoff team if they "learn" how to win which is difficult since they have such a long history of losing. However, if they are healthy, I think they could be a playoff team. I still think we can beat them in a seven game series if we play well. It would be a tough series and the T-Wolves have always given us a battle.

All in all.... this puts the Jazz at the 4-6th seed.
I don't expect much less.
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I think the West is so loaded and unpredictable right now. I think realistically the Jazz could win the division but they could also finish last or second to last. OKC, Denver, Portland, Utah and T-Wolves are all pretty young teams. I can't wait.
 
1. OKC
2. LAL
3. SAS
4. UTA
5. LAC
6. MEM
7. DEN
8. DAL

I'm confident the Jazz can beat anyone in the West in a playoff series, except those top 3 teams (we'll give those 3 a run, but won't be able to close the deal, sadly).
 
I guess I agree with most of the last few posters...based on talent, the Jazz feel like they should be the 4-6 seed this year...then again, my gut tells me they could gravely disappoint as well...
 
6 to 10 is our range so it's hard to get mad at the 10 crowd. The guys we brought in aren't that significantly better than the guys we sent out. So it's up to the Al's, Sap's, Favors, Hayward's, and Burks to change the forecast. And Ty. He's a big X-factor too.
 
I find 4th or 5th very unlikely. LA/OKC/SA/LAC are guaranteed to be ahead of us. Memphis (with a healthy Zach) and Denver are also basically guaranteed to post better records. We're more in the group with Dallas/Minny/Houston/Portland.

Injuries could help us move up, but then we got real lucky with injuries last year. But getting to the 4 would be momentous.
 
I also don't think it's fair to say the Clippers are "guaranteed to be ahead of us." I think they will be but based on Paul's injury history, Griffin's flaws, and our superior depth, it's not a given.
 
billyshelby said:
I find 4th or 5th very unlikely. LA/OKC/SA/LAC are guaranteed to be ahead of us. Memphis (with a healthy Zach) and Denver are also basically guaranteed to post better records. We're more in the group with Dallas/Minny/Houston/Portland.

Injuries could help us move up, but then we got real lucky with injuries last year. But getting to the 4 would be momentous.
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The Clippers are guaranteed to be better than us? They lost Mo and Foye to us and added what? The fading Odom? Please. I think Barkley said it best: "the Clippers are a team that is built to make highlights, but not win big" or something like that.

As far as Memphis goes, their biggest strength comes from down low, where I think we're actually better. Zach went crazy in one post season and has been overrated ever since.

Denver is very solid on the perimeter, but Faried and Mcgee down low is more than raw on offense. I think the Jazz are better down low, are deeper, and more balanced.

Putting us in a group with Houston and Portland is simply ridiculous. Sorry.
 
The Clippers added Odom, Hill, and Crawford, right? Bledsoe looked pretty good there at the end, and they brought back Billups. They're definitely a lot deeper than we are, and more talented top to bottom. Even with a Paul injury I'd be shocked if they fall lower than 4.
 
billyshelby said:
The Clippers added Odom, Hill, and Crawford, right? Bledsoe looked pretty good there at the end, and they brought back Billups. They're definitely a lot deeper than we are, and more talented top to bottom. Even with a Paul injury I'd be shocked if they fall lower than 4.
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i agree with NAOS on one level -- i don't really see the clips as a team built for the postseason. their big men don't defend, their free throw shooting as a team is subpar for a contender (mostly because of hack-a-blake and hack-a-DJ), and most of their role players are less efficient. in the context of playoff basketball where the importance of single possessions is amplified, i think they will have a hard time getting past round 2... ever.

having said that, they'll still win a ton of games. they have a very deep and talented lineup, and chris paul is capable of playing like he's the best PG since the turn of the century.

jordan - hollins - turiaf
griffin - odom - thompkins
butler - hill - leslie
billups - crawford - green
paul - bledsoe

that's four of their second-unit guys that would probably start on most other teams.
 
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