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Way Too Early Western Conference Prediction Thread

I’m just gonna pencil us in as the 5th seed. The conference is brutal, we have a lot of new faces (three new starters), and we seem to just love that 5th seed..I’m gonna keep expectations tempered.
 
Wes Mantooth said:
I’m just gonna pencil us in as the 5th seed. The conference is brutal, we have a lot of new faces (three new starters), and we seem to just love that 5th seed..I’m gonna keep expectations tempered.
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Tempering expectations is putting us in like 3rd. Penciling us in fo 5th is like putting expectations in a coma.
 
SCS said:
Tempering expectations is putting us in like 3rd. Penciling us in fo 5th is like putting expectations in a coma.
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Not really. Nuggets (2 seed as youngest team in league last year and added Grant), Clips, Lakers, Blazers (better than us last two years)...and like I said we have a lot of new parts.
 
I think we have a great shot at 3rd seed. But we could end anywhere between 5th and 1st. I think GS will be in the top 4. Maybe something like this...

1. Clippers
2. GSW
3. Utah
4. Lakers
5. Denver
6. Houston
7. Portland
8. SAS

I think most teams got better but Houston is having some internal turmoil and the Spurs really changed the least from last year. Minny could be a dark horse to push SAS out. The top 5 or even top 7 could all change places depending on chemistry, injuries, incorporating new TMs, etc. Gonna be a wild year.
 
Wes Mantooth said:
How is BJelly defensively? I’m asking for future trade possibilities.
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Meh to ok I believe. Not a complete sieve, but closer to sieve then to Rudy I believe. Just a guess. Someone should look up advanced stats.
 
1. Jazz
2. Blazers
3. Rockets
4. Clippers
5. Nuggets
6. Lakers
7. GS
8. Spurs
9. Pelicans
10. Kings
11. Mavericks
12. WOLVES
13. Griz
14. Suns
15. Thunder
 
Here are my thoughts:

1. Clippers - No explanation necessary, this squad is loaded. Could be the best defensive team and have three elite scorers.
2. Nuggets - This team rolls deep and brings basically everything back with a young team that should get better + Jerami Grant. Young backcourt needs to take a leap and Millsap will need to not completely fall off the cliff.
3. Jazz - Toss up between 3/4 for me. I think we'll be on par with everyone but perhaps LAC by season's end but things will take some time to jell.
4. Lakers - Minimal depth but a team with LeBron + AD can't be slotted any lower.
5. Blazers - Basically running it back + Hassan Whiteside. Feels like Lillard is on a mission.
6. Rockets - Chris Paul is a shell of himself and awful vibes coming out of Houston. 2017 was their year, that WCF will haunt Daryl Morey.
7. Warriors - IMO Draymond is overrated and they'll miss Klay a lot more than folks realize. DLo better be ready to carry a load, otherwise Steph could get run into the ground. Depth remains a big issue.
8. Spurs - Death, taxes, the Spurs.
9. Kings - Love this squad. Tempted to bump them up but I think they need another piece + another year.
10. Mavericks - KP + Luka will be interesting and could be quite formidable. I don't like the supporting cast.
11. Pelicans - Awesome young squad, but they'll need time. AD out + Zion, Lonzo, Ingram, Favors, etc. in is basically a complete overhaul.
12. Minnesota - Meh city, think they could be candidates to blow the whole thing up.
13. Suns - Terrible.
14. OKC - Full on tank-a-palooza but I think the Grizz are untouchable. Feel bad for the fanbase it's going to be ugly.
15. Grizzlies - Brace yourself, Memphis.
 
bigmike said:
14. OKC - Full on tank-a-palooza but I think the Grizz are untouchable. Feel bad for the fanbase it's going to be ugly.
15. Grizzlies - Brace yourself, Memphis.
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Why? They already have two young budding stars in Morant and Jackson. Whats there to tank for for them? They will be pain in the *** for a lot of teams and certainly better than Suns and OKC.
 
Sorry everyone, warriors will be on top once again.
Doesn't matter that Durant left and Klay got hurt. They are still a super team.

I mean Steph Curry and Alec Burks on the same team is enough to qualify as a super team alone. Plus Draymond and Klay when he comes back.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using JazzFanz mobile app
 
LogGrad98 said:
I think people are really discounting the warriors. They will be much better than people expect.

Either that or a total collapse. I can see them either in the top 4 or out of the picture entirely. Have a hard time seeing them fighting for 8th or something.
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They are losing a lot: KD, Iggy, Livingston, and Klay won't be Klay this season. I am dubious about them. What have they got: Steph and Draymond are a great start, but is Russel a good match?
 
zman1527 said:
They are losing a lot: KD, Iggy, Livingston, and Klay won't be Klay this season. I am dubious about them. What have they got: Steph and Draymond are a great start, but is Russel a good match?
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They added Burks dude. Nuff said.
Might as well cancel the season and give the warriors the trophy.









Really doe with them losing Livingston and cook and Klay hurt I'm hoping Burks gets some decent playing time.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using JazzFanz mobile app
 
The Clippers consider themselves the favorites like everyone else, and likely don’t care about winning the regular season. They will time-manage Leonard as much as possible to keep him fresh for the postseason.

The Jazz will likely take the number one seed like the Bucks did this year.

Jazz
Clippers
Lakers
Nuggets
Rockets
Blazers
Warriors
Spurs

Dallas
Sacramento
New Orleans
Minnesota
Memphis
OKC
Phoenix
 
I could see us ending up anywhere in the top 5 but most likely 3-5. The difference this year is that there is not a dominant favorite (barring injury) going into the playoffs.
 
1. Nuggets, they are built for the regular season but will lose in the second round.
2. Utah Jazz, we are deep, with solid talent and coaching. Plus we have decent continuity and Snyder finally has weapons.
3. GS, Curry wins MVP.
4. Clippers, it takes them awhile to figure out how to play together and also don't worry about regular season as much.
5. Lakers, poor depth but LeBron and AD are really good
6. Houston, Harden takes a step back as does the team.
7. Kings, they are going all in this year.
8. Blazers squeeze in with others close behind.

9. Spurs, maybe pop follows Sloan's example and retires mid season
10. NOP, they play well together. Still think they should trade and tank but they aren't.
11. Minny
12. Dallas
13. Suns
14. OKC, They will keep trading to suck
15. Memphis, they will play well at times but FO makes sure they lose.
 
1) Clippers - Kawhi will probably rest a fair amount but this team will be good even when he does

2) Jazz - Right there with the Clippers. They aren't just the top two in the west either. I think these two teams are the top two teams in the whole league.

3) Rockets - I don't believe they are ded. Their defense slipped last year from the year before. And because of some of their core players being older (CP3, Tucker, Gordon) it will likely be their weakness next year too. However their offense is good on a historic level. D'Antoni is a regular season wiz too.

4) Lakers - Lack of depth and defense are their flaws. If they get hit with a big injury to LeBron or AD they will be in deep trouble (unlike the Clippers/Jazz/Rockets who I think could survive an injury to most of their key pieces).

5) Nuggets - They proved me wrong last season. Well kinda. They are good. But they aren't #1 or #2 seed good. Last year they ranked around 5th or 6th in the west in point differential, net rating, etc. They only finished 2nd in the standings because of a cakewalk early season schedule at the same time that better western conference teams were going through tough schedules while adjusting to the new freedom of movement rules and increased pace of play. They weren't actually the second or third best team in the west last year. And they still aren't.

6) Spurs - This team is basically adding Dejounte Murray and Demarre Carroll to a roster that won 48 games last year. People will sleep just like last year (I remember people here told me they would miss the playoffs lol), but they'll be solid as always.

7) Warriors - Hard to rank with KD gone and with Klay expected to miss most of the season. Iggy and Livingston gone too. I think they are viewing this season as a year to re-tool the roster before getting back into the hunt next year. They are still too talented to completely miss the playoffs though imo.

8) Blazers - They are still good but I think they took a step back this offseason. They lost a lot of offensive efficiency and defensive versatility in the moves that they made.

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9) Pelicans - I expect Zion to be a beast and the roster is solid.

10) Mavs - Not enough on this roster to make the playoffs but Luka/KP could be fun.

11) Kings - Meh. Whole lot of meh.

12) Suns - I think Ayton will have a huge year and the Suns will show some improvement in spite of themselves lol.

13) Wolves - Like the Kings but somehow even more meh.

14) Thunder - Because of the purge.

15) Grizzlies - LOVE their young core a lot. But this year will probably be rough.
 
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