Jack Strop
Well-Known Member
There have been a couple of times when every playoff team in the WC had at least 50 wins. This season that may be the case again.
Early Predictions for the 2018/19 Season
- Thread starter Ferguson_Mellochill
- Start date
addictionary
Well-Known Member
If they get another ball handler, they can be very dangerous.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
It
is possible depending on how events unfold. Hype factor was a big thing last season. You might not Have it as much this season.
Lakers will have more IMHO. And I don't think we'll get more than 52-53.
I'm thinking
GSW
HOU
LAL
UTA
OKC
MIN
SAS
DEN
But Blazers and Pelicans are tough teams. And possibly also Kings and Suns, even.
Clippers and Mavericks will suck, also Grizzlies could be decent, but I think they'll fail.
I'm thinking DM at 22/4/4-ish. Rudy will have 12/11 + lots of blocks. Dante will look great at times, but he's also going to look lost at times and I think his averages will suffer. But I think he's going to have a nice year.
Wow this is so trippy, when you present it in this manner i like it better
ESPN power rankings for next year are out already. Jazz come it at #7. I dont mind being #7 it seems reasonable except they are ranked just behind #6 OKC, who we just beat in the playoffs in 6 games. But they probably figure the Jazz stayed the same in the off season so that means they didnt improve, which is incorrect.
They also have 76ers as #4. They lost 2 of their better players from this years playoffs. Ilyasova and Belinelli were huge for the 76ers, easily 2 of their best 5 players in the playoffs. Im not sure they improved but either way they are not the 4th best team in the NBA. They do have an easier schedule and path in the playoffs since they are in the East but that doesnt make them better than teams in the West that might end up with worse records.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-lebron-james-kawhi-leonard-change-everything
They also have 76ers as #4. They lost 2 of their better players from this years playoffs. Ilyasova and Belinelli were huge for the 76ers, easily 2 of their best 5 players in the playoffs. Im not sure they improved but either way they are not the 4th best team in the NBA. They do have an easier schedule and path in the playoffs since they are in the East but that doesnt make them better than teams in the West that might end up with worse records.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-lebron-james-kawhi-leonard-change-everything
David Stern
Well-Known Member
I have a problem with 3 East teams being in the Top 5... because its so far from true.
Jazz should be 5th imo
TheStormofWar
Well-Known Member
Seems solid, but I'm beginning to wonder if the Jazz might be better than the Rockets next year.
The Jazz had a year to gel after some wicked turnover with some players going through rough patches. Still, then paced 60 wins in the second half of the season and they're returning everyone. I suspect Ricky will be able to connect all year and I expect Favors, Mitchell, Crowder, and Royce to be better than last year.
While on the subject, people tend to forget Crowder was traded twice, came from a offense that didn't use him effectively to an offense with a tricky locker room situation to an offense that is complicated to learn on the fly (ask Ricky), and had some grief to deal with as his mother passed on (R.I.P Mrs. Crowder). That's going drag anyone down. Now that he's settled in and getting an offseason to center himself on a team that adores him while really getting into the nuances of the offense, I'm pretty sure he'll be good next year. He's too tough mentally not to. Then, there's always stuff like this.
Love ya back, Jae.
I also think Allen and Niang will make their own contributions as well. Allen genuinely surprised me in the SL with his play making ability. I knew he could to it, but to display the chops he did was a pleasant surprise. Once he's had a chance to rest and practice, his shot will be fine. As such, I genuinely doubt he pulls a Fultz. Meanwhile, Niang was utterly deadly from 3 last year in the G-league and has some playmaking as well. They'll be fine.
Now, with Houston, they lost two players that were impactful on their team while picking up a ball stopper that absolutely cannot play with other superstars. That will cost them some games. They just won't be as good as last year I think.
The only team that really kind of worries me is the Spurs. They won 47 without their best player and all that ****ing drama. So they dished the drama queen, picked up a damn fine player, a nice prospect, and a pick. DDR is going to play with a chip on his shoulder and Pops knows how to correct player's skillsets. They're going to be good next year.