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Way Too Early Western Conference Prediction Thread

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.
 
.... my gowl for teh jazz, who just basically pushed all-in, is for them not to finish with teh bess record.

wtf/
 
Top Tier Playoff Teams
1. Clippers
2. Nuggets
3. Jazz
4. Rockets
5. Lakers
Bottom Tier Playoff Teams
6. Blazers
7. Warriors (They'll be dangerous come postseason)
8. Spurs

On the Playoff Bubble
9. Kings
10. Mavericks
11. Pelicans
12. Timberwolves

Dumpster Fires
13. Thunder (assuming they continue to blow it up)
14. Grizzlies
15. Suns
 
1. Jazz
2. Nuggets
3. Lakers
4. Clippers
5. Blazers
6. Warriors
7. Spurs
8. Rockets
9. Pelicans
10. Mavs
11. Kings
12. TWolves
13. Grizz
14. Thunder
15. Suns
 
We won 50 games last year with a point guard that couldn't shoot, shooting guards that struggled to hit open jumpers, and forwards that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. We corrected all of those issues and now they say we will win 52 games? How about closer to 60 wins! We brought in players that fit our system to a tee and don't have any agendas or ego's!
 
Clippers and Lakers are built for the playoffs, so they'll be managing their loads I imagine. Clippers are deeper though so I anticipate they'll fare a little better.

1.Nuggets(us or them honestly)
2.Jazz
3.Clippers
4.Warriors
5.Rockets
6. Lakers
7.Blazers
8.Mavericks
 
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