How the West will be won
My formula is simple. I took a look at the teams’ record, trends, figured in trades, schedules, threw most of that out, and relied mostly on pure speculation. At the All-Star break the playoff race is tight. Consider this – the ninth team in the West right now (Denver) would miss the playoffs in the West – but have the 4th seed and home court advantage in the East.Order the teams will finish.
1. Lakers – I think Popovich spoke for many of us when he questioned what Memphis was doing on the Gasol trade. It was about as one sided of a trade as we may ever see. The Lakers are hard to beat now. They will be even tougher to beat when Bynum is back. If Kobe can avoid surgery on the finger, the Lakers will be the number one seed in the West. With Kobe playing like the MVP they look like the strongest team. They will be hard to beat on a night-to-night basis, but they are vulnerable in a 7 game series.
2. Spurs – They usually turn it on and get things rolling after the All-Star break. Until they completely fall apart, I would not be caught betting against it happening again this year. The core of the team is solid and should be getting healthy. Ginobili is as frustrating to guard as he is to watch.
3. Jazz – The Jazz have hit their stride. If it wasn’t for a horrible December they might have a 2 or 3 game lead on the second place team in the West. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jazz running first in the West at the end of March – April though, could be brutal.
4. Mavericks – Overall I don’t think the trade for Kidd is going to help them. Like the Suns big move the trade was made for the post-season more than the regular season. So for the next two months I expect them to drop some games.
5. Suns – The Suns currently have the best record in the West (tied with NO). Losing Marion and adding Shaq was a move entirely meant to beat the Spurs in a Half Court set in the playoffs. Getting everyone comfortable in the offense is going to cost them a game or two in the meantime. I expect to see them opening the playoffs on the road.
6. Hornets – The Hornets have arguably the most consistent team in the West. When they finally stumble for a few weeks – and every team inevitably does – they might come crashing down a few spots. Being sixth and opening the playoffs in Utah of course would be a nightmare situation for the Hornets.
7. Rockets – Last year you had a feeling that no one in Houston wanted Jeff Van Gundy and his slow half court offense back in town this year. Things change quickly. I wondered who would get seated first at a downtown Houston restaurant today – Rick Adelman or Van Gundy.
8. Nuggets – This spot won’t be decided early. Golden State and Portland will be gunning to make the playoffs with Denver. In the end it’s going to be hard to keep Denver out.
1 Comment to “How the West will be won”
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Koby is going to be an arrogant fool and attempt to play through the season, such will cost him dearly for many years to come. His effectiveness was displayed in the allstar game, it will not improve, he will become a determent. Gasol or not, if Koby holds, they fold as a team.
Kidd is a fine player and might be able to contribute, but I don’t think as effectively as the Mavs need right now.
Ya know I don’t desire to wash Shaq up, but face it, his game position will be on the big H at center court. Unless it takes another 10 seconds for a play to develop. He is still a fine ball player and one hella massive target to get around in the paint, but he has to move while there, and when the break hits, Half court and it’s coming back! He may as well declare the spot, throw some necklines across the court and such, as that is where he will be workin.
Wed should tell.
Hornets had best hope they NEVER face Deron in the playoffs, DWill owns CP3, and DP knows it. Now lots can happen in the league over the years, but I’m thinking that NO has seen their last victory over the Jazz until after Dwill and CP are playin chess with one another. (oh and I also keep several crow recipes on hand if the need arrive). I’ve got one with fava beans………
Rockets can just plain bring it on and hurt ya! Especially in a 7 game set. They aint no SAS, but can get a W as well as anybody on any given game day.
Thuggets, err nuggets. Time alone will tell. Tough guys that play tough and tougher in tough games. How is that for the word Tough?
SAS is well SAS. Always a challenge. Best hope is the recent trend for reffs to NOT call the flopinobly’s. In fact seems to be a shut down of many flopping plays around the league. Such is a good thing.
Jazz, well dey be a strokin, this All-Star thing in the middle of the season sorta is not nice though, causes a loss of focus and such.
I hope Korver got his undie supply back home though. I’m sure he made use of his time away.
What I really hope to see in the playoffs is good Basket ball played, and a much better reffing job that the nation was delivered last year. That one smelled of “designer NBA final opponents”! The NBA should be ashamed by what they did last year.
Fans will always complain about calls, but all too often their complaints are obvious and the only explanation is either a blind reff, one not paying attention, of course the call coming from the one reff that can’t actually see a thing, (physics gets in the way of but the whistle). No conference and no red flags allowed here. I know it’s a tough job, but one that can be performed with real logic as well, and sometime that really seems to be lacking.
OK lets git it on!
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