[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

I keep reading posts relaying the opinion that team “X” should they play in the east would be a second round playoff team. Let’s get some clarity on this topic prior to making proclamations, sarcastic or otherwise. I feel it is only appropriate to start in the west, home of the defending champions.

1. Lakers: Kobe and the crew best team on paper in the NBA
2-6.(In no order)
Dallas: NBA deepest roster two quality defensive bigs
OKC: KD and the best young group in the league.
San Antonio: Quality coaching and TD with Manu
Utah: Deron is the straw that stirs the drink.
Phoenix. Nash although rebuilding always surprises
7-8
Houston: “IF” Yao is right they jump two spots
Kings/Clippers/NO one of the two will be the feelgood team of the playoffs with a competitive early exit. Probably the clippers due to veteran leadership.

East:
1. Boston until proven otherwise
2-4.(No order)
Orlando: Dwight, SVG, and perimeter shooters galore
Miami: Three Kings and a solid supporting cast.
Chicago: Five card straight led by d rose might beat 3 of a kind
5-8.
Atlanta: Did they get any better?
Milwaukee: Bogut has to have a great recovery (See: Ming, Yao)
Charlotte/NYK…anyone: does it matter?

The point I am trying to make is that 1-4 on both sides would be a tough out for any top team, the Lake Show included. As a Lebron/Wade fan I really want to tout the heat as the best. But similar to boxing you have to knockout the champ. There is no way any of the young teams out west other than OKC has a better than 30% shot at seeing the second round in the East, I cannot see any team in the west outside of 1-5 cracking the fearsome four at the top of the East. While I believe the kings, clippers, etc have a lot of talented players can we really say they are better than Chicago? The Heat? Orlando? Boston? That is the high water mark on the east coast. I know every year a struggling team lands a young player the excitement builds. But let’s be realistic. Winning games in the NBA is tough. Seeing the second round takes a lot more than talent. It is a process. A process that usually takes years to master.

Please excuse grammar and punctuation errors as this was written on my cellphone.

[McWinningParticipant]

So your basicly saying Portland has 000% chance of making the playoffs?

[llperez]

i think top 4 is pretty even in both conferences, possibaly even an advantage for the east. But the last 4 in the west are overall much better then the last 4 in for the east. Thus the first round is a more difficult process in the west, but after that, its all balanced out in both conferences. Atlanta and milwaukee are probably the 5th and 6th best teams in the east, and they would be no gaurantee to make the playoffs in the west. I see them being right along with san antonio, okc, houston, portland, denver, dallas, phoenix, utah and not necesarily better then any of those team

[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

Portland fits in that 7-8, and that hurts to say because I like B Roy. But Allen has made a big mess and front office disarray has a profound effect on players. Also when was the last time the complete starting 5 got 70+ games together in the regular season? They could prove me wrong but I do not see them as top five in the west. Or top four in the east. So regardless they fall in that group Portland<30% chance of seeing the second round in the east.

[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

It is the declarations of fans of 6-8 that disregard the competitive game of 1-4 in the east that I am referring to. “(Team 6-8) would easily make it to the second round in the east, maybe the finals”. I love the west coast as much as Snoop and WC do but I still must live in reality.

[McWinningParticipant]

Sure the last two years they havent been able to stay healthy but better than seventh.

Remember their a young team, they added Matthew, Johnson, Babbit, and Williams they have a lot of trade assets so they can get a better player.

I have them fourth in my rankings.

They would get the fourth seed in the east too.

[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

Portland has two “its” Oxen and Pryz. I think Roy might be half am if

[McWinningParticipant]

What do you mean by ”its”?

[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

I meant ifs. Lol it is the auto select function on my phone

[Author]

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