[OhCanada-Participant]

 Are a joke. Western conference has both the Spurs and the Lakers missing the playoffs.

EAST

(1)Raptors vs.(8)Pistons

(2)Celtics vs. (7)Wizards

(3)76ers vs. (6)Heat

(4)Pacers vs. (5)Bucks

WEST

(1)Warriors vs. (8)Trailblazers

(2)Jazz vs. (7)Pelicans

(3)Rockets vs. (6)Thunder

(4)Nuggets vs.(5)Timberwolves

by Kevin Pelton ESPN insider…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

I might flip Toronto and Boston due to the uncertainty of how Kawhi will handle being on a new team he has no desire to play for, but the rest of the East seems pretty on point. 

Pelton’s projections for the West are bold at best and ignorant at worst. I like Donovan Mitchell a lot, but the 2 seed seems really high for the Jazz. And putting the Nuggets at 4 seems like a huge reach to me considering how deep the conference is and the fact they finished 9th last year. I don’t have a huge issue with the Spurs projection, but saying any team with LeBron on it will outright miss the playoffs demonstrates a lack of understanding of the game. 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 I think that is High for Utah,  

I also think Boston is by far better that Toronto, 

Damn the West is going to be tough, some good teams not goung to make the playoffs.

 

 

[KIP BallerParticipant]

 I agree that the East seems to be pretty on point.

The West predictions are a little rediculous. I have the West tiered but its hard to predict exact order.

Tier 1: GS and Houston – Locks for top 3 seeds

Tier 2: Thunder and Lakers – Locks to make playoffs but hard to predict seeds. Too much talent or Lebron.

Tier 3: Jazz, Trailblazers, T-Wolves, Nuggets, Spurs, Pelicans – Playoff contender but could easily miss playoffs if dont have a great season due to depth of conference.

 

 

 

 

 

[cohenbc1Participant]

This is absurd. The Jazz, Nuggets and T-Wolves made no significant roster improvements (Denver signed IT, but apparently only after informing him he would strictly be Jamal Murray’s backup). Why should any of them improve this much? Sure they have some young players likely to get better, but so do the Lakers and Spurs. 

I don’t know where Pelton has the Cavs, but most projections seem to have them around 30 wins. That means LeBron is worth about 20 wins. It was obvious that Cleveland minus LeBron was a garbage team last year, yet he led them to the finals. I don’t know how you can watch basketball and bet against any team with LeBron on it to make the playoffs.

And what’s with everyone predicting the demise of the Spurs? They are not losing Kawhi Leonard this upcoming season. They lost him last season. Now they’re adding an all-NBA guy, DeMar DeRozan. True, the supporting cast got much weaker as they basically swapped Parker, Green and Anderson for Belinelli, Poeltl and Cunningham. I don’t necessarily think they’ll improve a whole bunch. But if you think the Spurs are going to be significantly worse than last year — that means you think that DeRozan is a net negative player, a guy like Melo or Dwight Howard who puts up big stats but actually hurts his team. I don’t see any reason to believe that’s the case.

 

 

 

[LOFTYParticipant]

 I can only hope the Jazz finished second. I think they’ll finish between 4th and 7th and that’s coming from a jazz fan

[HazelParticipant]

 1-Rudy Gobert is healthy all season. They played like a 54win team last season when he played. 

 

2- It takes half a season for teams to get used to each other so teams that stay put have an advantage early  The Jazz last season played like a team getting to know each other at first.  The second half they were lights out.  Rubio and Mitchell were great and should pick up where they left off.  If Rubio isn’t hurt against Houston that is a very tight series 

 

The Jazz are going to start the season familiar, focused and hopefully healthy.  If they start fast, they could easily win the 54 games predicted.  

Side note:

 Lakers are gonna start slow.  LeBron has made a habit of it .

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

I agree with switching Boston and Toronto, I feel Boston will be substantially better again this year.

Out West I would swap Portland out and bring San Antonio into the playoffs. Spurs are a better team than last year as soon as Derozan steps on the court, something Leonard rarely did.

I would predict Pelicans or Timberwolves to miss and Lakers to get in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[r377Participant]

 boston easy number 1, toronto could very well slide down with injury prone kahwi.

rockets gotta be second.

Bad feelings in minnesota i think they will slide.

Depending on how many games Davis plays, goes the pelicans.

Lillard is a wanna be curry who plays too much hero ball, Portland, Spurs, Grizzlies and Lakers will battle it out.

Also Clippers have a chance of making playoffs, i wouldn’t say portland are a better team.  Tobais Harris is my sleeper for the all-star team.

 

 

 

 

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 I think the Rockets may drop. I don’t think Anthony is going to fit. Vegas bookies actually increased the Thunder’s predicted wins after Melo was dealt.. that speaks volumes. Ariza and Mbah a Moute are bigger losses than most realise. If Capela or Harden go down for any period they will struggle.  

The Lakers will be in. Any team with Lebron makes the playoffs.  There should be no further explanation needed for this.

My top 8 out west are: 

Warriors Thunder Spurs Lakers Rockets Pelicans Jazz then Nuggets – Griz fighting for 8th

  

 

  

 

[Snatalini247Participant]

 I feel like everyones forgetting how good DeMar Derozan is and that the Spurs did still make the playoffs with out Kawhi. Kyle Anderson hurts but Parker was pretty old and this is pretty much a swap of Danny Green for Derozan. I think the Spurs are in line to get a top four seed. Keep doubting them though as always

[HitsterParticipant]

When I saw Denver at 4th I originally thought WFH but they were only 2 wins off 4th seed last season and 3 wins off 3rd seed. So if the West is bunched in that area then a team could hugely improve in the tables by merely winning a couple more games.

But I just don’t see the Spurs being out of the mix either or any team with LBJ in it.

[llperez]

 pelton was hating on lakers. He said lebron james was not the best offseason move (kawhi to toronto was) Odd considering the raps had to give up an all-star to get him(lakers gave up no one) the raps have been relevant for years (lakers have not and needed to make a big move) lebron is better then kawhi, and kawhi is on a 1 year deal while lebron is for 4. But if pelton thinks that raps move, which many people actually think was a bad move period(good luck finding anyone anywhere who would argue the lakers signing lebron was a bad move) is the better move, then good for him. ALso he said that the single worst move in the entire off season was the lakers signing lance stephenson. Its a 1 year deal for 4.4 million, and with ingram, lebron, caldwell pope, and josh hart all also on the wing, lance might not even be big piece of rotation. He’s going all in on lakers sucking this year.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 To be honest, I was ok with the lance signing. It’s a cheap one-year deal and he provides defense, toughness, and playoff experience as long as he keeps his head straight and doesn’t have unreasonable expectations for what his role will be. The rondo signing was the one that really didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. I would have much rather them used that money to bring back Lopez at center and look for a cheaper back up pg option that would compliment their roster better. 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 All I know is that the Western Conference is shaping up to be a bloodbath next season. Pretty much every team besides Sacramento, Phoenix, and possibly the clippers is going into the season with the expectation of at least making the playoffs and possibly even winning a series or 2. Golden state is clearly at the head of the class and I think you have to put Houston 2nd based on last season (even though I think they regressed over the summer). After that though, it’s kind of anyone’s guess. I don’t really expect to see a whole lot of separation between the teams that finish 3rd and fourth and the teams that finish 9-11. This is truly going to be one of those seasons where teams can’t afford to take any nights off.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 Yes the Rockets are Def weaker against a team like the Warriors or Celtics should they get that far into the Finals – but the Rockets were Dominant in the Reg season 

No way they fall below the #2 seed — the Warriors & Rockets are just very far ahead of the rest of the West — the #3 seed thru the #10 seed were separated by a couple games — None of these teams are appreciably better than Any other 

Only Two of those Western Conf teams added a Monster All NBA player — the Lakers & the Spurs & that’s why I have the Spurs & the Lakers as the #3 & #4 seeds —- I have the Lakers this high b/c I figure Lebron is gunning for the MVP knowing that the playoffs will be prob only 2nd round before exiting to Golden State —— 

 OKC will squeek into the #5 slot ahead of Utah at #6 — those last 2 slots will be a bloodbath….. W/ the Lakers jumping up into the mix that leaves 5 solid teams fighting for the last 2 slots & it could really be a coin flip. I’m going to take NOLA & Denver but it could be literally any 2 of those 5 teams 

In the East I think Boston is Easily #1 w/ 60+ Wins; This Phila team I have #2 b/c they were the #3 Defense in the NBA behind Boston at #1 & I think Phila improved Defensively – Fultz is the Huge question in Phila b/c if Fultz returns to what he was supposed to be Phila could potentially be neck & neck w/ Boston (C’s are a Lock for the Finals either way this year) & Phila could be a 57 win team – Toronto & Phila are a coin toss for who is better but Toronto adjusting to Kawhi & finding their Legs may take a month or two & be just enough to slip to 3rd w/ 53 wins 

Those 3 are the absolute Cream of the East & if any were in the West they’d be neck & neck w/ Houston for the #2 seed. 

Indiana is a very strong team & I believe Milwaukee made nice moves including their new coach & w/ Giannis leading them the Bucks will edge out Indiana for the #4 seed. That leaves the Pacers at #5, I like the Wizards at #6, the Heat at #7 & the Pistons at #8 

If Kawhi leaves Toronto next summer the East will turn into Phila vs Boston for what could be a 5 year run unless rumors are true that Kyrie & Jimmy Butter want to land in New York w/ the Knicks which would be Aweseome for the Conference & the NBA 

But that’s Next year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

Portland is getting sold short. They played bad in the playoffs but they were still the 3rd seed last season so now people think they aren’t going to make the playoffs? They lost Es Davis and Shabazz Napier, but I think Zach Colin’s will step up as will Wade Baldwin. Mean while the Pelicans switched Rondo for Elfrid Payton and Cousins for Randle. I think Rondo is a huge loss for them as I think he helped open up Jrue Holiday to be a scorer. The Pels still don’t have a good SF.

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

1 injury can derail any of the Top Team’s Satndings

Kyrie is always injured it seems, Gordon is coming back from a horrific leg injury, Al Horfors is getting up there in age? If any of those guys goes down the Celtics drop in the Playoff standings

If Kawhi or Kyle Lowry go in Toronto, that team struggles too, likely a Top 4 seed atm but If any of their Top 2 guys goes down it’s gonna be tough (Kawhi is still a huge question mark and Lowry is a chock artist)

76ers can’t afford to lose Embiid or Simmons for a longtime either, hopefully JoJo can play 70 plus games this year and prove he can stay healthy, Ben has to improve his jump shot and stay on the court too, If either guy go downs it crushes the hope of the 76ers to make a Finals appearance

Wall and Olapido simply cannot miss a large chunk of time either, if they do their teams will not make the playoffs as a Top Seed

Out west, The Warriors proved they’re the only team that can deal with multiple injuries throughout the regular season and not be effected in the standings, They’re a Top 3 Lock 

If any of the other teams Too star goes down the Team may not make the playoffs out West, it’s that brutal 

And why nobody thinks Lebron can miss time this late into his career is beyond me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Couldnt agree more. Injuries happen but when I look at certain teams history you can kinda see patterns.

 For instance it was well documented that Tom Thibadeau’s Chicago Bulls teams were overworked in practice which is why he was forced to leave the Bulls by management. This had a serious effect on Rose, Noah, Deng and Butler who have all been injury prone.

Theres always the terrible element of random bad luck but some teams get more injuries then others and so do some players. Preperation, rest and amount of energy spent also needs to be considered and also what a player is willing to play through and how much they really wanna be on the court. 

 

[Author]

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