[mgreener_34Participant]

 I’m looking ahead, maybe a little too early, and noticed that the West might be in for a shake up. Every once and a while an elite team who is at the top takes a step back, and a new team takes it place. For the past decade the Jazz/Lakers/Suns/Nuggets were all locks to make the playoffs. Obviously this all changed when their star players left (Nash/Melo/Deron/Dwight/Kobe Injuries), and we saw new younger teams take those spots and are now considered locks (Clippers/Warriors/OKC/Houston).

I look at the West next year and see Warriors/Clippers/OKC/Houston/Grizz as locks, mainly because their key personel are all in or entering their primes, and all of them are well run organizations. That leaves the Mavs/Spurs/Por as the teams that are potential slips. 

The Mavs are going to look totaly different next year. Dirk isn’t the difference maker any more, and we watched as the team imploded in the playoffs. Tyson, Rondo, Aminu are all leaving most likely, and Monta will be as well if sources are to be believed. That leaves Dirk/Harris/Parsons/Powell as the only players under contract next year. The Mavs need to make moves, but as discussed in other threads, alot of the big time FA might not leave their teams for obvious reasons. If Mavs have a poor free-agency than they might fall out of the race, and I think they will. 

The Blazers are also in the same boat. They are the Joe Johnson Hawks of the West in my opinion, and they should take a step back next year. They were fools gold all year, and were exposed in the playoffs. Aldridge/Matthews/Lopez/ and potentially Afflolo could all leave, leaving them with only two of their starting 5 from this past season. LA is in my opinion out the door, as he’s shown frustration and the willingness to leave in the past, and lossing in the first round again only helps that cause, and idk if Lillard/Batum is a good enough foundation out West if they can’t add significant talent. I think Blazers are out next year, just like they were a few years ago.

And finally the Spurs. Do Manu and Duncan retire? Does Parker continue to digress? Does Kawhii take the next step offensively? Belenelli and Green (their best shooters) are both FA, and could leave, but I think they resign. I also think the Spurs have a good chance of landing decent FA, and Pop is the Bill Belechick of the NBA, and will have this team in the playoffs. Spurs as a franchise have only missed the playoffs a couple of times, and I don’t think next year is the year. Spurs will be in. 

So that leaves two open spots out West, but who fills them? 

We have Utah, one of the best teams in the NBA after the AS break, and will have a full year of Gobert/Favors, and Burks will be back as well, so they will have another SG who can run the offense and get to the hoop. If Exum improves at all they have a good chance of making it in my opinion, but they still could be a year away because of their PG issues. 

Pelicans made it this year, but I think we all can thank injuries for that, as OKC was clearly the team that deserved that spot if healthy. But OKC wasn’t healthy, and the Pels still won a lot of games, so credit goes to them. They are bringing in a new coach, and that is a big deal. Hopefully this new guy can find a way to get this talent to mesh, and AD’s supporting cast can actually start to support him. I think Pels are in, for sure. AD is just too good. 

Some other teams of note are the Suns/Lakers/Kings. All of them can improve greatly during the offseason either through the draft or free agency. Kings basically need to hit a homerun with their pick, and need to buy into what Karl is preaching. Collison/McLemore/Gay/DeMarcus is not a bad core at all, and if used correctly could be a good team. Lakers could have a Lakeresque offseason, bring in a big name, an amazing rookie, and Kobe/Randle can come back and give them some juice. Should be interesting watching LA going forward. Suns I think are pretenders, and last year showed it. Bledsoe/Morris/Len is nice, but I don’t know how their peronel works, or if they can compete with any of the other elite teams out West. We’ll just have to see. 

Obiously this all could chance with injuries (like OKC this year), and what happens in the draft (Let’s say the Jazz win out, and end up with Russle/Muiday), or free agency, and finally trades (Does Boogie leave? Where is Lawson going?). Should be an interesting year, and I’m curious to what you guys think.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 The only teams I see as locks for the playoffs would be Gsw, Mem, Hou, Lac., and Okc.

The Spurs, Mavs, and Blazers have too many question marks with free agency and potential retirees to pencil them in before the off season plays itself out and the Pelicans had a good run yet are still an injury prone bunch with a new Head Coach in a very tough West.

The Suns and Jazz should make a playoff push and be much better. The Kings have talent plus assets and the Lakers can buy it so those two can’t be counted out yet are longshots.

 The Nuggets have some serious chemistry issues at this point their depth doesn’t seem in tune and they seem like a lotto team and Minnesota is still very raw.

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 The only teams I see as locks for the playoffs would be Gsw, Mem, Hou, Lac., and Okc.

The Spurs, Mavs, and Blazers have too many question marks with free agency and potential retirees to pencil them in before the off season plays itself out and the Pelicans had a good run yet are still an injury prone bunch with a new Head Coach in a very tough West.

The Suns and Jazz should make a playoff push and be much better. The Kings have talent plus assets and the Lakers can buy it so those two can’t be counted out yet are longshots.

 The Nuggets have some serious chemistry issues at this point their depth doesn’t seem in tune and they seem like a lotto team and Minnesota is still very raw.

 

 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

If the Grizzlies lose Gasol (which I think won’t happen btw), I see them dropping out of the playoffs. As far as locks for next season, I see GSW, HOU, OKC (who will be much better with an actual coach next year) and probably also the Spurs (because they are the Spurs). For the Blazers it depends on their offseason (Aldridge, Matthews, Afflaflo etc.).

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

If the Grizzlies lose Gasol (which I think won’t happen btw), I see them dropping out of the playoffs. As far as locks for next season, I see GSW, HOU, OKC (who will be much better with an actual coach next year) and probably also the Spurs (because they are the Spurs). For the Blazers it depends on their offseason (Aldridge, Matthews, Afflaflo etc.).

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 The Blazers won in the first round last year. Batum is not a foundation player, seems like he only plays the games he wants. Also injuries really hurt this team, I don’t see LA leaving. It would take to much for Houston to get Aldridge they’d lose Beverly and Smith. Dallas is not in the convoersation since LA hates playing center and in order for the Mavs to LA they’d lose Tyson. I think the only teams that are in contention for LA are the Spurs and Portland. In order for the spurs to get LA, Manu or Tim would have to retire and then they would have to cut a bench guy like Marco, Joseph..

If LA signs with Portland he will make more money than any other team. Cause we hold his bird rights in 2016, so he could sign a 1 year player option with Portland than become a FA in 2016 and sign a much longer contract. We can offer him a deal with 7.5% annual raises while other teams can only do 4.5%, this is possible cause we own his bird rights. 

 

 

 

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 The Blazers won in the first round last year. Batum is not a foundation player, seems like he only plays the games he wants. Also injuries really hurt this team, I don’t see LA leaving. It would take to much for Houston to get Aldridge they’d lose Beverly and Smith. Dallas is not in the convoersation since LA hates playing center and in order for the Mavs to LA they’d lose Tyson. I think the only teams that are in contention for LA are the Spurs and Portland. In order for the spurs to get LA, Manu or Tim would have to retire and then they would have to cut a bench guy like Marco, Joseph..

If LA signs with Portland he will make more money than any other team. Cause we hold his bird rights in 2016, so he could sign a 1 year player option with Portland than become a FA in 2016 and sign a much longer contract. We can offer him a deal with 7.5% annual raises while other teams can only do 4.5%, this is possible cause we own his bird rights. 

 

 

 

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 I like the Dodgers, strong starting pitching 

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 I like the Dodgers, strong starting pitching 

[omphalosParticipant]

 I think the Kings and Pelicans will make it with good health. Cousins and Davis are just that good, and George Karl is that good a coach.

I don’t see the Jazz making that leap yet, I think Exum needs to develop another year.

[omphalosParticipant]

 I think the Kings and Pelicans will make it with good health. Cousins and Davis are just that good, and George Karl is that good a coach.

I don’t see the Jazz making that leap yet, I think Exum needs to develop another year.

[sitlbitoParticipant]

I highly/respectfully disagree with you OP on Portland. If they re-sign everyone,they’re a contender whenhealthy. Especially considering Batum had the worst year of his career. The team I see falling is Dallas. They have no history of good drafting,I don’t think they’ll convince any bg free agent to come on a washed up team. OKC is a lock if healthy,I think the Spurs as well.

 The team I see making it is Utah . 30-23 in the last 53 games is a good enough sample size to me,especially considering they slowed down at the end of the year. I heard a stat saying that in the last 15 years,only one top 5 defensive team missed the playoffs. So if they stay at that level defensively,I think they’re gonna get that 7th 8th seed. I don’t see Denver,the Lakers,Sacramento,Phoenix getting back in it anytime soon though. I really think Utah has something special there.

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 They will also have burks coming back a and a lottery pick. Can’t wait to see them next year.

 

 

 

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 They will also have burks coming back a and a lottery pick. Can’t wait to see them next year.

 

 

 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 Oh you’re right,I’m just not that high on Burcs. 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 Oh you’re right,I’m just not that high on Burcs. 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

I highly/respectfully disagree with you OP on Portland. If they re-sign everyone,they’re a contender whenhealthy. Especially considering Batum had the worst year of his career. The team I see falling is Dallas. They have no history of good drafting,I don’t think they’ll convince any bg free agent to come on a washed up team. OKC is a lock if healthy,I think the Spurs as well.

 The team I see making it is Utah . 30-23 in the last 53 games is a good enough sample size to me,especially considering they slowed down at the end of the year. I heard a stat saying that in the last 15 years,only one top 5 defensive team missed the playoffs. So if they stay at that level defensively,I think they’re gonna get that 7th 8th seed. I don’t see Denver,the Lakers,Sacramento,Phoenix getting back in it anytime soon though. I really think Utah has something special there.

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