[trelos6Participant]

As I see it, there are 6 teams who are "contenders" for the 2015-16 NBA Championship.

I’ll be rating these teams in order of the likelyhood they win.

1. OKC – Westbrook, Roberson, Durant, Ibaka, Kanter.  Payne, Waiters, Singler, Collison, Adams.  Augustin, Morrow, Novak, Jones, McGary.  

Thunder are DEEP.  With Westbrook and Durant entering the peak of their powers, Kanter down low and Ibaka patrolling the paint, the Thunder are a fearsome side.

2. GSW – Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Green, Bogut.  Livingstone, Iguodala, Rush, Speights, Ezeli.  Barbosa, McAdoo, Looney.  

Defending champs who can play their style, your style, any style better than you can.  LBJ exposed them as a one man wrecking crew.  Can they contain the raw awesomeness of the Thunder?

3. SAS – Parker, Green, Leonard, Aldridge, Duncan.  Mills, Ginobili, Anderson, West, Diaw.  McCallum.  

Leonard is blossoming into an amazing two way player.  Aldridge provides a go-to scorer in tight late game situations.  Duncan,Ginobili,Parker combo are aging like a fine wine.

4. CLE – Irving, Shumpert, James, Love, Mozgov.  Williams, Harris, Miller, Thompson, Varejao.  Haywood, Dellavedova.  

We saw what LBJ can do.  Imagine that with Kyrie and Love on the wings waiting to knock down open 3’s.  In year 2, we should see a more in sync Cavs unit.  JR may return also to provide depth at the SG position.  Mo Williams as a Backup PG is a great pickup.

5. LAC – Paul, Reddick, Pierce, Griffin, Jordan.  Crawford, Rivers, Stephenson, Dawson, Davis.  Wilcox.  

Clippers are here for one reason and one reason alone.  THE TRUTH!!!  In all seriousness, CP3 and Blake are the second most formidable duo in the NBA (behind Westbrook and Durant).  Plus, DJ has returned and will hopefully be angry and start dunking on everybody again.

6. MEM – Conley, Lee, Green, Randolph, Gasol.  Udrih, Allen, Carter, Stokes, Wright.  Smith, Adams, Harrison, Green, Martin.  

Memphis were banged up last season come playoff time.  Gasol has re-upped and is still the best centre in the NBA.  Look for Jeff Green to understand his role as a glue guy and hit a few more open 3’s.  Wright is a great addition to backup Z-Bo and Marc.  Grizzlies know how they play and they play to win.  Grinding the opposition to a pulp.  Few teams can match their size.

Honorable Mention 7. HOU – Hard to leave the Rockets out, but they are pretenders.  Dwight is on the downswing and even another MVP worthy seaons by Harden can’t get them past the other 5 great teams in the WEST.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kinguy11Participant]

Interesting list, I’ll chip in myself.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

I agree with OP on all points here.  If Durant comes back healthy, there should be no stopping them.

2. San Antonio Spurs

The rich just keep getting richer.  Aldridge revitalizes what looked like a slightly tired team last season to give this dynasty one last run at the title.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron will be back with a vengence; with Irving and Love healthy, anything is possible for this team.

4. Golden State Warriors

Of course, you can’t discount the defending champs.  Curry is always a threat, but I don’t think they possess the plethora of scoring options the Thunder and Spurs have to get past those teams into the finals.

5. Chicago Bulls

When their players are at their best, individually, they are unstoppable.  The problem is, none of the Bull’s players have been at their best at the same time.  Rose hasn’t (and may never) return to 2010-11 form, Noah’s player took a dip last season after an award winning display in 2013-14 season and Butler has only just started hitting his stride this season past.  If they can all stay healthy and be reinforced by their solid looking support cast, they could be a dark horse candidate for next season’s championship.

Honorable Mentions:

Clippers: I don’t believe the team has the chemistry to win it all.  Griffin and Paul aren’t as buddy-buddy as the public was led to believe, Jordan has caused unnessacery strife and Stephenson has always been a character. They don’t have the ingredients of a championship winning team.

Grizzlies: The team’s best years are behind them.  If they were going to win, they would have already.  Without a LaMarcus Aldridge-like injection I don’t see them doing anything more than add drama to the Western Conference playoffs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kinguy11Participant]

Interesting list, I’ll chip in myself.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

I agree with OP on all points here.  If Durant comes back healthy, there should be no stopping them.

2. San Antonio Spurs

The rich just keep getting richer.  Aldridge revitalizes what looked like a slightly tired team last season to give this dynasty one last run at the title.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron will be back with a vengence; with Irving and Love healthy, anything is possible for this team.

4. Golden State Warriors

Of course, you can’t discount the defending champs.  Curry is always a threat, but I don’t think they possess the plethora of scoring options the Thunder and Spurs have to get past those teams into the finals.

5. Chicago Bulls

When their players are at their best, individually, they are unstoppable.  The problem is, none of the Bull’s players have been at their best at the same time.  Rose hasn’t (and may never) return to 2010-11 form, Noah’s player took a dip last season after an award winning display in 2013-14 season and Butler has only just started hitting his stride this season past.  If they can all stay healthy and be reinforced by their solid looking support cast, they could be a dark horse candidate for next season’s championship.

Honorable Mentions:

Clippers: I don’t believe the team has the chemistry to win it all.  Griffin and Paul aren’t as buddy-buddy as the public was led to believe, Jordan has caused unnessacery strife and Stephenson has always been a character. They don’t have the ingredients of a championship winning team.

Grizzlies: The team’s best years are behind them.  If they were going to win, they would have already.  Without a LaMarcus Aldridge-like injection I don’t see them doing anything more than add drama to the Western Conference playoffs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dgtool2Participant]

 I think you guys just nailed it. It’s great that 8 teams can toss their name in that championship talk. 

[Dgtool2Participant]

 I think you guys just nailed it. It’s great that 8 teams can toss their name in that championship talk. 

[215NGBParticipant]

 The reigning Western Conference runner-ups aren’t even in the discussion? This team beat the clippers without two starters, and yet the clippers are somehow in the top 5? Stop it. Beverly would have made a HUGE impact against GSW and LAC. He is the elite point guard defender in the NBA and would have limited the effect of Curry and CP3. Also Donatas Motiejunas, a in his last 5 games before injury, he averaged a little over 17 ppg and for those who did not notice, he is a lot better then Jones or J Smooth.  With these guys coming back with Harden Ariza Dwight, their starting lineup is very good. Not to mention this deepens their bench with Jones, Brewer, and, Josh Smith.

 

I’m not saying that they are the best team while healthy because they’re not. However to not even put them in the discussion when they will be even better next year is just wrong.

 

  

[215NGBParticipant]

 The reigning Western Conference runner-ups aren’t even in the discussion? This team beat the clippers without two starters, and yet the clippers are somehow in the top 5? Stop it. Beverly would have made a HUGE impact against GSW and LAC. He is the elite point guard defender in the NBA and would have limited the effect of Curry and CP3. Also Donatas Motiejunas, a in his last 5 games before injury, he averaged a little over 17 ppg and for those who did not notice, he is a lot better then Jones or J Smooth.  With these guys coming back with Harden Ariza Dwight, their starting lineup is very good. Not to mention this deepens their bench with Jones, Brewer, and, Josh Smith.

 

I’m not saying that they are the best team while healthy because they’re not. However to not even put them in the discussion when they will be even better next year is just wrong.

 

  

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

Kind of crazy to think that 2 teams out of OKC, GSW, HOU, SAS, LAC, MEM won’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs next year

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

Kind of crazy to think that 2 teams out of OKC, GSW, HOU, SAS, LAC, MEM won’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs next year

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 And the Clippers will be one of them

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 And the Clippers will be one of them

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Spurs, warriors, cavs and thunder are clearly top 4 going into the season. 

Clippers, rockets, grizzlies, bulls are all longshots, but at least in the discussion. 

I can’t really think of any other team that would warrant consideration right now.

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Spurs, warriors, cavs and thunder are clearly top 4 going into the season. 

Clippers, rockets, grizzlies, bulls are all longshots, but at least in the discussion. 

I can’t really think of any other team that would warrant consideration right now.

 

 

[anthony_DavIS23Participant]

Pelicans flying under the radar… Gentry is gonna take us far next year. Personnel wise they’re very strong – Monty never allowed Tyreke, Jrue or Eric to live up to their potential and the up and down style play suit those guys plus AD very well. I think we’ll surprise i few people

[anthony_DavIS23Participant]

Pelicans flying under the radar… Gentry is gonna take us far next year. Personnel wise they’re very strong – Monty never allowed Tyreke, Jrue or Eric to live up to their potential and the up and down style play suit those guys plus AD very well. I think we’ll surprise i few people

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 I don’t see how the Clippers are a contender. They still have no bench,and they lost Barnes’ perimeter defense. I’d go with

– Golden State Warriors

-San Antonio Spurs

-Cleveland

-OKC(matching Kanter’s offer will hurt them)

Then there’s Chicago,Memphis,Houston,Atlanta(sooo overlooked once again),who,given some favorable circumstances could sneak into the conference finals.

 

 

 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 I don’t see how the Clippers are a contender. They still have no bench,and they lost Barnes’ perimeter defense. I’d go with

– Golden State Warriors

-San Antonio Spurs

-Cleveland

-OKC(matching Kanter’s offer will hurt them)

Then there’s Chicago,Memphis,Houston,Atlanta(sooo overlooked once again),who,given some favorable circumstances could sneak into the conference finals.

 

 

 

[Bed HeadParticipant]

Because if "favorable circumstances" are required simply to "sneak into the conference finals", how does that qualify? For example, did anyone honestly count the Hawks as a championship contender last year?

Cause here’s a hint … they weren’t. And aren’t this year either. Neither are the Bulls or Rockets. (Clippers and Grizz are kinda in a grey area.)

Actually, considering the geographics of this forum, I’m just surprised no one has mentioned the Celtics yet.

P.S. Anyways, the correct number is 4: Spurs, Warriors, Cavs, Thunder (in that order).

P.P.S. The Pelicans?! Seriously?! Like, wtf?!

[Bed HeadParticipant]

Because if "favorable circumstances" are required simply to "sneak into the conference finals", how does that qualify? For example, did anyone honestly count the Hawks as a championship contender last year?

Cause here’s a hint … they weren’t. And aren’t this year either. Neither are the Bulls or Rockets. (Clippers and Grizz are kinda in a grey area.)

Actually, considering the geographics of this forum, I’m just surprised no one has mentioned the Celtics yet.

P.S. Anyways, the correct number is 4: Spurs, Warriors, Cavs, Thunder (in that order).

P.P.S. The Pelicans?! Seriously?! Like, wtf?!

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