[ballislyfe25Participant]

Happy New Year to everyone. The 2014-15 NBA season tips off in just a few hours and each team has well established goals and a consensus outlook at this point. We all know how quickly things can change, however, I’m interested in who everyone on this forum believes the top 5 to 10 teams are right now. I don’t have time to thoroughly rank and choose between all 30 teams but I do see about 5-8 legitimate championship contenders. My top ten teams hours before the season are as follows:

1. Spurs 

2. Bulls

3. Warriors (I am very high on them this season. They have depth and seem to finally be healthy)

4. Thunder (Durant’s early absence will hurt and so will Brooks’ coaching but they are so skilled, athletic, and talented as a group)

5. Cavaliers (Only have them here because we are yet to see them over a large sample size. Questions really rest only on the defensive side and I would not be surprised if this team finishes the season with the best record)

6. Clippers 

7. Mavericks

8. Blazers (The addition of Chris Kaman and continued development of young players will help)

9. Tortonto (They have athleticism, playmaking, shooting, and a young center who’s development could establish them as the 3rd best in the East)

10. Memphis 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I could see Memphis anywhere from 8th seed or even missing out of the playoffs, to a REAL REAL TOUGH out.  

Gasol is a bad dude inside with scoring, defense, and passing.

Z Bo is a great partner for Marc inside.

Mike Conley is a poor man’s blend of Tony Parker and Chris Paul.  

If Courtney Lee can be our solid 4th option on offense then we will be in good shape.

It sounds like we will start Tony Allen at small forward.  He can defend, good rebounder for a wing, and I think that he can actually get to the basket as well as anyone.  Sometimes he doesn’t focus and blows it, but he does have a good nose for the rim.

Our backup wings are better than ever with Q-Pon back, Vince as our probable sixth man, and then Tayshaun Prince and Jordan Adams.  Deep at backup point (but mediocre) with Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih.  … we lost Ed Davis and James Johnson so we have a hole at backup power forward and athleticism.  Hopefully Jon Leuer will be solid.  I would think that Jarnell Stokes could get some minutes too.  Kosta Koufos is a top shelf backup center, and even though he struggled in preseason, can fill in here and there for Big Marc.

Other teams not named the Spurs have holes.  If the Grizzlies can hit enough 3’s and jumpers we have as few holes as anyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I could see Memphis anywhere from 8th seed or even missing out of the playoffs, to a REAL REAL TOUGH out.  

Gasol is a bad dude inside with scoring, defense, and passing.

Z Bo is a great partner for Marc inside.

Mike Conley is a poor man’s blend of Tony Parker and Chris Paul.  

If Courtney Lee can be our solid 4th option on offense then we will be in good shape.

It sounds like we will start Tony Allen at small forward.  He can defend, good rebounder for a wing, and I think that he can actually get to the basket as well as anyone.  Sometimes he doesn’t focus and blows it, but he does have a good nose for the rim.

Our backup wings are better than ever with Q-Pon back, Vince as our probable sixth man, and then Tayshaun Prince and Jordan Adams.  Deep at backup point (but mediocre) with Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih.  … we lost Ed Davis and James Johnson so we have a hole at backup power forward and athleticism.  Hopefully Jon Leuer will be solid.  I would think that Jarnell Stokes could get some minutes too.  Kosta Koufos is a top shelf backup center, and even though he struggled in preseason, can fill in here and there for Big Marc.

Other teams not named the Spurs have holes.  If the Grizzlies can hit enough 3’s and jumpers we have as few holes as anyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

If Memphis makes it to the playoffs they can win against everybody. The game slows down, which is to their advantage considering their style of play and very solid defense. Add someone who can force a game-winner to go in like Carter and you have a squad that can win on any given night. 

However, they are very dependend on their big guy Gasol and (to a lesser extent) their PG Conley. Without them, Memphis lacks the above-average talented players you so dearly need to even make the playoffs in the West. But with everybody healthy I can see them clinching a playoff seed (I see the Spurs, Mavs, Clips, Thunder, and Warrios making it for sure), fighting off two of the three other potential playoff teams (Nuggets, Blazers, Rockets), and then everything can happen. 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

If Memphis makes it to the playoffs they can win against everybody. The game slows down, which is to their advantage considering their style of play and very solid defense. Add someone who can force a game-winner to go in like Carter and you have a squad that can win on any given night. 

However, they are very dependend on their big guy Gasol and (to a lesser extent) their PG Conley. Without them, Memphis lacks the above-average talented players you so dearly need to even make the playoffs in the West. But with everybody healthy I can see them clinching a playoff seed (I see the Spurs, Mavs, Clips, Thunder, and Warrios making it for sure), fighting off two of the three other potential playoff teams (Nuggets, Blazers, Rockets), and then everything can happen. 

[nill650Participant]

First I am listing what I feel are the best teams RIGHT NOW in each division as follows:

  East Conf

Atlantic div: Toronto.

Central div: Chicago

SE div: Charlotte

West Conf:

SW div:Dallas

NW div Portland

Pac div: LAC.

 

 

Going into the post season ;

Best record/bestteam ranking projections:

#1 best record: Chicago,best team Cleveland.

2 Cleveland/Washington

3 Washington/Chicago

4 Charlotte/Toronto

5 Toronoto/Heat

6 Heat /Charlotte

7 Knicks /Nets

8 Nets/Knicks

 the hawks and maybe the celtics will fight nets and knicks for last 2 spots in east.

 

………..

WC

#1 best record Spurs/best team OKC

2 LAC/LAC

3 OKC/Spurs

4 Portland/GSW

5 Dallas/Portland/

6 GSW/Dallas

7 Memphis/Memphis

8 Minnesota/New Orleans*

New Orleans,Minnesota,pheonix and the kings all have a decent shot at the 8th seed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nill650Participant]

First I am listing what I feel are the best teams RIGHT NOW in each division as follows:

  East Conf

Atlantic div: Toronto.

Central div: Chicago

SE div: Charlotte

West Conf:

SW div:Dallas

NW div Portland

Pac div: LAC.

 

 

Going into the post season ;

Best record/bestteam ranking projections:

#1 best record: Chicago,best team Cleveland.

2 Cleveland/Washington

3 Washington/Chicago

4 Charlotte/Toronto

5 Toronoto/Heat

6 Heat /Charlotte

7 Knicks /Nets

8 Nets/Knicks

 the hawks and maybe the celtics will fight nets and knicks for last 2 spots in east.

 

………..

WC

#1 best record Spurs/best team OKC

2 LAC/LAC

3 OKC/Spurs

4 Portland/GSW

5 Dallas/Portland/

6 GSW/Dallas

7 Memphis/Memphis

8 Minnesota/New Orleans*

New Orleans,Minnesota,pheonix and the kings all have a decent shot at the 8th seed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

I think the Nets are more likely to be riddled with injuries. Detroit is a better bet to compete for a playoff spot.

[OhCanada-Participant]

I think the Nets are more likely to be riddled with injuries. Detroit is a better bet to compete for a playoff spot.

[nill650Participant]

 ^ at the end of the day even teams like denver if healthy in the west and detroit with their defense in the east could give other teams enough problems that they change the outcome of the season for alot of teams…houston and indiana are also still sorta in the mix but I donb’t think either of those teams will get it done this season.

[nill650Participant]

 ^ at the end of the day even teams like denver if healthy in the west and detroit with their defense in the east could give other teams enough problems that they change the outcome of the season for alot of teams…houston and indiana are also still sorta in the mix but I donb’t think either of those teams will get it done this season.

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