[ZeeProfessorParticipant]

The strong Western Conference is getting even stronger this off-season with teams that didn’t make the playoffs improving their rosters. Last year, 10 teams in the conference were atleast .500 . Now teams that didn’t make the playoffs are recovering from injuries (Minnesota), looking to add new pieces (Dallas and Portland) or have added new pieces (Pelicans).

Minnesota should be improved and fighting for a playoff spot with their key players like Love, Rubio and Kirilenko playing together for a full season.

Dallas has tons of cap space as well as the fact that Nowitizki will be rested and ready to make a playoff run with some new additions.

Portland isn’t looking for a third consecutive year outside the playoffs which is why they added C.J. McCollum in the draft for an NBA ready scorer to come off their bench for some much-needed depth and a possible push for the playoffs.

New Orleans has also put themselves into the playoff picture after adding All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to their roster for a stellar backcourt of Holiday and Eric Gordon(if he manages to stay healthy) as well as a frontcourt of Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson.

So, in light of these recent incidents and possible trades and free-agent signings, which 8 teams do you think make the playoffs in the packed West in the upcoming season?

Here’s my list (Random Order Mostly):
OKC Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies
Los Angeles Clippers
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Denver Nuggets
Portland Trail Blazers

[Darius22Participant]

I say switch Portland with New Orleans if they stay healthy they have an allstar backcourt plus they are not done they will probably trade Grevis Vasquez now.

[ZeeProfessorParticipant]

I see your point but I just feel like the Blazers team is more reliable on a game-by-game basis seeing how they’re leaning on more tested and proven players like Aldridge, Batum, Matthews and Lillard.

The Pelicans, on the other hand, are a bit of a wild card because except for Holiday, their 2 other core pieces, Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon, have shown a bit more tendency to get injured. In an ultra-competitive West, a few games they lose due to injured players is too much to overcome with all the teams vying for a playoff spot.

[ZeeProfessorParticipant]

I see your point but I just feel like the Blazers team is more reliable on a game-by-game basis seeing how they’re leaning on more tested and proven players like Aldridge, Batum, Matthews and Lillard.

The Pelicans, on the other hand, are a bit of a wild card because except for Holiday, their 2 other core pieces, Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon, have shown a bit more tendency to get injured. In an ultra-competitive West, a few games they lose due to injured players is too much to overcome with all the teams vying for a playoff spot.

[ZeeProfessorParticipant]

-Double Post –

[ZeeProfessorParticipant]

-Double Post –

[Darius22Participant]

I say switch Portland with New Orleans if they stay healthy they have an allstar backcourt plus they are not done they will probably trade Grevis Vasquez now.

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