[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

I dont know about anyone else but I like the look of these four young teams.. I think that at least 1 of them should make the playoffs.

Cavs:

PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Alonzo Gee
SF: CJ Miles
PF: Tristan Thompson
C: Anderson Verajo
6th: Dion Waiters
7th: Tyler Zeller
8th: Samardo Samuels

Raptors:

PG: Kyle Lowery
SG: Landry Fields
SF: Demar Derozen
PG: Andrea Bargnani
C: Jonas Valanciunas
6th: Terrance Ross
7th: Jose Calderson
8th: Ed Davis

Kings: 

PG: Isaiah Thomas
SG: Marcus Thornton
SF: Tyreke Evans
PF: Jason Thompson
C: Demarcus Cousins
6th: Aaron Brooks
7th: Thomas Robinson
8th: Franciso Garcia

Hornets:

PG: Grevis Vasquez
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Ryan Anderson
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Robin Lopez
6th: Austin Rivers
7th: Al-Farouq Amniu
8th: Jason Smith

Which of these teams makes the playoffs first??

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 I think Golden State is going to the Playoffs. They have great mix of elite shooters and defenders. I’m really eager to watch them play.

 

[frogmanParticipant]

I agree, but only if Bogut can play 70ish games

[SubZeroParticipant]

I think the Raptors have the best chance to sneak in there. The Kings have the best 8-man rotation, but we all know how competitive it is in the West year after year. The last few spots in the East are wide open, and their additions of Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, Terrence Ross, and Jonas Valanciunas this offseason will definitely make them better. A lot of it will ride on the play of Valanciunas and if he fills the hole they’ve needed at C for the past few years, which will allow Bargnani to play more comfortably at the 4 spot.

I’m not sure if they’re still a “young” team, but I feel like the Wizards have a decent chance as well to possibly get the last spot

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 I don’t trust the guard play of the Kings at all. Isaiah Thomas can play, but could be the smallest player in the NBA at the moment. Marcus Thornton can score 10 to 15 points ppg, that is all he can do for your team. Tyreke Evans has not even fixed his shot, teams will just play him for the dribble. Jimmer Fredette was drafted too high. He cannot play the point and Defense. Franisco Garcia is just a spot up shooter. John Salmons only shows up sometimes. Aaron Brooks is fast also can shoot, but is best suited as backup PG.

[SonicSabotuerEidolon]

Thorton is a 18 to 25 ppg scorer. Its team work they have one of the best teams in the league on papper they just mess up everyyear.

[Wejustwin504Participant]

 Hornets baby!!  Hornets were in a lot of games in the fourth quarter last year.  Bring back a 20 ppg scorer to accompany that team defense and I think success is inevitable.  Not to mention the emergence of AD’s ability to score.

[Sharp ShooterParticipant]

i think the pistons are gonna make the playoffs before the cavs

[LipstickParticipant]

Out of those 4? Toronto for sure, though I’m not sure what they’ll do with Jose Calderon.

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

 Calderon has a huge expiring contract, im sure a number of teams would be offering for jose by trade deadline

[fcb206Participant]

I don’t see any of those teams making the playoffs. If the Hornets played in the east, and got a healthy season from Eric Gordon I could see them playing .500 basketball and making the 8th seed. but they will get buried in the west.

I cant see cleveland or toronto being anything better than mid lottery teams. too many young players, very little experience on defense, too many new faces.

Kings have plenty of talent, but again, cant play much D and their roster has serious chemistry problems. Evans needs to be traded for someone willing to do the little things from the SF spot. also, Thomas and Thornton are nice overachievers, but their lack of size really kills their ability to match up with teams who have NBA sized backcourts. On a good NBA team, they are probably 6th men. Im also not much of a Thomas Robinson fan. I like his floor. I think he’s an Antonio Davis type guy. great rotation post player, but not a franchise PF by any stretch.

I think all of those teams will be better this year, and maybe even leapfrog a couple teams that are in a decline phase (Mavericks, anyone? I see this as the year they bottom out.) but I dont see a huge leap forward for any of the four. if you put a gun to my head I’d say NOLA makes the playoffs because dallas craps out and Golden State cant keep it together. Steph curry cant go two weeks without turning his ankle, and bogut rarely plays a full season either.

 

[LipstickParticipant]

Which teams do you predict will make the playoffs in the East?

[JordoParticipant]

 No love for the Wizards? A healthy Nene-Okafor front court with a Wall-Beal backcourt when he comes back early december. As long as they can stay competitive for this first month with out him and adjust quickly when he comes back they could still be in the hunt for the 8th.

[JordoParticipant]

 Just no winning on this site when it involves my lack luster franchise

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

 imo jonas is gonna b solid in the middle and its gonna help bargs alot being allowed too move too the 4 spot this is show up time for derozen hes playing for a contract this year and imo hes gonna emerge being allowed too play his natural 3 spot bringing lowry and fields very solid pick ups lowry played great in houston showed hes a leigt nba starting pg fields got lost in the melo shuffle after having a very solid rookie year imo he gets back on track with the raptors

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

 i love kyrie hes gonna be a stud but with miles and gee has starters they arent making the playoffs imo 

[KayjayParticipant]

That unless you actually watch the teams you are commenting on, you have no buisness talking about the flaws they have. This statement isn’t directed towards anybody, its directed towards everybody. First off…
 

1. Thornton is more than a 15ppg scorer, he can average 20ppg or more to be honest. But I’d rather have it stay at 20 because his flaw is he tends to get trigger happy.

 

2. It may just be preseason but James Johnson first round pick out of wake forest has been the catalyst for Sacremento’s better effort on the defensive end. He materializes blocks and, and while a shaky three point shooter, he has an average mid range jumper and athleticism to run the floor and get to the basket. Also a solid rebounder. James Johnson will start and be sacramento’s starting small forward.

 

3. Sacramento was high on Robinson regardless if he’s a franchise player or not. They have cousins for that. Robinson will bother a lot of teams with his hustle and defense. His flaw is that he is undersized for a PF and his post game is a bit unpolished which will become better with time. Along with that he is a perfect compliment to Demarcus Cousins since Robinson is a ball hawk as well. I don’t know if he will start, but if he isn’t is purely based on Jason Thompson having more experience.

 

4. I am by far Jimmers biggest critic, I hated that pick so much. But you know what? The kids got a stroke, and in a place thats starving for talent at the guard position, why not have him and Tyreke come off the bench? Jimmer feels more comfortable and will pull up. Most idiots will ask "Why does Jimmer shoot so much." I’ll reply "Thats what we pay him for."

 

Chances of Sacramento Making the play offs?

 

I think Chris Webber said it best, the Kings don’t really have an identity yet. There will be a larger improvement and this team will go from ‘losing’ to ‘learning how to win’ this year. They are much more comfortable and play as a team. (In presason anyway.)

The only thing stopping the Kings from making the playoffs is the Kings themselves. Every single player in the starting line up have a tendency to play out of control as well as revert back to isolation. As long is there is ball movement the chances for Sacramento making the playoffs will increase.

[sawwgaParticipant]

 wow,

[BasketballJunkie224Participant]

waitttt WHAT?!?! have ‘him and tyreke’ come off the bench? TYREKE EVENS come off the kings bench??? are you out of yout mind? if tyreke came off the bench then i guarantee you that he would demand a trade immediately

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

A trade may be the best thing for both parties..

[Author]

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