Who will make it? The West.

[lakeshowak7]

Yeah, not seeing the Memphis love either. They are going to take a step back, IMO.

As for picking the Thunder over the Blazers...you might want to put your money elsewhere. We are going to sweep them.

you're a funny guy

You're going to have serious defensive front court issues at the center position. Especially when you play LAC, myself or NOP. Not the matchup you want when the division is on the line

[8timechamp]

Yeah, not seeing the Memphis love either. They are going to take a step back, IMO.

As for picking the Thunder over the Blazers...you might want to put your money elsewhere. We are going to sweep them.

you're a funny guy

You're going to have serious defensive front court issues at the center position. Especially when you play LAC, myself or NOP. Not the matchup you want when the division is on the line

Hey Cousins can score all he wants, as long as the other guys are stopped. Wait what other guys? No depth will hurt. I'm not really concerned about the Blazers.

[lakeshowak7]

You do realize Lillard is better than every player on your roster and he's not even my best player.

Enjoy being single posted to death and having Andray Blatche guard Cousins for 25+ minutes.

[8timechamp]

You do realize Lillard is better than every player on your roster and he's not even my best player.

Enjoy being single posted to death and having Andray Blatche guard Cousins for 25+ minutes.

You do realize that my 8th man John Henson would start for your team. You can have Lillard and Cousins but that means nothing if you don't have much else. Oh is Greg Oden gonna go ape shit on me? Or should I worry about Antetokounmpo and his 34% shooting?

I know your trying to start a rivalry so I'll go along with it

[lakeshowak7]

Sigh.

So much to learn.

If you win the division it will be because you won more games than me, not because of head to head. You won't win in our head to heads. Sorry, "buddy." But you're not built to beat me.

[8timechamp]

Sigh.

So much to learn.

If you win the division it will be because you won more games than me, not because of head to head. You won't win in our head to heads. Sorry, "buddy." But you're not built to beat me.

Lol okay "buddy"

[Jaboo]

Just my hunch. Hard to say pre training camp for certain.

1. New Orleans Pelicans: Didnt love their offseason moves as I think they over thought themselves but regardless they still have Anthony Davis whom no one can stop
2. Houston Rockets: The one team I think that can give the Pelicans fits
3. Phoenix Suns Expecting Wiggins to make a bigger improvement come training camp to overtake the Kings
4. Sacramento Kings: A lot of young talent, hopefully Porter can take the next step and become the alpha dog.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Needs a big but I think they can acquire one.
6. Utah Jazz Tough choice between all offense, all defense, or a mix of both and I think the Jazz have just enough mix of both
7. San Antonio Spurs: Must upgrade their front court at least defensively. I think they can, and will. Durant will be too good to keep them out of the playoffs.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder: I wanted to put Portland here but when I look at their roster I just dont see anyone that can stop the opposing team. OKC can shut down almost any team and should have just enough offense in the likes of Johnson, Knight, and Vuc to secure them for the 8th spot.

[NuggOlesk]

1. New Orleans Pelicans - The Champs, core is the same, they lead the league with this team and if not with the same 15, they have pieces to turn assets into legit SF, and they win it anyway, so win win to win
2. Denver Nuggets - Fuck you to all the haters out there Griffin is only out about 16 games +- 2.
3. Phoenix Suns - Scary good young team, if players develop nicely, they will beat the Nuggets for the 2nd spot! I really like the roster!
4. Sacramento Kings - Their leading scorer is out for double the games Griffin is, but youngsters are getting better, so Parsons isn't leading scorer anyway this year. Will compete with Suns toe to toe, but I think injuries is the big difference. Top 4 anyway!
5. Houston Rockets - They where very good last year, let see was it a fluke? But they are the strongest outside top 4, so kudos!
6. Los Angeles Clippers - I REALLY LIKE THE SMART TRADE! They have very good team, With Smart learning the game, they will probable loose to the Rockets, but I think they will be very close, but a little step behind. I hope I am wrong, and they do well. (My favorite player is Wade, and 2nd favorite team is LAC. )
7. San Antonio Spurs - Durant / Batum combo will win you games!!!
8. Memphis Grizzlies - Trading Jefferson was the biggest mistake ever , but you shouldn't be out of the playoffs, you have a good team, but will not be the lock in also!

[bt]

I'll try and get mine in tomorrow but I think we're being overrated unless internal growth spurs us along. We rode Parker and Parsons last season as our veteran leaders and decided not to sign Parker and Parsons is gone for a lot of the season. I'm a little unsure if we can match our win total with those two out unless the growth replacements step in.

[Chilikonkarne]

1. HOU - Revenge is a meal best served cold
2. NOP - Deep and talended - Question on the SF quality for starting.
3. PHO - Wright, Bledsoe, Wiggins, Austin, Len - These 5 will be in playoffs for a while
4. LAC - Looks like BI knows to use his players (Howard). If he manage with Smart, count on them to be difficult to play.
5. SAC - Deep as f.... but still lacking a real leader. Parsons injury is not helping.
6. OKC - Same as SAC with less talent
7. POR - Curious to see how Cousins/Lilliard duo will work out, but they should be in playoffs
8. DAL - Really like the duo Lopez/Biyombo. With good support from the wings, they should secure a playoffs spot.

[Chilikonkarne]

Btw Dennis, do you plan to do the same thread for the Eastern Conference? Less sexy but could be also fun!

[Mattybriand]

Btw Dennis, do you plan to do the same thread for the Eastern Conference? Less sexy but could be also fun!

The least of the east!

[Dennis]

Btw Dennis, do you plan to do the same thread for the Eastern Conference? Less sexy but could be also fun!

U can start one if you want Antoine ..

[RiotPunch]

1 - SAC
2 - NOP
3 - HOU
4 - LAC
5 - PHO
6 - UTA
7 - SA
8 - POR

[Sun Scorched]

1 - SAC
2 - NOP
3 - HOU
4 - LAC
5 - PHO
6 - UTA
7 - SA
8 - POR

Awwww... SNAP!

[RiotPunch]

1 - SAC
2 - NOP
3 - HOU
4 - LAC
5 - PHO
6 - UTA
7 - SA
8 - POR

Awwww... SNAP!

Only drop a spot after the loss of Okaro.

[Chilikonkarne]

Btw Dennis, do you plan to do the same thread for the Eastern Conference? Less sexy but could be also fun!

U can start one if you want Antoine ..

Done

[lakeshowak7]

1 - SAC
2 - NOP
3 - HOU
4 - LAC
5 - PHO
6 - UTA
7 - SA
8 - POR

Bruh... Id be the 4th seed with your predictions.. Only northwest division participant.

Speaking of that..is that always going to stay as standard - division winners are top 4 seeds no matter what?

[StOfTheStep]

Very strong conference here. It's going to be a slugfest til the end. I'm just glad we're not in this juggernaut conference.

[KW]

1 - SAC
2 - NOP
3 - HOU
4 - LAC
5 - PHO
6 - UTA
7 - SA
8 - POR

Bruh... Id be the 4th seed with your predictions.. Only northwest division participant.

Speaking of that..is that always going to stay as standard - division winners are top 4 seeds no matter what?

Correct- the game implements it that way, so there's no way around it, even if it changed in real life.

I sorted mine by win total, so not necessarily by seed.

That said, you'd still be 8th, since Utah's in your division. They would be 4th.