Rich
Saucin'
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The season is almost upon us and with that, it's time for another round of predictions. I'll start off with seeding for each conference playoffs.
EAST
1. Boston- Boston is the odds on favorite to come out of the East again and with the addition of Brogdon they should be the odds on favorite to hoist the Finals Trophy
2. Milwaukee
3. Miami- I hesitate to keep Miami this high, just because of how old Lowry looked last year. But Butler is better than he's given credit for and Spoelstra can coach em up as well as anyone. But I COULD see a dropoff here.
4. Atlanta- I'm super high on Atlanta and think they could be a dark horse Finals team. On paper, their starting 5 is loaded to the teeth and in my mind, Murray is a near perfect backcourt partner for Young. I don't expect the early season struggles they've had the last two years.
5. BKN- I don't know where to rank them. On paper they're probably the most talented team in basketball at the top end. But Irving is likely to be half-assing it all year, Durant doesn't like his coach, and you have absolutely no clue about Ben Simmons at all at this point. So, I'm sticking them here with the caveat they could win the title of be in the play-in again. Absolutely biggest question mark in basketball.
6. Cleveland- I worry about floor spacing, but if healthy, we've got a pretty versatile roster that can do a lot of things well. Coaching big question mark for me.
7 Philly- This is where I think a lot of people will think I'm crazy. But we've been calling Philly a Contender for like 5 years, and they've yet, in any year, to make it past the 2nd round. I'm done believing till they show me.
8. Toronto- I could see them moving higher. Siakim was very, very good last year. Better than a lot of the players ESPN ranked ahead of him a few weeks ago. Super young. Loved the Otto Porter addition
9. Charlotte
10. Chicago- They fell off a cliff last year and I don't see any type of reason why they'll be turning it around this one. Ball just had surgery and his injury was a big reason they dropped off. Combine that with the fact that DeRozan basically had a career year that I don't think he'll be repeating and I wouldn't be surprised if this is a 41 win team this year.
No new comers to the top of the East, though I think New York will challenge and could make it in.
WEST
1. Los Angeles Clippers- I'm gonna bank on their health here. And, if healthy, they are absolutely stacked. If they do anything other than win the West, it's a disappointment.
2. Denver- Again, banking on health here. If Murray and MPJ are playing, this should be a team that has their sights, at minimum, on the WCF this year.
3. Phoenix- A step back year, as Paul gets older, Ayton plays maybe a little selfish, and the Sarver thing hangs over the team
4. Golden State- I think they got somewhat lucky last year to have so many injuries keeping their best competition down, but everyone needs some luck to win.
5. Memphis- Could easily be higher. Hard to look at the names on the jerseys and put them ahead of the above teams, but there is something there besides talent level. They know how to play, they are well coached, and the roster just fits. Wouldn't be shocked if they're a top 3 seed again.
6. Minnesota- I don't know how I feel about the addition of Gobert. Losing Vanderbilt is a bigger deal than made out to be and until I actually see Gobert play with Towns, I'm not gonna buy into the hype
7. Dallas- Big step back year, and it shouldn't have been. But losing Brunson while adding Woods is a pretty big net negative imo.
8. LAL- I'm gonna say the Lakers make the play-in this year just because LeBron is LeBron and he won't be THAT bad two years in a row. Beverley will help.
9. New Orleans- I could be rating them way too low, but I just don't like the roster?? I know they had a spark when CJ joined, but I don't like how that team fits together overall.
10. Sacramento- this is almost by default. Utah and the Spurs, by all rights, should be out of the equation this year with the moves they made in the off-season. OKC and Houston won't be ready to challenge for a spot yet imo. That leaves Sacramento and Portland. I'll take Sacramento, though they'll still be a below .500 team.
Finals: Denver vs. Boston, with Boston victorious.
EAST
1. Boston- Boston is the odds on favorite to come out of the East again and with the addition of Brogdon they should be the odds on favorite to hoist the Finals Trophy
2. Milwaukee
3. Miami- I hesitate to keep Miami this high, just because of how old Lowry looked last year. But Butler is better than he's given credit for and Spoelstra can coach em up as well as anyone. But I COULD see a dropoff here.
4. Atlanta- I'm super high on Atlanta and think they could be a dark horse Finals team. On paper, their starting 5 is loaded to the teeth and in my mind, Murray is a near perfect backcourt partner for Young. I don't expect the early season struggles they've had the last two years.
5. BKN- I don't know where to rank them. On paper they're probably the most talented team in basketball at the top end. But Irving is likely to be half-assing it all year, Durant doesn't like his coach, and you have absolutely no clue about Ben Simmons at all at this point. So, I'm sticking them here with the caveat they could win the title of be in the play-in again. Absolutely biggest question mark in basketball.
6. Cleveland- I worry about floor spacing, but if healthy, we've got a pretty versatile roster that can do a lot of things well. Coaching big question mark for me.
7 Philly- This is where I think a lot of people will think I'm crazy. But we've been calling Philly a Contender for like 5 years, and they've yet, in any year, to make it past the 2nd round. I'm done believing till they show me.
8. Toronto- I could see them moving higher. Siakim was very, very good last year. Better than a lot of the players ESPN ranked ahead of him a few weeks ago. Super young. Loved the Otto Porter addition
9. Charlotte
10. Chicago- They fell off a cliff last year and I don't see any type of reason why they'll be turning it around this one. Ball just had surgery and his injury was a big reason they dropped off. Combine that with the fact that DeRozan basically had a career year that I don't think he'll be repeating and I wouldn't be surprised if this is a 41 win team this year.
No new comers to the top of the East, though I think New York will challenge and could make it in.
WEST
1. Los Angeles Clippers- I'm gonna bank on their health here. And, if healthy, they are absolutely stacked. If they do anything other than win the West, it's a disappointment.
2. Denver- Again, banking on health here. If Murray and MPJ are playing, this should be a team that has their sights, at minimum, on the WCF this year.
3. Phoenix- A step back year, as Paul gets older, Ayton plays maybe a little selfish, and the Sarver thing hangs over the team
4. Golden State- I think they got somewhat lucky last year to have so many injuries keeping their best competition down, but everyone needs some luck to win.
5. Memphis- Could easily be higher. Hard to look at the names on the jerseys and put them ahead of the above teams, but there is something there besides talent level. They know how to play, they are well coached, and the roster just fits. Wouldn't be shocked if they're a top 3 seed again.
6. Minnesota- I don't know how I feel about the addition of Gobert. Losing Vanderbilt is a bigger deal than made out to be and until I actually see Gobert play with Towns, I'm not gonna buy into the hype
7. Dallas- Big step back year, and it shouldn't have been. But losing Brunson while adding Woods is a pretty big net negative imo.
8. LAL- I'm gonna say the Lakers make the play-in this year just because LeBron is LeBron and he won't be THAT bad two years in a row. Beverley will help.
9. New Orleans- I could be rating them way too low, but I just don't like the roster?? I know they had a spark when CJ joined, but I don't like how that team fits together overall.
10. Sacramento- this is almost by default. Utah and the Spurs, by all rights, should be out of the equation this year with the moves they made in the off-season. OKC and Houston won't be ready to challenge for a spot yet imo. That leaves Sacramento and Portland. I'll take Sacramento, though they'll still be a below .500 team.
Finals: Denver vs. Boston, with Boston victorious.