08-09 Western Conference Playoff Picture

by ghost_ride on Aug 3, 2008 12:13 PM PDT

L.A. Lakers - Undisputed power of the west surprisingly couldn’t take care of business against the Celtics in the finals, and now the question becomes, how much better are they with Bynum? They lost out on a few prized free agents, they finally pay the real price of acquiring Gasol last year by not drafting in the 1st round of a deep draft, and bench leader Turiaf bolts to GS.
San Antonio - Age seems to be catching up with them, though Parker & Ginobli are still in their prime. Not what once was, but still an acid test for whoever they play.
New Orleans – Much like the Suns go as Steve Nash goes, so do the Hornets with Chris Paul, and Paul just might turn out to be better than Steve if he can continue to build on his stellar 07-08 campaign. Posey is a nice addition, which should help them do a better job of tackling the Spurs & Lakers this year.
Houston – Outside of the top 3, things become a bit of a jumble, though a talented one from 4-6. With T-Mac still having been unable to get out of the first round, Yao Ming’s persistent injuries, and Artest being the wildcard he is, I don’t see how they will live up to their potential, but the possibility of this team getting along and having some luck is scary.
Phoenix – No doubt a lesser team with the loss of Marion and father time catching up with Steve Nash, but you can’t forget they seem to go down to the wire with Spurs every year. They’re the Dark Horse of the West yet again.
Utah – Got to love Deron Williams, but got to question if the talent level around him is good enough to threaten the top seeds. They were totally outclassed against the Lakers in the 2nd round of the playoffs, but they still have all the pieces to make them a tough match-up, especially (as we all know), on their home court.
Dallas – A not so distant history of brutal post-season disappointments and a “soft” front court have haunted this team. They get a nice addition here at head coach, but this team looks under-manned to me. Vulnerable
Portland – Talk about a team rebuilding through the draft. Brandon Roy was the key first step, and among others, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, and now Jarred round out this core of young talent. They’ll need a healthy Oden and a more consistent Aldridge to make noise this year.
L.A. Clippers – Massive off-season overhaul gives them the look of a yahoo fantasy team put on auto draft. They are left with a proven point guard and front court along with a mix of capable veterans to go along talented sophmore Al Thornton, and recent top draft picks Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan. Perhaps the most unpredictable team, along with Portland coming out of the west, anywhere between 30 and 50+ wins seem possible.
It’s hard to imagine any other team challenging for a playoff spot. On paper, Golden State would seem the next most likely, but I don't think they have enough. Minnesota could be a little interesting with a front court of Love and Jefferson and a healthy Randy Foye.

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So do you think we are going to get a playoff spot?

because according to your chart we finish 9th in the west and miss the playoffs.

by bestclipfan on Aug 3, 2008 1:01 PM PDT 0 recs

I think we have a good shot at it

Just trying to keep the expectations low, but some health and luck I think we can fit into the 7th seed.

by ghost_ride on Aug 3, 2008 1:10 PM PDT 0 recs

Ok

makes sense always good not to aim too high. But I think Phoenix and Dallas may fall a bit more. Phoenix may fall a bit because they lost their coach which may hurt their offense. And I think Dallas is still going to hurt from the Kidd trade; they went 10-10 in their last 20 games and all their wins were against sub .500 teams. But we won’t know until season starts so who knows they could do fine.

by bestclipfan on Aug 3, 2008 3:26 PM PDT 0 recs

I was not surprised

that the Lakers lost to Boston. Boston has three All-Stars, a solid PG, great role players, and NO Europeans, which is another way of saying that the Celtics were much more physical than the Lakers.

Kendrick Perkins was a huge factor. He put a pounding on Gasol and Odom down low that changed the series. James Posey was also key doing what he does.

Pierce played out of his mind after the dramatic knee injury, and Ray Allen set a Finals record for 3PFGs. KG made things very difficult for Pau and Odom defenisively. And Rondo was unstoppable in the clincher.

This was the most lopsided series to ever go six games. It felt like a sweep. The Lakers won two squeakers, and blew a 24 pt. lead in Game 4.

Anyway, thought I would clear that up.

F-Elton!

by mikey p on Aug 4, 2008 7:16 AM PDT 0 recs

Hope you cashed

I seriously hope you made some money on that opinion last year, because you would have gotten some great odds. Of course, I hate the Lakers and picked Boston to win in 7, but in the back of my mind I thought, as did 90% of the critics that Kobe’s will to win and experience in the Finals would take over especially after getting a legit 2nd option. And even with those point totals you mentioned not withstanding that series really could have gone either way. Lakers almost come back to win game 2 in Boston which would have changed everything.

by ghost_ride on Aug 4, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up 0 recs

Kobe’s will to win and experience in the Finals

both myths.

His will to win is exaggerated, and superceded by his ego, and he was basically a role player in the three Finals wins, while Shaq did all the heavy lifting.

I didn’t cash in…not much for betting. The only time the series was ever in question was when LA was up 24 in the first half of Game 4. A 2-2 series at that point would have been interesting. But alas, it was not meant to be.

Game 2 was a fluke. The Celtics clobbered them, and then let their guard down.

I was surprised that the Lakers were favored, especially considering the east coast bias, and the fact that ESPN in in New England.

F-Elton!

by mikey p on Aug 4, 2008 12:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

Almost got $10

in a bet because I aid that Boston would win. But the guy I was betting denied I had ever made a bet with him.

by bestclipfan on Aug 4, 2008 12:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sounds like a Lakers fan

F-Elton!

by mikey p on Aug 4, 2008 12:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Superceded by his Ego

Definitely agree on that point.

by ghost_ride on Aug 4, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

Never forget!

5/6/06
0-3 1pt 1 reb 1 To 3 fouls in 19 second half minutes

Will to win indeed.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Aug 4, 2008 1:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

Barbosa Running Wild

Trust me, I’ll never forget. Though I will say the Suns had a way of demoralizing the competition with that team.

by ghost_ride on Aug 4, 2008 1:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

I did make a bundle

Never seen a team finish with the best regular season record, secure home court through the playoffs and have team filled with title hungry vets treated so poorly. The Celtics covered every single spread for the Finals. You don’t need to listen to the “experts” everytime, they are human are get caught up over-analyzing details until they convince themselves they are right.

Oh no! We suck again - Idiot from The Waterboy

http://ohnowesuckagain.ytmnd.com/

by ClipperChuck on Aug 5, 2008 12:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

Did you have the Giants too?

They were a much bigger underdog than the Celtics…

by ghost_ride on Aug 5, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up 0 recs

Nope

Frankly thought they had no shot despite the competitive week 17 game. I thought it had the making of the 49ers/Chargers awhile back. The Giants played almost a perfect game and barely won. Tyree’s catch will go be on the highlight reels for years to come.

Oh no! We suck again - Idiot from The Waterboy

http://ohnowesuckagain.ytmnd.com/

by ClipperChuck on Aug 5, 2008 10:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

Toughness

what summed up the difference in the mind set of the team was one set of back to back plays. The play the Celtics were on a fast break I believe Poe had the ball, Farmar had clear position and if had stayed where he was he could of drawn a charge. But instead of hanging tough and drawing the charge he moved over and tried to get the block. Poe scored and got the foul. On the next play Farmar was driving down the lane and Poe stood in front of him and drew the charge.

by bestclipfan on Aug 4, 2008 8:28 AM PDT 0 recs

Let's Face It

All of us Laker haters dodged a bullet last year, hopefully they keep running into road blocks the next few years.

by ghost_ride on Aug 4, 2008 11:47 AM PDT up 0 recs

Good Post...

Pretty much agree with your assessment. Problem with Clips is it’s just not a team we’ve seen before. Will Baron and Kaman find a rhythmic inside-out game the way Brand/Cassell did a couple of years ago? Will they really run? And no easy wins in the West. None. GS will be gunning for the Clips, even TWolves, and OkC(?) have players. Clips will have to bang on Eastern teams to get to 40-45 wins. No sloppy road trips this year.

by swamigusto on Aug 4, 2008 10:28 AM PDT 0 recs

Thanks..

I’ve never been more excited about the upcoming season, and I think a big reason why is the uncertainty. It doesn’t hurt to have a difference maker at point guard again either.

Signing Brand helped the Clippers go from a joke to respectability, but it was Cassell who got people believing and changed the culture of the team and their fans. In the wake of both of those players leaving, it’s great to see the front office scramble to put out a competitive team, and finally string together some promising draft picks.

by ghost_ride on Aug 4, 2008 11:53 AM PDT 0 recs

I would switch san antonio and houston

if all thing go glorious, but if that chemisty experiment goes ary, it could go down hill fast. I just dont like artest. and he is allready best buddies with yao. I friken hate listening to him talk. and i quote…

"I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto," Artest said, according to the report. "That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about."

then to wrap it up, a little more brillience….

Artest added: "I’m not just some knucklehead head case who’s bipolar, [like] everybody is always saying. I’m Ron Artest. Everybody’s different. That’s why we’ve got different DNA … They gotta come up with a better story than Ron’s crazy. There’s a lot better stories that they can come up with."

this guys genious

And dont you have to have at least one team from each division represent in the top 4? you have the spurs, hornets and rockets, all from the southwest. maybee switch the jazz with either, the rockets, or mabee the spurs. there a pretty solid team, those musical mormans.

you guys have an interesting team, and a wide range of possibility. I hope your closer to your ceiling then your floor, just not against portland.

so, which newly accuired player is generating the most excitement hear?

"If I was in anyway unclear, I am implying that Dave is a serial murderer."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT

by ptwnblzr on Aug 4, 2008 7:54 PM PDT 0 recs

#1 The Royal BoomDizzleness

2 Tyree Ricardo “Get Buckets” Davis

by supac on Aug 4, 2008 8:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

I read that rickys excited to play with davis again

that could be scarry, and if camby can get over his hurt fealings…thats a pretty fast core change, even the c’s had paul allready. im going to espn to check your roster now, im curious.

"If I was in anyway unclear, I am implying that Dave is a serial murderer."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT

by ptwnblzr on Aug 4, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

wow

i forgot you have kaptain kaveman. whats gonna happin there?

"If I was in anyway unclear, I am implying that Dave is a serial murderer."
---jonestr on Aug 3, 2008 12:25 AM PDT

by ptwnblzr on Aug 4, 2008 8:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dallas and Phoenix are vunerable

I see Lakers, NO, Houston at the top
Utah, Portland and San Antonio at the next tier
Dallas, PHX, Clippers, Den, GS in the last tier

IMO 3 teams from the last tier are going fishin’

by GeeEssDub on Aug 5, 2008 7:59 PM PDT 0 recs

Portland already in the Second Tier?

That’s a pretty big jump for a team who’s main addition is a young center coming off major surgery. Portland has a extremely bright future but they have alot of maturing to do as well. Few teams improve that quickly, the Hornets for instance did last year but thats because they had a healthy CP3 and Peja but thats more of an exception.

Anyways I would put Dallas, Phoenix, Us, GS and Portland in the 3rd tier (Nuggets look like they are dumping contracts, don’t see how they can stay in the playoff race with Nene and Kmart as their bigs and no depth behind them). Dallas and Phoenix have the leg up since they have been excellent regular season teams in the past and have more time this off-season to incorporate Kidd and Shaq into their team. That respective experience comes at a price as they are also susceptible to injuries but I would still imagine that unless Dirk or Nash get hurt from either team they should win enough games to make the playoffs. So it comes down to us versus the young Blazers and a Warriors team that is relying on a combo guard to play point. I give us the edge now but the Blazers have so many assets they could add a key veteran at the tradeline that could give them a huge edge.

Oh no! We suck again - Idiot from The Waterboy

http://ohnowesuckagain.ytmnd.com/

by ClipperChuck on Aug 5, 2008 11:48 PM PDT up 0 recs