How do you see the west shaping up?

[sip]

Now that everything is settled with the Lillard and Jrue trades how do you see things going?


1. Wolves
2. Nugs
3. Thunder
4. Suns
5. Kings
6. Pelicans ( If Zion plays around 60 games)
7. Lakers
8. Warriors
9. Mavs
10. Griz
11. Clippers
12. Jazz
13. Rockets
14. Blazers
15. Spurs

I guarantee I'm the only one with the wolves at the top but I think Ant takes that next step to being a top 10 player and paired with a healthy KAT is dominant duo offensively while Gobert and McDaniels are do it on the defensive end. The griz would be quite a bit higher for me if Ja wasn't out the first 25 games but without him I think they struggle during that stretch.

 

[SteakNEggs]

Ant is fine but the rest of the team is somewhat of a dumpster fire. Thunder still have a lot to prove though they do have pieces. Lakers are going to be much better as much as I hate to say it and same for Golden St. I think we'll be in that 8-10 range.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

So why is OKC suddenly drastically better but Utah isnt?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Utah tanked and only lost 3 more games than OKC who played for the play in.

The OKC hype is out of control.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Are you volunteering to manage the western conference prediction thread?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

1. Nuggets
2. Suns
3. Grizzlies
4. Lakers
5. Wolves
6. Jazz
7. Warriors
8. Clippers
9. Kings
10. Mavs
11. Pelicans
12. Thunder
13. Spurs
14. Blazers
15. Rockets

Clippers/Warriors are too old/injured to finish high in a competitive West.

Kings way overachieved and struggle a bit this year.

Thunder is still teh SGA show and the other pieces arent as far along as people think.

 

[LogGrad98]

When is @One Brow going to kick off the annual Western conference prediction contest?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Take a look at OKC's bench before you put them in the top 3.

 

[One Brow]

When is @One Brow going to kick off the annual Western conference prediction contest?

Today. I even had a reminder in my Outlook calendar.

 

[sip]

Ant is fine but the rest of the team is somewhat of a dumpster fire. Thunder still have a lot to prove though they do have pieces. Lakers are going to be much better as much as I hate to say it and same for Golden St. I think we'll be in that 8-10 range.

I don't understand why you think the rest of the wolves roster is a dumpster fire. They have great front court depth with Gobert, KAT, Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid. Leonard Miller won't get minutes if they stay healthy but I'm a big fan of his and think he could give them some solid minutes if called upon. At sf I love Jaden McDaniels and he is the perfect complimentary piece to Ant and KAT. I'm not sure who his backup will be but I thought Josh Minott showed a lot of potential in summer league. I felt like they stole Shake Milton for 5mil a year and Troy Brown was also a solid signing at 4mil plus bringing back NAW as well for under 5mil. Conley should still be solid if they can keep him around 24 minutes a game. Overall I think they have a lot of depth and really like the way guys compliment each other.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The Wolves are a hard read because we still have no idea if Gobert/KAT actually work. If they dont work, like if those lineups are still mediocre at best, they are going to have a hard limit.