2015-16 NBA Western Conference OFFICIAL THREAD

[gordontrue]

Phoenix beat Houston. Stick a fork in them

That is just unbelievably embarrassing for the Rockets. 4 cake games left on the schedule with plenty of paths to still get in the playoffs.... and they lose to the Suns at home.

 

[bksballer89]

That is just unbelievably embarrassing for the Rockets. 4 cake games left on the schedule with plenty of paths to still get in the playoffs.... and they lose to the Suns at home.

They must blow it up

 

[bksballer89]

I do think Aldridge pinky injury was a factor. He was shit after that happened. Looking forward to Sunday

 

[gordontrue]

It warms my heart to read that the Cavs were not only included but even given a chance (however tiny) in the 'who's winning the title?' conversation on this thread last night.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

I do think Aldridge pinky injury was a factor. He was shit after that happened. Looking forward to Sunday

Aldridge might miss some time now

He looked way off the rest of the night with the fucked up hand.
It is tough to play with a dislocated finger taped together on your shooting hand..

I am sort of angry at Popovich. There was no reason to play starters and their best player got hurt in the 1st.

The Aldridge/Diaw combo was so good in the last matchup.
Pop used that surprise Boris Diaw start and it really worked well with Aldridge versus this team.

Diaw was obviously out, and now Aldridge got hurt and was ineffective.

 

[bksballer89]

Aldridge might miss some time now

He looked way off the rest of the night with the fucked up hand.
It is tough to play with a dislocated finger taped together on your shooting hand..

I am sort of angry at Popovich. There was no reason to play starters and their best player got hurt in the 1st.

The Aldridge/Diaw combo was so good in the last matchup.
Pop used that surprise Boris Diaw start and it really worked well with Aldridge versus this team.

Diaw was obviously out, and now Aldridge got hurt and was ineffective.

As long as they're healthy for the playoffs by the 2nd round (they don't really need to be 100% for a series vs Dallas, Utah, or Memphis) you guys will be good

 

[trojanfan12]

That is just unbelievably embarrassing for the Rockets. 4 cake games left on the schedule with plenty of paths to still get in the playoffs.... and they lose to the Suns at home.

On the other hand, is anyone truly surprised by that?

 

[Mecca]

Spurs 115 -109

 

[Hambombs]

I do think Aldridge pinky injury was a factor. He was shit after that happened. Looking forward to Sunday

We suck, also we ain't that good

 

[CitySushi]

I think the Warriors win this game convincingly. I'm going 114 to 104.

The Warriors have been sloppy and lethargic of late, but I think that T-Wolves game was a huge wake up call for them. They usually get up for big games and this is a big one for them. I expect them to come out focused and to play well from the jump.

The Warriors won a blowout at home against them earlier this year and lost in a close game at SA. I think this game will fall in-between that one.

 

[bksballer89]

Kerr to meet with team, inclined to rest players

 

[Mecca]

Kerr to meet with team, inclined to rest players

He's gonna be criticized either way.

 

[Heatles84]

Kerr to meet with team, inclined to rest players

2 of their last 3 games are against the Grizzlies. That team is in shambles health-wise. It seems like a good decision. I see the Dubs going 2-1 in their last 3 (obviously losing to the Spurs at home). At that rate, they'll go 72-10 and tie the '96 Bulls record. That's still one hell of an accomplishment while also getting rest.

 

[Bolts]

Kings resting their players to lose games, good strategy. I hope they all play on Saturday though, with it being last game at the Arena formally known as Arco. Even though a loss helps the draft position, I'm really hoping they can win that game against OKC. The season hasn't had many bright spots, but that would be one.

 

[WiggyRuss]

• If the Lakers finish with the worst record in the NBA, they have a 64.3 percent chance to keep their first round pick.
• If the Lakers finish with the second worst record in the NBA, they have a 55.8 percent chance to keep their first round pick.
• If the Lakers finish with the third worst record in the NBA, they have a 46.9 percent chance to keep their first round pick.

I think this will be one of the most interesting lottos ever.

I seriously cannot ever remember a lotto with more important ramifications than the Lakers this year- and the odds are just completely in the middle which is so fun too....

the Lakers are locked into the #2 spot- so they have a 56% chance to keep their pick.....and a 20 % chance (i believe- i think the #1 slot gets 25% chance, #2 20%) at the 1st pick

i just cant ever remember more riding on the lotto for a team....they can either add a potential FRANCHISE guy in Simmons--- a potential MULTI time all star in Ingram OR- they could get ZIPPO.......now knowing the league....and the fact they have a 56%...zippo does not seem as likely as #1 or #2...but DAYUM

its gonna be some fun to watch that lotto drawing...ill have my popcorn....If i could PICK who would get the #1 pick id give it to Philly, followed by Phoenix followed by the Lakers.....but we shall see!!!!

 

[trojanfan12]

• If the Lakers finish with the worst record in the NBA, they have a 64.3 percent chance to keep their first round pick.
• If the Lakers finish with the second worst record in the NBA, they have a 55.8 percent chance to keep their first round pick.
• If the Lakers finish with the third worst record in the NBA, they have a 46.9 percent chance to keep their first round pick.

I think this will be one of the most interesting lottos ever.

I seriously cannot ever remember a lotto with more important ramifications than the Lakers this year- and the odds are just completely in the middle which is so fun too....

the Lakers are locked into the #2 spot- so they have a 56% chance to keep their pick.....and a 20 % chance (i believe- i think the #1 slot gets 25% chance, #2 20%) at the 1st pick

i just cant ever remember more riding on the lotto for a team....they can either add a potential FRANCHISE guy in Simmons--- a potential MULTI time all star in Ingram OR- they could get ZIPPO.......now knowing the league....and the fact they have a 56%...zippo does not seem as likely as #1 or #2...but DAYUM

its gonna be some fun to watch that lotto drawing...ill have my popcorn....If i could PICK who would get the #1 pick id give it to Philly, followed by Phoenix followed by the Lakers.....but we shall see!!!!

I'm not that worried about the pick. It would be great to keep it, no doubt. But they already have some nice young pieces in Russell, Randle, Clarkson and Nance Jr.

I'm more concerned about who the coach is going to be. The Lakers need to try and at least attract a couple of solid veteran FA's and I just don't think Byron is going to be too attractive to them.

I'm actually hoping they get the #2 pick and grab Ingram. He is a natural small forward and that is a position of need for the Lakers. Simmons is a great talent, but I'm not sold on him. When I have watched him, he seemed passive. I don't know if it's because he was playing out the string on a bad team with a bad coach, or if he just doesn't have the drive. Either way, it wasn't a great look for a supposed "can't miss" player.

If the Lakers fall to #3, there are still some decent players such as Bender or even Jakob Poeltl from Utah. Both are centers, which the Lakers also need. With his footwork, Poeltl reminds me a bit of Marc Gasol, but I don't know if he has Gasol's range. They are saying Bender looks like another Porzingis.

If they fall to #3, trading the pick may be something they look into as well. I think they may have to pick the player and then make the trade, but I could see them looking to move that pick. Maybe even to the Sixers for one of their bigs since they have a logjam.

 

[bksballer89]

BIG L for Utah tonight. Clippers played their C team and still won. Houston is still alive now.

Utah kind of must beat Dallas tomorrow night. Houston should win tiebreaker due to better conference record

 

[WiggyRuss]

I'm not that worried about the pick. It would be great to keep it, no doubt. But they already have some nice young pieces in Russell, Randle, Clarkson and Nance Jr.

I'm more concerned about who the coach is going to be. The Lakers need to try and at least attract a couple of solid veteran FA's and I just don't think Byron is going to be too attractive to them.

I'm actually hoping they get the #2 pick and grab Ingram. He is a natural small forward and that is a position of need for the Lakers. Simmons is a great talent, but I'm not sold on him. When I have watched him, he seemed passive. I don't know if it's because he was playing out the string on a bad team with a bad coach, or if he just doesn't have the drive. Either way, it wasn't a great look for a supposed "can't miss" player.

If the Lakers fall to #3, there are still some decent players such as Bender or even Jakob Poeltl from Utah. Both are centers, which the Lakers also need. With his footwork, Poeltl reminds me a bit of Marc Gasol, but I don't know if he has Gasol's range. They are saying Bender looks like another Porzingis.

If they fall to #3, trading the pick may be something they look into as well. I think they may have to pick the player and then make the trade, but I could see them looking to move that pick. Maybe even to the Sixers for one of their bigs since they have a logjam.

I think its incredibly important for them to keep- especially in light of Russell's recent issues. If they get a top 2 pick and draft Ingram or Simmons that will be the best player the Lakers have drafted since Magic- hands down.

Clarkson is a restricted free agent. I dont really think you want to invest a lot of money in him- who knows- maybe i am wrong- but i wouldnt. Russell is going to have some trust issues with teammates for awhile...I like Randle but he is one guy. I think getting that pick- and having it be Ingram or Simmons would send a very strong message to outside free agents that someday the pieces will be there to compete in an ultra competitive West. Even this summer- the 2 real potential long term pieces are Randle and Russell. As we all know- if you can get a 50% success rate on your draft picks (EVEN LOTTO PICKS) you are probably going down as one of the very best GM's of a ll time. You can never just assume guys are working on because they are high picks- sometimes you get unlucky like the 76'ers, sometimes you are middle of the road like the Cavs- or sometimes you are fucking perfect like the Thunder.

If i am a free agent and the team that i am going to is a big factor- i look at the lakers and see Russell and Randle as my guys- and know that the chances are slim that both will be very good highly above average basketball players. Thats just how the draft works.

If you could put one more ultra talented guy like Ingram or Simmons- who like i said- would be the most talented draftee of the Lakers since Magic- that would help reassure me as a free agent that the future is bright. If your looking at purely upside- sure Russell and Randle have a lot of talent- but you gotta look at hte downside as well- Russells obvious issues- Randles multiple surgeries and the fact that the % of lotto picks that make a big time impact is pretty low.

Im saying if you could add Simmons or Ingram, or even the #3 pick picking the Kevin Love clone, or simply having it as a trade asset to bring in a player---- would give me a LOT more confidence as a free agent- than if the Lakers come up with Zippo in the lotto.....

56%....that is gonna be a crazy night.....

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

I am a little bit ticked off with all this "resting" obsession

The Spurs lost back to back games for the first time in their last 112 regular season games

Albeit it was a meaningless road-back-to-back at altitude without (Parker, Ginobili, Aldridge, Green, Diaw, Leonard)

But, it was a cool streak that was almost surreal.

Sucks to end it on purpose.

 

[Heatles84]

I'm not that worried about the pick. It would be great to keep it, no doubt. But they already have some nice young pieces in Russell, Randle, Clarkson and Nance Jr.

I'm more concerned about who the coach is going to be. The Lakers need to try and at least attract a couple of solid veteran FA's and I just don't think Byron is going to be too attractive to them.

I'm actually hoping they get the #2 pick and grab Ingram. He is a natural small forward and that is a position of need for the Lakers. Simmons is a great talent, but I'm not sold on him. When I have watched him, he seemed passive. I don't know if it's because he was playing out the string on a bad team with a bad coach, or if he just doesn't have the drive. Either way, it wasn't a great look for a supposed "can't miss" player.

If the Lakers fall to #3, there are still some decent players such as Bender or even Jakob Poeltl from Utah. Both are centers, which the Lakers also need. With his footwork, Poeltl reminds me a bit of Marc Gasol, but I don't know if he has Gasol's range. They are saying Bender looks like another Porzingis.

If they fall to #3, trading the pick may be something they look into as well. I think they may have to pick the player and then make the trade, but I could see them looking to move that pick. Maybe even to the Sixers for one of their bigs since they have a logjam.

I share the same concerns with Simmons as well. Kid's talented, but I question a potential no. 1 pick that couldn't even get his team to the NCAA tournament in the weakest of the power 5 conferences.