2015-16 NBA Western Conference OFFICIAL THREAD

[trojanfan12]

Almost time for the Kings to shock the world and make the playoffs! Or blowup completely and start fighting in practice, can't wait.

Whichever way it goes, they will be entertaining.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I know it might be a long shot, but I do think the Lakers have an excellent chance of making the playoffs this year depending on how quickly Randle and D'angelo develop and the health of Kobe. I am hoping Metta World Nutcase can be healthy and strong and contribute as well

 

[WiggyRuss]

I know it might be a long shot, but I do think the Lakers have an excellent chance of making the playoffs this year depending on how quickly Randle and D'angelo develop and the health of Kobe. I am hoping Metta World Nutcase can be healthy and strong and contribute as well

In the West?
obviously there are 6 teams that are practical locks unless outright catastrophe hits

1. OKC
2. GSW
3. SAS
4. LAC
5. HOU
6. MEM

I think that top 5 is as good as I have seen at the top of any conference in a long long long time and Memphis is deservedly in the 6th spot.

That leaves a group of I believe about 5 teams going after the last 2 playoff spots
1. New Orleans- Anthony Davis- I think they have the best shot
2. Utah Jazz- Gobert is a legit defensive player of the year candidate. Heyward is a top 30 player. Favors is a very solid PF. They have talent- its young- but they have talent
3. Phoenix- think they have a really good coach. Getting Chandler def helps their defense and they needed a guy that help share the load with Len. Len and Chandler are a very good combo playing those center minutes. Bledsoe is a legit top 30 player. It gets alittle iffy after that- but they have a solid amt of depth and showed success 2 years ago- but got kinda derailed from Dragic's whine-fest last year
4. Minnesota TWolves- not a lot of past success obviously- but man do they have talent. Wiggins and Towns are great talents. Rubio is a solid- not spectacular point guard held back by his atrocious shooting. LAvine, Shabazz, Dieng, Payne are all talented young guys- AND NOW they have a stable of vets to bring them along- Garnett, KEvin Martin, Andre Miller, Nikola Pekovic....I would have put them over the Suns if not for the Suns proving they have a good base to jump off from 2 years ago.
5. Sacramento Kings: DeMArcus Cousins is one of the best players in basketball. Who the hell knows what happens here- they could finish horribly and it wouldnt surprise me- but they have talent here.

When you say the words "excellent chance depending"....i just dont see it....this list doesnt even have Dallas on it who is not exactly a push over. I just dont see the path to the playoffs. Who out of those teams are they better than? I really like Russell and Randle- I liked them before they were drafted and think they have talent--- but look at a team like the Twolves or Jazz- who have young talent that is VERY good- and how long it takes to develop....It just does NOT happen in year one. Even KD and RW only won like 20 games Durants SECOND YEAR (and RWs first)....There is just no way- ---- the one caveat i will allow for is if they end up trading the young guys for immediate help. I dont think that would be smart- but if things are going bad and Jimmy Buss feels pressure he might do something to try and save his own neck that may not be in the best long term interests of the franchise. HE would not be the first team executive to pull off such a move.

 

[trojanfan12]

I know it might be a long shot, but I do think the Lakers have an excellent chance of making the playoffs this year depending on how quickly Randle and D'angelo develop and the health of Kobe. I am hoping Metta World Nutcase can be healthy and strong and contribute as well

Isn't having an excellent shot, the opposite of a long shot?

Best case scenario, Russell doesn't play like a rookie, Randle continues to play like he has so far in the pre-season, Clarkson continues to improve, Kobe plays like he's 30 instead of 37 and Hibbert plays like he did when he was an all-star for 2 years. If all of that happens, then the Lakers might make the playoffs.

Worst case scenario, Russell plays like a rookie, Randle gets hurt again, Clarkson doesn't continue to improve or regresses, Kobe gets hurt again, Hibbert plays like the guy who got benched last year and the Lakers finish with a record similar to last year.

Since neither the worst or best case is likely to happen, the Lakers probably finish at around 30-35 wins. Enough to show improvement and that they're headed in the right direction, but well short of the playoffs.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

I guess the fighting/arguing hasn't started....yet.

My bad, I didn't know his history


Looks like he's about to test a plane out for the Wright brothers.

 

[bksballer89]

DeMarcus Cousins with one-handed dunk over Anthony Davis

 

[wildturkey]

Tyreke Evans underwent arthroscopic knee surgery today and there's no timetable on his return.

That's a pretty big blow to the Pellies if he misses a significant amount of time. Davis will beast for sure, but with no Evans and with Jrue Holiday always hurt, they go from a lock to making the playoffs to a question mark.

 

[bksballer89]

Tyreke Evans underwent arthroscopic knee surgery today and there's no timetable on his return.

That's a pretty big blow to the Pellies if he misses a significant amount of time. Davis will beast for sure, but with no Evans and with Jrue Holiday always hurt, they go from a lock to making the playoffs to a question mark.

It is always something with that fucker Evans

 

[bksballer89]

Anthony Davis laments Pelicans' injury setbacks - NBA - ESPN

 

[handicappers]

Mavericks gonna win it all. Mavs be like

 

[Arizona_Sting]

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

 

[bksballer89]

Uni Watch 2015-16 NBA season preview - Uniform changes, alternates, throwbacks and new socks

 

[wildturkey]

Uni Watch 2015-16 NBA season preview - Uniform changes, alternates, throwbacks and new socks

OKC's orange alts should be their primary jerseys. They are miles better than their current crapfest

I like that Dallas skyline jersey too

 

[trojanfan12]

The fashion thread is over in the LGBT forum ya buncha phegs.

 

[bksballer89]

New Orleans and Golden State play twice in the opening week

 

[bksballer89]

So the Pelicans are without Asik, Babbitt, Cole, Evans, Holiday, and Pondexter tonight.

Warriors by 35

 

[occupant]

Fuck you Patrick Beverly.

 

[Hambombs]

Denver will suprise

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]