Early Western Conference Power Rankings

[bksballer89]

Here are the top 8 IMO.

1) SAS
2) OKC
3) LAC
4) HOU
5) GSW
6) MEM
7) DEN
8) LAL/DAL/POR

 

[bksballer89]

Minnesota may be a sleeper IF they stay healthy

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Houston ahead of GS and Memphis? IDK about that.

 

[starbigd]

yeah, I don't see Houston as a top 4 team right now. They still need a few more pieces, and we have to see how they play together. ESPN talking heads kill me with this "they're a top 2 team right now" garbage........nobody has seen them PLAY yet!!!!!

 

[jayviabay]

1 SAS
2 OKC
3 LAC
4 MEM
5 GS/ HOU
7 DEN
8 DAL
9 POR/LAL

 

[bksballer89]

I actually would swap LAC and OKC....Forgot that Martin left OKC.

Houston needs to play much better defense this year. Last season they had an explosive offensive but a pretty crappy defense.

 

[bksballer89]

Houston ahead of GS and Memphis? IDK about that.

I'm not a big fan of Iggy. Memphis I can see finishing ahead of Houston but I'm not too sure about GSW especially how injury prone Curry and Bogut are

 

[jayviabay]

I'm not a big fan of Iggy. Memphis I can see finishing ahead of Houston but I'm not too sure about GSW especially how injury prone Curry and Bogut are

with the money warriors are freeing up in the utah trade, we might see them make a few more moves

 

[shitsho]

yeah, I don't see Houston as a top 4 team right now. They still need a few more pieces, and we have to see how they play together. ESPN talking heads kill me with this "they're a top 2 team right now" garbage........nobody has seen them PLAY yet!!!!!

Guess they didnt learn anything from the Heats struggles the first year.

 

[bksballer89]

Guess they didnt learn anything from the Heats struggles the first year.

Houston should have decent role players as long as they trade Asik which is expected. After they trade Asik, they will get Josh smith or Ryan Anderson in return so that means they will have 4 solid players after their big 2 in Parsons, Lin, Beverly, and Anderson/Smith

 

[Logicallylethal]

Thunder
Spurs
Rockets
Clips
Warriors
Grizzlies
Twolves
Nuggets

I think the West is as wide open as ever. Unless there is another big move, there is no definitive #1. OKC held that mantle, but losing Kevin Martin was a huge blow. They can always expect Reggie Jackson to step up or sign another shooter...but you can't just replace Martin's 15 pts off the bench that easily.

The Spurs...it seems like each year you're telling yourself that they're too old to be elite anymore...but they keep proving everybody wrong. After watching Kawhi Leonard in the finals, I really think he could have a Paul George type break out year for the Spurs. That would more than make up for Manu's decline.

After 1 and 2 it gets tough. I have Houston at 3 but to be honest you can flip flop any of the teams at 3 to 5. I just think with a healthy Dwight, Harden, shooters (parsons, garcia, delfino) and possibly Josh Smith they have the highest ceiling of those teams.

With that being said, I wouldn't be surprised if a team like Memphis finishes ahead of Houston. At the same time I wouldn't be surprised if Houston finished 1 or 2.

The title is still Miami's to lose though.

 

[Clayton]

1. Clippers. CP3. Top 3 coach. Added 2 knockdown shooters. Blake can still get better, Jordan can't get any worse. I think they're the clear regular season favorite but its waaay early.

2. Thunder. They're still young. Westbrook, Durant and especially Ibaka can still get better. They have some really young pieces that might improve a little bit, too.

3. Warriors. Improvement and youth is again another theme here. I like Iggy for the postseason with them but he might not translate into too many wins in the regular season.

4. Rockets. Too much talent to put lower but I can see them having some growing pains throughout the season.

5. Spurs. Top 3 coach but they are going to have to sit veterans to get to the post season. Theoretically, they should be more prone to injury than the 4 teams above them. Leonard has star potential and Parker is still in his prime. Still a team that could do serious damage in the playoffs.

6. Grizzlies. Koufos was a good pickup for them and resigning Allen was a good idea. I like Ed Davis a lot. This team need Pondexter to improve, though, and maybe another offensive SF somewhere.

2-6 are pretty interchangeable.

7. Timberwolves. Man they got hit by injuries last year

8. Denver. They aren't the same team they were but there is still enough there to make the playoffs.

 

[Shanemansj13]

1. Spurs- dynasty, but getting old
2. Clips- Rivers. All they need is a coach and they got one.
3. OKC- Durant, RW, Ibaka-young talent is there.
4. Warriors-lots of depth and young stars.
5. Rockets-if they get Smith they are moving up.
6. Grizzlies-defense. They need a superstar, Gasol isn't quite that.
7. Blazers/Nuggets- both young. Por has so much talent, if they lose Aldridge could do damage.
8. Lakers- they need more, but if Kobe is back-nuff said

 

[Clayton]

Spurs-Clippers just looks like a Western Conference Finals matchup waiting to happen. Great PG, Great coaches, Great 3pt shooting on the wings. Flash vs Experience down low.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

1. Houston (I predict they get Smith)
2. Clippers
3. Spurs
4. Thunder
5. Golden State
6. Denver
7. Memphis
8. New Orleans

 

[Clayton]

Pelicans are going to be fun to watch but I think they are going to make one more major move with their roster somehow so its too early to judge them

 

[OutlawImmortal]

I'm not a big fan of Iggy. Memphis I can see finishing ahead of Houston but I'm not too sure about GSW especially how injury prone Curry and Bogut are

Are you a fan of Iggy under Mark Jackson? Because what he did to Curry was some real shit to me.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

I will take an avi bet with anybody who thinks the Lakers will miss the playoffs.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

I will take an avi bet with anybody who thinks the Lakers will miss the playoffs.

this is close....

It is so easy to make the playoffs but the Lakers are going to be really bad!!

 

[BOTSLAYER]

I am not talking best record, SAS will probably have that, this is who will be representing them in the finals:

1. OKC-Westbrook will not pull a Rose
2. GSW-just got better
3. LAC-Got a lot better
4. HOU-Chemistry issues they could let Lakers in the playoffs, I think they mesh well though
5. MEM-Same team
6. SAS-Hangover, they were kind of gifted the West last year with Westbrook going down
7. MIN
8. DEN

LAL-Not healthy and really old but would not be surprised if they stole a 7 or 8 seed spot.