Ping: NBA Fans

[Vince]

All right, let the flaming begin already :)

Anyhow, I just basically wanted an excuse to put this on paper...my Warriors are actually in a position to where they could contend for a playoff spot. It's farfetched, sure, but hear me out.

1-4: Sacto, Dallas, Portland, San Antonio, in no particular order. They're all playing really well, and are definitely good enough to stay where they're at.

5&6: Lakers and Timberwolves.
Both playing really well, T'wolves not good enough to push into the top four, Lakers too far in the hole to claw that far forward.

7&8: Two of the following: Phoenix, Utah, Golden State, Houston
Utah is ridiculously old, and I think they are finally getting to the point where Stockton and Malone might not be able to get it done. However, I think they are the top seed of these four teams. Phoenix isn't playing well lately, and maybe it's more wishful thinking than otherwise (as if this entire post/thread isn't wishful thinking), but I don't think they are going to make the playoffs. And Houston has definitely hit the wall...which leaves the door open for my beloved Warriors.

If they can continue to gel, and show the talent that they have (see three game win streak over LA Lakers, NJ Nets and Utah Jazz a few weeks ago), rather than the trash that they sometimes play with (See three game losing streak to Orlando, Miami and Memphis (albeit a road trip) Dec. 13-16), they could easily contend for a playoff spot. They've won 9 of their last 14 games, and 20 of their 27 losses are to playoff teams. They have pulled out some tough wins (@Lakers, @Houston, vs. Lakers, vs. Spurs), and they definitely have the raw talent. Improve their defense (100.6 points allowed per game, 2nd worst in the NBA), and their 3rd ranked offense (100.3 points per game) can shine.

[ACStrider]

GS does have a lot of talent. When you consider that they have Areanas, Richardson, Jamison and Murphy, not to mention the combo blocking team of Dampier and Foyle, you sometimes have to wonder why they aren't a powerhouse. Their bench is a little weak, but you have to believe that if they do get the chemistry going, they could really turn some heads. As far as playoff predictions go, here's my prediction. It's hazy as to what will be the order of the top teams, but I think Dallas will hold on to the first spot. SA is coming on strong and a Webbar-less Kings are dropping. Webber will be back, but it might be enough of a difference to give SA the 2 spot and Sac the 3rd spot. I like Portland at 4. The next four are very tricky. Utah has figured out how to consistantly win even with a lesser role by Stockton and Malone. They somehow pull wins out of nowhere consistantly so I pick them for 5. The Timberwolves have recently shown a flash of their potential, but I see chemistry problems and a slight decline over the rest of the season. I place them at 6 but may very well drop to 7 (it would be poetic justice to see them drop to 8 and lose to Dallas in the playoffs...again). I see the Lakers climbing up to the 7th spot. They're a dangerous team, and I don't think anyone wants to face them, but they got themselves into a big hole in the first half of the season. Finally, I see the Suns making the last spot. They have a good group of young players, and they're figuring out how to play well together. I think they'll hold on to the last spot. Close but no cigar awards...Houston and GS. Houston has the personal to beat any team in the league, but they're still too young and streaky. Ming's the real deal, Mobley is solid, Francis is Franchise, but Griffin's too inconsistant and the rest of the deep bench needs to figure out how to contribute at the right times. GS is a dangerous team, but I don't see them as a playoff-ready team until next year. Give them a year and a Fortson deal, and it could be scary to see what they can do. Well, that's my .02

[Booj]

Speaking about far-fetched, how about Toronto making a run? If they stay healthy, and keep winning.. anything is possible. Of course that can be said for every team in the NBA.. lol

[cmp]

I don't see GS getting in this year. But they are good young team who in a few years could be challenging the top teams.

[korme]

Vince, why does Fortson get little PT?

Two years ago he was looking like Dennis Rodman with a little over 16 RPG, and now he can't even get that many minutes per night. What's the deal?

[Blackadar]

Fortson is a huge defensive liability.

[bbor]

Originally posted by Booj
Speaking about far-fetched, how about Toronto making a run? If they stay healthy, and keep winning.. anything is possible.

Drugs??..at this hour of the morning??? :D

Toronto is finished and has been for the past 20 games...loook forward to next season and the possibility of Lebron coming to town...Oh yeah,and the firing of Lenny.

[Neuqua]

Well to start off, since SA and DAL are in the same division they cannot be the #1 and #2 seed. I think the Kings are the best in the Pacific and they should end up with the #2 with SA getting #3.

1. Dallas - Floundering a bit right now but only because they've reverted back to the old times of trying to outscore the opponent and not playing any defense. I still think they're a year away from the title.

2. Sacramento - I just think this is the team to beat. They have one of the top records in the league and haven't even had a full roster of healthy players yet. Yikes.

3. San Antonio - With Tony Parker's emergence as a very good PG, SA can be a dangerous team come playoff time. I'm interested to see whether or not Parker can be the 2nd scorer that SA needs.

4. Portland - I guess we're all just waiting for them to self destruct, but you never know, they may not this season. I love the way Scottie Pippen has played and I believe that he can provide the leadership come playoff time. No one wants to play this team in the playoffs.

5. Minnesota - I want someone to look me in the face and tell me that Kevin Garnett is not the MVP of the league this season. He's done more with less than anyone else I've ever seen. He's the complete package and is alone carrying the Timberwolves on his back.

6. Utah - I know Stockton and Malone are getting up there but Harpring has brought in a fresh breath of air. I think Utah signing Harpring turned out well for both the Jazz and my beloved Bulls (who later signed Donyell Marshall away from the Jazz.) I think they have another year in the playoffs, although they won't do anything once they get there.

7. Phoenix - I think Stephon has upped his game tremendously this season. With him, and Shawn Marion who is one of the most overlooked players in the league (although he has the ugliest looking jumpshot I've ever seen), the Suns have the young legs to not get tired in the stretch run of the season. All eyes should be on Stoudemire to see if he hits a rookie wall.

8. Lakers - Oh how I wanted to leave them off this list. If you had told me they'd be an 8 seed 3 weeks ago I probbaly wouldn't have believed it. But Kobe's on a tear and the Lakers are slowly getting their swagger back. Kings vs. Lakers in the first round? Thank god they stretched the series to 7 games for this one!

And as for Golden State. I think they have some great up and coming players on their team but they should do whatever is needed to get rid of some cap in order to sign Arenas. He's capable of becoming one of the top 5-6 PGs in the game and to let him walk would just send the Warriors back a few steps. They can only offer Arenas their $4.5 exception and I'm sure Arenas will field many more offers higher than that figure. I think it'd be wise to trade Dunleavy + a bad salary to a team since Dunleavy really doesn't have a future with Golden State anyway.

Neuqua

[IMetTrentGreen]

golden state is one of the worst put together teams in the league. they have an undersized PG who is the only decent ball handler on the team, and then they have a bunch of 3's and 4's who all need time and stats

with some shuffling they could be good, but right now they are, as bill simmons said, a real live fantasy basketball team

[Vince]

Fortson doesn't get the minutes for a few reasons...although he is a rebounding beast, Troy Murphy is a much better all-around basketball player, and on top of that, he's young. Like Blackie said, Fortson is a defensive liability, and our defense (100.6 points allowe/game) is already bad enough.

I think getting rid of Fortson is a good idea...he's making a good deal of money ($24 Mil. over the next 4 years), and not doing much to earn it. I haven't seen many rumors, and I'm not too optimistic about what we could get in return, but I think it's the best move available.

[AgPete]

Anyone watch the Kings/Spurs game yesterday? While the Spurs are hot as hell, they barely beat a Webberless Kings team. I'm still not sold on the Mavs.

If Shaq doesn't get healthy, the Lakers are done. I knew he couldn't last that long with his big body but I didn't expect him to start breaking down this soon. The Lakers better get some help for Kobe if Shaq-Fu's days are numbered. If the Lakers don't improve, the NBA title goes to the Kings or Spurs.

It's sad but I think any of the eight ranked teams in the west could win the east.

[ACStrider]

I'm a Mavs fan and I'M not sold on the Mavs. There are times where they show flashes fo brilliance defensively, and they rarely have problems with the offensive spark, but it seems like when a top team comes ready to take them they back off a bit in their intensity. I guess you could say the same thing about Sac-town too. It just seems to me that if the Mavs can mentally prepare themselves come playoff time, they could prove themselves. I would agree about the Lakers. Kobe's carried the team thus far, and when Shaq has been his Shak-like self, they've been arguably the best team in the league. Problem is that Shaq hasn't been his Shaq-like self often this year. I wouldn't count out the teams from the East, though. If I were to rate the teams in the league, the first three (Dal, Sac, SA) go to the West, but I see Indy, NJ, and Detroit on a good day switching ranks with Min and Portland every once and a while. Certainly, the best in the West is the expected favorite when the finals comes around.

[Alf]

I saw the game, and it looked like a NBA final to me (too bad they're both in the West). Very intense game !

The Spurs did win ! And they were on the end of a long road trip (they need to get home and rest a bit).

The Mavs still do not have a #5, so they'll gete the #1 slot and will get beaten by #8 seeded Lakers.... Too bad !