Off-Season West Conf Discussion

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Why do you like Dallas' chances so much, Pack? Is the addition of Marion + a theoretically healthy Howard enough to put them over Portland, Denver, and Utah?

The fact that some of their main contributers were banged up for pretty much last season and still went as far as they could without being nowhere near 100%.

Is it enough to put them over Portland? Yup because I don't think they would have an answer for Dirk, Marion or Howard and unless Greg Oden turns into the dominant force he was projected to be, I'll take Dallas over them and Utah(especially if Boozer is gone before next season). Denver could be the only team they could struggle with out of that 3, but who's to say they'll dodge the injury bug again for another year? I mean if you look at Denver from this year, New Orleans, Boston, and San Antonio from last season, im sure you can see a pattern within those teams I mentioned when it comes to Injuries.

[GSW]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Biedrins = "Beans"

I get all my Dubs player nicknames from GSW, but Bad Porn reigns supreme with "Poor Man's God" a close 2nd.

The only thing we need is to stay healthy

Ellis,Jack,Bad Porn, and Beans all got hurt last year

name me one team who can lose there 2-3 best players to injury and be competitive.


Morrow will continue to improve, as will Baby Jesus

we are deeper and younger...and this year wont have to rely on an injured stephen jackson to be the best player on the team for 85% of the season

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

I feel like your criteria of a contender is too broad.

To me, a contender is one who actually has a shot at winning the Championship.

I can't call someone a contender when I think they'll get walloped by numerous other teams.

Agreed.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Lakers: Kobe is a singular talent and the team has been there and done that. Can Ron Ron stop choking in the playoffs?

Spurs: Duncan and Ginobli's minutes need to be monitored and Roger Mason cannot be overused like he was last year.

Nuggets: Carmelo needs to defend other wings like he defended Bryant in the semifinals. George Karl's defenses were carved up by the triangle once again (images of his Sonics being shredded in 96 come to mind).

Rockets: McGrady is softer than Steve from Blues Clues. Shane Battier is the best defender in basketball. Aaron Brooks is a comer. Too bad playing an entire season without the big guy will be way too much to ask.

Blazers: Roy is a heck of a player and Aldridge is a good finesse big. Their future hinges on Oden's development.

Mavericks: Nowitzki needs a heart transplant. Josh Howard needs to be benched in the 4th quarter. A two way shooting guard is needed ala. Michael Finley.

Suns: Nash and Amare' will post great numbers. Too bad it won't mean anything when they are ousted in the early rounds of the playoffs.

Jazz: Carlos Boozer is a strawman who likes to tip toe around the paint. They won't go anywhere until the parade in the paint is over.

Warriors: Biedrins is one of the few non losers on this team. No defense, no structured offense, no chance.

[GSW]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Lakers: Kobe is a singular talent and the team has been there and done that. Can Ron Ron stop choking in the playoffs?

Spurs: Duncan and Ginobli's minutes need to be monitored and Roger Mason cannot be overused like he was last year.

Nuggets: Carmelo needs to defend other wings like he defended Bryant in the semifinals. George Karl's defenses were carved up by the triangle once again (images of his Sonics being shredded in 96 come to mind).

Rockets: McGrady is softer than Steve from Blues Clues. Shane Battier is the best defender in basketball. Aaron Brooks is a comer. Too bad playing an entire season without the big guy will be way too much to ask.

Blazers: Roy is a heck of a player and Aldridge is a good finesse big. Their future hinges on Oden's development.

Mavericks: Nowitzki needs a heart transplant. Josh Howard needs to be benched in the 4th quarter. A two way shooting guard is needed ala. Michael Finley.

Suns: Nash and Amare' will post great numbers. Too bad it won't mean anything when they are ousted in the early rounds of the playoffs.

Jazz: Carlos Boozer is a strawman who likes to tip toe around the paint. They won't go anywhere until the parade in the paint is over.

Warriors: Biedrins is one of the few non losers on this team. No defense, no structured offense, no chance.

AB sorry i dissagree with u.

please watch us this season... last season was garbage.

[in mid air]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

I think he is referring to Andris Biedrins.

You still rollin' with that color typing for players/teams. lol i think it stylish

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

I feel like your criteria of a contender is too broad.

To me, a contender is one who actually has a shot at winning the Championship.

I can't call someone a contender when I think they'll get walloped by numerous other teams.

That's why I can't consider Denver to be a "contender". They'll be good. But, the chances of them winning the championship are not very high.

They'd have to get by the Lakers who will be better next year and have put them out of the playoffs these last two years. They'd also have to get past the Spurs. Can't see that happening in a seven game series. Parker/Duncan/Jefferson/Ginobli/Pop >>>> anything Nuggets you want to compare that to.

I also don't see the Nuggets beating Cleveland, Boston, or Orlando. And if pitted against the Mavs again, I wouldn't be surprised if they loss.

So with that being said, I just can't call Denver a "contender".

So a team that makes the conference finals doesn't have a shot at winning a title? I said I believe Denver has a good shot at getting to the Final Four. I said that I don't see any other team, except for Denver, beating SA or LA in a series.

Basically what it comes down to with some folks is that there are only 2 contenders out West, LA and SA.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

AB sorry i dissagree with u.

please watch us this season... last season was garbage.

Most definitely I'll watch GSW. I hope I'm wrong actually.

[PrettyT11]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

I just don't see Portland getting out of the first round unless the play the Mavs and they might not win that one. They really don't stand a shot against the Lakers or Spurs if they are healthy and Denver is a horrible matchup for them. Like I said in the other thread they have nobody that could stand a chance of stopping Melo from going off for at least 30 a night.

I see the West if healthy of course
LA
SA
DEN
POR
DAL
NO
and like EX said 7 and 8 really don't matter but I give it to UTAH and PHX

No GS or LAC. Sorry GS plays the worst defense in the NBA and thier midget backcourt will be killed on a nightly basis. Plus I don't trust Don Nelson at all. The Clippers are just the Clippers nothing else really needs to be said.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

LOL so basically the confusion here is that your definition of a Contender is a team that can make it to the Conference Finals while everyone else's definition of the word is a team that can make it TO the Finals.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

LOL so basically the confusion here is that your definition of a Contender is a team that can make it to the Conference Finals while everyone else's definition of the word is a team that can make it TO the Finals.

I guess so. My point was that if I believe Denver can make it to the Conference Finals, why don't they have a chance at the NBA Final?

I don't believe any other team outside of LA/SA/DEN can make the conference Finals/Finals. Therefore DEN is a contender.

[PrettyT11]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Rockets: McGrady is softer than Steve from Blues Clues.

That was hilarious.

I agree with most of what you said except for the Dirk thing but I won't go there and get ZB9 started and turn this into a Dirk thread.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

I don't believe any other team outside of LA/SA/DEN can make the conference Finals/Finals. Therefore DEN is a contender.

Ok I gotchu now. Now to answer YOUR original question(finally lol):

I don't think any team outside of LA/Spurs/Mavs/Nuggets can make it to the CONFERENCE Finals.

I don't think any team outside of LA/Spurs can make it TO the FINALS.

Hope I answered your question now lol.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

That was hilarious.

I agree with most of what you said except for the Dirk thing but I won't go there and get ZB9 started and turn this into a Dirk thread.

The TMac comment was for TMagic.

[TMagic]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

So a team that makes the conference finals doesn't have a shot at winning a title?

Not necessarily. If there is one team that is far superior to the rest of the conference, and will most likely beat any team in that conference, how can you consider other teams in that conference a contender for the title when they aren't likely to get past that superior team within their conference?

I said I believe Denver has a good shot at getting to the Final Four. I said that I don't see any other team, except for Denver, beating SA or LA in a series.

You say you can see Denver beating LA and SA. That's understandable.

But, honestly Ex, how high do you have their chances of beating those two?

"Seeing" them beating another team, and actually thinking that they will beat them are two different things. As of right now, I can "see" Denver beating them. But, do I really think that they will beat those two? No.

Basically what it comes down to with some folks is that there are only 2 contenders out West, LA and SA.

As it should be.

Think about it. To win the championship (which I thought is what a contender does), they would have to get past whoever in the first round. Ok, done. Then they'll have to beat either LA or SA in the second round, beat either LA or SA in the Conf. Finals, and then finally beat whoever comes out of the East in the finals.

Do you honestly think that Denver can do that? Realistically?