ORIGINAL UNTOUCHED AND LAUGHABLY WRONG PREDICTIONS POST:
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So now that the last big chip (Kawhi to Raps) has fallen, unless another big blockbuster happens, I think we can start this. Needless to say we should be in the hunt this season. Who are the favorites in the west? East?
It'll be interesting to see to see the receipts by the end of the regular season. There should be a lot of folks who get it wrong.
I'll start it off (yes, and I mean I'll start off the likely getting it wrong part). Predictions as of 7/18/2018
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 - Golden State
2 - Oklahoma City
3 - Utah
4 - Houston
5 - New Orleans
6 - LA Lakers
7 - Portland
8 - Denver
Prediction is we get off to a slow start, but come on strong at the end. It's a new team in the loaded west, I think it will take some time to build team chemistry.
OKC at #2 because they've spent last season figuring out that team chemistry, and they will no longer have Melo playing "defense" 30 mins a game. PG will be on a mission to show he didn't make the wrong decision and WB will be WB. Same with Utah at #3 and the team chemistry thing, plus an improved Donovan Mitchell. I think Houston slightly falls back down to earth next season but not by much, just that I think they won't play as hard in the regular season like OKC/Utah will because they'll be in "Let's Just Get Ready for the Playoffs" mode all year.
Only team I was iffy on their spot was New Orleans at #5... I think their bigs rotation of Davis + Mirotic + Randle will actually be a handful to deal with for teams, so they could technically just destroy teams.... or losing Rondo could hurt them more than we all expect.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1 - Boston
2 - Toronto (or if Kawhi plays, Philadelphia)
3 - Philadelphia (or if Kawhi plays, Toronto)
4 - 8 Who cares
Eastern conference is Boston's to lose. They'll be in the Finals and I'll be rooting for the western conference regardless of who it is. Even if it means hoping the freaking Warriors end up winning 3 straight rings. I could never ever EVER bring myself to hope for Celtic success.
Kawhi will make the difference between 2 and 3. He'll likely play for Toronto begrudgingly, hence I think #2.
And let's face it, aside from the top 3, no one else has a chance at the finals, so I don't care.
Last edited by pokoy on Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:21 pm; edited 2 times in total
Maybe, but that's my hot take. I'm thinking Utah and OKC have more incentive to do better in the regular season than Houston does.
I'm actually starting to think leaving San Antonio out of my original prediction was wrong already. I think they'll have a good chance of squeezing in there before Denver does.
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29586 Location: La La Land
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 12:58 pm Post subject:
No way Nuggets make the playoffs this year. Spurs, Minnesota, OKC will all be better than them.
I have us somewhere from 2-4 in the conference, depending on how much LBJ plays and how well our young guys perform. _________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
1-8: Fodder! _________________ Starting Lakers Dynasty6.0! NOW!!
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....." each year in Lakerland is marked by four seasons: Kobe’s Mad at His Teammates; Kobe’s Shooting Too Much; Kobe Leads the Victory Parade; Kobe Receives His Championship Ring."
1 - Golden State
2 - Houston
3 - Oklahoma City
4 - LAKERS
5 - Utah
6 - New Orleans
7 - Minnesota
8 - San Antonio
It's crazy that two teams of Portland and Denver's quality could be left out of the playoffs next year. WEST is loaded gonna be a dogfight, nothing is given, everything is earned.
2) Too much drama over in Minnesota. Think they fall out of the race this year
3) Nuggets arguably got worse with losing Chandler and salary dumping a couple of their other guys. They got Isaiah but they are already loaded at that postion _________________ He's my GOAT
OKC second seed??
I expect them to do worst than last season.
I as well like our chances as atleast a top 3 seed. If our young core keep up their trajectory, Lonzo improves into a decent shooter (atleast 36% 3s), and potential cancers Rondo and Lance dont cause turmoil I can see us as a #2 seed. _________________ (bleep) Kawhi
I don’t think GSW will hart the first seed. I think they’ll coast even more this year.
Utah is top3. I think OKC will actually have a better record.
No melo, a year of continuity and no stress of PG leaving or not
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