Post by CHANGEME on Sept 11, 2007 18:24:38 GMT -5
1. Phoenix Suns - Three stars, add Grant Hill, Leandro Barbosa, and Boris Diaw. This team can't be stopped, and the reason is because they are just too good! This team will pick up the #1 spot in the West for sure.
2. Houston Rockets - Yao and TMac just carry this team, but it really works. Their role players aren't that great, but Battier brings toughness, Hayes brings some rebounding, and Francis is a point guard that doesn't totally suck. That will be good enough to coast to the #2 spot, they just have a great system to win with right now.
3. Utah Jazz - OK, it's official. Deron Williams is a star, and the Jazz have the players to surround him to make some major noise. I'm surprised they haven't won more games, so I'm predicting them to eclipse the Spurs and push Houston for the division lead by the end of the season.
4. San Antonio Spurs - Three stars and a defensive role player are all this team needs. Duncan is really stepping up this year, but it doesn't seem to be enough. They need a little something more to beat Houston, and I'm not sure they have it. At any rate, they'll coast the rest of the season and they'll be the favorites in their 1st round matchup.
5. Golden State Warriors - The lack of upper-tier star power hurts this team a LOT, but they have five very good players. Some teams give up some strength at various positions but the Warriors have it filled up and down. I think they'll finish out ahead of the Kings, but they'll probably have some trouble with the experience of the Spurs in the 1st round.
6. Sacramento Kings - They should have the star power with Nowitzki now, but it doesn't seem to be clicking quite right. Being young and weak defensively at two positions, C and SG, will probably be this team's downfall this year, but they could certainly surprise. Jazz have won 3-4 from Sactown so the Kings would have a tough go of it in the 1st round.
7. Los Angeles Lakers - The rest of the West is under .500 so I'm just looking around for stars who will carry their teams in. Oh look, it's Kobe who is still amazing and still doesn't have a supporting cast. They have a better record than the Nuggets now so they'll hold on and get this spot for the playoffs
8. Denver Nuggets - The other team with a star, Carmelo will carry this team in. Why is AI not playing much? If player development is the reason, then why is 33-year-old Anthony Johnson at PG? I expect Denver to get some late-season life from AI to give Melo the help he needs. Denver is a dangerous team if Melo and AI play 40 minutes/game in the playoffs, but they never should've put themselves in that positon to play Phoenix in the first round.
2. Houston Rockets - Yao and TMac just carry this team, but it really works. Their role players aren't that great, but Battier brings toughness, Hayes brings some rebounding, and Francis is a point guard that doesn't totally suck. That will be good enough to coast to the #2 spot, they just have a great system to win with right now.
3. Utah Jazz - OK, it's official. Deron Williams is a star, and the Jazz have the players to surround him to make some major noise. I'm surprised they haven't won more games, so I'm predicting them to eclipse the Spurs and push Houston for the division lead by the end of the season.
4. San Antonio Spurs - Three stars and a defensive role player are all this team needs. Duncan is really stepping up this year, but it doesn't seem to be enough. They need a little something more to beat Houston, and I'm not sure they have it. At any rate, they'll coast the rest of the season and they'll be the favorites in their 1st round matchup.
5. Golden State Warriors - The lack of upper-tier star power hurts this team a LOT, but they have five very good players. Some teams give up some strength at various positions but the Warriors have it filled up and down. I think they'll finish out ahead of the Kings, but they'll probably have some trouble with the experience of the Spurs in the 1st round.
6. Sacramento Kings - They should have the star power with Nowitzki now, but it doesn't seem to be clicking quite right. Being young and weak defensively at two positions, C and SG, will probably be this team's downfall this year, but they could certainly surprise. Jazz have won 3-4 from Sactown so the Kings would have a tough go of it in the 1st round.
7. Los Angeles Lakers - The rest of the West is under .500 so I'm just looking around for stars who will carry their teams in. Oh look, it's Kobe who is still amazing and still doesn't have a supporting cast. They have a better record than the Nuggets now so they'll hold on and get this spot for the playoffs
8. Denver Nuggets - The other team with a star, Carmelo will carry this team in. Why is AI not playing much? If player development is the reason, then why is 33-year-old Anthony Johnson at PG? I expect Denver to get some late-season life from AI to give Melo the help he needs. Denver is a dangerous team if Melo and AI play 40 minutes/game in the playoffs, but they never should've put themselves in that positon to play Phoenix in the first round.
