The Race in the West

[Fresh8]

The race for eigth place is in full swing now...any thing can happen in the next few weeks to determine the West's play-off order....here are the West's Top 10 and how many GB teams are (From Kings):

1. * Sacramento --
2. * Minnesota 2.5
3. San Antonio 4.5
4. LA Lakers 5.5
5. Dallas 7.0
6. Memphis 7.5
7. Houston 9.0
8. Denver 14.0
9. Utah 14.5
10. Portland 16.0

Well, as well as fighting for a berth, teams on top will be dropping and may risk losing home-court advantage too because of the standard of the competition in the West....

So who will not make the second season??? I'm just gonna say why I think these teams should be in...

Portland so that they can try and break the streak of consecutive play-off apperarnces (Although it isn't that important to me! )

Utah to prove me and many others wrong! (Remember many projected them as Lottery-bound??) Denver, only because they got Carmelo and his supporting cast, who have fought all season to make it...

Houston, so that we can see them make a first-round upset against whoever they play (preferably the T-wolves ) Memphis should make it because they are a '12-man team' and prove that teamwork is more important (Please tell that to Kobe/Shaq).

Dallas should be in to provide an example of 'offence wins game, defence wins championships,' Lakers should be in cause they were all along...same with the Spurs and the Kings....And Minnesota only because they always make a first-round exit!

Anyway: heres who I think will make it and their seedings (In brackets are their current record):

1. Sacramento (48-17)
2. Minnesota (46-20)
3. Lakers (43-23)
4. San Antonio (44-22)
5. Houston (39-26)
6. Dallas (41-24)
7. Memphis (41-25)

And the eigth spot could go to any of the three teams: Utah (34-32), Denver (35-32) or Potrland (32-33)...but I give it to Utah who have an easier schedule than Denver...u know the only over .500 team they play in the next few games is Denver...

So wat do y'all think???

[kevC]

altho it's nice to see that you predicted rockets to be the 5th seed i would like for them to stay 7th to match up with the wolves.. they really do well against them...

[Andrew]

I also believe that the first seven seeds have basically been decided, with the possibility of a little shuffling as teams get hot or cool off heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Denver and Utah will be battling it out for the 8th spot, but I think Portland might be just a little too far back. Of course if the Nuggets and Jazz both implode, the Blazers are right back in the game.

If I had to pick the Western Conference playoff bracket right now, I'd say...

1. Kings
2. Timberwolves
3. Lakers
4. Spurs
5. Mavericks
6. Grizzlies
7. Rockets

For the 8th seed I'll go with Denver for the moment, but as Sit mentioned Utah's schedule might allow them to gain the upper hand and jump right back into the top eight.

[Fresh8]

Well, today Utah was killed by Denver....and Portland beat the Timberwolves....I hope Minnesota keeps losing and lose home-court advantage....

[Fresh8]

Hooray! Not only did LA and Kobe/Shaq come back to win 113-110 in OT against Magic....Spurs lost to Golden State which put Lakers into third place!

Plus, LA Lakers have only played 30 home games so far...I think we have a schedule predominantly at home for the home stretch!

EDIT: It's actually 13 of the last 16 played at STAPLES!!!!

[-BHZMAFIA-]

1. Kings
2. Timberwolves
3. Lakers
4. Spurs
5. Grizzlies
6. Mavericks
7. Rockets
8. Jazz


Well as you can see, the Grizzlies won't be losing alot of games now. They will definitely be in the 5th seed because they are already ahead of Dallas right now. With the way the top western teams are playing right now, I wouldn't be surprised for the Grizz to get the 4th seed easily. Duncan is still in pain, and they could lose some more games. They have already moved down to the 4th spot with LA getting ahead of them. The Spurs play Minny twice, Sacramento, Lakers and Detroit in their remaining games.

All the teams they will play are in the playoffs except for Phoenix, and Boston is fighting for a spot right now.

[lamar50]

ill say

1. SAC
2. Minn
3. LA
4. Memphis
5. SA
6. Dallas
7. Houston
8. Denver

SAC over Denver 4-1
Memphis over Spurs 4-3
LA over Dallas 4-2
Minn over Houston 4-3

SAC over Memphis 4-3
LA over Minn 4-2

LA over SAC 4-3

[Fresh8]

It's interesting reading an article on the Grizzlys! Hubie sayin that on his team, one guy plays 32 MPG (Gasol), 7 play 20 MPG and 2 play 18MPG....
something like that!

1. x-Sacramento --
2. x-Minnesota 2.0
3. LA Lakers 3.5
4. San Antonio 5.0
5. Memphis 6.5
6. Dallas 6.5
7. Houston 10.0
8. Utah 14.0
9. Denver 14.5
10. Portland 15.5

Here are the latest standings- I think Utah will clinch that last spot in the West...And Sloan will win COY....
Houston and Minnesota will be awesome- cause Houston will get a one-way ticket to the second round! (Jokin!)
The Lakers...wat can i say...cant they quit fighting...I like them and I'm a Kobe fan but their four main guys are always in some kind of dispute....

Some questions:

1) If the play-offs started today...how would Utah play against Sacramento...the best team in the West against a team who IMO...seem average on paper but are pretty decent....

2) Will Hubie Brown use his 10-man rotation or play others more (like Gasol?)

3) Whats the bet that Kobe and Shaq have some fight at the end of a game (about who gets to take the last shot) and start a brawl?

4) Who is better: KG or TD???

[Matthew]

I think utah would be a good wake up call for the kings. the jazz wouldnt win, but they would play them hard and force sacramento to play hard to win, which is a good thing in the playoffs

2) Will Hubie Brown use his 10-man rotation or play others more (like Gasol?)

i think yes, its not like cleveland where the 8th,9th and 10th player on the roster is terrible. memphis' success this season is becuase of their depth, so why go away from it?

3) Whats the bet that Kobe and Shaq have some fight at the end of a game (about who gets to take the last shot) and start a brawl?

lol shaq would kill him

4) Who is better: KG or TD???

KG, he has been for 2 seasons now imo.if he doesnt get mvp, man, it will be the worst decision since malone getting it in 99 ahead of tim duncan.

[magius]

garnett's a lock for mvp. only other candidate is duncan, and injuries ruined his chances along with the fact that most voters probably would be hesitant to vote him in 3 times in a row td is still a better player though

[Fresh8]

Man- with the Lakers winning and beating Sactown and Minny by a combined 41 Points - I need to update my Western Conference Playoff chart!

1. Lakers (I have FULL CONFIDENCE NOW!)
2. Sacramento
3. Minnesota
4. San Antonio
5. Memphis
6. Dallas
7. Houston
8. Denver

1st Round:

Lakers beat Denver 4-0
Sacramento beat Houston 4-2
Minnesota beats Dallas 4-3
Memphis beats San Antonio 4-2

2nd Round

Sacramento beats Minnesota 4-2
Lakers beat Memphis 4-1 (If this happens- Jerry West vs. Shaq/Kobe!)

3rd Round

Lakers beat Sacramento 4-3

Finals:

Lakers beats EAST 4-0

[Jackal]

Stop it.

They won a few, it's good to be optimistic but don't get carried away. Calm down, wait it out before everyone starts screamin here come the champs. Anything & Everything is possible...

[Fresh8]

I know- but its better than bein pessimistic! I can't spell....

[PRoPuLsiOnDJ]

lakers look unstoppable right now.
they're winning the championship this year with ease (with the exception of injuries).
think about it, they have four hall of famers ... and they're all playing like they're hall of famers.
how do u beat sactown by 20+ points and kill minnesota by the same margin on back to back games?????
this is how the lakers were supposed to play from the beginning anyway!

kings and t-wolves were considered the best teams in the league people!!!
i heard all this talk about chris webber and how sactown will be unstoppable once he comes back. hasnt happened yet and most likely will not happen.
same thing with minni when they got wally and hudson back.

like i said in another thread .... this game is all about momentum in late march and april. lakers have the momentum now. they can smell the playoffs approaching.

[Jackal]

lakers look unstoppable right now.
they're winning the championship this year with ease (with the exception of injuries).

Where were you guys when they were being bashed...?

Suddenly once again 20 something Lakers fans pop up screaming, they gonna win they gonna win.

kings and t-wolves were considered the best teams in the league people!!!

Yeah, they still are...how else do you explain them (T'Wolves) beating the Lakers three times.

I hate this. Stop it and be REALISTIC.

[hmm]

.

[Fresh8]

Oi you mess! I was going for them the whole season...but I just dont like it when Kobe and Shaq fight...and i dont want to get involverd in the fights between u and Kobe4MVP

[Jackal]

and i dont want to get involverd in the fights between u and Kobe4MVP

What fights?

[PRoPuLsiOnDJ]

lakers look unstoppable right now.
they're winning the championship this year with ease (with the exception of injuries).

Where were you guys when they were being bashed...?

Suddenly once again 20 something Lakers fans pop up screaming, they gonna win they gonna win.

kings and t-wolves were considered the best teams in the league people!!!

Yeah, they still are...how else do you explain them (T'Wolves) beating the Lakers three times.

I hate this. Stop it and be REALISTIC.

yeah i got a little too excited there ... but i still think and have always thought that the lakers are going to win it this year.
they have players with many years of playoff experience.
they have won a 3-peat, so they know how to get it done.
and they've gone thru the playoffs 15-1 once before ... and that could possibly happen again.

and btw, lakers were being bashed when their players were injured. but when they had both shaq and kobe on the floor, they had a great record. when one of them was missing, that's when they struggled.

[Fresh8]

Not really fights...but ur 'debates'

[Amphatoast]

ahh what a week. Doesn't look like the Lakers are running away with this anymore
i think the lakers will finish 4th in the west now

[air gordon]

if it's ok with the laker nation, i'd like to interrupt the talk of their coronation/collapse...

4 teams jockeying for the last 2 spots.

standings:
7. houston
8. utah 1.5 GB (games behind)
--------
denver & portland are both 0.5 GB

remaining schedules:
houston: @LAC, vs DEN, @UTA, @SEA, vs DAL
utah: @DAL, vs HOU, @MIN, vs PHO
denver: vs PHO, @HOU, vs POR, vs SAC, @SA
portland: vs GS, @SA, @DEN, vs SA, vs LAL

no team team has an easy one. all face 3 western conference teams either battling for the playoffs or are playoff bound and 1 team destined for the lottery.
out of these 4...
houston is playing the poorest having lost 5 straight.
utah is playing the best, winning 7 of its last 10

this one's going down to the wire. i predict utah and portland to make it. utah because they are playing well and i'm rooting for the season long underdog. portland because they should be feeling very confident after taking care of the lakers and plus they have the human eraser in the middle- ratliff.

[putodelagoa]

Could it be possible that there would be the Rockets the ones to fail to qualify for the playoffs?