favorite teams in regular season for playoffs in both conference.

Question for all manager

Who are the favorite teams for clasificate for playoffs inn both conference?

Order o no order.

Is difficult after said my bet.

Here goes a template to help this thread along...

BOLD Playoff Teams

Atlantic
1. New York Knicks
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. Boston Celtics

Central
1. Indiana Pacers
2. Detroit Pistons
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Milwaukee Bucks

Southeast
1. Miami Heat
2. Charlotte Bobcats
3. Atlanta Hawks
4. Washington Wizards
5. Orlando Magic

-------------------------------------------

Southwest
1. Houston Rockets
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. New Orleans Pelicans
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Memphis Grizzlies

Northwest
1. Portland Trailblazers
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Utah Jazz
5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Pacific
1. Los Angeles Clippers
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Golden State Warriors
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Phoenix Suns

-------------------------------------------


Eastern Conference Champion: Charlotte Bobcats
Western Conference Champion: Houston Rockets

CSL Champion: Houston Rockets

Hahaha....like we won't make the playoffs   

Higrade (GSW) wrote:Hahaha....like we won't make the playoffs   

West is damn strong.

Damn emplep, putting me 5th in the division? That's not happening.

Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat - The East is just too weak for them not to be the #1 seed, even without a GM.
2. Charlotte Bobcats - The team is gonna have to find a new way to score with the loss of Kobe, but I still think this team is deep enough to be one of the top teams in the east.
3. New York Knicks - Jamal knows what he's doing. He has his man in Rubio and a great frontcourt combo in McGee and Bosh. He definitely has a plan for this team to come together perfectly, even without a big time scorer.
4. Detroit Pistons - Drummond is the best young scorer in the game, and they're going to have Melo for a full season now. They were rising after the Melo trade last year, and I assume they'll pick up right where they left off.
5. Indiana Pacers - LeBron, LeBron, LeBron. He's going to carry this team because he really doesn't have another choice. They've got Dragic... but that's it. LeBron might have a career year, perhaps another MVP, just because his stats will be so inflated from putting his team on his back.
6. Atlanta Hawks - It's still up in the air how this team will mesh together. I really question Kemba's ability to get the rest of this talented team involved because he really needs the ball in his hands. I don't think Kemba makes it past the trade deadline.
7. Chicago Bulls - This team has one of the deepest frontcourts in the league, and two of the best scoring guards in the league (JJ and Rose). Still, the small forward position is up in the air and they have one of the weakest benches in the playoffs.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers - This team is gonna still in the standings from last year, they've got no GM and they lost AK47.

Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder - Marcos got the best possible value for LeBron, and now they have the twin towers with Roy Hibbert and Dwight, which is the best defensive frontcourt possible (and they should think twice about trading Dwight). Then, they've got Paul George and Kyle Lowry with Paul Millsap off the bench. Good lawd.
2. Houston Rockets - This team still really needs a center, because I think the Andrea thing was a fluke, and I don't think it can happen again. Getting a free agent center for the MLE might be the best course of action for this team, but still, they've got James Harden and Andre Iguodala, and were able to bring in Mario Chalmers.
3. Los Angeles Clippers - It was really dumb to let AV walk at a steal of a contract (8 mil), and they're going to suffer because of that. Still, they've got CP3, but I'll bet Deron is gonna be moved, CP and DW can't really coexist imo.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves - I don't want to toot my own horn, but my team is really deep now, and I'm pretty happy with where I am.
5. Los Angeles Lakers - Whether Lakeshow wants to continue losing to get another high draft pick or not, the starting 5 is too good to not be in the playoffs.
6. San Antonio Spurs - This team has gotten knocked out of the playoffs in the first round twice in a row, and Timmy D isn't getting any younger. It's still a well rounded team, but the west is strong.
7. Portland Trailblazers -I like LMA and Lillard, but I don't think this team has the pieces to be a contender yet.
8. Utah Jazz - Clearly this team isn't as good without Gordon Hayward, and though it may be smarter financially, it's going to hurt them short term. It's gonna be interesting to see how dapralbe runs this team.

West is really though to judge.
Still, here I go:

EAST
#1 - Miami Heat - They have Durant, but also have a great supporting cast.
#2 - Indiana Pacers - I'm going with the King. They have enough pieces to turn into a good supporting cast. He does not need much else at regular season. Come playoff time, it's different.
#3 - Detroit Pistons - Meloman, Knight and Drummond. And nice pieces around them. Melo will need to step up and score more, though.
#4 - New York Knicks - They are a team that works so well together on paper. And very deep. Will get the 4th seed being division leader.
#5 - Atlanta Hawks - There's no way the Hawks are finishing between 4-6. They'll be one of top 3 if the team works well, or miss the playoffs if it does not. As I don't know, I put them here.
#6 - Charlotte Bobcats - Nice young team. I like their roster and MKG will only grow into a great leader.
#7 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Irving and all those pieces around him will make for a great team. And they'll be even better when Waiters return.
#8 - Chicago Bulls - Rose and Johnson can't play off the ball. Splitter and Noah does not mesh together. But they have lots of talent and depth, and are a very tough defensive team. They'll make Postseason, after all they're paying high taxes just to do so.

WEST
#1 - New Orleans Pelicans - I know it's hard to put myself at the top, but Lowry - George - Millsap - Howard with nice bench and the possibility to make another splash mid-season makes me very confident.
#2 - Los Angeles Clippers - They're a very nice regular season team. Need a lot to win at playoff though, starting with getting a real SG and a real PF. Have the pieces to do so.
#3 - Houston Rockets - WC Champions last season and only improved their roster. Will do fine and make the postseason with easy.
#4 - Los Angeles Lakers - Great starting team. Will need to work a lot to make those guys play together and also needs much more bench.
#5 - San Antonio Spurs - Repeat what you did last season and you'll do great. Simple as that in what may be the last season of the best PF to ever play the game.
#6 - Portland Trail Blazers - LMA / Lillard / depth and defense will do it.
#7 - Minesotta Timberwolves - Love / Bogut are one of the best interior forces of the game and complement each other so well. And they have depth at the wings and a nice PG. They'll be a good team this season.
#8 - Denver Nuggets - I'm so sorry for Utah, but I think it'll come down to details, and Denver will be better at those details. Anyway this spot is up for takers. So though to judge.

Jake0890 (MIN) wrote:Damn emplep, putting me 5th in the division? That's not happening.

Hah, I forgot about the big trade you made.  You do have a very deep team, might have to reconsider that placing, but the West is tough and your division in particular.

This is gonna be an interesting, fun season. I think know I'm better than half of those teams in the West being deemed "playoff teams". I'll have to prove it though so definitely understandable. Our roster is way more talented than some of them to miss out on the playoffs.

Higrade (GSW) wrote:This is gonna be an interesting, fun season. I think know I'm better than half of those teams in the West being deemed "playoff teams". I'll have to prove it though so definitely understandable. Our roster is way more talented than some of them to miss out on the playoffs.

Example ?

Higrade (GSW) wrote:This is gonna be an interesting, fun season. I think know I'm better than half of those teams in the West being deemed "playoff teams". I'll have to prove it though so definitely understandable. Our roster is way more talented than some of them to miss out on the playoffs.

Sry, forget about your team. I really don't know well those rosters as I'm new here. Anyway, I'd give you the edge over the Nuggets at 8th

Yeah, I honestly forgot about Golden State. I'd give then the edge over Portland and Utah.

IMO LMA/Lillard and Favors/Ibaka/Conley are better compared to GS. But Ive no problem if Im proven wrong. POR and UTAH were the two Top teams after the all star break. Dont like the three guard line up golden State is going to Play, to be honest. And I dont like Golden States bench.

I think it's early to me to make any predictions, with FA running and some nice players still out there.

Anyway I have to say I've got some good feelings towards the Blazers in the west. I think they could be 'the Rockets' of this upcoming season.

East


#1 Miami Heat
Upgraded from Mills/Meeks to Ellis and added Rush. Thomas/Durant/Hawes will be tough for anyone to beat.

#2 Detroit Pistons
Melo/Sanders/Drummond is an amazing frontline and they still have a nice chip in Ellis if they want to add quality PG. Made minor bench moves that will pay off long term.


#3 Charlotte Bobcats
Underrated star in MKG and upgraded the big weakness they had last season - their frontcourt. Asik/Varejao makes this team a threat to challenge the two teams above them and Sessions is a nice change of pace PG.


#4 Chicago Bulls

Caught hell for some of their moves but the end result is pretty lethal. There is a lot of pressure on Rose to create and score but no team can match the Bull's frontline depth.

#5 New York Knicks
Rubio surrounded by shooters and a pick and pop big in Bosh. I trust Jamal's system more then the roster, but this team is more of a long term threat to the top of the East.


#6 Cleveland Cavaliers
This team has so much talent but perimeter defense is an issue with the lose of AK47 and they lack post offense. Team would benefit a lot from having an active GM.

#7 Indiana Pacers
Not a fan of this roster outside of Lebron, if Lebron couldn't come out of the West with Dwight, Lowry and company I'm not sure he'll have more success with this team even with the East being weaker.

#8 Philadelphia 76ers
Bynum/Wade had 1st team All-CSL level seasons and with a few additions to the bench this could be a playoff team. The loss of Deng hurts though.


West

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder
George will do a decent job replacing some of Lebron's production and the addition of Hibbert means that Howard will be moved in all likelihood. Too much raw talent on this roster to fail.

#2 Houston Rockets
The addition of Chalmers will really help this team in a few ways. Perimeter defense is automatically better and he is a + 3 point shooter who is low usage. Perfect fit and a young roster to boot.

#3 Portland Trailblazers
Team dealt with some injuries last season but I like the overall depth and most of the core will take a jump after TC. Harris is more of an inside scorer and LMA can play the high post and the team defense is elite. The best addition might have been the subtraction of Reke.

#4 Utah Jazz
A lot depends on Conley, he had an allstar level season last year and if he can do it again then Utah should go far. Batum/Favors/Ibaka with Conley/Harris should result in a top 5 defense. Offensive production, especially on the perimeter is the only question I have.

#5 San Antonio
Ran into a bad matchup last playoffs but Lawson/Kawhi/Udoh should improve to make up the loss in production from Duncan/KG. 

#6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Bogut is the perfect compliment to Kevin Love and McLemore should improve too. Lin/Parsons are above average starters and Granger off the bench should give teams fits.

#7 Denver Nuggets
*completely forgot!
I really think if this team signed Kobe somehow they'd challenge OKC. Deep frontcourt and an underrated SF in Ariza and the starting PG for the allstar team last season in Jrue...not bad.

#8 Los Angeles Clippers
With the loss of Varejao and no real additions I don't see how this team is being ranked so high. Singleton and Nene are the only frontcourt players on the roster, I'm assuming some moves are made because if not then Paul/Deron can only do so much.

Nice read BI, as always!
BTW, you have Bobcats 3rd on both conferences.
Is my Nuggets 3rd in the West?   

7th as of now because the West is so strong but like I said Kobe hasn't signed yet and you have your MLE (I think).

 

He's always been popular in Colorado.

The Nuggets are in the 5-8 range for now.
Season haven't started yet, so we will move up in the ranking/records throughout the year.

EAST
1. MIA - would depend on the new GM, but I think they have a good chance
2. DET - they were one of the best teams post trade-deadline last year, also scored great on Ellis, I think they have a good shot
3. IND - assuming they round out their roster more, having LeBron means they have as good a shot at #2 as any
4. CHA - improved pretty well all-around
5. CLE - assuming they get a half-decent GM, but not having Waiters for most of the season may hurt
6. PHI - another GM-less team but Wade/Bynum... They lost some pieces though and they're not participating in FA it seems
7. ATL - young wildcard team, could do a lot better but will need some adjusting/experimenting which may hurt overall record
8. CHI - the difference will be a few games, but I can see them at anywhere between 4 and 8.

I see most of the #4 onward teams being very close. NYK I always count out but they make me pay.   


WEST
1. HOU - they have one of the best scorers and a system that works
2. POR - this team will surprise many... Lillard's a superstar and I've said it many times now
3. LAL - team has all the ingredients to challenge for a top seed
4. LAC - the team caught fire in the first two seasons, even having the best record but it looks like luck/lightning in a bottle type of scenario... still a talented team
5. OKC - really thought Dwight/LeBron was the best pairing in the whole league and just needed some depth/pieces. No disrespect to OKC, but I don't see them being as good as the prior two years. I think the lack of an elite scorer will hurt more than anything
6. SAS - they were a great team and wouldn't count them out again
7. UTA - great frontline and decent talent overall, hard to predict
8. GSW - they have a ton of talent but the team has always underachieved, will they finally put it together this year?

Damn is the west stacked!

Appreciate the respect and also lack of respect (besting LAC and OKC as a fluke always cracks me up but I liken that more to bball knowledge so harm done) but with that said it is far too early for me to make an educated guess since FA isn't done, we haven't gotten to TC, and there likely will be more trades so I'll abstain from a list though I will say I thought Golden State after the Tyson Chandler deal easily was the team to beat out West though not as strong without Barnes but I still see them as a strong Playoff team, not sure why others don't.

Also I honestly view my Rockets as a #4 maybe #5 seed if we're fortunate, lots of talented teams but will have to see once FA and TC to get a better idea.

I can understand not seeing Dallas in any list but we are shooting for the post season this year. We've revamped this team greatly to try to sneak into the post season and we've got a lot to prove. But the fact is, the West is STACKED right now. It'll certainly be a huge challenge for us, one we look forward to.

Marcos_Beck (OKC) wrote:#1 - New Orleans Pelicans - I know it's hard to put myself at the top, but Lowry - George - Millsap - Howard with nice bench and the possibility to make another splash mid-season makes me very confident.

I was about to say Marcos just became my favorite GM in the league until I realized that this was a terrible typo on his part...

Rizzo (NO) wrote:

Marcos_Beck (OKC) wrote:#1 - New Orleans Pelicans - I know it's hard to put myself at the top, but Lowry - George - Millsap - Howard with nice bench and the possibility to make another splash mid-season makes me very confident.

I was about to say Marcos just became my favorite GM in the league until I realized that this was a terrible typo on his part...

LOL   

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:Appreciate the respect and also lack of respect (besting LAC and OKC as a fluke always cracks me up but I liken that more to bball knowledge so harm done) but with that said it is far too early for me to make an educated guess since FA isn't done, we haven't gotten to TC, and there likely will be more trades so I'll abstain from a list though I will say I thought Golden State after the Tyson Chandler deal easily was the team to beat out West though not as strong without Barnes but I still see them as a strong Playoff team, not sure why others don't.

Also I honestly view my Rockets as a #4 maybe #5 seed if we're fortunate, lots of talented teams but will have to see once FA and TC to get a better idea.

I assume you're referring to me.

Beating LAC certainly wasn't a fluke. Your one weakness was lack of a frontcourt, and after trading Emeka Okafor away, leaving them with a two point guards, and with Harden and Iggy on the roster, that wasn't hard for you to defend. You matched up very well with them.

But as for beating OKC, you got incredibly lucky. You were down 3-0, something NO ONE had ever been able to come back from in NBA history. It's never been done. You ended up winning the next 4 games, and no matter how talented your team is, beating Dwight and LeBron 4 times in a row in the playoffs is lucky, no matter how you look at it. If we re-simmed that 10 times you never win that series again.

Props to you for doing so well, but c'mon man, you got really lucky in that OKC series.