West Top 8 Teams

[kjironman1]

Still a lot of age, and a lot of pieces it's hard to trust too much. Expect there will be enough missed games (either voluntary or due to injury) that it is hard to see them as a top seed.

Dude????
lebron is 34 years old. And only played 55 games last year while he rested and took a long summer off.
Cousins is 28 years old
Anthony Davis is 26 years old.
Kuzma is 23
QuinnCook is 26
Danny Green is 32
McGee is 31
KCP is 26
Rondo is 33
Not sure if they got Lance Stephenson back???? But he's 28

Where is the age? Seriously?Where do people get this stuff? Just because someone says something doesn't make it true. Try doing a little research and find stuff out before repeating what some random dude says?

 

[kjironman1]

[

I'm not counting lebron out yet, but he's not exactly a young NBA player any more. I don't know if I trust AD to be healthy and reliable, and Cousins I have no idea what to expect from him after the achilles and then the quad and all that. They could definitely put it together and make a run.

He's the oldest player on the team at 34 years old. He has had not only the end of the season but all summer this year to rest. His injury was a groin injury. This is not like it's a debilitating long term injury. He has been and is currently the best player in the entire league. No Kawhi is not better but no question he is very good. Just having LeBron on the team can get you to the playoffs as we have all seen. All these 7th and 8th seeds are crazy talk. There are people who have them as 9th and 10th? Seriously? Even just Anthony Davis does better than 9th or 10th seed.

 

[kjironman1]

Agree with KJIronman,
Lakers ( Lebron comes back strong and the Unibrow beast )
Warriors ( they beat us handedly without KD, they may sneak in because of no Klay but when he is back )
Clippers ( a Superstar, a Star, and mix of veteran and youth but we'll see )
Nuggets ( just got better )
Blazers ( on paper got better but it's all about chemistry with this 50% turnover )
Rockets ( looks like they are slipping )
Jazz ( quietly had a great FA )
Wolves ( they look good on paper but can't seem to put it all together )

The west is CRAZY once again.

 

[tiredhunter]

34 in the NBA is old, and the King is no longer able to will scrap to the Finals. AD has an injury history, as does Cousins. Rondo's defensive/passing game should survive into late stage of his career, but he has never been a scorer. Kuzma may take his next step up, but I'd not count him as a proven star. Frankly everyone else doesn't matter, and if AD and James miss a combined 50 games, the Lakers will be lucky to make the playoffs.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Dude????
lebron is 34 years old. And only played 55 games last year while he rested and took a long summer off.
Cousins is 28 years old
Anthony Davis is 26 years old.
Kuzma is 23
QuinnCook is 26
Danny Green is 32
McGee is 31
KCP is 26
Rondo is 33
Not sure if they got Lance Stephenson back???? But he's 28

Where is the age? Seriously?Where do people get this stuff? Just because someone says something doesn't make it true. Try doing a little research and find stuff out before repeating what some random dude says?

I don't like to make predictions, but if I were an LAL fan, I'd be NERVOUS:

James does the best job of anyone taking care of his body, but he's getting older.
Davis: injury history AND is an FA after this season.
Kuzma: noob
Green: can still shoot, but was mediocre in the finals.
McGee: hasn't gotten any smarter which is how big men age well.
KCP: fine, but not more.
Rondo: game is based on quickness, he's 33 and small, and still a headcase. Could be good, but don't know what you're going to get.

Not damning, but a lot to be nervous about.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

He's the oldest player on the team at 34 years old. He has had not only the end of the season but all summer this year to rest. His injury was a groin injury. This is not like it's a debilitating long term injury. He has been and is currently the best player in the entire league. No Kawhi is not better but no question he is very good. Just having LeBron on the team can get you to the playoffs as we have all seen. All these 7th and 8th seeds are crazy talk. There are people who have them as 9th and 10th? Seriously? Even just Anthony Davis does better than 9th or 10th seed.

Ok AD has made the playoffs twice? So I'm not in agreement that he by himself does better than 9th or 10th, he's one of those guys who is basically always hurt... I think Lebron has been surpassed as the best player in the league by a couple of guys honestly he's still great but I think KD had passed him before he tore his Achilles and I think Kawhi has too. Did just having Lebron on the team make the Lakers a playoff team last year? He'll be 35 in the middle of the season, he is not a young guy anymore and who knows how well he's recovered from the injury or where he's at. I have no doubt they'll be really good and hard to beat, but the entire western conference outside of Pheonix I guess is really good. Then the surrounding talent on that team, I still don't trust them.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Top 4: Clippers, Lakers, Warriors, Utah
Next 3: Denver, Houston, Spurs
#8: Us
On the bubble: Minnesota

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I'm not even saying it just because I don't like the Lakers, I'm saying I think they'll be really good, but I'm not at all sold they are really outside of the group of 6-8 teams in the west who are all really good. Could they finish higher? Sure not counting that out either. Just making "my predictions" I think there are holes in that team, and that they'll be basically "in the pack", last few years in the west a couple of games can shift you from 2nd to getting lottery balls so yeah I can foresee a future where the Lakers win the conference if things go well for them but I could see them just as easily not being in the top 4.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I’m not sure I buy DEN being the best team in the west (Non-Kawhi Division) just because they got a collective year older and that that also means healthier. Don’t get me wrong, they’re in my 8 almost solely from having some hope of a bunch of games where Jokic and Murray play, but let’s remember that Porter Jr has 2x more back surgeries than starts since the McDonalds HS game almost 3 years ago. Like saying SAC is dangerous because of Harry Giles. Could be, but you gotta get on the court first.

 

[kjironman1]

Ok AD has made the playoffs twice? So I'm not in agreement that he by himself does better than 9th or 10th, he's one of those guys who is basically always hurt... I think Lebron has been surpassed as the best player in the league by a couple of guys honestly he's still great but I think KD had passed him before he tore his Achilles and I think Kawhi has too. Did just having Lebron on the team make the Lakers a playoff team last year? He'll be 35 in the middle of the season, he is not a young guy anymore and who knows how well he's recovered from the injury or where he's at. I have no doubt they'll be really good and hard to beat, but the entire western conference outside of Pheonix I guess is really good. Then the surrounding talent on that team, I still don't trust them.

Bad look all around
First Lebron pretty much took the last month and a half off and the Magic Johnson issues ripped the Lakers apart. Last year was an anomaly at best.
Another thing is this "Davis is always hurt" thing? Last year with the trade request makes things a bit different but if you take the 6 seasons before last year he averaged over 68 games a year and logged 75 in the two seasons prior to last year. Making the Playoffs only twice had little to do with him and when he finally had even just decent players around him he made the second round.
KD is in fact hurt so he is not the best! You could make a case for Kawhi because he is in fact the Finals MVP but that also could be said for Giannis as he is the League MVP. It can be said Curry has been the best? However there is no mistaking that Lebron in any game can be the best player on the court. Even at 34. Trying to say he is 35 before he is 35 is wrong. Until he is 35 he is 34. Old dudes everywhere will agree with me on this.
Don't trust them all you want but underselling them is what i am talking about. That team is better than 9th or 10th seed. And if they make the Playoffs with Home court they will be a force to contend with.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

He's the oldest player on the team at 34 years old. He has had not only the end of the season but all summer this year to rest. His injury was a groin injury. This is not like it's a debilitating long term injury. He has been and is currently the best player in the entire league. No Kawhi is not better but no question he is very good. Just having LeBron on the team can get you to the playoffs as we have all seen. All these 7th and 8th seeds are crazy talk. There are people who have them as 9th and 10th? Seriously? Even just Anthony Davis does better than 9th or 10th seed.

LeBron was drafted the same year as Chris Kaman and Travis Outlaw. How can you not call him old?

 

[Hobbesarable]

1. Clippers
2. Nuggets
3. Blazers
4. Jazz
5. Rockets
6. Lakers
7. Warriors
8. Spurs

Dark Horse Candidates:
Kings
Mavericks

 

[kjironman1]

LeBron was drafted the same year as Chris Kaman and Travis Outlaw. How can you not call him old?

Because he is 34 and he has had 3 months off already with two more coming. He is quite possibly the most finely tuned athlete in the league. It's about more than just age. He has had no major injuries so he will not slow down like Kobe did after his Achilles.
Jordan at 34 played 82 games and averaged over 28 a game. Yes he won a ring that year. This whole idea that 34 is old is really crazy talk.
When i was 34 i was putting 25 year olds to shame.
Yes the Jordan Comparison does fit here. They are on the same level.

 

[kjironman1]

LeBron was drafted the same year as Chris Kaman and Travis Outlaw. How can you not call him old?

How about we look at Tim Duncan winning a ring and playing 74 games at 37 years old?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Bad look all around
First Lebron pretty much took the last month and a half off and the Magic Johnson issues ripped the Lakers apart. Last year was an anomaly at best.
Another thing is this "Davis is always hurt" thing? Last year with the trade request makes things a bit different but if you take the 6 seasons before last year he averaged over 68 games a year and logged 75 in the two seasons prior to last year. Making the Playoffs only twice had little to do with him and when he finally had even just decent players around him he made the second round.
KD is in fact hurt so he is not the best! You could make a case for Kawhi because he is in fact the Finals MVP but that also could be said for Giannis as he is the League MVP. It can be said Curry has been the best? However there is no mistaking that Lebron in any game can be the best player on the court. Even at 34. Trying to say he is 35 before he is 35 is wrong. Until he is 35 he is 34. Old dudes everywhere will agree with me on this.
Don't trust them all you want but underselling them is what i am talking about. That team is better than 9th or 10th seed. And if they make the Playoffs with Home court they will be a force to contend with.

A few things Lebron came into the league at 18, Jordan at 21 or 22 (can't remember). I'm not saying the Lakers will suck, but he will be 35 in the middle of the season whether he's 35 now or not. His best teammate AD has made the playoffs two times in his career, you can spin that it was all on his teams if you want but the fact is he still hasn't proven anything yet.

Who of the top 8 teams in the west if they get home court aren't going to be a force to Contend with?
Like I said above I'm not saying the Lakers can't be the best team in the west, they very well could be, but I'm not predicting they will. There's so many really good teams in the west they could fall in a lot of different ways by the end of the year.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Because he is 34 and he has had 3 months off already with two more coming. He is quite possibly the most finely tuned athlete in the league. It's about more than just age. He has had no major injuries so he will not slow down like Kobe did after his Achilles.
Jordan at 34 played 82 games and averaged over 28 a game. Yes he won a ring that year. This whole idea that 34 is old is really crazy talk.
When i was 34 i was putting 25 year olds to shame.
Yes the Jordan Comparison does fit here. They are on the same level.

Jordan didn't enter the league at 18, he took off two years to play baseball, and the league wasn't as physically demanding to play all 82 games as it is now.

Glad you remember how young you felt at 34.

LeBron has been a shell of his old self defensively for years.

Now in the playoffs he might be a beast, I wouldn't put it past him to even be up there for best player in the league, in the playoffs with no back to backs and time to rest.

But over 82 games there is no realistic chance he can compare to the best young guys in this league. We saw that last year in LA and the year prior in Cleveland. Another year at 34 is going to make it even harder.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

How about we look at Tim Duncan winning a ring and playing 74 games at 37 years old?

Duncan was very good then, but he wasn't the beast he was at 27.

LeBron could still be amazing in the playoffs, but he is going to need help, especially in the grueling regular season, and he isn't close to the same player as he was in his 20s.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Because he is 34 and he has had 3 months off already with two more coming. He is quite possibly the most finely tuned athlete in the league. It's about more than just age. He has had no major injuries so he will not slow down like Kobe did after his Achilles.
Jordan at 34 played 82 games and averaged over 28 a game. Yes he won a ring that year. This whole idea that 34 is old is really crazy talk.
When i was 34 i was putting 25 year olds to shame.
Yes the Jordan Comparison does fit here. They are on the same level.

I do agree LeBron has been an amazing fine tuned athlete. That's why he was an elite player at 31 while lazy Melo was below replacement level.

But all that working out only puts off father time for so many years. Eventually you slip and we've seen that gradually happening for years.

LeBron used to be able to shut down PG like MVP Derrick Rose defensively.

Now he would be burned by Dame or CJ.

It doesn't mean LeBron can't be an all star or even help get a team a title.

It just means he can't destroy the competition on his own like he used to or carry a team on his back, he needs a lot of help.

 

[kjironman1]

Lets just hope Lebron James doesn't read this board.

He will be MVP if he does.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Lets just hope Lebron James doesn't read this board.

He will be MVP if he does.

He will also know he is #6 on the list of combined minutes played in the regular season and playoffs for a career.

Here's a list I compiled:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 66297
Karl Malone* 62759
Kobe Bryant 57278
Dirk Nowitzki 57263
Tim Duncan 56738
LeBron James 56284
Jason Kidd* 56199
Kevin Garnett 55701
Wilt Chamberlain* 55418
John Stockton* 54162

 

[Titan]

My order:

1. Clippers
2. Warriors
3. Blazers
4. Jazz
5. Nuggets
6. Lakers
7. Rockets
8. Mavs

Sorry, not sorry Spurs

 

[kjironman1]

He will also know he is #6 on the list of combined minutes played in the regular season and playoffs for a career.

Here's a list I compiled:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 66297
Karl Malone* 62759
Kobe Bryant 57278
Dirk Nowitzki 57263
Tim Duncan 56738
LeBron James 56284
Jason Kidd* 56199
Kevin Garnett 55701
Wilt Chamberlain* 55418
John Stockton* 54162

That's kind of like saying a marathon runner has run so many miles he is slower and less able to run than a dude that doesn't run much. I'm a 10,000 miler. I run just fine.
My point in this whole thing is he has had 3 months rest from a groin injury that would not have sidelined him if they were competing. He has 2 more months off and there is no question he will be rested and ready. He played 3000+ mins two years ago. But last year he only played 1937. After 5 months off he will not be dealing with the minutes he played 2 years ago. This whole total minutes played thing is a fallacy. Age is age sure. But 34 in this league is not old and without major injury your body recovers.

This is just my take on this. You guys are more than welcome to call him old and washed up. But i disagree wholeheartedly. LeBron is on a mission to win another ring and he has the supporting cast to do just that. IMHO

 

[Hobbesarable]

That's kind of like saying a marathon runner has run so many miles he is slower and less able to run than a dude that doesn't run much. I'm a 10,000 miler. I run just fine.
My point in this whole thing is he has had 3 months rest from a groin injury that would not have sidelined him if they were competing. He has 2 more months off and there is no question he will be rested and ready. He played 3000+ mins two years ago. But last year he only played 1937. After 5 months off he will not be dealing with the minutes he played 2 years ago. This whole total minutes played thing is a fallacy. Age is age sure. But 34 in this league is not old and without major injury your body recovers.

This is just my take on this. You guys are more than welcome to call him old and washed up. But i disagree wholeheartedly. LeBron is on a mission to win another ring and he has the supporting cast to do just that. IMHO

It takes great conditioning to get to this point of his career and be the man. I am also a runner and I condition my body for it. Great conditioning brings about great health. At least it has for me so far.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It's helpful doing this in tiers:

1 Clippers if healthy clear favorites
Jazz Complete team

3 Nuggets depth and altitude brutal
Warriors Better next year than if Durant resigned
Blazers wouldn't be shocked if seed 1-7

6 Lakers - Defense will be a disaster
Rockets - CP3 big step back
Spurs - Murray healthy good Morris addition best coach game 7 last year

9 Pelicans upside combo of youth and vets
Mavs Porzingis takes a step they could make playoffs
Kings Fun season, any improvement left?

TWolves how long until towns wants out?
Thunder sell everything
Grizz rebuiling
Sun's inept

 

[kjironman1]

It takes great conditioning to get to this point of his career and be the man. I am also a runner and I condition my body for it. Great conditioning brings about great health. At least it has for me so far.

Nice!
Yeah it's tough at times. Funny part is the eating right is tougher than the working out part. My next sprint marathon is in Aug but i have two weeks of travel in July starting tomorrow. The biggest thing for me is to get at least two good workouts a week to keep what i got and just eat right on the road. So easy to grab and go with something that isn't nutritious.
Keep up the good work and yes. Great conditioning leads to great health and a bunch more fun because you can actually go do fun things.

 

[kjironman1]

It's helpful doing this in tiers:

1 Clippers if healthy clear favorites
Jazz Complete team

3 Nuggets depth and altitude brutal
Warriors Better next year than if Durant resigned
Blazers wouldn't be shocked if seed 1-7

6 Lakers - Defense will be a disaster
Rockets - CP3 big step back
Spurs - Murray healthy good Morris addition best coach game 7 last year

9 Pelicans upside combo of youth and vets
Mavs Porzingis takes a step they could make playoffs
Kings Fun season, any improvement left?

TWolves how long until towns wants out?
Thunder sell everything
Grizz rebuiling
Sun's inept

A couple things on this i totally agree with. The west is gonna be a blast to watch this year. Also the Blazers anywhere from 1-7 seems about right as well as 6 other teams. I'm betting April will be very tight!

 

[borim69]

I think the league and the rest of the world are tired of the Rockets style of play much like they were tired of the FlopsieClippers. If your entire offense relies on the amount of fouls you get called then you might want to rethink your offense. 1st round exit
I am not sure what seed the Lakers are going to end up at but if healthy they are going very deep into the playoffs.
SAS -1st round exit unless they play the Rockets then a second round exit.
Utah- depends on the matchup 1st round exit unless they play the Rockets then second round.
Warriors- Russel does not scare me or intimidate me in anyway shape or form their seeding all depends on Klay. If Klay is back to form by the Playoffs WCF if not second round exit.
Denver-The refs really like Jockitch he should have fouled out every game it would be nice for Zach to get a few of those calls. Tough team tough series I do not think they are ready yet for the WCF. Second round exit
Clippers- Gave the Warriors two black eyes with a bunch of no names. I still do not know who is on that team. but with the edition of Kahwai and George Probably WCF
Portland- I think we are the Dark Horse here. We lost 7 players and it will all depend on when we gel and get it together

 

[THE HCP]

I believe if the Lakers were in the hunt last season, LeBron would have played. Like Kevin Love in Cleveland, no reason for those guys to play in their eyes. Don’t like that mentality, but that’s how it is today.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

All I can say is that there are going to be a lot of disappointed Blazer fans when April rolls around.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I believe if the Lakers were in the hunt last season, LeBron would have played. Like Kevin Love in Cleveland, no reason for those guys to play in their eyes. Don’t like that mentality, but that’s how it is today.

I believe the converse of that: that if LeBron had played, they would've been in the hunt. Because they were.