DDT 2.19.08 - How the west was won

[Scott Weber]

NBA. Western Conference. Who's the favorite? Been discussed slightly before, but now that the Kidd trade is official...what happens?

[xbrokendownx]

my two favorites in the west right now are the Lakers and Hornets. i know this is probably out of the ordinary of most people's picks (probably Phoenix and San Antonio), but i just think the Lakers, when healthy, are the best team in the west. they have 3 of the best players in the conference at the 2, 3, and 4 spots, and when Bynum comes back, theyll be a force.

New Orleans has arguably the best PG in the league in CP3. he has progressed so much in his first few years in the league, its unbelievable. they dont really have any "sexy" players, but have solid players all around. Peja is playing like he did back in his days in Sactown. David West is one of the best PFs going, and Tyson Chandler is one of the most underrated centers in the league and maybe the best rebounder in the NBA right now

[TakingBackDowd]

this should be one of the best pre-finals playoffs in history.
the quality of each team competing for first is ridiculous.. as for who will win though, i have no idea.

[rcrook]

As much as I want to say the Lakers I honestly think it is the Spurs. They are 34-17 even with all of the injuries and I believe they are stil the favorite despite the "down" year.

[Drew Beringer]

Suns will get the 1 seed, followed by Lakers, Spurs, Hornets, Mavs, Jazz, Nuggets, Rockets

I like the Lakers, but it depends on how Bynum bounces back. Hornets will fade down the stretch, but watch out for them next year. The Kidd trade, IMO, doesn't make Dallas that much better. It makes them better of course, but not at the level at the Suns, Spurs, and Lakers, as their defense will still be suspect against the likes of Amare, Duncan, Bynum, Gasol, Boozer, Yao, etc.

[rcrook]

Drew the top 3 seeds go to the teams that win their division. The Lakers and Suns are in the same division so they cant be the top 2 seeds. This is how I see the seeds.

1. Phoenix
2. San Antonio
3. Utah
4. Hornets
5. Lakers
6. Mavs
7. Nuggets
8. Warriors.

Phoenix vs. Warriors
Spurs vs. Nuggets
Jazz vs. Mavs
Hornets vs. Lakers

thats a solid first round right there

[Scott Weber]

all I know is that I'm excited as hell for the Western conference playoffs this year.

[Drew Beringer]

Drew the top 3 seeds go to the teams that win their division. The Lakers and Suns are in the same division so they cant be the top 2 seeds. This is how I see the seeds.

1. Phoenix
2. San Antonio
3. Utah
4. Hornets
5. Lakers
6. Mavs
7. Nuggets
8. Warriors.

Phoenix vs. Warriors
Spurs vs. Nuggets
Jazz vs. Mavs
Hornets vs. Lakers

thats a solid first round right there
no they don't do that anymore. They reseed the best records.

[rcrook]

i could honestly see seeds 1-8 winning in the first round

[Broken Parachute]

I'd like to see it end up:

1. Phoenix
2. LA Lakers
3. New Orleans
4. Utah
5. San Antonio
6. Dallas
7. Houston
8. Golden State/Denver

I'm going to give the Lakers the benefit of the doubt and stay with them as the West winner. I'm pulling for the Hornets though. I've really jumped on the bandwagon and I think Chris Paul is arguably the best PG in the entire NBA. It's really sickening how good this Western Conference is because one of those teams at the bottom is going to have to be cut out (Denver, Houston, Golden State). I really hope it's not Golden State that misses out.

[Broken Parachute]

Drew the top 3 seeds go to the teams that win their division. The Lakers and Suns are in the same division so they cant be the top 2 seeds. This is how I see the seeds.

1. Phoenix
2. San Antonio
3. Utah
4. Hornets
5. Lakers
6. Mavs
7. Nuggets
8. Warriors.

Phoenix vs. Warriors
Spurs vs. Nuggets
Jazz vs. Mavs
Hornets vs. Lakers

thats a solid first round right thereThey changed it. The top 4 are reserved for 3 division winners + the team with the best record other than the division winners.

[rcrook]

no they don't do that anymore. They reseed the best records.

really? well in that case i see it like this.

1. Phoenix
2. San Antonio
3. New Orleans
4. Utah
5. Lakers
6. Mavericks
7. Nuggets
8. Warriors

[rcrook]

I'd like to see it end up:

1. Phoenix
2. LA Lakers
3. New Orleans
4. San Antonio
5. Dallas
6. Utah
7. Houston
8. Golden State/Denver

I'm going to give the Lakers the benefit of the doubt and stay with them as the West winner. I'm pulling for the Hornets though. I've really jumped on the bandwagon and I think Chris Paul is arguably the best PG in the entire NBA. It's really sickening how good this Western Conference is because one of those teams at the bottom is going to have to be cut out (Denver, Houston, Golden State). I really hope it's not Golden State that misses out.


we both just made the same mistake. Those can't be the top 4 because those 4 teams only come from two divisions. The Jazz have to be in there somewhere in the top 4.

[Broken Parachute]

we both just made the same mistake. Those can't be the top 4 because those 4 teams only come from two divisions. The Jazz have to be in there somewhere in the top 4.Oops, didn't even notice.

[1moreandimfree]

I hate the Lakers almost more than any other franchise in sports, but they are going to have a real shot at it this year. San Antonio always has to be considered. I like Utah a lot right now too.

[Broken Parachute]

Portland can make a push too! ;-)

[1moreandimfree]

I fully expect to see a championship in Portland in the next 5 years.

[MIKEY_HORROR]

I gotta go with the spurs....

But I have a feeling about N.O. ....... they just may do it.

[livethesounds]

Well it's hard to really quantify how things will be at the moment. We still havn't seen Shaq suit up for the Suns or Kidd with the Mavs. But I'll give you my projected playoff seedings

1. Suns
2. Mavericks
3. Lakers
4. Jazz
5. Spurs
6. Hornets
7. Nuggets
8. Rockets

we'd have
Suns v Rockets (Yao v Shaq)
Mavs v Nuggets (Kidd v AI, Dirk v Melo)
Lakers v Hornets (Bynum v West, Kobe v Paul)
Jazz v Spurs (rematch of west finals)

[Scott Weber]

u forgot the sonics!!!!!!!

[AshesAshes]

I would have to say the Spurs if I wasn't being a homer.

[livethesounds]

I would have to say the Spurs if I wasn't being a homer.

honestly there's not much i've seen from the spus this year to make me think they're the best in the west. Trust me, i've seen every freaking game this year.
I think most of this comes from commentators that say "the spurs are always going to be there". And they are, but i just don't think they're the best team.

[AshesAshes]

honestly there's not much i've seen from the spus this year to make me think they're the best in the west. Trust me, i've seen every freaking game this year.
I think most of this comes from commentators that say "the spurs are always going to be there". And they are, but i just don't think they're the best team.I dont think their the best team but in a 7 game series with their style of play and experience its hard to bet against them.

[Spicoli hey bud]

http://services.windowsmedia.com/dvdcover/cov150/drt400/t464/t46497dk6do.jpg

I still think it's the Spurs.

[iihungrieii]

lakers of course =)

[LeftWideOpen]

i honestly think its a toss-up between about 5 teams, but I like the Spurs. There is still no answer to Tim Duncan (sorry Shaq.. and Bynum isnt there yet either), Ginobili is having a career year and Parker was having one of the best seasons of his career before the injury. I'll take them over everyone else in a 7 game series.

but this discussion wont matter in the end because the C's will beat any team that comes out of the West ;-)

[iihungrieii]

nah the C's will lose to the hawks in the first round. hawks are going to the finals

[xbrokendownx]

my bold prediction- celtics wont make the eastern conference finals

flame away if you want

[iihungrieii]

i agree, they lose to the hawks first round

[Scott Weber]

dolphins are going to make the playoffs!

[iihungrieii]

what the hell, why do our bolded user names look different?

[xbrokendownx]

haha when did i ever give the dolphins props recently?

[Scott Weber]

approximately august 2007?

[Drew Beringer]

approximately august 2007?
hahahahaha

[weezer182]

1. Suns
2. Spurs
3. Lakers
4. Mavs
5. Hornets
6. Jazz
7. Nuggets
8. Warriors

I really hope Golden State can get in. They have been great with Jackson all year and if the team can stay healthy I think they can sneak in. The reason I don't think Houston will make it is based on injury. I don't think McGrady will stay healthy the rest of the year. All it may take is a team to go on a little losing streak to knock them out of the playoffs. The playoffs should be great.

[xbrokendownx]

haha did i really say that? i thought i said wed be like 8-8 this year, but whatever. when half your team like dies what are ya gonna do