Post by BrazilianDude on Jun 25, 2014 3:37:03 GMT
Western Conference Preseason Power Rankings!
First off I would like to apologize for not getting one of these up for a few seasons but I think its about time I take a few min to write up another one.
This is all my opinion! Feel free to object or argue below!
First up in the power rankings is the top team in the west from last year. The Dallas Mavericks retain their core and will only grow. They are praying Granger has a solid TC and come out as threatening as last season. Dwight is the 100 Million dollar man and after last season earned each dollar.
Mavericks Projected Record 54-28
The second team I have ranked is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ill give the coach one more chance. No excuses this season after signing Bynum to give them a Big Three. They got the best scorer in the league with Durant a top 3 PF and now a top 3 big man with enough role players filing out the roster. If he can’t make playoffs with this team he should just be fired tbh.
Thunder Projected record 53-29
Next I have my own Memphis Grizzlies. My team is always pretty competitive. With the return of the best PG in the game( yes this will be argued) I potentially bring in Iggy and Noel to add a lot of defense to a core that almost went all the way in the past. Losing a team leader in wade will be hard but it is a risk we will have to take to get to the top. Yao is in his final years so its win now or trade everyone in Memphis.
Grizzlies Projected Record 53-29
This team is the most disappointing squad of last season. Putting Melo, Harden and Blake Griffen together should have been a title with out question, however the team struggled up until the playoffs where they barley snuck in with the 7 seed. This year they are flipping more pieces and seem more defensively sound. They will prob make a few more moves before seasons start. Based on the typical slow start this team has their record wont reflect their talent. The could win 60 games but I doubt it.
Spurs Projected Record 49-33
Here we have one of my fierce rivals. The Timberwovles are next up in the PR. With one of the most explosive players and a constant MVP candidate in DRose this team could be a threat at any time. If perry jones grows a little in TC this team will be a lot better then I am projecting them to be.
Timberwolves Projected Record 47-35
The Houston Rockets exploded on the scene last season after trading Drummond for Bynum. This move allowed them to have two towering big men led by John Wall himself. The former draft stud has turned himself into an MVP. This offseason for them has been disappointing after losing Bynum it leaves them with a ? in some areas. However I feel the GM is savvy enough to make the right moves and make the playoffs and a possible run.
Rockets Projected Record 45-37
The Utah Jazz never really disappoint. They just got a lot bigger bringing in Hibbert and Blake Griffen. Is there another move in the mix? Or who is odd man out? Cant be young gun Mirtonic can it? Utah’s GM always figures it out.
Utah Projected Record 45-37
This next team is hard to pick since the rest of the West kind of sucks. Despite doing every thing in his power to be bad year after year I think the Lakers will have a decent record once again. Solid draft all just adding to Lillard who I expect to have a great TC. I think they will creep into that 2 seed again, despite that being their worst nightmare.
Lakers Projected Record 41-41
Since they try so hard I think the next team up is the Suns. They have two very good players in Amare and Galo but I don’t think either is a super star and both wouldn’t be a top 3 player on some teams. If they could get another solid player or smarten up and realize you gotta move good players for good players they can really build something nice in Arizona
Suns Projected Record 39-43
Skill wise the next best team is definitely the Clippers. With a large blend of youth they pose a real threat in the future. With out their pick this year im not really sure if they will be good. Im sure they will try. With a good TC a young parker and embid could really put on a show in LA. I don’t think they are a playoff team yet though
Clippers Projected Record 38-44
Portland sneaks into that 8 seed quite often and their GM is always trying to compete but I do not know if they have it this year. I feel like they over paid a lot of players in FA. The team can be good if Parker still has some gas left in the tank. I let Monroe walk because I thought he was trash but I hope he works out for the Blazers GM.
TrailBlazers Projected Record 37-45
Now its getting ugly. Next team up in the rankings is the Nuggets. I only put them here because I think they have the best player out of the three remaining teams in MKG. Another good TC can keep him putting up a lot of points and if the rest of the team comes together they could surprise some people. But I think they want to be a lotto team one more year.
Nuggets Projected Record 33-49
After being in a contract year this team somehow got better! Adding Pau Gasol and Darko the team already looks a little brighter then the dark past. With some youth in Otto Porter this team could be good eventually? Yeah I don’t know, I doubt it.
Warriors Projected Record 30-52
Maybe I missed something in FA but I think after losing HUMP the Kings could be the worst team in the league. I don’t really think they were good before and now I could not even say who their best player is. They got some youth, but no one I would go crazy over. No true star and their big RFA was Xaiver Henry, not really sure if anyone would have even offered him a contract to be scared of. That pick could be valuable and hopefully for them they can get a top pick and start competing again. This team was a contender for many seasons.
Kings Projected Record 28-54
First off I would like to apologize for not getting one of these up for a few seasons but I think its about time I take a few min to write up another one.
This is all my opinion! Feel free to object or argue below!
First up in the power rankings is the top team in the west from last year. The Dallas Mavericks retain their core and will only grow. They are praying Granger has a solid TC and come out as threatening as last season. Dwight is the 100 Million dollar man and after last season earned each dollar.
Mavericks Projected Record 54-28
The second team I have ranked is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ill give the coach one more chance. No excuses this season after signing Bynum to give them a Big Three. They got the best scorer in the league with Durant a top 3 PF and now a top 3 big man with enough role players filing out the roster. If he can’t make playoffs with this team he should just be fired tbh.
Thunder Projected record 53-29
Next I have my own Memphis Grizzlies. My team is always pretty competitive. With the return of the best PG in the game( yes this will be argued) I potentially bring in Iggy and Noel to add a lot of defense to a core that almost went all the way in the past. Losing a team leader in wade will be hard but it is a risk we will have to take to get to the top. Yao is in his final years so its win now or trade everyone in Memphis.
Grizzlies Projected Record 53-29
This team is the most disappointing squad of last season. Putting Melo, Harden and Blake Griffen together should have been a title with out question, however the team struggled up until the playoffs where they barley snuck in with the 7 seed. This year they are flipping more pieces and seem more defensively sound. They will prob make a few more moves before seasons start. Based on the typical slow start this team has their record wont reflect their talent. The could win 60 games but I doubt it.
Spurs Projected Record 49-33
Here we have one of my fierce rivals. The Timberwovles are next up in the PR. With one of the most explosive players and a constant MVP candidate in DRose this team could be a threat at any time. If perry jones grows a little in TC this team will be a lot better then I am projecting them to be.
Timberwolves Projected Record 47-35
The Houston Rockets exploded on the scene last season after trading Drummond for Bynum. This move allowed them to have two towering big men led by John Wall himself. The former draft stud has turned himself into an MVP. This offseason for them has been disappointing after losing Bynum it leaves them with a ? in some areas. However I feel the GM is savvy enough to make the right moves and make the playoffs and a possible run.
Rockets Projected Record 45-37
The Utah Jazz never really disappoint. They just got a lot bigger bringing in Hibbert and Blake Griffen. Is there another move in the mix? Or who is odd man out? Cant be young gun Mirtonic can it? Utah’s GM always figures it out.
Utah Projected Record 45-37
This next team is hard to pick since the rest of the West kind of sucks. Despite doing every thing in his power to be bad year after year I think the Lakers will have a decent record once again. Solid draft all just adding to Lillard who I expect to have a great TC. I think they will creep into that 2 seed again, despite that being their worst nightmare.
Lakers Projected Record 41-41
Since they try so hard I think the next team up is the Suns. They have two very good players in Amare and Galo but I don’t think either is a super star and both wouldn’t be a top 3 player on some teams. If they could get another solid player or smarten up and realize you gotta move good players for good players they can really build something nice in Arizona
Suns Projected Record 39-43
Skill wise the next best team is definitely the Clippers. With a large blend of youth they pose a real threat in the future. With out their pick this year im not really sure if they will be good. Im sure they will try. With a good TC a young parker and embid could really put on a show in LA. I don’t think they are a playoff team yet though
Clippers Projected Record 38-44
Portland sneaks into that 8 seed quite often and their GM is always trying to compete but I do not know if they have it this year. I feel like they over paid a lot of players in FA. The team can be good if Parker still has some gas left in the tank. I let Monroe walk because I thought he was trash but I hope he works out for the Blazers GM.
TrailBlazers Projected Record 37-45
Now its getting ugly. Next team up in the rankings is the Nuggets. I only put them here because I think they have the best player out of the three remaining teams in MKG. Another good TC can keep him putting up a lot of points and if the rest of the team comes together they could surprise some people. But I think they want to be a lotto team one more year.
Nuggets Projected Record 33-49
After being in a contract year this team somehow got better! Adding Pau Gasol and Darko the team already looks a little brighter then the dark past. With some youth in Otto Porter this team could be good eventually? Yeah I don’t know, I doubt it.
Warriors Projected Record 30-52
Maybe I missed something in FA but I think after losing HUMP the Kings could be the worst team in the league. I don’t really think they were good before and now I could not even say who their best player is. They got some youth, but no one I would go crazy over. No true star and their big RFA was Xaiver Henry, not really sure if anyone would have even offered him a contract to be scared of. That pick could be valuable and hopefully for them they can get a top pick and start competing again. This team was a contender for many seasons.
Kings Projected Record 28-54
