We are a rung down from those others IMO.
They are all better teams than us currently
I think the Celtics make it and win it. They have the best team, playing very good basketball and will have Porzingis this time around and I think Tatum would want to prove a few people wrong. The Cavs will fall short of conference finals. The Bucks would be the team that’ll push the Celtics especially if they get continuity with Giannis, Dame and Middleton over the next three months. I still rate the 76ers, but they are struggling to get their own continuity between Maxey, George and Embiid. The Knicks are bit below that group and can get a run on like last year.
From the West, Thunder have to at least get to the conference finals. I think Dallas is the only team standing in their way. There’s still a lot of movement to be had in the standings, but I trust those two teams to reach the conference finals unless they end up meeting earlier in the playoffs. I think Denver are a chance but will fall short. The rest will rely heavily on a favourable matchup to get to the conference semi’s let alone the conference finals.
They are putrid.
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The West is stacked. Calling one of the better teams there putrid is a bit over the top.
They are still two games behind second place in the West. And as good as Houston are, I think they’ll either fall back a little or lose to an experienced team like Denver or Phoenix early in the playoffs. Very much like the year Sacramento got bounced by Golden State.
In a best of seven game series, I’d back Jokic to make up gaps in team talent discrepancies against everyone but OKC and Dallas.
I’d love to see another Minnesota v Denver series in the playoffs. Think Jokic and Murray would love that challenge. So would Antman.
unlucky fog
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tbh i thought once he went to suns his no-trade expired?
I wonder if the passing of Jimmy’s Dad last year is impacting him?
its fair to say all of the above can be true, heat mishandled it, he mishandled it.
Miami aren’t stupid enough to take Beals contact. Unfortunately.
He has been pushing for Miami to sign another star for the last two seasons. He wants to go somewhere they’re happy to spend money to get better.
I agree. But Denver is not one of the better teams.
he also pushed for lowry, and that made it hard to get another star
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Out of interest…
Who are the ‘better teams’ who aren’t putrid?
I’m assuming the Celtics, Cavs, Knicks, Thunder and Grizzlies make the cut.
Who are the rest?
I know - had just finished the Netflix doc though and he seemed very close with his Dad. Maybe doesn’t see the point of grinding things out now? Life is too short etc.
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Imo and it’s not to degrade. It’s about money. Most of these players won’t get anywhere near these dollars again. He’s got a daughter now and maybe another on the way
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The standings are very misleading.
OKC, Mavs, Grizzlies and Clippers are the four best teams in the West.
Next tier is Wolves, Lakers, Rockets and the Spurs are coming.
Suns, Nuggets, Kings and Warriors are all average.
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Fair enough.
I’ve got OKC and Mavs.
On a tier below them is Memphis, Denver and Minnesota (I think Antman will work things out).
I still can’t work out where I place the Clippers. With Kawhi, they join Memphis, Denver and Minnesota. Without, they are consistent enough to be a touch the rest.
Below them are the Rockets and Spurs. Both young, great defensively and depending on matchup, Spurs could go further than expected. I think the Rockets will just accept the experience.
Suns, Warriors and Lakers are going to make up the last few spots in the playin.
The Kings will try but miss out.
The rest are tanking.
Interesting you rate the Lakers so high. Even though the Lakers have played very well and their record is far better than I expected, I don’t rate us. We’ve had a pretty softish run. We haven’t beaten a team in form for a long time. And we’ll go through our trough when we run into many of the best teams (OKC, Mavs, Boston, etc). I wouldn’t be surprised if we miss the playin.
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The message from head office will come as usual and the refs will ensure you don’t miss
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The kind of response I expected…
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Beal moves to the bench and then puts in his best performance of the season and arguably the teams best performance too.
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