2014-15 regular season predictions

[SDC]

t pups? that's pretty bold sdc. i really can't see them outplaying both memphis and houston...

those were the teams that i want to make it in the western conf playoffs.

[SDC]

which western conf team will benefit from the sixers in late march/april

http://www.nba.com/sixers/schedule

mar22 lakers (not really)
mar24 kings
mar25 nuggets
mar27 clippers
mar30 lakers (not really)
apr4 nawlins

[carey]

apr4 nawlins

Ugh, I'm sure you don't care but no one here calls it that and everyone here hates when it's called that.

[SDC]

western conf teams that will benefit from the lakers schedule in late march/early april

mar16 GSW
mar19 utah
mar24 @okc
mar25 @minnesota
apr1 nawlins
apr3 portland
apr5 clippers
apr7 @clippers
apr8 @denver
apr10 minnesota
apr12 dallas
apr13 @sactown
apr15 sactown

sacramento, clippers, minnesota benefits. but not the suns. #sad

[SDC]

which western conf team will be "gifted" with wins from the boston celtics in late march/early april

mar18 OKC
mar20 san antonio
mar29 clippers
mar30 charlotte

lucky them.

[SDC]

LMAO at clippers cakewalk sked in late march/early april

mar 18 @sacramento
mar25 @knicks
mar27 @sixers
mar29 @celtics
apr5 @lakers
apr7 @lakers

[INFORMER]

Here are my standings predictions:

East:

1. Cleveland
2. Chicago
3. Toronto
4. Brooklyn
5. Detroit
6. Miami
7. Charlotte
8. Washington


West:

1. LA Clippers
2. OKC Thunder
3. Memphis
4. Golden State
5. Phoenix
6. San Antonio
7. New Orleans
8. Portland

[Superbone]

Here are my standings predictions:

West:

1. LA Clippers
2. OKC Thunder
3. Memphis
4. Golden State
5. Phoenix
6. San Antonio
7. New Orleans
8. Portland

Whoa!

That's optimistic even by my standards. What about our lack of quality bigs? You think we can get there as is or are you factoring in a trade along the way?

[INFORMER]

As is.

[SDC]

Here are my standings predictions:

West:

1. LA Clippers
2. OKC Thunder
3. Memphis
4. Golden State
5. Phoenix
6. San Antonio
7. New Orleans
8. Portland

Whoa!

That's optimistic even by my standards. What about our lack of quality bigs? You think we can get there as is or are you factoring in a trade along the way?

INF is just trying to buy your love, boner.

[Indy]

Here are my standings predictions:

West:

1. LA Clippers
2. OKC Thunder
3. Memphis
4. Golden State
5. Phoenix
6. San Antonio
7. New Orleans
8. Portland

Whoa!

That's optimistic even by my standards. What about our lack of quality bigs? You think we can get there as is or are you factoring in a trade along the way?

INF has seen the power of Kutch Sports and is now a disciple.

[LazarusLong]

Clippers
Warriors
Spurs
Thunder
Trailblazers
Mavericks
Rockets
Pelicans

Suns, Grizzlies and Pelicans will battle for the final slot. Memphis has a great defense, but next to no offense. Rebounding is a concern for Phoenix; best guy on the boards is 6-5 PJ Tucker.

[Ring_Wanted]

I think the Grizzlies are going to be better than most people are giving them credit for. As long as they stay healthy, they are really solid.

[Cap]

Here's fivethirtyeight.com's preview of the West, with projected records and probability of winning the championship.

15. Los Angeles Lakers, 24-58, 0.0%
14. Utah Jazz, 28-54, 0.0%
13. Sacramento Kings, 29-53, 0.0%
12. Denver Nuggets, 34-48, 0.0%
11. New Orleans Pelicans, 38-44, 0.0%
10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 39-43, 0.0%
9. Phoenix Suns, 44-38, 0.1%
8. Houston Rockets, 45-37, 0.3%
7. Portland Trail Blazers, 47-35, 0.5%
6. Memphis Grizzlies, 48-34, 1.3%
5. Oklahoma City Thunder, 54-28, 8.4%
4. Dallas Mavericks, 54-28, 8.5%
3. San Antonio Spurs, 55-27, 12.9%
2. Los Angeles Clippers, 55-27, 13.9%
1. Golden State Warriors, 56-26, 16.2%

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/201 ... last-year/
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/201 ... -warriors/

[carey]

Here's fivethirtyeight.com's preview of the West, with projected records and probability of winning the championship.

15. Los Angeles Lakers, 24-58, 0.0%
14. Utah Jazz, 28-54, 0.0%
13. Sacramento Kings, 29-53, 0.0%
12. Denver Nuggets, 34-48, 0.0%
11. New Orleans Pelicans, 38-44, 0.0%
10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 39-43, 0.0%
9. Phoenix Suns, 44-38, 0.1%
8. Houston Rockets, 45-37, 0.3%
7. Portland Trail Blazers, 47-35, 0.5%
6. Memphis Grizzlies, 48-34, 1.3%
5. Oklahoma City Thunder, 54-28, 8.4%
4. Dallas Mavericks, 54-28, 8.5%
3. San Antonio Spurs, 55-27, 12.9%
2. Los Angeles Clippers, 55-27, 13.9%
1. Golden State Warriors, 56-26, 16.2%

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/201 ... last-year/
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/201 ... -warriors/

Interesting, we'd get the Minnesota pick this way right? It's down to top 12 protected this year so they have to finish worse than 10th in the West I imagine. Man, what on earth are we going to do with 3 picks next year? I mean, technically we'd have the room with Green leaving, Randolph leaving, and Goran expiring, but Goran will be re-signed. Is Zoran guaranteed next year? We'd probably have to go for another overseas pick or 2. Or try again to package & move up or the proverbial "trade for a star" carrot that we've been trying to do for a while now with no takers. I really think OKC getting burned on the Harden deal has effected teams willingness to trade guys for prospects & picks. Also doesn't help that Minnesota got such a strong package for Kevin Love including a current #1 a former #1 and a pretty decent Power Forward.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Phoenix Suns, 44-38, 0.1%

Sooooo... We have a chance to win the Championship???

Yeaaaaaaaah!!!
Here we go!!!

[Xylus]

West:

1. Clippers
2. Spurs
3. Warriors
4. Thunder
5. Grizzlies
6. Mavs
7. SUNS
8. Blazers


East:

1. Cavaliers
2. Bulls
3. Wizards
4. Heat
5. Raptors
6. Nets
7. Hawks
8. Hornets

[SDC]

who's going to win suns vs spurs on oct 31? must see basketball tv?

[virtual9mm]

Cap -- FiveThirtyEight uses statistical techniques that are about as good as they come, so this would approximate a best guess. Using this baseline, however, I would expect the Suns to make the playoffs because one of the teams listed above is likely to suffer some kind of devastating injury and fall out of the picture.

Inf -- Optimism from you is reason for optimism indeed.

[SDC]

espn power rankings: suns 10th in the west! washington, NOH leapfrogs over phx.

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2015/week/0