Steve Kerr ranks the West

[slinslin]

1. San Antonio
2. Minnesota
3. Denver
4. Utah
5. Houston
6. Memphis
7. Lakers
8. Phoenix
9. Dallas
10. Sacramento
11. Portland
12. Clippers
13. Hornets
14. Warriors
15. Sonics

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...2w-?slug=sk-powerwest0929&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

He could have shown his "new" team a little more love. Memphis, Houston, Denver and Utah are too high in my opinion as well as the Lakers.

Except Minnesota and San Antonio at the top and Clippers, Blazers, Hornets, Warriors, Sonics at the bottom everything is pretty wide open in my opinion.

 

[Billythekid]

Are you kidding me? Sacramento finishing 10th is very unlikley. They'll again finish in the top 3 in the west IMO and bomb in the playoffs. Just too talented to miss out. Everything will be rosey soon enough with Peja and Webber.

 

[Errntknght]

I don't see the Kings slipping that far either though 5th or 6th wouldn't surprise me. I think Kerr must have been taking a worst case view of the Peja-Webber tiff.

I don't think Dallas will fall clear out of the playoffs either - losing Nash and Najera will hurt but the other guys they're just as well off without. The big question mark is Dampier - if he plays like he did last year they'll be in the running but if he retreats to his former self, Kerr may have them pegged about right.

I think he's way off on Houston - I expect them to be slightly worse than they were last year and not contending for the playoffs.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think he's way off on Houston - I expect them to be slightly worse than they were last year and not contending for the playoffs.

I agree. I think Van Gundy is going to hate Juwan Howard and discover why Sura was a backup on lottery teams for so many years. They have Charlie Ward and Tyrone Lue fighting to be the starting PG. Jimmy Jackson in 34 and who knows how old Mutombo is? I think this team is going to struggle.

 

[scotsman13]

I agree. I think Van Gundy is going to hate Juwan Howard and discover why Sura was a backup on lottery teams for so many years. They have Charlie Ward and Tyrone Lue fighting to be the starting PG. Jimmy Jackson in 34 and who knows how old Mutombo is? I think this team is going to struggle.

the real problem i see for the rockets is going to health. they have 6 player who are over 30 and they are the most important role players on their team. then you match that up with yoa who hasnt stopped playing for 3 years now (no down time) and tmac who has a bad back and i think you will see this team who is 2 years past their window of making something out of themselves. and it will only get worst as they give new contracts to tmac and yoa.

 

[The Commish]

Utah at the 4 spot? Not so sure about that one. I can see why he would say Phoenix at number 8- just to motivate his team, perhaps making them the under dog.

 

[PhxGametime]

Dallas maybe because of Steve Nash and that situation - Houston should be replaced by Sacramento in Playoffs.

 

[carey]

Considering where we finished last year an 8 seed isn't so bad. Any higher and everyone around the league would be crying "Homer!" That is if they aren't already.

 

[Joe Mama]

This year's Western Conference might not have quite the strength at the top that it has in the past several years, but it is incredibly deep. There are really only two teams in the Eastern conference that I would say right now would-be locks to make the playoffs in the Western Conference. They are Indiana and Detroit.

This is how I see the Western Conference today.

1. San Antonio
2. Minnesota
3. Sacramento
4. Denver
5. Dallas
6. LA Lakers
7. Utah
8. Phoenix
9. Portland
10. Memphis
11. Houston (injuries)
12. New Orleans
13. Seattle
14. Golden State
15. LA Clippers

Of course at this point I would say the only teams sure to make the playoffs in the Western Conference are San Antonio and Minnesota. 3-11 on my list would really finished in any order and I wouldn't be terribly surprised.

Joe

 

[F-Dog]

The Lakers would be the #3 team if Kerr's predictions come true. And the Suns would have a good chance at the division championship, too.

From someone else, saying that D'Antoni is "a coach who likes to play small ball" would seem uninformed. I guess Kerr is in a position to know the truth of it, though.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I really think you guys are ranking Sac way to high.

Here are my reasons:

- First off, Sac was 4th in the west last season. I think everyone can agree they are not as good as they were last year, while of the teams ahead of them, only LA has faltered.

- Webber had microfracture surger on his knee. Suns fans of all should know what that does to star players (See Hardaway). He will be effective, but far from dominant like he was. Of course, like Penny, he will have the attitude that he is still the best player on the team.

- Peja is unhappy. He will report, and play to his best. However, chemestry will be lost, that alone is good for a few losses.

- Peja only plays well when Webber isn't dominating the offense. He was a legit MVP canidate until Webber came back, afterwards, he was a dissapointment. Not to mention, he has one skill, and many fallbacks.

- They lost Divac. Yes he was old, but he still held the team together. He was their vocal leader, and he was a big part of the offense. He didn't get near 5 assists per game not being involved. Think of when Orlando lost Armstrong, and he didn't have near the on court presense Divac does. Don't even claim Tag can fix his absense.

- They don't have the depth they did 2-3 years ago. They haven't been spectacular since then, I don't know why people think they will suddenly get it together.



IMO, Sac will fall more than Dallas will this year. At least the Dallas guys enjoy each other. While they lost their PG, Harris could step in and do some nice things. They also fixed their problem in the middle.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I hate doing specific rankings, I like more of who will rise and who will fall.

Anyways, here is my guess:

1.) San Antonio - Brent Barry will be huge
2.) Minny - To bad a Wally for SAR trade didn't go down
3.) Nuggets - Hate this one
4.) Grizzlies
5.) Suns - Some homerism, but I guinely think they will be better than all teams below them. Based on many things, not only talent.
6.) Utah - Okur and Boozer are the saviors? They will be good, but not good enough for home court.
7.) Lakers - As long as Odom refrains from the LA pressure this time around
8.) Dallas
9.) Houston - TMac and Yao will be good on offense, but not so much on defense. Not mention they have no point guard, and no Cato (who was a difference maker last season).
10.) Sac - explained above.


Who cares about the rest?


Anyways, you can see I think this is the year where the tables turn in the West. Only 2 powers will remain dominant. Every other team stockpiled enough FAs and draft picks over the last 3 years. They all finished rebuilding in the same summer, where the old powers are just starting the process.

 

[PhxGametime]

I'm not sure about a ranking but IMO Suns could win Pacific Division (hopefully Suns don't go wild on Smallball) - Kirilenko played a lot at PF last year and Marion played at PF during Team USA this summer... that might of been the opening to Suns making that starting line-up, although I read article at Insider and I don't remember JC saying that could be starting line-up? I could look at it again.

Nuggets are the team that IMO are getting to much love now (seeding), I don't think Houston will make it, Sacramento and/or Lakers should (both have questions), Dallas looks like a decent team, but I have 9 teams that are Playoff caliber.

 

[elindholm]

Webber had microfracture surger on his knee. Suns fans of all should know what that does to star players (See Hardaway).

It turns them into two-faced deluded crybabies?

 

[F-Dog]

Webber had microfracture surger on his knee. Suns fans of all should know what that does to star players (See Hardaway).

It turns them into two-faced deluded crybabies?

--Penny
--Webber
--Jason Kidd

Now that you mention it...

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm not convinced the Nuggets are as good as people think. Yes, K-Mart is an improvement, but Miller tailed off late last season and their SG position is up in the air. However, the real problem is that Carmelo thinks he is already as superstar and I expect will become even more of a ball hog.

Jeff Bzdelik is widely rumored to be on a short leash and could easily get canned if the team starts slowly. It is hard for a coach to get control when the players know he is likely to be leaving soon. This means he won't be able to keep Carmelo in line.