Teams that should Rise and Slide next season...

[KingsInBrazil]

I know its too early to talk about but I was just wondering which teams in the West Conference should Rise given all the moves and rumors that already took place... the reason behind this post is what are the real chances we make a playoff push in this season...

Teams that were in the playoffs last season that should Slide and why..
Phoenix Suns: Its obvious they are going to dismantle the team and try to start over around Nash, they already traded Shaq for nothing (Big Ben is probably retiring) and I'm sure they'll trade Amaré aswell.
Houston Rockets: Artest is gone, TMac will probably be gone too and Yao Ming might be facing a career ending injury..

I think there might be other teams that will slide this season and figure out of the playoff push..

What do you guys think about this? Which teams should Rise (improve comparing to last season) and which ones should slide...

 

[Gary]

You will have your guaranteed playoff teams like;
Lakers
Spurs
Denver
Portland

Then you have your moderate teams. Should be in the playoffs, but could end up missing by a couple games at worst;
Hornets
Dallas
Jazz

Then you have your teams that are either 35 win teams at the minimum or fringe playoff teams;
Phoenix
Memphis (my pick to surprise ppl this year)
Clippers (on paper they are good.. Maybe bring it to the court this year)

Then you have your bottom feeders.. 15-30 wins at the most;
Houston
Sacramento
OKC
Golden State
Minnesota


So in re: to what you said I still believe that with Nash, and Amare there next year the Suns can still compete for a playoff spot. If they break that team up and trade one or both of them before the deadline the look for a surprise playoff team like Memphis, or the Clippers.

 

[RaY Z]

Phoenix didn't make the playoffs last season. But yeah I reckon phoenix keeps on sliding down, especially with Steve Kerr behind the front desk. Really depends on how the coach runs the team. No doubt they do have talent to make a push for the last playoff spot. But at the moment I'm leaning towards no.

I think the Kings, Bulls, Clippers, Thunder, Bobcats and Blazers rise, all with good young prospects. Not necessarily that they'll make the playoffs, like the Kings or Thunder, but a rise in terms of their Win/Loss Record.

The Rockets fall slightly, but only because Rick Adelman will stop them from slipping further than they should. Aaron Brooks should continue to improve which will help.

At the end of the day I cannot really tell until the Free Agent signing period is over. Hopefully the kings can get a couple of decent signings.

 

[SacTownKid]

Welcome to the basement Houston! Just plain sad. Dare I say their luck is just about as bad as ours.

 

[CruzDude]

I tend to agree with Gary and his list, sorta. I think the Kings and OKC could move up to that fringe group while Suns move down more and the Rockets fight to get into that fringe group but they could just as easily fall out all together. Memphis is a mystery but they always seem to fall out later in the season.

Dark horse to fall down to the fringe group? The Mavs.

 

[kingsnation]

I think some are waaay too quick to shove the Rockets down so far. Remember - with no Tmac and Yao - this team pushed the NBA champions to 7 games. Granted, Ron is gone as well now, but I think this team has too much heart and a better coach than to be that quickly a cellar-dweller.

 

[VF21]

Heart and a great coach can only get you so far. There's just no easy way to replace a front court and still be competitive - unless you're the Lakers, of course.

 

[kingsnation]

Trust me, not saying their going to be a top 5 seed in the WC. Just saying I don't think they're in Clipper/Grizzly land just yet.

 

[Entity]

I agree about the Kings moving up. Want reasons well i got them Ok well the last half of the season and especially after Natt tookover. You could tell it wasn't 100% effort nor did we have good coaching. coaches where questioning each other during games. players were siding with assistant coaches against Natt during games. (i witnessed this myself). You also have the young frontcourt that now have half a season starting under their belt and should improve as well should players like Donte. Then you got the on court chemistry between the players. They are used to each other and should communicate better now. You got Evans coming in that has ability to surpass Beno at pg from day 1 and seems much more talented in all aspects. you got an experienced coach with a staff dedicated to toughness, defense, and rebounding.

Now for my final thought of why we should move up. For all you college football fans you may know the idea of if a team plays a season and losses lets say 4 games by fewer than 7 points and return most of the starters the next season odds are they will be a contender. Well I am taking that logic to basketball. We lost 13 games last year by 3 pts or less. thats 1 possesion. lets say with all the aformentioned traits that we win those 13 games well that would put us at 30 wins when combined with last years win total.

Add all that up, I don't know what it means but it sure makes for a little optimism don't ya think? Kings 09-10 30-35 wins.

 

[kingsfan101]

Heart and a great coach can only get you so far. There's just no easy way to replace a front court and still be competitive - unless you're the Lakers, of course.

Possible, but Rick has a habit of getting max out of players others have given up on. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they made the playoffs.

 

[SacKings7]

I think the Thunder are gonna surprise people next year. And I think the Pacers make it back to the playoffs.

 

[ReturnOfTheKings]

I think some are waaay too quick to shove the Rockets down so far. Remember - with no Tmac and Yao - this team pushed the NBA champions to 7 games. Granted, Ron is gone as well now, but I think this team has too much heart and a better coach than to be that quickly a cellar-dweller.

I agree. Adelman is so good at utilizing the players he has.

 

[fxhsurjono]

i think its a footrace between OKC and LAC for that last playoff spot, but then again... you can't count out MEM and HOU.

 

[dbfish]

I agree about the Kings moving up. Want reasons well i got them Ok well the last half of the season and especially after Natt tookover. You could tell it wasn't 100% effort nor did we have good coaching. coaches where questioning each other during games. players were siding with assistant coaches against Natt during games. (i witnessed this myself). You also have the young frontcourt that now have half a season starting under their belt and should improve as well should players like Donte. Then you got the on court chemistry between the players. They are used to each other and should communicate better now. You got Evans coming in that has ability to surpass Beno at pg from day 1 and seems much more talented in all aspects. you got an experienced coach with a staff dedicated to toughness, defense, and rebounding.

Now for my final thought of why we should move up. For all you college football fans you may know the idea of if a team plays a season and losses lets say 4 games by fewer than 7 points and return most of the starters the next season odds are they will be a contender. Well I am taking that logic to basketball. We lost 13 games last year by 3 pts or less. thats 1 possesion. lets say with all the aformentioned traits that we win those 13 games well that would put us at 30 wins when combined with last years win total.

Add all that up, I don't know what it means but it sure makes for a little optimism don't ya think? Kings 09-10 30-35 wins.

I agree with Gary's list.

If the Kings win 35 games next season we should throw them a parade.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Still too early. Kidd could leave the Mavs for New York, the Hornets could trade Chandler (again) and/or OKC could sign/trade for a big name center. Ask me in training camp.

 

[kupman]

My dark horse "slide" team is the Spurs. They are just plain old at this point. Injuries are likely to rock them hard. Maybe they even miss the playoffs.

 

[Entity]

My dark horse "slide" team is the Spurs. They are just plain old at this point. Injuries are likely to rock them hard. Maybe they even miss the playoffs.

I agree.

 

[kingsnation]

My dark horse "slide" team is the Spurs. They are just plain old at this point. Injuries are likely to rock them hard. Maybe they even miss the playoffs.

While I see where you're coming from, I think the signing of RJ might've given them another year or two.

I mean look at the rest of the West, who is really there can can push for the Top 4? Of course, the Mavericks will be competitive but I don't see them being better than San Antonio.

The Suns, maybe?

Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets.. I think those 3 are solid, the rest of the West is up for grabs, IMO. However, the Spurs look primed for at least a playoff spot.

 

[Kingsguy881]

Welcome to the basement Houston! Just plain sad. Dare I say their luck is just about as bad as ours.

Ummmm, no. They had one of the better teams in my memory, Barkley, Olajuwon, the Glide, Sam I am, Elie. Not to mention they actually WON a championship, albeit before Barkley came along.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

San Antonio will make the playoffs on muscle memory. How far they'll get depends on their matchup.

 

[Kingsguy881]

My dark horse "slide" team is the Spurs. They are just plain old at this point. Injuries are likely to rock them hard. Maybe they even miss the playoffs.

WRONG! They just picked up Richard Jefferson for nothing. Top 3 in the West they will be. (Yoda style)

 

[VF21]

^Richard Jefferson is not going to bring the Spurs back to the top of the heap. I have to agree with kupman - which doesn't happen very often. If anything happens to Tiny Tim, they are beyond toast and all the way to random crumbs under the toaster.

 

[kupman]

^Richard Jefferson is not going to bring the Spurs back to the top of the heap. I have to agree with kupman - which doesn't happen very often. If anything happens to Tiny Tim, they are beyond toast and all the way to random crumbs under the toaster.

Each time you agree with me you make this statement.

Mind you all, I said the Spurs are the "darkhorse" slide team. I was not predicting that they will indeed slide. I am just saying that if they look like the 1997 Cowboys this season it would not surprise me.

 

[hoopsfan]

Ummmm, no. They had one of the better teams in my memory, Barkley, Olajuwon, the Glide, Sam I am, Elie. Not to mention they actually WON a championship, albeit before Barkley came along.

They actually won 2.

 

[SacTownGrantFan]

I expect the Toronto Raptors to certainly rise with the signing of Turkoglu and draft of DeRozan.

I also think that the Golden State warriors will rise with Stephen Curry and a reinstated Monta Ellis.

 

[kingsnation]

...I am just saying that if they look like the 1997 Cowboys this season it would not surprise me.

Ya had to go there.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I guess it depends on what your definition of rise and fall is, if we got with winning or losing 10+ games more than last year, then I will go:

Rise:

Thunder - They came on strong at the end of last year, are another year older and added Harden to fill their second weakest position. 33 wins seems a lock.

Kings - They may finish only up 7 or 8, but I feel like everything that could have gone wrong last year did. This year we have a legit coach, our young players have more experience, and Evans should be able to step right in and help even if he is not a star yet. 27 wins would not surprise me.

Wizards - Healthy again, Saunders is a big improvement over Tapscot and they added more talent to the team. 29 wins should be easy

Pistons - Iverson cost them a lot of games. Avery Johnson should give them a defensive boost. And Charlie V and Gordon give them some added youth and athleticism. 49 wins may be high, but they can do it.

Bulls - Ok, so I don't see both the Pistons and Bulls jumping 10 games, but one should. Rose should take another step up this year. Noah and Thomas should both improve. This team finished the year strong and despite losing Gordon, they still have the weapons to take a step up as a team. 51 wins in the East is doable.

Raptors - Turk, Bosh and a healthy Calderon, that has to be worth .500 ball in the East. They can do 43 wins.

Falling:

Rockets - I don't think they will be as bad as some people think. They have good role players and a good coach, but they are not sniffing 40 wins.

Hornets - Assuming they trade Chandler, it's asking too much of Paul and West to carry the Peja, Marks, Ely, Brown puu puu platter to more than 39 wins.

Suns - Ok, so maybe not a full 10 games if all goes right. But I just don't see them getting any better and the other teams in the West have. Factor in that Nash is getting older, there's bound to be a lot of drama surrounding a potential Amare trade and they have 0 depth to handle any injuries and they certainly could drop down to 36 wins.

I know there's a lot more risers than fallers. I think a lot of teams at the top and middle will win 3-5 fewer games. I think there will be some more parity this year. I don't think there will be 3 60 win teams and 9 50+ win teams. The teams at the bottom all look a lot better than last season.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

Each time you agree with me you make this statement.

Mind you all, I said the Spurs are the "darkhorse" slide team. I was not predicting that they will indeed slide. I am just saying that if they look like the 1997 Cowboys this season it would not surprise me.

Well, you have to understand that every time she agrees with you and angel loses its wings

 

[mdme]

OK, my slide team will be the LAKERS.....

Kobe drives on the Kings and Brockman lays him out for a career ending injury. Pau becomes his usual useless self without Kobe and Ron-Ron brings his (self-destructive) act to LALA land and causes Phil Jackson to quit (for his health).

Lakers fail to make it to the playoffs and all of Kingsland rejoice.

Don't wake me up.

 

[Smills91]

You will have your guaranteed playoff teams like;
Lakers
Spurs
Denver
Portland

Then you have your moderate teams. Should be in the playoffs, but could end up missing by a couple games at worst;
Hornets
Dallas
Jazz

Then you have your teams that are either 30-40 win teams at the minimum or fringe playoff teams;
Minnesota
Sacramento (my pick to surprise ppl this year)
Clippers (on paper they are good.. Maybe bring it to the court this year)
OKC

Then you have your bottom feeders.. 15-25 wins at the most;
Houston
Memphis
Golden State
Phoenix

Fixed.