2014 NBA Off-Season; Paul George suffers a double-compund-fracture, likely out for season. Speedy re

[Vincent Van Goat]

So it seems like at the minimum we are looking at Kyle Lowry type of player . I think the pelicans got a good shot of taking one of the last 3 playoff spots cuz at least one out of the blazers warriors rockets grizzlies and possibly even the mavericks is gonna fall out of the playoffs this year

What is your justification that the Blazers, Warriors, Rockets, Grizzlies or Mavericks will miss the playoffs

 

[shirt1995]

What is your justification that the Blazers, Warriors, Rockets, Grizzlies or Mavericks will miss the playoffs

Blazers: last year seemed like a best case scenario for them and history says they can't have nice things
Warriors: new unproven coach and steph and bogut injury history plus they almost coughed up their playoff spot down the stretch last year
Rockets: not a great coach looks like they're gonna be very thin and ariza probably won't be the player he was last year so who knows
Grizzlies: they're getting older and older Z-Bo is gradually getting worse and they STILL don't have much shooting
Mavericks: monta and Ray Felton are gonna be the primary ball handlers dirk is gettin up there (2 years ago he looked done, very happy he bounced back) lost a lot off shooting and role players (Vince, Marion,Dejuan Blair) and replaced them with players who at the very best might be better versions of the old role players but could definitely be worse. Who knows what Tyson chandler is gonna play like

Edit: there is no replacing Calderon's shooting

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Blazers still have one of the best starting lineups in the league, with one of the best 1-2 punches in the league

Warriors added Livingston and Bogut/Lee hopefully stay healthy

Rockets lost Parsons but added Ariza, will still feature Harden/Howard

Grizzlies were missing Gasol last season for a stretch but when he got back they went on a huge run. Added Carter for shooting, had Courtney Lee and he showed out when he got to Memphis

Mavericks lost Caulderon but added something more valuable in Tyson Chandler's defense and Chandler Parsons. Harris/Felton/Nelson at point guard will fill in

They will all make the playoffs

 

[bhzmafia14]

I don't see any of the above missing the playoffs. If any team misses it, I think it would be the Blazers ONLY because I can't see them having success against a tough schedule.

BTW, the Grizz have more shooting this year than they had any other season. Last season, their problem wasn't shooting the basketball, it was the amount of attempts they took. A big reason for swapping Miller out for VC is due to VC shooting the 3 ball a lot more than Miller. They also add Pondexter back, who was shooting a nice percentage from 3 before getting injured. There is only 1 wing rotational player that can't shoot on the team and that's Tony Allen. I'm expecting Prince to not play much next season or play more small ball 4 than anything. Memphis gets a full season of Courtney Lee, a full year with Marc Gasol and a full year with Quincy Pondexter. They also added Jordan Adams on the wings, who may be expected to play.

Also, Gasol may end up having his best season yet. I've never seen him in the type of shape he's in right now and he usually comes into camp out of shape. Great sign. Memphis doesn't need Zbo to be his best to be a great team during the season, they need Conley and Gasol to be their best.

The Mavs are not missing. They pretty much have put together one of their best rosters in a long time. Portland has a great starting five, but I just have to see how battle tested they are if they end up with a tough schedule. A big reason for their great start last season was due to their cup cake schedule. The Warriors added Livingston and their main concern is staying healthy, but they should still make it.

 

[ballinsam23]

I'd put any amount of money on the Blazers and Mavs making the playoffs.

Rockets (lack of depth/took a step back) or Warriors (if Kerr royally ***** up) are the only teams that I wouldnt be shocked if they fall 9th.

Unless AD turns into an MVP candidate, the same 8 teams will make it though.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Only season ending injuries to team's best players will keep any of the west playoff teams from last year out of the playoffs this year. I agree, it will be the same 8 teams

 

[shirt1995]

Blazers still have one of the best starting lineups in the league, with one of the best 1-2 punches in the league
Warriors added Livingston and Bogut/Lee hopefully stay healthy
Rockets lost Parsons but added Ariza, will still feature Harden/Howard
Grizzlies were missing Gasol last season for a stretch but when he got back they went on a huge run. Added Carter for shooting, had Courtney Lee and he showed out when he got to Memphis
Mavericks lost Caulderon but added something more valuable in Tyson Chandler's defense and Chandler Parsons. Harris/Felton/Nelson at point guard will fill in

They will all make the playoffs

All those points are valid but far from guaranteed. Calling Portland one of the best starting lineups in the league is a bit of a stretch. Top10? Eh borderline but probably . Top 5 ? NO. And steph HAS to play 65 games minimum for golden state to have a shot at the playoffs. So even a minor lingering injury could screw that up for them. Grizzlies championship window has probably closed unless they draft a solid starter or 2 very soon they're playoff window is gonna close soon as well maybe this year more likely in the next 2 or 3. Rockets could be slightly better than last year if they get contract year ariza or some young guys step up but could be significantly worse if those 2 things swing the other way. I think you're under estimating how bad monta ray an Devin Harris running the show could go.
At least one of those teams miss the playoffs in a very tough conference I highly doubt any of the top 3 seeds from last year miss it and I also doubt it is the exact same 8 teams 2 years in a row

 

[Bert.]

Stern vetoed because he owned the team and didn't approve the trade. So stop.

CP3 and Kobe don't even fit at all.

Nah, thats not why.

Stern had nothing to do with it. If he didnt approve the trade then how did it get written up and agreed to and he "randomly" found out about it and vetoed it? makes ZERO sense.

the league got mad the Lakers were gonna be STACKED so Stern stopped it.

til this day no ides why there wasnt more backlash about that trade. i dont care for the lakers but thats BS, the trade is agreed to by both teams then vetoed for "basketball reasons"

GARBAGE

 

[shirt1995]

I'd put any amount of money on the Blazers and Mavs making the playoffs.

Rockets (lack of depth/took a step back) or Warriors (if Kerr royally ***** up) are the only teams that I wouldnt be shocked if they fall 9th.

Unless AD turns into an MVP candidate, the same 8 teams will make it though.

Replacing Jason smith minutes and AD minutes at center with asik there with ad or Ryan Anderson at the 4 will make a huge difference to that teams defense combined with ad getting closer and closer to superstar stays and hopefully their starting backcourt playing at least 130 games combined should go a long way

Edit: grammar

 

[galaxynexus]

Nah, thats not why.

Stern had nothing to do with it. If he didnt approve the trade then how did it get written up and agreed to and he "randomly" found out about it and vetoed it? makes ZERO sense.

the league got mad the Lakers were gonna be STACKED so Stern stopped it.

til this day no ides why there wasnt more backlash about that trade. i dont care for the lakers but thats BS, the trade is agreed to by both teams then vetoed for "basketball reasons"

GARBAGE

Then why didn't he stop the Pau trade?

You're being idiotic. 

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

All those points are valid but far from guaranteed. Calling Portland one of the best starting lineups in the league is a bit of a stretch. Top10? Eh borderline but probably . Top 5 ? NO. And steph HAS to play 65 games minimum for golden state to have a shot at the playoffs. So even a minor lingering injury could screw that up for them. Grizzlies championship window has probably closed unless they draft a solid starter or 2 very soon they're playoff window is gonna close soon as well maybe this year more likely in the next 2 or 3. Rockets could be slightly better than last year if they get contract year ariza or some young guys step up but could be significantly worse if those 2 things swing the other way. I think you're under estimating how bad monta ray an Devin Harris running the show could go.
At least one of those teams miss the playoffs in a very tough conference I highly doubt any of the top 3 seeds from last year miss it and I also doubt it is the exact same 8 teams 2 years in a row

Trust me, I'm not the one underestimating things here, especially regarding Dallas. Losing Caulderon is OK since Dallas brought in defense (Chandler) and Parsons. Nelson and Felton and Harris will be enough to get them to the playoffs

 

[hoosierdaddy317]

Stern vetoed because he owned the team and didn't approve the trade. So stop.

CP3 and Kobe don't even fit at all.

Nah, thats not why.

Stern had nothing to do with it. If he didnt approve the trade then how did it get written up and agreed to and he "randomly" found out about it and vetoed it? makes ZERO sense.

the league got mad the Lakers were gonna be STACKED so Stern stopped it.

til this day no ides why there wasnt more backlash about that trade. i dont care for the lakers but thats BS, the trade is agreed to by both teams then vetoed for "basketball reasons"

GARBAGE

Buddy's telling the truth though. They just have some BS reason to nix the trade because obviously Lakers were going to be stacked.

Why you think the Lakers management/Kobe still mention it to this day? Obviously it was BS

 

[awwsome]

Between Wiggins/LaVine/GRIII and Rubio playing QB, the amount of SC Top 10 plays is going to be appalling.


Definitely watching every Minny game and seeing them live in NY.

 

[bhzmafia14]

Saying the Grizz championship window has closed and saying they will miss the playoffs are 2 completely different things. I somewhat believe their championship window has closed as well, but they are definitely a playoff team and a good one at that.

 

[lawdog1]

The West is still something else. The T-Wolves and the Jazz are the only non-playoff team that's going to be really bad. The Suns, Pelicans, Kings and even Lakers will be ok and capable of beating a lot of teams on a given night.

 

[Master Zik]

@ still crying about Stern's veto so many years later.

The trade was pure ****.

The reason why the trade almost went through is cuz Stern let the GM do his thing without direct oversight while he was dealing with who the new owner was gonna be. There were buyers in place. He heard about this bull **** trade, realized none of the owners were down with that bull **** so it got vetoed and later on did their own trade that the new owner wanted.

 

[finallyfamous]

The NBA owned the Hornets at that time.

The trade was complete ******** and on some 2k ishh.

Don't get what the fuss is about.

CP3 got traded to Los Angeles anyway.

 

[shirt1995]

Saying the Grizz championship window has closed and saying they will miss the playoffs are 2 completely different things. I somewhat believe their championship window has closed as well, but they are definitely a playoff team and a good one at that.

I agree with you but one year soon it's gonna go south very fast for them. It's probably not this year but it is a possibility

 

[ballinsam23]

Kyrie, Lebron, and Love isnt BS and on some 2k **** though?

 

[shirt1995]

Does anybody know how often, in let's say in the last 20 or 25 years, the same 8 teams in a conference make the playoffs in back to back years?

 

[finallyfamous]

Wolves are getting Wiggins and Thad Young along with a 1st round pick.

Hornets were getting a sack of marbles, baseball cards, and petey (dead bird)

I'm gonna keep using that analogy until someone appreciates it.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Wolves are getting Wiggins and Thad Young along with a 1st round pick.

Hornets were getting a sack of marbles, baseball cards, and petey (dead bird)

I'm gonna keep using that analogy until someone appreciates it.

Nobody appreciates it because it's a terrible analogy man

Stop trying to make fetch work, bro

 

[tomdiginson]

@ still crying about Stern's veto so many years later.

The trade was pure ****.

The reason why the trade almost went through is cuz Stern let the GM do his thing without direct oversight while he was dealing with who the new owner was gonna be. There were buyers in place. He heard about this bull **** trade, realized none of the owners were down with that bull **** so it got vetoed and later on did their own trade that the new owner wanted.

Smartest thing you've said in this thread. Lakers fans still in here crying over spilled milk.

 

[shirt1995]

Wolves are getting Wiggins and Thad Young along with a 1st round pick.

You've been repped. Happy?

Hornets were getting a sack of marbles, baseball cards, and petey (dead bird)

I'm gonna keep using that analogy until someone appreciates it.

 

[finallyfamous]

Nobody appreciates it because it's a terrible analogy man

Stop trying to make fetch work, bro

suck brick kid.

you know that movie?