Post by Utah on Jun 10, 2007 11:34:55 GMT -5
Here goes another top 5 listing but for the Western Conference:
5. Denver Nuggets- The defending champs barely make this list and only on the strength of winning it all last year and having Duncan on their team. Nuggets gm quit after an offseason in which Chris Paul signed with Utah. Denver plays really only 5 guys as that is all they have that is good. Daniels plays the point, Joe Johnson and Duncan round out the strength of this team. They can put up some points, but if any player gets injured this team will fall to the middle of the pack.
4. Los Angeles Lakers- Another team with a solid solid starting 5 and not much else. The Lakers are led by Chris Bosh and rookie sensation Mike Conley jr. Bosh is playing center currently and doing a more than adequate job. The Lakers gm is undoubtedly scouring for a better center right now to help get this team over the top. Andrei Kirilenko and Marcus Banks help this team with their incredible defense that give them an edge during most games. The Lakers can contend out West if they can land an inside presence to go with Bosh. If they can pull that off without having to give up too much they will be there at the end.
3. Houston Rockets- This team is making one last push and they will be in rebuild land. With some of the pieces that have been around a long time in Oneal, Pierce and Billups it looks like this is Houston's last stand. If the team is in the mix come trading deadline then they should go for it, but if not, they need to dump some of their pieces to real contenders. Pierce, Miller and Oneal can still play and win their matchups most games. With shooting guard Randy Foye the Rockets have some good youth to start to build with if they choose to do so. The gm is a rookie so it is a tough situation to be in. We know that trading Billups will be tough but maybe some team would be willing to take him. I think they need to play at a different pace to really maximize their teams balance.
2. dallas mavericks- The roster looks a little bit like an all star team. Very well balanced throughout. Solid, if not great point guard in Jameer Nelson. Shooting guard Logan Johnson is more than adequate at the position. Small forward is Wally and backed up by Antawn Jamison. Power forward show Gasol and Chris Webber with center manned by Zaza and Roy Hibbert. This team is good and deep and will go very far. They lack backups at the shooting guard position but I look for the mavs to make a deal to acquire some more depth. Hibbert is a guy that could be on the move because Chris Webber can backup the center position very well. The Mavs will be there in the end barring injury.
1. Portland Trailblazers- WhiskeyPete has this team finally dialed in and playing very well. When I compare teams with the Mavs, it would seem the Mavs would have the edge. However, based on play so far the TBlazers are outscoring teams by an average of 15 points a game and just playing well. They are solid at all positions but especially at power forward with Curry and at shooting guard with Carmelo. They dont' need a lot of help. At small forward they have Miles who is out there to play defense and that's all. Any scoring they get for him is a bonus. The secret to the team is Marcus Camby. He can play numerous positions and puts up all star numbers. I love the blazers and expect them to go far. If Carmelo goes down they will be hating it, but that is the case with each team and it's star player.
5. Denver Nuggets- The defending champs barely make this list and only on the strength of winning it all last year and having Duncan on their team. Nuggets gm quit after an offseason in which Chris Paul signed with Utah. Denver plays really only 5 guys as that is all they have that is good. Daniels plays the point, Joe Johnson and Duncan round out the strength of this team. They can put up some points, but if any player gets injured this team will fall to the middle of the pack.
4. Los Angeles Lakers- Another team with a solid solid starting 5 and not much else. The Lakers are led by Chris Bosh and rookie sensation Mike Conley jr. Bosh is playing center currently and doing a more than adequate job. The Lakers gm is undoubtedly scouring for a better center right now to help get this team over the top. Andrei Kirilenko and Marcus Banks help this team with their incredible defense that give them an edge during most games. The Lakers can contend out West if they can land an inside presence to go with Bosh. If they can pull that off without having to give up too much they will be there at the end.
3. Houston Rockets- This team is making one last push and they will be in rebuild land. With some of the pieces that have been around a long time in Oneal, Pierce and Billups it looks like this is Houston's last stand. If the team is in the mix come trading deadline then they should go for it, but if not, they need to dump some of their pieces to real contenders. Pierce, Miller and Oneal can still play and win their matchups most games. With shooting guard Randy Foye the Rockets have some good youth to start to build with if they choose to do so. The gm is a rookie so it is a tough situation to be in. We know that trading Billups will be tough but maybe some team would be willing to take him. I think they need to play at a different pace to really maximize their teams balance.
2. dallas mavericks- The roster looks a little bit like an all star team. Very well balanced throughout. Solid, if not great point guard in Jameer Nelson. Shooting guard Logan Johnson is more than adequate at the position. Small forward is Wally and backed up by Antawn Jamison. Power forward show Gasol and Chris Webber with center manned by Zaza and Roy Hibbert. This team is good and deep and will go very far. They lack backups at the shooting guard position but I look for the mavs to make a deal to acquire some more depth. Hibbert is a guy that could be on the move because Chris Webber can backup the center position very well. The Mavs will be there in the end barring injury.
1. Portland Trailblazers- WhiskeyPete has this team finally dialed in and playing very well. When I compare teams with the Mavs, it would seem the Mavs would have the edge. However, based on play so far the TBlazers are outscoring teams by an average of 15 points a game and just playing well. They are solid at all positions but especially at power forward with Curry and at shooting guard with Carmelo. They dont' need a lot of help. At small forward they have Miles who is out there to play defense and that's all. Any scoring they get for him is a bonus. The secret to the team is Marcus Camby. He can play numerous positions and puts up all star numbers. I love the blazers and expect them to go far. If Carmelo goes down they will be hating it, but that is the case with each team and it's star player.
