FanPost

The Western Conference is Brutal Again


The Jazz are getting better, but is there any chance they can make the playoffs this year? Last year, the 8th place team won 49 games and the Jazz finished 15th out of 15 with a 25-57 record.

Teams that are awesome:

Spurs - defending champs - 62-20

OKC 59-23 – Added Morrow, McGary, Thomas; lost Sefolosha, Fisher

Clippers 57-25 – Added Hawes, Douglas-Roberts, Farmar, Udoh; lost Collison, Dudley, Green

There is little chance any of these three teams drops significantly. The old man spurs and a KD-less OKC will not drop out of the playoffs.

Teams that are really good:

Rockets 54-28 – Added Ariza, Johnson, Terry; Lost Parsons, Lin, Asik, Casspi, Brooks

Portland 54-28 – Added Blake, Kaman; lost Molo

Warriors 51-31- Added Barbosa, Livingston – Lost Blake and Crawford

Grizzlies 50-32 – Added Carter, Stokes, Adams; Lost Miller, Prince, Davis

The Rockets lost some key role players, but Portland, GSW, and the Grizz don't look to be going anywhere unless one of their all-stars get injured for a significant portion of the season.

Teams on the brink:

Mavs 49-33 – Chandler, Parsons, Nelson – lost Calderon, Marion, Carter, Dalembert

Suns 48-34 – Added Thomas, Ennis, Tolliver, Warren; Lost Frye, Ish

The Mavs look stronger, and the Suns don't look much worse.

Teams on the outside:

T-Wolves 40-42 – Added Thaddeus, MoLo, Wiggins, Lavine, Bennett; Lost Love, Cunningham, Mbah a Moute, Shved

Nuggets 36-46 – Afflalo, Nurkic, Harris, and Gallinari is back – lost Foye, Fournier

Pelicans 34-48 – Added Asik, Jimmer, Salmons; Lost Aminu, Morrow, Stiemsma

Kings 28-54 – Added Stauskas, Collison, Casspi, Corbin; lost Thomas

Lakers 27-55 – Added Boozer, Davis, Randle, Price; Lost Meeks, Pau, Marshall, Farmar

Jazz 25-57 – Added Exum, Hood, Booker; lost RJ, Marvin, JLIII

The T-Wolves are taking a step back with the hope of stepping forward in 2-3 years. The Nuggets hope to return from injury and improve. The Pelicans front-court is imposing with Asik, Davis, and Anderson, but their back-court remains an issue. The Kings aren't going anywhere. The Lakers are a dumpster fire. The Jazz will leap forward, but I don't see them getting to 0.500, much less the 50 wins needed to guarantee a playoff spot.

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.