Pacific Division predictions

Phrazbit · December 22nd, 2011, 01:31 PM

What you peoples got?

Clippers 42-24
Lakers 35-31
Suns 34-32
Kings 27-39
Warriors 19-37

And honestly, if the Lakers have ANY injuries to their main 3 guys I think they could be worse. Thats a really cancerous roster, a new coach that they've been able to work with for less than a month and might have the least depth in the entire league, which will really kill them with this compacted schedule.

Magnus · December 24th, 2011, 03:44 AM

I don't think the Suns will be above .500 win ratio this year. I'm predicting Clippers-Lakers-Warriors-Suns-Kings, with the suns grabbing about 20 wins

elindholm · December 24th, 2011, 07:21 AM

The Suns only one game behind the Lakers?

Lakers
Clippers
Kings
Suns
Warriors

Dback Jon · December 24th, 2011, 07:30 AM

Clippers
Lakers
Suns
Warriors
Kings

slinslin · December 24th, 2011, 07:33 AM

Clippers 44-22
Lakers 40-26
Kings 30-36
Warriors 27-39
Suns 22-44

AzStevenCal · December 24th, 2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slinslin

Clippers 44-22
Lakers 40-26
Kings 30-36
Warriors 27-39
Suns 22-44

Two days ago you said anything more than 16 wins is overachieving for these guys. Now, you have us up to 22 wins. At that rate you should have us near .500 in a few more days which is about where I expect us to finish. Obviously, if we lose Nash we'll be lucky to win 10 percent of the games we play without him.

Clippers 41 wins
Lakers 38 wins
Suns 33 wins
Kings 28 wins
Warriors 22 wins

Steve

JCSunsfan · December 24th, 2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slinslin

Clippers 44-22
Lakers 40-26
Kings 30-36
Warriors 27-39
Suns 22-44

I am pretty much here. Anything better will be a disappointment.

elindholm · December 24th, 2011, 09:12 AM

I'm surprised that everyone has the Clippers ahead of the Lakers. The Lakers were 25 wins better than the Clippers last season. Twenty-five! Yes, the Lakers got worse and the Clippers got better, but is it enough to make up a 25-win gap? It sure doesn't seem like it to me.

The Clippers added Paul, Billups, and Butler, but lost Kaman and Gordon. The Lakers lost Odom and Phil Jackson and got older, but added a few minor pieces and still have Bryant and Gasol. Over an 82-game season, I'd say the Clippers got maybe 12 games better and the Lakers lost 5 or 6 games. That still doesn't close a 25-game gap.

SunsTzu · December 24th, 2011, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elindholm

I'm surprised that everyone has the Clippers ahead of the Lakers. The Lakers were 25 wins better than the Clippers last season. Twenty-five! Yes, the Lakers got worse and the Clippers got better, but is it enough to make up a 25-win gap? It sure doesn't seem like it to me.

The Clippers added Paul, Billups, and Butler, but lost Kaman and Gordon. The Lakers lost Odom and Phil Jackson and got older, but added a few minor pieces and still have Bryant and Gasol. Over an 82-game season, I'd say the Clippers got maybe 12 games better and the Lakers lost 5 or 6 games. That still doesn't close a 25-game gap.

I think you're selling Paul short. Last year the Lakers finished 11 games ahead of the Hornets where Paul had little help. Playing along side Griffin and Butler as opposed to West and Ariza I could see the Clippers getting 50-55 wins in a normal season, especially when you factor in the reasonable expectation that Griffin will be better in his 2nd year.

I still can't believe the Clippers traded Gordon, I thought for sure they could close the deal with Bledsoe instead of him.

jbeecham · December 24th, 2011, 10:35 AM

I'd be amazed if the Suns win 25 games this season... it's a sad time to be a Suns fan.

I think the Clippers will be better than the Lakers... obviously they should struggle a little early with all the new pieces, but they're younger & more dynamic than the Lakers & Kobe keeps getting nagging injuries. Also, I think the loss of Odom will hurt the Lakers more than they'll realize... he was a very versatile player for them.

slinslin · December 24th, 2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzStevenCal

Two days ago you said anything more than 16 wins is overachieving for these guys. Now, you have us up to 22 wins. At that rate you should have us near .500 in a few more days which is about where I expect us to finish. Obviously, if we lose Nash we'll be lucky to win 10 percent of the games we play without him.

Clippers 41 wins
Lakers 38 wins
Suns 33 wins
Kings 28 wins
Warriors 22 wins

Steve

Two days ago I said that they looked so bad I should re-think my previous prediction of 22 wins and that based on that they would be lucky to get more than 16 wins.

JCSunsfan · December 24th, 2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elindholm

I'm surprised that everyone has the Clippers ahead of the Lakers. The Lakers were 25 wins better than the Clippers last season. Twenty-five! Yes, the Lakers got worse and the Clippers got better, but is it enough to make up a 25-win gap? It sure doesn't seem like it to me.

The Clippers added Paul, Billups, and Butler, but lost Kaman and Gordon. The Lakers lost Odom and Phil Jackson and got older, but added a few minor pieces and still have Bryant and Gasol. Over an 82-game season, I'd say the Clippers got maybe 12 games better and the Lakers lost 5 or 6 games. That still doesn't close a 25-game gap.

The Clippers would be better without any additions just because their young players are maturing. Adding Paul is absolutely huge.

The Laker's loss of Phil Jackson is beyond huge. They are going to change their offensive scheme completely. Plus they lose Odom. Brown is not a good coach.

Yes. I think the Clippers will be better than the Lakers this year. The veteran leadership the Clips added will make all that young talent better. Deandre Jordan is just going to blow up.

JCSunsfan · December 24th, 2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbeecham

I'd be amazed if the Suns win 25 games this season... it's a sad time to be a Suns fan.

I think the Clippers will be better than the Lakers... obviously they should struggle a little early with all the new pieces, but they're younger & more dynamic than the Lakers & Kobe keeps getting nagging injuries. Also, I think the loss of Odom will hurt the Lakers more than they'll realize... he was a very versatile player for them.

I would be more sad if they win 30 or 35. This is it. This is the time. Just go ahead and be really bad. The best things that can happen to the Suns this year are:

1. Nash decides he would not mind playing elsewhere. We get a mid to late first rounder for him.
2. We are in the bottom 3 in wins in the league.
3. Kief breaks out and shows some promise.
4. Someone decides Chills would be a good fit for them and takes him off our hands with a TPE.
5. Lopez breaks out and pushes Gortat, making one of them tradeable. As much of a fan I am of Gortat, either would be fine, although Lopez is a RFA soon. The last thing I would want is to overpay to keep him.

If we could end up with a top 3 pick, a 20 something pick, and a decent FA over the summer, we would be on the way to rebuilding. Its inevitable, we are already bad. Its really too late to be trying to be competitive now.

Griffin · December 24th, 2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCSunsfan

If we could end up with a top 3 pick, a 20 something pick, and a decent FA over the summer, we would be on the way to rebuilding.

Not sure what you consider a decent FA, but chances are decent FA's won't want to sign with one of the worst teams in the league that has no established young talent and no Nash. This isn't Miami or New York.

AzStevenCal · December 24th, 2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slinslin

Two days ago I said that they looked so bad I should re-think my previous prediction of 22 wins and that based on that they would be lucky to get more than 16 wins.

Perhaps that's what you meant to say. Here is your entire post:

Quote:

Watching them in pre-season anything more than 16 wins seems like overachieving. Those guys look bad and I can't see any sign of good attitude or chemistry. I see lots of players hanging their heads.

Steve