Who's out in the Western Conference?

[Suns_fan69]

Ok, so we knew the Conference was deep but this is a bit ridiculous. Here are the standings heading into today's games (1/14/09).

LA Lakers 31 6
Denver 26 13
San Antonio 24 12
New Orleans 22 12
Phoenix 22 13
Portland 23 14
Utah 23 15
Houston 24 16
Dallas 22 16

So who doesn't make it come Playoff time? Will there be a 50 win team that doesn't make the playoffs?

Houston and Utah have some injury issues so they're probably the favorites. If you put a gun to my head my gut tells me Dallas though. Don't know why really.

Of course, all this could change come trade deadline...

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

If McGrady has indeed given up it will be the rockets, as they have no backcourt team leaders.

If the Jazz cant get healthy, it will be them. But they are playing great despite not having a complete roster the whole season.

If Portland wakes up from this coma of awesomeness theyre having and they realize how young and inexperienced they are, I wouldnt be surprised to see them get in a crazy slump.

If none of those happen, then its Dalllas, who hasnt had to deal with any crazy drama, roster changes or significant injuries and are still "struggling"(compared to the rest of the contenders).

 

[Mainstreet]

There are only 3 losses different in the loss column from the second place team in the Western Conference to the ninth place team. I know we all have our ideas who may stumble, but it may come down to which team has the most depth and advoids injuries. Phoenix is as vulnerable as anyone.

Right now I'm thinking it's either Utah or Houston. I do not believe Cuban will allow Dallas to sink.

 

[95pro]

if i had to pick only 1 team.

it would be houston.

 

[Mainstreet]

Dallas drops one more game back in the loss column after loss to Hornets tonight.

Also Utah loses to Thunder... interesting.

 

[95pro]

the top 9 teams in the west...


portland is 11-12 in the western conference
dallas is 13-13 in the western conference
everone else is marginally better than .500

road records:

portalnd is 9-11
utah is 7-12
dallas is 10-10
everyone else has a winning road record.



based off that, portland and dallas seem to be at the tail end of the 9 team pack.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Well we ARE going to lose to boston on that 4th game in 5 days on a back to back (with them also being fresh off a days rest) no matter what basically, so any other losses during that stretch will hurt, and denver is beastly right now so I would not be surprised if we lose that game in an OT or something.

We should just play shaq against toronto to try and seal up the win and then rest Shaq AND nash in the game against boston. What a terrible way to set up the schedule, setting the suns up for an embarrasment against the champs on national tv.

Give stern the finger and rest nash and shaq!

 

[mojorizen7]

I'm going with Portland.

 

[jagu]

Portland makes it, I think Utah gets ousted.

 

[Covert Rain]

Portland, Utah or Dallas. Probably Portland.

 

[French Fries]

blazer's roy can go crazy, rockets' tmac can go lazy. houston goes fishing...

 

[AceP]

Too early to talk about it ... Dallas and Houston will probably make a big trade b4 deadline in hopes of turning the season around.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

blazer's roy can go crazy, rockets' tmac can go lazy. houston goes fishing...

2 points for being poetic and accurate.

 

[Bufalay]

Does this make the west deep or shallow? None of those teams are great.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Does this make the west deep or shallow? None of those teams are great.

deep.