What 7 teams in the West can win it all?

 

The Lakers, the Lakers, the Lakers, the Lakers, the Lakers, the Lakers, and...the Lakers.

 

The west is deeper, but the east has/had a better top 3, IMO.

OKC would be on that level.

 

Now? I think they are a still a legit big away. They need a C with some size in the worst way IMO.

To be fair, what 7 teams in the entire league can win it?

 

Last season...Lakers, Celtics. Who else? Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver? I think Orlando and Cleveland were viewed as serious contenders. There were very few people who thought any of those western conference teams could dethrone LA.

 

This season...Lakers, Heat, Celtics, Magic? What else has anyone done in the west to challenge LA?

This season...Lakers, Heat, Celtics, Magic? What else has anyone done in the west to challenge LA?

 

Maybe the Rockets if Yao stays healthy? Probably unlikely though.

To be fair, what 7 teams in the entire league can win it?

 

Last season...Lakers, Celtics. Who else? Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver? I think Orlando and Cleveland were viewed as serious contenders. There were very few people who thought any of those western conference teams could dethrone LA.

 

This season...Lakers, Heat, Celtics, Magic? What else has anyone done in the west to challenge LA?

 

I think you can add Chicago to the mix. Maybe NY if they were to find a way to work something out for CP3 and Melo this year, which is highly unlikely.

I think you can add Chicago to the mix. Maybe NY if they were to find a way to work something out for CP3 and Melo this year, which is highly unlikely.

 

I don't think New York would be a contender this season even with those guys. I don't think Amare, Carmelo and CP3 would be good enough defensively. I don't see Chicago being that good either, but I may be wrong. If healthy, I still see Orlando and Boston as better teams. And, of course, Miami with their trio.

I don't see Chicago as a contender either. Boozer helps but he's going to be at a huge disadvantage vs. Bosh or Gasol if they got that far. They don't really have a wing that can score the ball either. Don't get me wrong they are going to be a tough out, I just don't think they could actually win a championship.

 

NY with Amare, Melo and CP3 would be interesting. It would sort of be like Phoenix on steroids. Call me crazy but I think that team would have a legit shot at winning it all, even though they wouldn't be great defensively. Phoenix is always tough in the playoffs, and I think CP3 would be a different kind of beast than Nash but maybe even tougher to defend in that kind of system. They have some athletic wings, Gallinari is a dead eye from deep. Melo would probably drop 32 PPG in that offense. I don't think they'd be the favorites but I think they'd be a legit contender.

I just don't see how this is "new news"

 

I don't mean that as a slight to Magic, who started this thread, but Melo already said last month that he wanted to play with Amare in NY. This is just a matter of time, even if he gets traded, he will leave that team when he becomes a free agent.

 

CP will leave New Orleans when he becomes a free agent.

 

I'm a huge Chicago fan, but I can honestly say that best case scenario is that they end up a #3 or 4 seed in the East playoffs.

I don't see Chicago as a contender either. Boozer helps but he's going to be at a huge disadvantage vs. Bosh or Gasol if they got that far. They don't really have a wing that can score the ball either. Don't get me wrong they are going to be a tough out, I just don't think they could actually win a championship.

 

NY with Amare, Melo and CP3 would be interesting. It would sort of be like Phoenix on steroids. Call me crazy but I think that team would have a legit shot at winning it all, even though they wouldn't be great defensively. Phoenix is always tough in the playoffs, and I think CP3 would be a different kind of beast than Nash but maybe even tougher to defend in that kind of system. They have some athletic wings, Gallinari is a dead eye from deep. Melo would probably drop 32 PPG in that offense. I don't think they'd be the favorites but I think they'd be a legit contender.

 

I don't think Boozer will have to worry about Bosh. I don't see Miami being nearly as successful as most are predicting.

 

I agree about NY, especially if they could do it while holding onto Gallinari.

I hear what you guys are saying with this hypothetical Knicks team. However, my hang-up is simply this. Both they and Miami would be built around an all-star trio...Miami's is clearly better with Wade and James easily being the two best players of the six guys being considered. Simply put, I don't think that team could beat Miami. And, when it comes to Miami, I agree somewhat with UKMF. I haven't anointed them kings of the east, much less the whole league. I don't doubt that they'll have a monster regular season, but I'm not convinced this team will be able to roll through the playoffs.

 

I'm also not convinced that Boozer would be at a big disadvantage against Chris Bosh. I could be wrong about him, but I think his stock is overvalued due to his associating with James and Wade in Miami. I'm not saying Boozer is better, but I think he could hold his own. Regardless, I don't see Chicago as being ready to contend in the upcoming season, but they're getting closer.

Boozer always gets worked against taller guys. He puts up some decent numbers but look at the LA series, I didn't think he was too impressive there even though he played extremely hard. It's tough for a guy that's 6'8" to work against the big boys. I don't think a motivated Bosh would have much trouble with him at all. However, I do think it's possible that Bosh could guard Miami's center and do well as the guys they're playing there are garbage to me. Noah would more than hold his own defensively on Bosh I think.

 

I don't see a team in the East that I think could legitimately beat the Heat, even though I'd kind of like to see it. I'm starting to come around on LBJ with the Heat (still hate the move) but I do think some humble pie would be good for all 3 of them. But I give the Magic no shot of beating them. Howard will be a beast against them, but no one else on their team will be able to do anything IMO. Wade or James will guard Nelson if need be, Carter will get erased by the other, Lewis will get worked on the defensive end, I just don't see how they could beat them though I wouldn't mind being wrong. The Celtics could beat them, but with another year of age on their retirement home team I just don't think they'll be able to either. Now, I don't know if the Heat could beat a healthy Lakers team, I think Bynum could look like a young Shaq against Big Z and Magloire.

 

I think the Knicks would have a shot against the Heat, I like their role players alot better than I like Miami's, especially in their system. Maybe Wade and James would be the two best on the court, but CP3 and Melo are also top 6 or 7 guys around the league IMO. Who guards CP3, Wade? Melo always plays well against LeBron and would be a nightmare to defend. Bosh and Amare would be a push I think. I think Bosh is better but Amare is way more physical and the offense the Knicks would run would suit him perfectly. If I had to bet I would take the Heat, but I think the Knicks would be a nightmare for Miami if they added those two. JMO.

I think you could take the top 7 teams in the West....Lakers, Nuggets, Spurs, Jazz, Thunder, Suns and Mavericks and all 7 are capable of beating the team in the East in a 7 game series. The Rockets and Blazers are equally dangerous when healthy. Plus as was mentioned, the West is deeper. How can the balance of power be shifted when the number 8 team in the West is winning 50 games and the number 8 team in the East isn't even .500? Any team that can beat the Lakers in 7 is certainly capable of beating any team in the East. The top 3 teams in the East are certainly in the top 4 teams overall, but when the next 8-10 teams on that list are from the West, that leads me to believe that the power is still out West. Just because the Lakers are the class of the West and still unbeatable out West doesn't make the West a weak conference all of a sudden. The Bulls have no chance, the Bucks have no chance, the Hawks have no chance. Look at the West and tell me who the Lakers will be facing in the Western Conference Finals. Better yet, tell me what 4 teams out West will be in the Western Semis. Now look at the East and tell me it won't be the Bulls, Heat, Celtics and Magic in the Eastern Semis. That's all I am saying. Melo goes to the Knicks and the West loses a team and the East gains 1. It'll still be 4 legit Eastern Conference teams to 7-9 for the West. Not to mention, the reigning two time champion hails from the West. How can another conference be more powerful when it can't claim a champion?

Boozer always gets worked against taller guys. He puts up some decent numbers but look at the LA series, I didn't think he was too impressive there even though he played extremely hard. It's tough for a guy that's 6'8" to work against the big boys. I don't think a motivated Bosh would have much trouble with him at all. However, I do think it's possible that Bosh could guard Miami's center and do well as the guys they're playing there are garbage to me. Noah would more than hold his own defensively on Bosh I think.

 

I don't see a team in the East that I think could legitimately beat the Heat, even though I'd kind of like to see it. I'm starting to come around on LBJ with the Heat (still hate the move) but I do think some humble pie would be good for all 3 of them. But I give the Magic no shot of beating them. Howard will be a beast against them, but no one else on their team will be able to do anything IMO. Wade or James will guard Nelson if need be, Carter will get erased by the other, Lewis will get worked on the defensive end, I just don't see how they could beat them though I wouldn't mind being wrong. The Celtics could beat them, but with another year of age on their retirement home team I just don't think they'll be able to either. Now, I don't know if the Heat could beat a healthy Lakers team, I think Bynum could look like a young Shaq against Big Z and Magloire.

 

I think the Knicks would have a shot against the Heat, I like their role players alot better than I like Miami's, especially in their system. Maybe Wade and James would be the two best on the court, but CP3 and Melo are also top 6 or 7 guys around the league IMO. Who guards CP3, Wade? Melo always plays well against LeBron and would be a nightmare to defend. Bosh and Amare would be a push I think. I think Bosh is better but Amare is way more physical and the offense the Knicks would run would suit him perfectly. If I had to bet I would take the Heat, but I think the Knicks would be a nightmare for Miami if they added those two. JMO.

 

Using the Lakers as the example for Boozer isn't accurate, IMO. No team in the league has a frontcourt like LA. They frustrate a lot of post players with their length. Boozer fared pretty well last season against pretty much all of his opponents except LA, Boston and Orlando. He averaged 15 and 10 and shot under 50% in 8 games against those three team. In the other 70, he averaged 20 and 11 and shot nearly 57%.

Using the Lakers as the example for Boozer isn't accurate, IMO. No team in the league has a frontcourt like LA. They frustrate a lot of post players with their length. Boozer fared pretty well last season against pretty much all of his opponents except LA, Boston and Orlando. He averaged 15 and 10 and shot under 50% in 8 games against those three team. In the other 70, he averaged 20 and 11 and shot nearly 57%.

 

Bosh is not far behind Gasol defensively or probably KG at this stage of his career I don't think. I think he'd have his hands full with Bosh.

I think you could take the top 7 teams in the West....Lakers, Nuggets, Spurs, Jazz, Thunder, Suns and Mavericks and all 7 are capable of beating the team in the East in a 7 game series. The Rockets and Blazers are equally dangerous when healthy. Plus as was mentioned, the West is deeper. How can the balance of power be shifted when the number 8 team in the West is winning 50 games and the number 8 team in the East isn't even .500? Any team that can beat the Lakers in 7 is certainly capable of beating any team in the East. The top 3 teams in the East are certainly in the top 4 teams overall, but when the next 8-10 teams on that list are from the West, that leads me to believe that the power is still out West. Just because the Lakers are the class of the West and still unbeatable out West doesn't make the West a weak conference all of a sudden. The Bulls have no chance, the Bucks have no chance, the Hawks have no chance. Look at the West and tell me who the Lakers will be facing in the Western Conference Finals. Better yet, tell me what 4 teams out West will be in the Western Semis. Now look at the East and tell me it won't be the Bulls, Heat, Celtics and Magic in the Eastern Semis. That's all I am saying. Melo goes to the Knicks and the West loses a team and the East gains 1. It'll still be 4 legit Eastern Conference teams to 7-9 for the West. Not to mention, the reigning two time champion hails from the West. How can another conference be more powerful when it can't claim a champion?

 

I don't think there is one team in the West that could beat a healthy Lakers team. I don't think there is another team out there that could beat the EC champion.