The favorites

Miami- Big 3, hungry for validation
Chicago- best record even with Drose missing lately
OKC- young, talented, deep. Durant + Westbrook

(jump) legit contender with some question marks

SA- Championship pedigree, experienced coaches and players

(big jump) inconsistent but still have a small shot

Orlando- Dwight can dominate a game/series if he wants to
LA Lakers- experienced. If hitting on all cylinders they are tough to beat
Dallas- defending champs. Dirk can still take over a game

Anyone else?

I think it will come down to match ups in the west with the Heat/Bulls slugging it out in the East.

Orlando has absolutely no shot unless the Heat and Bulls get their season ruined by injuries.

Lakers are better than Orlando. And way better than Dallas

Id take Memphis over Dallas or Orlando.

I dont know why....but for some reason i dont see the thunder being able to close it out. Talk about firing on all cyclinders, i think the spurs could take them out based on experience

I am worried that Miami will be extremely tough to stop as well. However, if they are denied the title once again this season, I could seem them begin to implode from all the scrutiny, pressure, and ridicule (brought on themselves).

But if they do win, watch out. They could become the next dynasty

This is pretty pathetic but if the Heat play the Spurs I'll be rooting for the Heat. Out of all the true contenders I hate the Thunder the least.

The West is wide open. Not only have the Thunder never beaten a veteran team in the playoffs - they were thoroughly demoralized and humiliated by the Lakers and Mavs. Youth doesn't win in the NBA playoffs. They have to earn it.

You can't write off Dallas after last season and the 2010 Celtics precedent.

Miami is far and away the front runner in the East.

If choosing from the East, I choose the Heat over the field.

If choosing from the West, I choose the field over any specific team.

I'd rather play okc than la and Dallas. Historically, the thunder don't match up well against us. And that's what its all about. Not to say that the spurs are a better team though.

LA vs Chicago finals

i'm not actually sure who'd I'd rather the lakers play less, OKC or SA

if the playoffs started today:

1- Thunder
8- Rockets
vs.
4- Clippers
5- Mavs


3- Lakers
6- Grizzlies
vs.
2- SA
7- Utah

Lakers going to have a very tough time if the Grizzlies and the Spurs are on the same side of the bracket. I expect the Grizz to slide into the 5 or 4 seed with the Mavs and/or Clippers falling.

Utah will be an easy win for the Spurs. If I'm the Spurs i'm praying the Rockets don't slide into that 7th seed. Rockets >>>> Jazz.


On the East: well hell the east doesn't matter. Miami or Chicago.

I like the Mavs chances against the Clippers. Too bad we'd lose in the next round anyway.

You have to think Chris Paul is going to get his, just have to stop his supporting cast from doing any damage.

Lord knows Baron Davis can hit 75% of 3's if it's against the Mavs.

quote:

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I will root for any other team besides the Heat.

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THIS.

Simple are you really that confident that the Lakers can take down both SA and OKC? Esp without home court in both series? The lakers have struggled away from Staples have they not?

Dasher- Baron Davis is with the Knicks now

I think there are only four legit contenders.
OKC
Miami
Chicago
LAC

I throw the Clippers in there because they are very, very deep. If Del Negro can turn things around they could very easily be at the top at the end.

The clips? Surely youre joking

Rockets and Jazz are the ideal first round matchups.

Oh, and Chicago, Miami, OKC, and SA. That's it, no one else, no ifs ands or buts.

Shark, I would take the Lakers over the Spurs in a playoff series any day of the week.

lol @ choosing contenders based on the regular season.

Yu, if you compare Rosters, the only player on the Lakers roster who's considerably better than his Spurs counterpart is Bynum. The Spurs are equal or better everywhere else and the bench is so tilted in the Spurs' favor that it's laughable. Throw in home court for SA and the Spurs advantage at head coach and I think the Lakers lose that series 9x out of 10.

quote:

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Yu, if you compare Rosters, the only player on the Lakers roster who's considerably better than his Spurs counterpart is Bynum.

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lol@this comment. prolly the dumbest thing ever.

the only two advantage the spurs have over the lakers is coaching, and bench scoring.

that's it. no ifs and or buts about it

Please tell me which shooting guard the Spurs have who is better than Kobe.

quote:

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I think there are only four legit contenders.
OKC
Miami
Chicago
LAC

I throw the Clippers in there because they are very, very deep. If Del Negro can turn things around they could very easily be at the top at the end.

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The Clippers? LOL. The Lakers have a better shot than the Clips. VDN is a horrible coach.

Whoever wins the ECF, Bulls or Heat, will be the champions.

The same thing was said last year buy you e c blowhards....the west will win the title again this year.

[This message has been edited by Danny Vermin (edited 3/27/2012 8:43p).]

atfarmer, i never said the lakers had more talent than the spurs... just that they would beat them. Same goes for OKC and San Antonio (by this I mean OKC is more talented but I'd take the Spurs head to head).

EDIT: Spurs are also looking a lot like Dallas last year with regards to the roster. Very deep roster with some good hungry vets and a guy that can carry a team when needed (Toilet Paper).

[This message has been edited by Yu Darvish (edited 3/27/2012 8:48p).]

quote:

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the only two advantages the entire NBA has over the lakers is coaching, and bench scoring.

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FIFY. This is why LA has a very slim, only semi-realistic shot.

The Lakers would give SA a good fight as they always do, but the Spurs are just too deep this year. Once you lock down Kobe and Bynum, there's really no one else they've got.

Lakers play their best against SA (same for Mavs), but I'd take the Spurs this year over anyone in the west, provided they are healthy.

Pau and Sessions would like a word

So would Blair, Splitter, Neal, Jackson, and Leonard.