Eastern Conference/Western Conference 2011 Seed Predictions

[benji]

The Grizzlies are in the Western Conference.

[Modifly]

Unfortunely, Yao himself said that he won't be fully healthy next season, nor expects to. Though, the Rockets are my second favorite team in the league, this team with bunch of role players, I doubt they'll make it to the playoffs. MIP Brooks or Kevin Mart, given one of these two are going to be a leading scorer for the Rockets, the offense I don't think will be fluent enough. Sure individually, all of them are OK players, some even better, but pretty much average looking team at best without true team color.

To be precise, Yao said that he is unsure whether he can return to his old form or not. He doesn't expect himself to be fully healthy next season, but that doesn't mean that he wont be able to play and contribute. More over, the Rockets doesn't need him to play 30 minutes or score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds. They have a roster full of guys who can score and rebound. Playing 25 minutes per game while contributing around 15 points and 7 rebounds would be more than enough for Yao and the Rockets. It might be difficult to see how the Rockets with this roster will make it to the playoffs, but it sure isn't impossible. Don't rule them out just yet.

[NovU]

I like your optimism and it doesn't sound like impossible at all. The West is still a tough place though. Hope to see Yao contributing enough and other stepping up even more this season.

Still not liking how Landry isn't with the team... but I guess Keving Marting isn't bad either.

[Modifly]

I don't like how the Rockets traded away Landry either, but if you think about it carefully his ceiling isn't that high at all. He provides a lot for the team, he's a fan's favourite and he gave this team colours, but all of that can be fulfilled by other players in this team once he's gone. More importantly, his (trade) value was at its highest last season. A lot of teams wanted Landry since he was having his finest season and the Rockets could get someone really valuable in return. Since they traded Landry away, the Rockets haven't missed a beat on offense or defense. I think the Rockets organization saw Landry as someone who they can replace, that's why they've decided to pull the trigger even though they did not want to include Landry in the trade. For Daryl Morey, nobody is untouchable.

[Lamrock]

Landry was by far the team's best player, and probably the second best Rocket since Hakeem. But that trade was fucking awesome. He traded Landry and T-Mac's expiring for a player who's as good as Landry (injury prone, but whatevs) and a ton of assets. Morey's an amazing GM.

[Rip32]

Landry was by far the team's best player, and probably the second best Rocket since Hakeem.

I agree with you 95% of the time, but that made me laugh. It's probably because I don't have a very vast knowledge of the Rockets in the past 12 years and because you may be right... or because you have the board's biggest man-crush on Hot Carl Landry

West:
1. Lakers
2. Mavs
3. Nuggets
4. Thunder
5. Blazers
6. Spurs
7. Jazz
8. Rockets
-----------------
9. Suns
10. Griz
11. Clippers
12. Kings
13. Hornets
14. Warriors
15. KAHHHHHHN

East:
1. Heat
2. Magic
3. Celtics
4. Bulls
5. Bucks
6. Hawks
7. Knicks
8. 76ers
-------------------------
9. Bobcats
10. Wizards
11. Nets
12. Pistons
13. Cavs
14. Pacers
15. Raptors

[Cartar]

I'll put them in tiers instead.

Western Conference (There's not a big differences between the tiers)

1st tier - Contenders

Portland Trailblazers (barrying injuries)
LA Lakers

2nd tier

Dallas Mavericks
OKC
Utah

3rd tier

Phoenix Suns
San Antonio Spurs
Denver Nuggets

4th tier - The Questionables (all these could surprisingly make the playoffs, yet at the same time could be 20-win team)

LA Clippers
Sacramento
Houston
Golden State
Memphis

5th tier - The Suckers

Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Hornets (that's if they trade Paul, if not, they're up in the 4th tier)

So, to my liking this would be the standings:

1. Portland
2. Lakers
3. OKC (wanna see them beat LA in the second round)
4. Dallas
5. Utah
6. SA
7. Phoenix
8. Houston (one upriser)

Portland - OKC WCF, Portland going to the Finals

As for the East, I made the top 6 to make it to my liking for Boston.

1. Miami
2. Orlando
3. Chicago
4. Milwaukee
5. Atlanta
6. Boston

1st tier on the rest

New York
Charlotte

2nd tier

Philadelphia
Detroit

3rd tier

Indiana
Washington
Toronto
New Jersey
Cleveland

Boston will beat Chicago (Valor won't stand this, his favourite team losing to a team he hates), Orlando and Miami in all one run.

Boston will beat the Blazers and win the 'Ship, after which Miami will win 3 years in a row, after which Philly will take over with a squad of Holiday-Turner-Iggy-Horford-Howard for the rest of the decade (they will first deal Kapono to the Lakers for Kapono and 14' and 16' first rounders, which both end up as great picks as Lakers will try to deal all future picks and go for it as long as they can as they think world will end in 2012, 21st December. It won't for the planet, but it will end for them, Kobe, Pau and Bynum all will injure on that day against Boston Grizzlies (yes, Boston Grizzlies) and they'll start to suck. 2 years later Stern decides it was a wrong decision to move a team away from Memphis and relocates Lakers to Memphis, which also will break the Clippers curse. The 14' pick will end up as the 3rd pick, Atlanta after signing Horford to an extension will decide they need to clear up some more salary to sign JJ to another max deal, Howard will leave Orlando for Philly as Lewis will become a $20M spot-up shooter and the rest of the crew will get old, see a opportunity in Philly and goes for it).

Other random predictions:
* Toronto will get the 1st pick (quote me in May)
* Minnesota will be a 50-win team in 11-12 (another 3rd pick and Rubio will make a difference)(quote me in April 2012)

[benji]

Boston will beat the Blazers and win the 'Ship, after which Miami will win 3 years in a row, after which Philly will take over with a squad of Holiday-Turner-Iggy-Horford-Howard for the rest of the decade (they will first deal Kapono to the Lakers for Kapono and 14' and 16' first rounders, which both end up as great picks as Lakers will try to deal all future picks and go for it as long as they can as they think world will end in 2012, 21st December. It won't for the planet, but it will end for them, Kobe, Pau and Bynum all will injure on that day against Boston Grizzlies (yes, Boston Grizzlies) and they'll start to suck. 2 years later Stern decides it was a wrong decision to move a team away from Memphis and relocates Lakers to Memphis, which also will break the Clippers curse. The 14' pick will end up as the 3rd pick, Atlanta after signing Horford to an extension will decide they need to clear up some more salary to sign JJ to another max deal, Howard will leave Orlando for Philly as Lewis will become a $20M spot-up shooter and the rest of the crew will get old, see a opportunity in Philly and goes for it).

Other random predictions:
* Toronto will get the 1st pick (quote me in May)
* Minnesota will be a 50-win team in 11-12 (another 3rd pick and Rubio will make a difference)(quote me in April 2012)

Are you drunk?

[Jackal]

I think he's Canadian.

[Lamrock]

Landry was by far the team's best player, and probably the second best Rocket since Hakeem.

I agree with you 95% of the time, but that made me laugh. It's probably because I don't have a very vast knowledge of the Rockets in the past 12 years and because you may be right... or because you have the board's biggest man-crush on Hot Carl Landry

Landry's basically a shorter Amar'e. Hopefully Morey can get him back in the 2011 off-season. Since Hakeem, Yao is their best player, but Landry, who should have been an all-star, was amazing this last year. Way better than Franchise or any other non-Yao Rocket in the past decade.

[Axel The Great]

Even Clyde Drexler?

[benji]

Considering Drexler retired 12 years ago I'd say yes, Carl Landry did more for the Rockets this decade.

[Modifly]

Yao is their best player, but Landry, who should have been an all-star, was amazing this last year. Way better than Franchise or any other non-Yao Rocket in the past decade.

In my opinion, Landry was a great player only in this past season. The two seasons before that he was just good, not great. I do agree that Landry should have been an all-star though, too bad he's not that sell-able unless he starts throwing down dunks, posterizing people like he did in his rookie and sophomore season. He really took his game to a whole new level last season and I do hope that the Rockets will somehow get him back.

And actually, I think Tracy McGrady should have been their best player. He was better than Yao and Franchise when he's healthy. Tracy McGrady could have easily been the Rocket's best player in the past decade if he wasn't Tracy McGrady.

[rise]

* Minnesota will be a 50-win team in 11-12

If by 11 and 12, you mean the years 2311 and 2312, I might agree.

[Lamrock]

Boston will beat the Blazers and win the 'Ship, after which Miami will win 3 years in a row, after which Philly will take over with a squad of Holiday-Turner-Iggy-Horford-Howard for the rest of the decade (they will first deal Kapono to the Lakers for Kapono and 14' and 16' first rounders, which both end up as great picks as Lakers will try to deal all future picks and go for it as long as they can as they think world will end in 2012, 21st December. It won't for the planet, but it will end for them, Kobe, Pau and Bynum all will injure on that day against Boston Grizzlies (yes, Boston Grizzlies) and they'll start to suck. 2 years later Stern decides it was a wrong decision to move a team away from Memphis and relocates Lakers to Memphis, which also will break the Clippers curse. The 14' pick will end up as the 3rd pick, Atlanta after signing Horford to an extension will decide they need to clear up some more salary to sign JJ to another max deal, Howard will leave Orlando for Philly as Lewis will become a $20M spot-up shooter and the rest of the crew will get old, see a opportunity in Philly and goes for it).

Other random predictions:
* Toronto will get the 1st pick (quote me in May)
* Minnesota will be a 50-win team in 11-12 (another 3rd pick and Rubio will make a difference)(quote me in April 2012)

Classic.

[Stress Fracture]

Boston will beat the Blazers and win the 'Ship, after which Miami will win 3 years in a row, after which Philly will take over with a squad of Holiday-Turner-Iggy-Horford-Howard for the rest of the decade (they will first deal Kapono to the Lakers for Kapono and 14' and 16' first rounders, which both end up as great picks as Lakers will try to deal all future picks and go for it as long as they can as they think world will end in 2012, 21st December. It won't for the planet, but it will end for them, Kobe, Pau and Bynum all will injure on that day against Boston Grizzlies (yes, Boston Grizzlies) and they'll start to suck. 2 years later Stern decides it was a wrong decision to move a team away from Memphis and relocates Lakers to Memphis, which also will break the Clippers curse. The 14' pick will end up as the 3rd pick, Atlanta after signing Horford to an extension will decide they need to clear up some more salary to sign JJ to another max deal, Howard will leave Orlando for Philly as Lewis will become a $20M spot-up shooter and the rest of the crew will get old, see a opportunity in Philly and goes for it).

Other random predictions:
* Toronto will get the 1st pick (quote me in May)
* Minnesota will be a 50-win team in 11-12 (another 3rd pick and Rubio will make a difference)(quote me in April 2012)

Classic.

This is really a CLASSIC one.

[Martti.]

Even if they get Rubio, they won't be a 50-win team in the near future. Kahn thinks Darko is the same type of player as Chris Webber for god sake.

[Lamrock]

You know its a joke post when you see Minnesota with a winning record within the next five years