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Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:20 am
by Lipoli390
Here are my top 5 Western Conference teams on paper in order. I've identified what I believe to be the elite players on each team as a key measure of comparison because teams tend ot go only as far as their elite players take them. I've also identified what I believe to be the remaining players who round out each team's top 7
1. Warriors -
Elite: Durant, Curry, Thompson, Green
Rest: Iggy, Nick Young, Shaun Livingston
2. Rockets
Elite: Harden, Chris Paul
Rest: Ariza, Gordon,Tarik Black, PJ Tucker, Ryan Anderson
3. Thunder
Elite: Westbrook, Paul George, Melo
Rest: Adams, Roberson, Jerami Grant, Patrick Patterson
4. Wolves
Elite: Butler, KAT
Rest: Wiggins (could be elite), Teague, Gorgui, Taj, Bazz
5. Spurs
Elite: Leonard, Aldridge, Gasol
Rest: Gay (not quite elite), Tony Parker, Danny Green
I'm not sure you all would agree with my team rankings or my top three player ranking for each roster. I have the Wolves ranked #4, but if Wiggins becomes the elite player he has the potential to be, then I see our roster as being second only to the Warriors.
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:53 am
by Monster
Interestingexcercise Lip.
I think you may want to replace Tarik Black with Clint Capela. :) A reminder that he turned 23 in May and already is a pretty good complimentary player. There is some upside left. He is gonna get paid plenty of money soon.
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 5:45 am
by SameOldNudityDrew
I like the optimism of putting us ahead of the Spurs! On paper, we should be. But that team perpetually proves that paper and hardwood are two different things altogether.
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 7:31 am
by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
I love this Wolves roster...jury is still out on the coach, but I'm hopeful. I was also frustrated with Wig's first game against the Lakers (although I liked almost everything else), but I clearly have him in the elite category. I can't see Anthony being in the elite category and Wig not...they're both primarily scorers, and Wig outscored Carmelo last season. I see them as very similar players at this stage of their careers, with one big difference...Wig is young and on the way up, Melo is old and on the way down. Here are their comparative stats last year...nearly identical.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=Andrew+Wiggins&player_id1_select=Andrew+Wiggins&y1=2017&player_id1=wiggian01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=Carmelo+Anthony&player_id2_select=Carmelo+Anthony&y2=2017&player_id2=anthoca01&idx=players
I have the Warriors' roster far and away the best in the west, with the other four teams tied for second.
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 7:53 am
by Q12543 [enjin:6621299]
SameOldNudityDrew wrote:I like the optimism of putting us ahead of the Spurs! On paper, we should be. But that team perpetually proves that paper and hardwood are two different things altogether.
Yes, NEVER rule out the Spurs. But they do look a little vulnerable this year. Kawhi isn't going to play a game in the pre-season and it seems like his return for the regular season was left open a bit. I think the game may have passed Aldridge by, as he almost relies exclusively on the mid-range jumper and his ability to switch onto smaller players is weak. He's still a solid player, but what made him great in the past may just be "OK" these days.
And father time is bound to catch up with Manu and Gasol. Those guys aren't going to be getting any better, yet Pop will be relying on them quite a lot this year.
I'm more worried about the fact that there are very few truly bad teams in the West. Denver, Portland, Memphis, Clippers, Utah....all should be quite competitive and could beat us on any given night if we aren't on top of things defensively or get sloppy offensively.
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:05 pm
by khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]
I think the Thunder are #2 and we are #3 based on pure roster talent. Houston is getting overrated a bit because of having CP3 and Harden, but the rest of their team is full of role players and there's only one ball for two primary ball handlers to share. I would put Melo/Adams and Teague/Wiggins over the 3rd best player on Houston and Westbrook/PG and Butler/Towns are close to CP3/Harden. SA based on talent is in the right spot, but they always find a way to churn out 50+ wins even picking up games with multiple starters resting.
Talent
GS
OKC
MN
HOU
SA
W-L
GS
HOU
SA
OKC
MM
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:57 pm
by Squishypoo [enjin:6648839]
lipoli390 wrote:Here are my top 5 Western Conference teams on paper in order. I've identified what I believe to be the elite players on each team as a key measure of comparison because teams tend ot go only as far as their elite players take them. I've also identified what I believe to be the remaining players who round out each team's top 7
1. Warriors -
Elite: Durant, Curry, Thompson, Green
Rest: Iggy, Nick Young, Shaun Livingston
2. Rockets
Elite: Harden, Chris Paul
Rest: Ariza, Gordon,Tarik Black, PJ Tucker, Ryan Anderson
3. Thunder
Elite: Westbrook, Paul George, Melo
Rest: Adams, Roberson, Jerami Grant, Patrick Patterson
4. Wolves
Elite: Butler, KAT
Rest: Wiggins (could be elite), Teague, Gorgui, Taj, Bazz
5. Spurs#
Elite: Leonard, Aldridge, Gasol
Rest: Gay (not quite elite), Tony Parker, Danny Green
I'm not sure you all would agree with my team rankings or my top three player ranking for each roster. I have the Wolves ranked #4, but if Wiggins becomes the elite player he has the potential to be, then I see our roster as being second only to the Warriors.
Gasol's Elite days are far behind him IMO. The only thing i would change is, Thunder#2, Wolves#3,SA #4 and Rockets #5
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:14 pm
by KiwiMatt
Lip I'm upset. How can you rate Melo as elite and not my boy Steven Adams :)
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:24 pm
by KiwiMatt
Provided the Thunder can stay healthy I feel they're the only team that can knock on the Warriors door. A team of Westbrook, George and (a rejuvenated) Melo is enough to send shivers down any other teams spine. Add a defensive low post beast in Adams and a good wing defender in Roberson and that's up there with the best starting five in the league. There bench is pretty weak though, but if Donovan runs a 8 or 9 man rotation they should be ok. I have them as 2nd seed in the west.
I also think Houston won't be as good as everyone expects and can see them in a three way battle for third spot with the Spurs and Wolves.
All it takes is one or two injuries on any of these top five teams to change everything.
Re: Best in the West Ranking
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:47 pm
by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
khans2k5 wrote:I think the Thunder are #2 and we are #3 based on pure roster talent. Houston is getting overrated a bit because of having CP3 and Harden, but the rest of their team is full of role players and there's only one ball for two primary ball handlers to share. I would put Melo/Adams and Teague/Wiggins over the 3rd best player on Houston and Westbrook/PG and Butler/Towns are close to CP3/Harden. SA based on talent is in the right spot, but they always find a way to churn out 50+ wins even picking up games with multiple starters resting.
Talent
GS
OKC
MN
HOU
SA
W-L
GS
HOU
SA
OKC
MM
Khans, I'm in agreement with you that we have a top 3 talented team, but aren't likely to finish in the top 4, but I'm curious as to why you think we are going to underachieve (a #5 finish with #3 talent is underachieving, I think). What is your thought provess?