Who falls out of West playoffs this year? Who's in?

[NugzFan]

OKC
San Antonio
LA Clippers
Mavs

are all locks for top 4.

Golden State
Houston
Portland
Memphis

will jumble around at 5-8.

Phoenix, New Orleans and Denver could kick up some dust and maybe go on a late-season run for a playoff spot.

Minnesota and the Lakers are the unknowns. They could win anywhere from 20 to 50 games.

Sacramento and Utah are lottery bound.

Minnesota and the lakers could win 50?!

[NugzFan]

lol @ everyone overrating the Mavs.

lol @ the thought of Houston missing the playoffs.

Dat wishful thinking.

Is exactly what rocket fans say.

[YouGotServed]

Is exactly what rocket fans say.

Kill yourself immediately.

[NugzFan]

Kill yourself immediately.

I actually respect the fact that you didn't start crying about how awesome you think the rockets would be like most homers here would.

[hawksdogsbraves]

OKC
San Antonio
LA Clippers
Mavs

are all locks for top 4.

Golden State
Houston
Portland
Memphis

will jumble around at 5-8.

Phoenix, New Orleans and Denver could kick up some dust and maybe go on a late-season run for a playoff spot.

Minnesota and the Lakers are the unknowns. They could win anywhere from 20 to 50 games.

Sacramento and Utah are lottery bound.

Try 20-35

[qrich]

Locks: Thunder, Spurs, Clippers

All But Locks: Warriors

Should Make It With Ease: Blazers, Mavericks

That leaves two open slots to be fought between Memphis, Houston, New Orleans, Denver, Phoenix and even the Lakers.

I expect Memphis and Houston to keep their slots, though, Denver and New Orleans will make huge pushes.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Rockets wont make it
I think Stephs gonna get injured so GS might not make it either

[L.A.Hawks]

1. Spurs
2. Thunder
3. Clippers
4. Blazers
5. Rockets
6. Warriors
7. Lakers
8. Mavericks

[bigt]

It's so hard to determine right now. I was going to say Memphis are the team most likely to fall out of the 8, but once they got healthy last season they were among the best teams in the league. Denver and New Orleans are both teams that are talented enough to force their way into the playoffs but it's not fair to count the Suns out either.

Dallas got better, Houston got worse but Harden/Howard is a fantastic regular season combination and it's hard to see them not lift their team into the first round. GSW are too talented to fall out for any reason other than injuries (which, yeah is their biggest fear) Portland should be even more dangerous this year and Clippers/Spurs/Thunder are still top of the league. Unfortunately it's likely going to be down to which teams lose a major piece to long term injury

[masonanddixon]

I can see the Clippers, Blazers, and/or Rockets missing the cut.

[noob cake]

Let's see what 4 sportbooks think... (protip: Rockets are one of the 6 contenders)

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/odds/futures

1. Spurs
2. OKC

GAP

3. Clippers
4. Rockets

Huge GAP

5. GSW
6. Mavs

GAP

7. Blazers
8. Grizzlies

Obviously you guys know better than the bookies. Rockets are not making the playoffs

[oarabbus]

Let's see what 4 sportbooks think... (protip: Rockets are one of the 6 contenders)

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/odds/futures

1. Spurs
2. OKC

GAP

3. Clippers
4. Rockets

Huge GAP

5. GSW
6. Mavs

GAP

7. Blazers
8. Grizzlies

Obviously you guys know better than the bookies. Rockets are not making the playoffs

I DO think the Rockets make playoffs but the bookies are smokin' some mighty fine crack if Rockets are right after clippers then a "HUGE GAP" for us and the Mavs

Lost Parsons, Asik, Lin, somehow the team got better/stayed the same

[noob cake]

I DO think the Rockets make playoffs but the bookies are smokin' some mighty fine crack if Rockets are right after clippers then a "HUGE GAP" for us and the Mavs

Lost Parsons, Asik, Lin, somehow the team got better/stayed the same

Ariza provides same production as Parsons. Harden is one year better. One more year of chemistry between Dwight and Harden.

Houston didn't lose much really. Lin didn't do shit. Asik was discontent and hurt a lot of the season. Losing Asik makes the team worse, but losing Lin makes our team better. Hopefully Motiejunas or T Jones can fill the void left by Asik. Our backup center spot really does suck, which means Dwight will be playing 40 minutes in the playoffs.

[oarabbus]

Ariza provides same production as Parsons. Harden is one year better. One more year of chemistry between Dwight and Harden.

Houston didn't lose much really. Lin didn't do shit. Asik was discontent and hurt a lot of the season. Losing Asik makes the team worse, but losing Lin makes our team better. Hopefully Motiejunas or T Jones can fill the void left by Asik. Our backup center spot really does suck, which means Dwight will be playing 40 minutes in the playoffs.

Fair enough but that does not constitute a "HUGE GAP" between your team and

Curry/Klay/Iggy/Lee or Green/Bogut
Jammer or Dev HArris/Monta/Parsons/Dirk/Chandler


Neither is there a gap between OKC and the Clippers, especially after the considerable offseason the clips have had adding depth. Those bookies are on crack.

[noob cake]

Fair enough but that does not constitute a "HUGE GAP" between your team and

Curry/Klay/Iggy/Lee or Green/Bogut
Jammer or Dev HArris/Monta/Parsons/Dirk/Chandler


Neither is there a huge gap between OKC and the Clippers, especially after the considerable offseason the clips have had adding depth. Those bookies are on crack.

Check the distance between those lines. I didn't make up the differences. Average below

SAS(447.5)
OKC(615)

Clippers(1000)
Rockets(1575)

GSW (2550)
Mavs(2750)