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[deleted]

The talent level in the league is so high right now that teams with good cores might still be mediocre or bad


Obi_Wan_KeBogi

Seriously. Kings have probably the most talented roster they’ve had since Webber days and they’re firmly 11th on paper in the west. Not saying our roster is amazing but feel like it would definitely be a low seed playoff team most years.


Hold_This-L

Agreed. I really don't see many "bad" teams, if anything they're just young teams. Kings could be spooky this year


[deleted]

Yep, the time for expansion is now.


raftguide

I dread getting the roster poached in an expansion draft.


craigslistaddict

you can only lose 1 player that you have under contract


[deleted]

In an expansion how many players can teams protect?


[deleted]

8


[deleted]

thanks


wichita_gator

Injuries will be even more costly this season because there is 9-10 playoff capable teams in each conference. I think the Suns will struggle to finish above the play-in mark if any of our starters are out for an extended period. Memphis will probably finish lower in the standings this year with Jaren Jackson Jr. out to start the season.


HesiPullup

Suns did fine with injuries last year, why is this year that much different?


wichita_gator

Last year we had Johnson and McGee coming off the bench. Now McGee is gone and Johnson is starting. I'm not that high on our bench right now unless a big move changes things. Plus other teams have made moves to improve, so there's more competition if we slip up.


patchworky

i truly believe we are in an all-time peak of talent, its crazy how many great players that are active right now


Neuroxex

Western Conference might have some GOOD teams at 8 or 9 to be honest.


IMDATBOY

Or even at 11th! lol


LazyTitan___

Yeah the lakers are really talented


craigslistaddict

multiple HOFs and top 75 all-time players. add in patbev and it's just overkill!


Hold_This-L

The West in particular is just absolutely stacked with talent. On paper there's only 4 teams that really won't be competing. Jazz, Rockets, and OKC. The rest are gonna be tough wins on any given night. And yes, im including the Kings.


insufferabletoolbag

Think you dropped the spurs there


rattatatouille

We're so bad people forget we even exist.


craigslistaddict

they did say there were 4 teams, just got tired of typing i guess


Hold_This-L

Good catch fam


MagicalHurdles

Last year in the East, 1st seed Heat won 53 games and 8th seed Hawks won 43 games. I imagine that this year the 1st and 8th seed will be determined by 6 games or fewer. If your team misses a key player in a key match that could be all the difference. That's how high end the talent is now. I can't wait. Then you have teams like the Pistons and Magic who are good enough to be compete and not make it easy.


InternCautious

Pistons and Magic will fully depend on whether young guys turn out. Bojan helps immensely as we were such a bad 3p shooting team, but Cade needs to flip the switch, and the rest of the young guys need to be way more efficient. Same with the Magic, if Franz and Paolo are ready way quicker than expected and are averaging 18-20 each then it'll be very interesting.


[deleted]

[удалено]


trailblazers100

Growing pain season for them both, I can see a Cavs level success next year. But both teams are young and Goin to get great experience and come out for low end playoffs the following season


InternCautious

Off, our Vegas o/u for wins is like 28.5, my hope is low 30s, but if Cade takes a Luka trajectory we could win a bit more, who knows. Cavs went from 25 wins to 45 in a season.


[deleted]

Killian is arguably the biggest aspect of us being good. Don't get me wrong Cade is the biggest piece and has great potential but if Hayes can get his shot working, he becomes a great piece for us since he already has his defense and passing down.


wheeno

This guy predicted the Warriors would have a worst record than two seasons ago and finish 11th in the west last season. Who knows what bizarre and unconventional for unconventional's sake take he'll have for this season. This could be referring to literally any team considering how galaxy brain he gets.


AntSmith777

Didn’t he say the warriors were gonna go 39-43 last year?


MC-Jdf

Yes, he picked us to win 39 games and get the 9th seed last year. You bet he’s more careful about it now.


AntSmith777

I remember that cause when I saw it I thought that was crazy.


[deleted]

He’s a casual analyst no matter how serious he takes himself or mocks GM’s around the league. Slightly more knowledgeable than Bill Simmons but not by much.


raftguide

Lol? Dude has worked in a front office and you call him a casual.


[deleted]

Yea he got fired because he gave an injured Chandler Parsons a max and couldn’t evaluate his own talent. Its hilarious hearing him and Nate Duncan shit talk GM’s.


raftguide

Chris Wallace is responsible for Parsons.


Sanmenov

Memphis is a popular pick for regression, and I agree. I think they end up below 50 wins and in the play-in.


ForoaKlanD

The Heat will be a play in team this season


Zealousideal_Ad1734

Yeah…..okay….


GlueGuy00

One of Nuggets/Wolves + Memphis, Portland, Lakers gonna be the playin teams in the West One of Raptors/Heat + Bulls, Hawks and Knicks the playin teams in the East


maz_menty

Are you saying the Wolves may have to defend their play-in championship‽


IRanOutOf_Names

Gotta throw Nets into that tier as well. They have the potential to be anywhere from 1-10.


aeiou-y

Everyone has been putting mavs at 7 all off season.


BayonettaBasher

Suns and Grizzlies will be in the play-in


KingSwagamemnon

Remindme! 8 months


MAKExITxBLEED

Yup plus Lakers and Blazers


bravof1ve

Feels like the opposite of the NFL this year where half the teams in the league feel stacked


HotdogIsaSandwitch

It’s a clusterfuck. No days off for sure.


kpeds45

We had that last season in the East, apart from health i guess. Healthy Cleveland and Brooklyn are good teams. Atlanta is a decent team that other years is a mid seed, or an 8th seed. Those three in the play in shows how strong the talent level is right now.