Post by Miege22 on Nov 21, 2013 22:51:12 GMT -5
1. Las Vegas Gamblers
I realize I'm late on this, and it may be a little bit of cheating since I've gotten to see three weeks of the season already, but I LOVE this Gamblers team (from a fantasy perspective). Not only are they talented enough to win the division (despite losing once already to Utah), but they are set up perfectly to make noise in the playoffs. Kyrie is a top-notch fantasy player, Hayward is thriving (last two games not withstanding) in Utah, Bledsoe and Afflalo are playing great, and Tristan Thompson has dramatically improved his biggest weakness. This team is only going to get better, and they don't have guys that are likely to sit out late in the season. I'm a big fan.
2. Utah Jazz
The Jazz just keep trucking along. They aren't flashy, but they are just so solid in every category. There are some concerns here. If Deron Williams doesn't get healthy, and Paul Pierce continues to struggle, they won't make it back to the finals. Couple that with Danny Granger's injury problems and Pau Gasol's rapid decline, and this team may be on its last legs. With 8 players expiring at the end of the year, this could be the last stand for this iteration of the Jazz (with D-Will, Horford, and Marc Gasol under contract through 2016, this team will continue to compete). They really are an incredible contrast of the Gamblers. The young guns who got a taste of the playoffs last year coming for the old guard that has owned the division since the league's inception. I think the youngins take the division this year.
3. Golden State Warriors
And now the rest of the division. I actually like the Warriors. There are some really good pieces here. Paul George is a superstar. Ibaka is as solid as they come. Ilyasova, Bosh, Millsap, and Conley are quiet, but dangerous. Alas, there's just no depth here. Domo doesn't play. T-Ross gets no consistent minutes. J-Rich is hurt. Oden is Oden. If they had a better bench, they could definitely challenge the Gamblers and Jazz for the division. Unfortunately, they are just going to get overwhelmed, especially with Sanders out to start the season. It's a shame, really, because this division could have had the best three-team race in the league.
4. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers kind of get put here by default. Honestly, they're not all that dissimilar than the Warriors, only difference being that they're top players aren't quite as good as GS's. They have a lot of solid guys up and down their lineup, but that's just not going to get it done. Not without a big leap from Kemba (not happening, thus far), Stephenson (is happening), and Biyombo (maybe happening?). They need Gordon, Wallace, and Kirilenko to return to form (not great bets), and a good rookie season from Oladipo would be nice. They have some good players, and some potential, just not enough to compete with the top-3.
5. Seattle Supersonics
They seem content to lose, and I can see why. They have three very good players locked up long-term (Dwight, Lillard, Rose), and their own pick will produce one of the top prospects the league has seen in a while (Wiggins, Parker, Randle). They have some intriguing young guys (Nicholson, Harkless, Leonard) who won't do a whole lot this year, but could in the future. They seem to be biding their time, which, given the landscape of the Pacific division, may not be a bad idea. It may not be long before the Sonics are challenging the rest of the division, and the conference, for the ultimate prize.
I realize I'm late on this, and it may be a little bit of cheating since I've gotten to see three weeks of the season already, but I LOVE this Gamblers team (from a fantasy perspective). Not only are they talented enough to win the division (despite losing once already to Utah), but they are set up perfectly to make noise in the playoffs. Kyrie is a top-notch fantasy player, Hayward is thriving (last two games not withstanding) in Utah, Bledsoe and Afflalo are playing great, and Tristan Thompson has dramatically improved his biggest weakness. This team is only going to get better, and they don't have guys that are likely to sit out late in the season. I'm a big fan.
2. Utah Jazz
The Jazz just keep trucking along. They aren't flashy, but they are just so solid in every category. There are some concerns here. If Deron Williams doesn't get healthy, and Paul Pierce continues to struggle, they won't make it back to the finals. Couple that with Danny Granger's injury problems and Pau Gasol's rapid decline, and this team may be on its last legs. With 8 players expiring at the end of the year, this could be the last stand for this iteration of the Jazz (with D-Will, Horford, and Marc Gasol under contract through 2016, this team will continue to compete). They really are an incredible contrast of the Gamblers. The young guns who got a taste of the playoffs last year coming for the old guard that has owned the division since the league's inception. I think the youngins take the division this year.
3. Golden State Warriors
And now the rest of the division. I actually like the Warriors. There are some really good pieces here. Paul George is a superstar. Ibaka is as solid as they come. Ilyasova, Bosh, Millsap, and Conley are quiet, but dangerous. Alas, there's just no depth here. Domo doesn't play. T-Ross gets no consistent minutes. J-Rich is hurt. Oden is Oden. If they had a better bench, they could definitely challenge the Gamblers and Jazz for the division. Unfortunately, they are just going to get overwhelmed, especially with Sanders out to start the season. It's a shame, really, because this division could have had the best three-team race in the league.
4. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers kind of get put here by default. Honestly, they're not all that dissimilar than the Warriors, only difference being that they're top players aren't quite as good as GS's. They have a lot of solid guys up and down their lineup, but that's just not going to get it done. Not without a big leap from Kemba (not happening, thus far), Stephenson (is happening), and Biyombo (maybe happening?). They need Gordon, Wallace, and Kirilenko to return to form (not great bets), and a good rookie season from Oladipo would be nice. They have some good players, and some potential, just not enough to compete with the top-3.
5. Seattle Supersonics
They seem content to lose, and I can see why. They have three very good players locked up long-term (Dwight, Lillard, Rose), and their own pick will produce one of the top prospects the league has seen in a while (Wiggins, Parker, Randle). They have some intriguing young guys (Nicholson, Harkless, Leonard) who won't do a whole lot this year, but could in the future. They seem to be biding their time, which, given the landscape of the Pacific division, may not be a bad idea. It may not be long before the Sonics are challenging the rest of the division, and the conference, for the ultimate prize.