This is the first year in a very long time that I have looked at the Western Conference and I honestly think we have at least a chance to beat each and every team in a playoff series. There is still a long ways to go this season, but there are reasons for optimism heading towards the postseason.
by Global-Salamander-38
17 Comments
Just hoping for a 5 or 6 spot. We have many tough games coming up, and will be missing Kat for a while still. We’re going to go down to the wire for seeding I bet.
The main ones I’m worried about are the Warriors and Suns with Booker
Luka is another beast in the playoffs.
I have no idea what to expect from the Kings – really curious to see our upcoming matchup.
But yeah I think we can compete really well.
I think we can beat Nuggets – we won against them at home without KAT and lost in clutch in Denver without Rudy and KAT, when we had absolutely no one to guard Jokic.
Memphis would be more difficult, I think talent-wise we are at similar level, but they are way more mature and experienced. Also, they never give up – were down by 29 yesterday and lost by only 2, big comebacks against Wolves in playoffs, lost only one game this season when they were up by double-digits (Wolves lost 9).
I don’t believe in Sacramento, I think Sabonis is doubled in playoff like KAT. Pelicans can be tough when healthy – Rudy and Jaden could not stop Zion in clutch 4 weeks ago, they will also have Ingram. I don’t think we can beat healthy Phoenix or Warriors. If Dallas role players do not rain 3s like they did in Phoenix last year I think we can beat them. Clippers might be a problem if Kawhi is healthy.
I agree with all except Golden State. You can tell they have zero respect for our team and they play accordingly. I can’t remember being more disappointed than I was in that late November game. I thought Rudy and KAT were gonna come in and play some bully ball, maybe show Draymond something. Instead Curry out-rebounded them both. It makes me annoyed just thinking about it.
Crushes my soul to think if we had the same record we do right now, but beat the Pistons both times, we would be tied for 5th.
We need to get healthy and then I agree. hopefully that doesn’t mess our chemistry up though. Might take a number of games for people to mesh together, and we’re slowly running out of time.
Just secure playoffs. We have the talent to run with any of the top teams.
I’d really prefer not to see Denver or Memphis in the first round. Would love to stay out of the 7/8 spots if possible. If the Wolves can get into the top 6 there is no reason they can’t win a series.
We can beat anyone on any given night.
This includes ourselves.
I was just thinking the same thing. No team in there really scares me that much when we are somewhat healthy.
Its crazy because its been so disappointing for us this year, but you look around the west and everyone else is an even bigger disappointment than the wolves. We actually could set up well going into the playoffs
Towns makes it back and we get the 5 seed, I think we probably have a 1 in 20 shot of taking the ship. Vegas has us at 1 in 200, for what that’s worth
Agree except for Warriors. They will be full strength in time for playoffs and will more than likely win it all again.
I think Denver and Memphis are actually better matchups than most of the other teams in the West but they are obviously the two best teams this season. We could’ve beat Memphis last year and Denver has always been a close matchup lately.
Luka scares me but the rest of the Mavs are not great and we typically guard him well since we have Jaden/Ant/Anderson to throw at him.
Healthy versions of Suns, Warriors, Clippers, and Pels are not to be trifled with but health has been a major concern for all of those teams this year.
Kings would be a fun matchup.
I would probably prefer a 4/5 seed matchup with the Kings/Mavs/Pelicans but the West is just super close this year.
The challenge is still integrating Gobert and KAT.
Until we’re able to successfully do both, we’re a playin team. The upside though is elite.
Gobert’s challenge is playing with Ant.
About to get reeealll tight with the Lakers still outside looking in. Would think by season end we should see Lakers in and Jazz out
We wouldn’t have the best player in the series against any of these teams with the exceptions of Sacramento and maybe the Clippers, but that would also greatly depend on Kawhi’s availability. We’re in a tough spot, team is playing better but we don’t have enough to make real noise.