The title says it all. Here’s The Daily Fix’s win predictions for each Western Conference team (in case you didn’t catch it in the title):
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Clippers (60-22)
2. San Antonio Spurs (56-26)
3. Houston Rockets (55-27)
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (54-28)
5. Golden State Warriors (53-29)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (49-33)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (44-38)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (43-39)
Quick hits: The top of the West will be fun to watch from day one, when the Clippers will be toying with their new rotation and wings, Oklahoma City is playing without Russell Westbrook, Houston is trying to get used to playing a more traditional half-court offense, Golden State is getting used to having Andre Iguodala as their point-wing (is that a thing? Now it is!), San Antonio is trying to run the offense through Kawhi Leonard and Memphis is looking exactly the same as last year … The Clippers did a great job solidifying the wing position, and scoring a solid coach. Can Doc Rivers make a difference? If DeAndre Jordan plays the way he did in the preseason in the regular season, then the answer is already yes. If he can guide them to a Western Conference Finals or beyond, then the answer is hell yes … Oklahoma City’s supporting cast is starting to look pretty poor compared to everyone else’s isn’t it? Either they need to make a deal or they’ll have trouble making it out of the second round … Houston and Golden State both have a lot of growing to do, but they’re both on the rise, and they both have legitimate chances to win the West … Minnesota could average 110 points a game and their style of offense will give a lot of teams trouble; Maybe they’ll even upset the No. 2 seed (that is what we English majors call foreshadowing) … Portland’s depth is significantly improved from last year and that means the world to this squad. LaMarcus Aldridge has never gotten enough respect for what he does and maybe this year that all changes. Damian Lillard and Aldridge are a top-flight 1-2 punch and the rest of the league will realize that this season.
Missed the Cut
9. Denver Nuggets (41-41)
10. Dallas Mavericks (40-42)
11. New Orleans Hornets (33-49)
12. Los Angeles Lakers (32-50)
13. Sacramento Kings (28-54)
14. Phoenix Suns (22-60)
15. Utah Jazz (20-62)
Quick hits: Denver, Dallas, Minnesota and Portland aren’t separated by too much, so if Denver and/or Dallas make it to the playoffs, I won’t be surprised … Denver’s future plans are up in their air; this team might be torn apart at their seams. Or they’ll win 45 games and earn a first-round slaughter … Dallas has a lot of work to do in the first couple months of the season. Last year, even after Dirk Nowitzki came back, it took a little time for the team to get into a groove. This season, with Dirk entering the season healthy, we should know a lot more about this team in a month … New Orleans has talent, which gives them a boatload of variables; unfortunately, variables work both ways. I don’t think there is enough certainty surrounding this team to even start talking playoffs … The Lakers aren’t nearly as good as the teams placed directly ahead of them, with the possible exception of New Orleans. I have a feeling all four wheels are going to come off L.A.’s season (or maybe I’m just hoping) … Sacramento finally has a point guard, but are any of their problems fixable with a single acquisition? Maybe Mr. Wiggins can answered that for us next year (but he’ll probably answer it for Philadelphia or Utah, which are both less talented than Sacramento) … The Marcin Gortat trade proved that Phoenix will be doing everything in their power to tank, which is certainly the correct approach, especially if they can get a few more spare parts.
First Round
1 vs. 8: Los Angeles over Portland in four
2 vs. 7: San Antonio over Minnesota in six
3 vs. 6: Houston over Memphis in five
4 vs. 5: Golden State over Oklahoma City in seven
Second Round
1 vs. 5: Los Angeles over Golden State in seven
2 vs. 3: Houston over San Antonio in six
Conference Finals
1 vs. 3: Houston over Los Angeles in seven
We’ve finally made it to the start of the regular season. Thank god.
Thanks for reading, folks.