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NBA Predictions Part 2

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All D-Wreck said was he thought they were a dark horse. Not that he was picking them or that he favored them. And all I said was Vegas Odds mean jack shit.

Why you've made this into your crusade I do not know. NO ONE was predicting Atlanta would win 60 games last year or make the Eastern Conference Finals. Things change, players improve, coaches improve, and other players get hurt. Stop acting like anyone thinking the Pelicans have an outside shot to make some noise have gone totally insane.

Your "bet" is an attempt to disprove a point that no one has made. Not one person has said they think the Pelicans will make it out of the West.

And by the way, the bet you just proposed would amount to odds somewhere between what the Spurs and the Warriors are getting. So you know, title favorites....
 
A huge blow has been struck to the Jazz with exum going down with the acl tear. This was a huge developmental year ahead of him and the jazz were poised to take a big step.
 
NO is closer to missing the playoffs than even making the WCF
 
I predict next season will be so special the around NBA section will go on hiatus
 
All D-Wreck said was he thought they were a dark horse. Not that he was picking them or that he favored them. And all I said was Vegas Odds mean jack shit.

Why you've made this into your crusade I do not know. NO ONE was predicting Atlanta would win 60 games last year or make the Eastern Conference Finals. Things change, players improve, coaches improve, and other players get hurt. Stop acting like anyone thinking the Pelicans have an outside shot to make some noise have gone totally insane.

Your "bet" is an attempt to disprove a point that no one has made. Not one person has said they think the Pelicans will make it out of the West.

And by the way, the bet you just proposed would amount to odds somewhere between what the Spurs and the Warriors are getting. So you know, title favorites....
It was stated they were a possible contender to come out of the west. I think that is unrealistic. I was told that I was wrong for saying they could not win the west. I was proving how much of a long shot it was. The original premise was I was wrong for not including them in a group of teams that could realistically win the west. It is not s realistic scenario, and I stand by that. Of course it is possible, but so many crazy things would need to happen. Could the Pacers win the east because they have Paul George? I guess so, but the chances are very slim just like New Orleans.
 
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so you have the Spurs, Warriors,Rockets Clippers , grizzlies and Thunder.
last season you had 4 of the top 6 seeds within a game of each other.

Portland and Dallas is dropping. New Orleans will be improved

Who do we got left? Denver,Utah, Phoenix,Kings, Lakers and Twolves.

Not sure who NO would need to hold to make the playoffs.

Id pencil in Dallas for the eigth spot until one of these rebuild teams show they can win more than they lose. They might draw a matchup with the Rockets or the Grizzlies. They have a chance to advance


As far as advancing in the playoffs. NO wont need to play all 6 of the front runners.

Should they be able to get a 6th or 5th seed

That sorta represents what a "darkhorse" pick is.

If your picking the Spurs,Warriors, or Thunder as a Darkhorse candidate. well you sorta miss the whole point of the term and exercise.

Really the west has 6 legitimate contenders. so its not absurd to call NO a darkhorse as the 7th team.

They do have a superstar and a supporting cast that can get the ball to him.
They have high caliber talent entering their prime or on the cusp
they have roster stability
Pelicans are really primed to make a major jump as a team if they start playing defense and they have trade chips
 
It was stated they were a possible contender to come out of the west. I think that is unrealistic. I was told that I was wrong for saying they could not win the west. I was proving how much of a long shot it was. The original premise was I was wrong for not including them in a group of teams that could realistically win the west. It is not s realistic scenario, and I stand by that. Of course it is possible, but so many crazy things would need to happen. Could the Pacers win the east because they have Paul George? I guess so, but the chances are very slim just like New Orleans.
Who said that? All I said was that they had a fighting chance because they could have the best player in the league next year.
 
Who said that? All I said was that they had a fighting chance because they could have the best player in the league next year.
You said they had a shot. You then compared Anthony Davis influence to Lebron James and said sometimes that is enough. The problem is this is not the 2007 eastern conference we are talking about. Anthony Davis by himself won't win the west. Anything is possible but I am very comfortable saying they have little to no chance. I compare it to the Pacers with Paul George if he is healthy again. I probably got carried away with asking for bets, but I don't see them as a serious contender given The other teams that are clearly better.

Last year I got into the same argument about Dallas. This was even before Rondo. Just because you can make the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed is not a cause to say you could win the conference. Obviously if many teams have significant injuries things can change.
 
You said they had a shot. You then compared Anthony Davis influence to Lebron James and said sometimes that is enough. The problem is this is not the 2007 eastern conference we are talking about. Anthony Davis by himself won't win the west. Anything is possible but I am very comfortable saying they have little to no chance. I compare it to the Pacers with Paul George if he is healthy again. I probably got carried away with asking for bets, but I don't see them as a serious contender given The other teams that are clearly better.

Last year I got into the same argument about Dallas. This was even before Rondo. Just because you can make the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed is not a cause to say you could win the conference. Obviously if many teams have significant injuries things can change.
Would it ease your mind if I said that I thought their chances were less than 5%?
 
Would it ease your mind if I said that I thought their chances were less than 5%?
I agree with you. That seems about right. The irony here is I love Davis and want the Pelicans to do well. in fact I am looking forward to watching a ton of Thier games on league pass!
 
Last year I got into the same argument about Dallas. This was even before Rondo. Just because you can make the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed is not a cause to say you could win the conference. Obviously if many teams have significant injuries things can change. I agree with you. That seems about right. The irony here is I love Davis and want the Pelicans to do well. in fact I am looking forward to watching a ton of Thier games on league pass!
Why would you do that if you dont think they have a shot at winning those games and improving from last season.
Dallas had the talent and They got off to a great start. You say before Rondo. when its clear the Rondo trade made them a lesser team and they did not replace the production of Jae crowder and brendan Wright who were solid contributors. Rondo didnt fit. he wasnt ready to play and he menaced the locker room to the point he was pulled for the playoffs.

If anything Dallas shows how quickly a teams fortunes can change throughout a season and the wrong move can derail that team for the rest of the season.

We also saw how the last game of the season shook up the playoffs. If Dallas does not make the rondo trade and pick up 5 more wins. you have a 5 team russian roulette for the top 7 spots with multiple teams impacted by whether they get home court advantage in the first round. Spurs with 55 wins going into the first round on the road and the Grizzlies with 55 wins going against a higher seed with less wins.

New Orleans did that by beating the Spurs that dropped the spurs from a 2nd or 3rd seed to a 6th seed and putting themselves in the playoffs as well.

I dont think you won your argument about Dallas last preseason. if anything a move that made them look better on paper made them worse.
 
Why would you do that if you dont think they have a shot at winning those games and improving from last season.
Dallas had the talent and They got off to a great start. You say before Rondo. when its clear the Rondo trade made them a lesser team and they did not replace the production of Jae crowder and brendan Wright who were solid contributors. Rondo didnt fit. he wasnt ready to play and he menaced the locker room to the point he was pulled for the playoffs.

If anything Dallas shows how quickly a teams fortunes can change throughout a season and the wrong move can derail that team for the rest of the season.

We also saw how the last game of the season shook up the playoffs. If Dallas does not make the rondo trade and pick up 5 more wins. you have a 5 team russian roulette for the top 7 spots with multiple teams impacted by whether they get home court advantage in the first round. Spurs with 55 wins going into the first round on the road and the Grizzlies with 55 wins going against a higher seed with less wins.

New Orleans did that by beating the Spurs that dropped the spurs from a 2nd or 3rd seed to a 6th seed and putting themselves in the playoffs as well.

I dont think you won your argument about Dallas last preseason. if anything a move that made them look better on paper made them worse.
Dallas lost in the first round 4 to 1 and thier best player was well over his prime. They were never at any point a championship level team. Not every team that makes the playoffs can win the title.
 
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My bold prediction is that the Spurs are not as good as everyone predicts. Father time will catch up next year and LeMarcus is not good enough alone of an add to bring them to the WCF.
 
Dallas lost in the first round 4 to 1 and thier best player was well over his prime. They were never at any point a championship level team. Not every team that makes the playoffs can win the title.
im gonna write this in caps so you dont miss it.
DALLAS MAVERICKS WERE A BETTER TEAM BEFORE THEY TRADED FOR RONDO. tHE RONDO TRADE MADE THEM WORSE. SO THEREFORE THEIR PLAYOFF PERFORMANCE IS NOT RELEVANT TO YOUR PRESEASON DEBATE.
THIS IS RELEVANT BECAUSE YOU ALLUDED TO THE RONDO MOVE AS A MOVE THAT IMPROVED THE TEAM.
IN ADDITION YOUR DISMISSAL OF THEIR FIRST ROUND PERFORMANCE ON THE ROAD IGNORES THAT HAD THE TEAM KEPT THEIR ROTATION PLAYERS BY AVOIDING THE RONDO ACQUISITION AND THEN PICKED UP STOUDEMIRE ON WAIVER THEY MAY HAVE BEEN IN A BETTER POSITION SEED WISE.
DALLAS TRADED AWAY THEIR DEPTH AND DIDNT USE THE PRIMARY PLAYER ACQUIRED IN THE TRADE. SO HAD THEY STOOD PAT THEY VERY WELL MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THE PLAYOFFS WITH THE AGING DIRK NOWITSKI.

Dallas got caught up in the arms race and gambled on a guy who wasnt ready physically and mentally ready to play.

you act like these teams have no possible impact on the playoffs when matchups and injuries can be a huge impact on who gets to the finals.
 
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im gonna write this in caps so you dont miss it.
DALLAS MAVERICKS WERE A BETTER TEAM BEFORE THEY TRADED FOR RONDO. tHE RONDO TRADE MADE THEM WORSE. SO THEREFORE THEIR PLAYOFF PERFORMANCE IS NOT RELEVANT TO YOUR PRESEASON DEBATE.
THIS IS RELEVANT BECAUSE YOU ALLUDED TO THE RONDO MOVE AS A MOVE THAT IMPROVED THE TEAM.
IN ADDITION YOUR DISMISSAL OF THEIR FIRST ROUND PERFORMANCE ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE EVENTUAL NBA CHAMPIONS IGNORES THAT HAD THE TEAM KEPT THEIR ROTATION PLAYERS BY AVOIDING THE RONDO ACQUISITION AND THEN PICKED UP STOUDEMIRE ON WAIVER THEY MAY HAVE BEEN IN A BETTER POSITION SEED WISE.
DALLAS TRADED AWAY THEIR DEPTH AND DIDNT USE THE PRIMARY PLAYER ACQUIRED IN THE TRADE. SO HAD THEY STOOD PAT THEY VERY WELL MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THE PLAYOFFS WITH THE AGING DIRK NOWITSKI.

Dallas got caught up in the arms race and gambled on a guy who wasnt ready physically and mentally ready to play.

you act like these teams have no possible impact on the playoffs when matchups and injuries can be a huge impact on who gets to the finals.
They had little to no chance before the Rondo trade. Their GM admitted they could not win a title with their PG play before the trade and used that as a reason that they had to make the trade. If it was the old Rondo, their chances would have def improved, but it wasn't. But, if they had Rondo in the off season they would have been seen as a more serious contender and that is a fact. His injuries and lack of ability to get to the basket were not clearly known last summer. They never had a serious shot at winning it all at any point last year. Yes, Rondo bottomed out but they were not a title contender before the trade either. On paper the Rondo trade was necessary to have enough fire power to compete with teams that were clearly more talented, all the NBA analysts even pointed that out during the deal. If you think the Mavs were a true championship contender, you are welcome to that belief, but their odds were far below 6 other teams in the conference. Thier own GM does not even agree with your position. Their ability to come out of the west was seen as long shot last summer.

Finally, I acknowledged that major injuries can play a part in several posts. But, when you have the 7th best odds, it takes a historical amount of major injuries to a significant amount of teams to win a conference. Look, the Busks were the 6th seed in the East. But how many teams would have had to have significant injuries for them to come out of the East 3-5? It is highly highly unlikely. These series are best out of 7 not single elimination. The likely probability of a 7 seed winning a conference is very slim (it has not happened in the modern era of Basketball), and that is where most people projected them to finish. Some even thought they would be the 8 seed. Bottom line is they did not have enough talent to make it to the NBA finals unless several teams better then them were devastated with injuries. That scenario although possible is very improbable.
 
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