MAVS NEWS:

[omahen]

We are just 6-7 ( ) into the season but another reason I think #2 is the most likely ending is watching teams like Memphis and Portland.  Neither are contenders, but they will battle and get some wins.   40-45 wins maybe.   I am not sure the Mavs are better than either.    I think they have the higher ceiling, but so far you can't be very impressed by the Mavs start.   I think only Kings, Pelicans (who have some of the similar issues as the Mavs) and Suns are the clear floor of the west.   I am not sure I can confidently put the Mavs over anyone else in the west in the early season.

Also, what is with the lack of info on injuries?  I get it, they don't like giving info out.  I just feel like after last year, the Mavs should really try to be as transparent as possible.   Although, I guess they are busy in a lawsuit with the Stars

I think Utah will also be at the bottom of the West with Pels, Suns and Kings, but otherwise it will be a bloodbath. Portland is an early positive surprise. They have a bunch of good defenders and their lineups are clicking really well early. San Antonio also made a big step forward, as long as Wemby can stay healthy. 

New Orleans are perhaps worst run franchise in the league. Giving up an unprotected FRP to move up a couple of spots in the draft should be a firing offense. Especially since the player they liked so much isn't really any factor, barely cracking the rotation. They are 0-5 even though they are fully healthy, a luxury they can't count upon with Zions injury history. Atlanta must really be smiling no matter how their season will go, as it looks like they will have a very, very good draft pick next year. Not ulikely it even ends in top 5. 

Sacramento is another royal mess. Their team makes zero sense for modern NBA. A bunch of offensive bettas that can't play defense. It must really suck to be their fan, if there are any left after decades of suffering. 

Phoenix screwed up their big all in move and put themselves in a situation where tanking doesn't make sense as they don't control their picks, but they simply don't have anything left to build a competent team. Unless they strike some gold late in the draft, they are up for years of suffering. 

Other observations early in the season. Minny seems stuck. They are good but not contender level good enough. They desperately need a competent PG as Conley age finally caught up with him and they didn't strike with Dillingham (so far). Gobert started the season looking as one of the worst contracts in the league. They have a young star that is still improving, they have solid pieces in Randle, McDaniels, DiVinzenzo and Reid, however everything else looks meh and they don't have the assets to significantly improve. I think they can have a solid regular season, but I think their ceiling is low. 

Clippers are deep but very, very old. Similar could be said about GSW. I think it is inevitable that they will face injuries and we will see how they will be able to navigate through season then. Memphis is also sort of stuck, but they do have a bunch of draft assets to improve around Ja and JJJ, who are still only 26 years old.