Sleeper out West?

[Kuberski1]

Watching a replay of Grizzlies-Heat....and the visitors dominated.  Over the past few weeks, the Grizz have beaten Miami, OKC, and the Lakers on the road.  Randolph is getting his game back, and even Agent Zero looks fairly good.  I think their rotation looks more/less like this:

Conley/Arenas
TA/Mayo
Gay/Cunningham
Randolph/Speights
Gasol

These are the guys who took out the Spurs in the 1st round, and the Thunder to 7...all without Gay in last year's POs.  They have a relatively easy schedule for the remainder, and could sneak up to get home court in the first round.  They'll be interesting to watch...if they get hot, who knows....an appearance in the WCF?

[chambers]

Totally.
I actually got a bet on these guys to win the title at 65-1 just BEFORE Randolph went down.
They are very tough inside and they have the size to compete with  any team, they are also able to smother with their size defensively.
Getting Arenas and Randolph for the playoffs makes them contenders.
I mean they made the WCF last year and were very close to knocking off OKC.
Gasol+Zeebo will destroy Perkins and Ibaka. Allen has the skill set to make Westbrook or Harden much less effective- although they may put him on Durant because he is so good at getting in and under players similarly to Avery Bradley.
I noticed some betting sites still have them at 41-1 which is a fantastic bet in my opinion.
Anyway, yes, definite sleeper.

[SHAQATTACK]

I agree with OP...this is a super dangereous team.  They have all the components to beat anyone anytime. Just never been healthy all at once.

Like OKC ...I don't see how they can keep all those nice players paid , keep them and keep themselves under the cap.

They could upset OKC, SPURS or Lakers .

As a Celtics fan ...I'm extremely jealous of this team .... I wish we could find a way to get a decent center.  

[pearljammer10]

Yeah they are pretty nasty and when healthy they've got a pretty solid young lineup... i still think they are one veteran presence away from reigning in all the young guys and being a legit threat out west. However they completely have the ability to cause at least one upset in the playoffs, probably being in the first round.

I cant sleep on the Spurs. Even with Duncan being old...He is still Tim Duncan... And he is still going to be able to take over games with whatever the game needs.

[GreenFaith1819]

I agree with the OP - MEM is very dangerous.

Don't sleep on HOU, either...McHale has those guys playing out of their minds.

Goran Dragic is a stud, plain and simple.

[ScoobyDoo]

TP - One development I'm happy about is that while Miami is daunting with the LeBron / Wade + Bosh combo...I really think that every season another "team" is going to come along that is just better than them.

Last year it was Dallas. This year I think it could be any of the following:

1. Memphis
2. OKC & San Antonio
3. Indianapolis
4. Yes, your Celtics.
5. Possibly Chicago

I also think one of Memphis, SA or OKC will also knock out the Lakers.

Love it.

[Kuberski1]

And a win at home today against the Mavs.  If they beat the Clips at home in their next game (hope everyone beats the Clips!),they are only 1/2 game back of 4th place, and have a very good chance for that spot.  That would give them a very good shot of making it to the 2nd round.  A fun team to watch!

[bfrombleacher]

TP - One development I'm happy about is that while Miami is daunting with the LeBron / Wade + Bosh combo...I really think that every season another "team" is going to come along that is just better than them.

Last year it was Dallas. This year I think it could be any of the following:

1. Memphis
2. OKC & San Antonio
3. Indianapolis
4. Yes, your Celtics.
5. Possibly Chicago

I also think one of Memphis, SA or OKC will also knock out the Lakers.

Love it.

The Rockets? They're well rounded and deep (who would have thought). Also the 6ers. I'd say Dallas but they're not doing so well.

Hopefully well built teams keep winning. As much as I enjoy individual glory and amazing star performances, when it comes down to it, nothing trumps watching a good team run well.

Even though the recent Celtics-Spurs game was a sloppy and ugly (and resulted in a loss by us no less), I still loved it a lot as a basketball fan. Sure, there was heroics but these guys just wanted it for their team. There is just a quality I can't quite explain from the two teams.

I'm really happy that people on here appreciate team basketball. I've seen far too many Chris Paul/Dwight/Deron Williams/star threads. Garnett brought team pride here and I certainly hope it stays.

[manl_lui]

Grizzlies, and Spurs

I expect a conference finals between the Thunder and the Lakers. Grizzlies looked like they stacked up nicely after last year's lost to the Thunder by adding Arenas as a scorer off the bench

[Q_FBE]

I know the Grizz are a good solid team playing well. I want to see them line up against the Fakers in round one and have Tony Alen dog Kobe. I give them a great shot to knock off the Fakers in a potential matchup.

There are other sleepers out there. Jazz, Rockets, Suns all have competitive teams that won't be swept in the first round.

[RebusRankin]

Agree on Memphis. I don't think the Lakers make the WCF. I think they'll implode.

[pearljammer10]

I agree with the OP - MEM is very dangerous.

Don't sleep on HOU, either...McHale has those guys playing out of their minds.

Goran Dragic is a stud, plain and simple.

I love Dragic. When he has been given the opportunity to play (this year and last year in Phoenix) he has absolutely taken the most of it. I hope he keeps a starting job or gets traded to a contender at some point to be their main guy, im really rooting for him.