Which team has a better chance to make the Playoffs: Kings, Blazers or Lakers?

[Moranis]

If Kobe has a bounce back year Duncan style at the age of 36 after two years of injuries I'm calling shenanigans and for the FBI, CIA, NSA, and NASA to test him for every conceivable PED imaginable from goat wiz to fetal tissue injections to illegal Satanic deals on a daily basis

They are adding enough that Kobe doesn't have to have a crazy bounce back year for them to be good enough to sneak into the playoffs.  They are adding two high draft picks (Russell, Randle), a defensive anchor (Hibbert), and quality veterans (Bass, Williams).  Then you add in Kobe, Young, Clarkson, Sacre, and Black, and you have the makings of a pretty solid team.

I think they clearly have the highest upside just based on the shear talent added to the roster.  I mean the Lakers only won 8 less games than the Kings, I'd have to think they added a lot more than the Kings did by adding Rondo.

Gotta do that analysis evenly if you want to compare - the Kings also added a high draft pick (WCS) and some quality vets (Koufus, Bellineli, whatever Caron Butler's got left in the tank).  And George Karl is a very good coach if you want to make the playoffs and then sputter out. Probably not as much as the Lakers added but it's more than just Rondo.

fair enough, though to add Rondo they got rid of a fair amount of depth.  I mean Thompson, Landy, and Williams were 4500 minutes.  Stauskas was 1200, heck even Evans was 500.  I don't think guys like WCS, Koufus, Bellineli, and Butler are replacing that sort of production as well as the guys they lost (Koufus individually is an upgrade, but not as a collective group).  Rondo, appears to me, to be the one real addition to the team where they didn't lose as much or more (aside from whatever growth they get from DMC, Ben Mac, etc.)

[Monkhouse]

For the Kings, let me just put these nuggets here real quick...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_dEphFYheQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEj9uYi3yI0

I wanted a Cousins and Rondo lineup since forever...

The Kings have it, and its making me sad inside.

[slamtheking]

none will make it though Sac has the talent to get close provided they don't have a lockerroom meltdown.

I absolutely hate Kobe but I'm not ready to write him off as washed up yet.  If everyone in LA is healthy, they'll do better than expected.  Their pick will be going to Philly this year but it won't be as good as Philly is hoping for.

Portland, well, Lillard will be entertaining for them hopefully.  Could very well end up the worst team in the West.

[D.o.s.]

none will make it though Sac has the talent to get close provided they don't have a lockerroom meltdown.

I absolutely hate Kobe but I'm not ready to write him off as washed up yet.  If everyone in LA is healthy, they'll do better than expected.  Their pick will be going to Philly this year but it won't be as good as Philly is hoping for.

Portland, well, Lillard will be entertaining for them hopefully.  Could very well end up the worst team in the West.

I think you might be right. Denver will probably be worse, but they have that home court advantage.

[Fafnir]

I don't think Lillard will thrive on a team in the Blazers situation. He's already a lazy defender and often iffy ball mover. Without LMA I can easily see his bad habits become worse, especially on a losing team.

[Fafnir]

Which reminds me I have the Lowe Podcast with the Blazers GM to still listen too.

[slamtheking]

none will make it though Sac has the talent to get close provided they don't have a lockerroom meltdown.

I absolutely hate Kobe but I'm not ready to write him off as washed up yet.  If everyone in LA is healthy, they'll do better than expected.  Their pick will be going to Philly this year but it won't be as good as Philly is hoping for.

Portland, well, Lillard will be entertaining for them hopefully.  Could very well end up the worst team in the West.

I think you might be right. Denver will probably be worse, but they have that home court advantage.

Agreed, Denver won't be pretty this year.  Could very well out-stink Philly for worst record.

[SHAQATTACK]

Lakers will better

The

Less

Kobe

Plays

[kne]

I wanted a Cousins and Rondo lineup since forever...

The Kings have it, and its making me sad inside.

I am not sure I like the Kings' supporting cast, but I agree that Rajon and Boogie will turn heads this season. Rondo has so much heart and talent, the Dallas stint was an anomaly.

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

I wanted a Cousins and Rondo lineup since forever...

The Kings have it, and its making me sad inside.

I am not sure I like the Kings' supporting cast, but I agree that Rajon and Boogie will turn heads this season. Rondo has so much heart and talent, the Dallas stint was an anomaly.

Was the last year and a half an anomaly? He's been a bad PG since he got hurt, and as a guy who relied heavily on his physical tools that's not a good sign. He's a bad crunch time PG, and kills spacing on a team that'll already have 2 guys in WCS and Boogie who need a lot of room.

[kne]

I wanted a Cousins and Rondo lineup since forever...

The Kings have it, and its making me sad inside.

I am not sure I like the Kings' supporting cast, but I agree that Rajon and Boogie will turn heads this season. Rondo has so much heart and talent, the Dallas stint was an anomaly.

Was the last year and a half an anomaly? He's been a bad PG since he got hurt, and as a guy who relied heavily on his physical tools that's not a good sign. He's a bad crunch time PG, and kills spacing on a team that'll already have 2 guys in WCS and Boogie who need a lot of room.

I know it is hardly fashionable around here to appreciate Rajon Rondo, but I just do not buy that his talent and basketball IQ are gone, let alone the will to win. I do not mean to convince people though, opinions are just opinions.

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

I wanted a Cousins and Rondo lineup since forever...

The Kings have it, and its making me sad inside.

I am not sure I like the Kings' supporting cast, but I agree that Rajon and Boogie will turn heads this season. Rondo has so much heart and talent, the Dallas stint was an anomaly.

Was the last year and a half an anomaly? He's been a bad PG since he got hurt, and as a guy who relied heavily on his physical tools that's not a good sign. He's a bad crunch time PG, and kills spacing on a team that'll already have 2 guys in WCS and Boogie who need a lot of room.

I know it is hardly fashionable around here to appreciate Rajon Rondo, but I just do not buy that his talent and basketball IQ are gone, let alone the will to win. I do not mean to convince people though, opinions are just opinions.

His BB IQ is not gone, but his physical talents have not come back after a devastating injury, and the league's adjustments to bad shooters make his game much less effective in today's NBA.