LOR2 Plus

[Laimbeer40]

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Dallas

Stars: D.DeRozan
B-List: D.Graham, E. Fournier
Solid Starters: L.Walker, T.Mann
C-List: Connaughton, D.Powell, K.Nunn, C.Martin
Fingers Crossed: Z.Williams, J.Winslow, WCS

... Very guard heavy. Even in a weak Western Conference this probably doesn't see the playoffs. Maybe swap a G/F for a F/C and maybe that changes.

Denver

Studs: LeBron
B:List: D.Garland, NAW, J.Allen
Solid Starters: A.Gordon
C-List: Danny Green, P.Millsap
Fingers Crossed: Quickley, A.Nesmith, I.Roby

... Not a contender but definitely a playoff candidate. How much does LBJ play? Some ascending talents on the B-List.

Golden State

Studs: Giannis, A.Davis
B-List: Dinwiddie, T.Haliburton
Solid Starters: B.Lopez, LMA
C-List: PJ Tucker
Fingers Crossed: T.Jerome, A.Sengun, J.Wall, THT

... Not many can compete with Giannis & Brow as a 1-2 punch. Early on we see deficiencies with the roster as they only have 6 guys they can rely on. Perhaps Sengun makes 7. Unfortunately Wall is about as useful as the one Trump built.

Houston

Studs: Harden
B-List: Hield
Solid Starters: Bojan, D.Brooks, N.Powell
C-List: C.Joseph, R.Hood, M.Wagner, A.Holiday
Fingers Crossed: B.Clarke

... Doesn't look like Harden is going to bail out this team again this year. What happened to Brandon Clarke?

LA Clippers

Stars: Anunoby, Randle
B-List: D.Murray
Solid Starters: J.Suggs, W.Barton, WCJ
C-List: Zubac, Theis, Favors, Vanderbilt, D.Wright, R.O'Neale

... Pretty good starting rotation but a pedestrian bench. Not much upside unless Suggs gets better. Probably a 6 seed type team.

LA Lakers

Studs: Steph Curry
Stars: T.Harris, C.Wood
B-List: D.White
Solid Starters: J.Ingles, D.Schroder, D.Robinson, J.Tate
C-List: D.Howard, C.Zeller
Fingers Crossed: J.Nwora

... This team is in the upper echelon of the West. Plenty of solid depth to go along with the stars. 

Memphis

Stars: J.Valanciunas
B-List: J.Grant
Solid Starters: F.Wagner, G.Allen, Lauri, P.Mills
C-List: Cam Johnson, Lou Williams
Fingers Crossed: Kyrie, Satoransky, H.Jones

... Obviously a ton hinges on Kyrie's status. He is the difference between playoffs vs afterthought.

Minnesota

Studs: KAT
Stars: Zion
B-List: R.Holmes
Solid Starters: Rubio
C-List: J.Lamb, Campazzo, T.Jones, R.Bullock
Fingers Crossed: Huerter, X.Tillman, K.Lewis, T.Maledon, I.Jackson

... It's vital for the T-Wolves that Zion get healthy. This is a team with only a few top talents. They cannot afford to lose any of them. Like Memphis, one player probably makes the difference between playoffs or afterthought.

New Orleans

B-List: Kuzma?, 
Solid Starters: M.Smart, Bogdan, Capela, R.Jackson, E.Gordon
C-List: Svi, J.Richardson, Monk, Shamet, Marcus Morris
Fingers Crossed: L.Garza

... Below average starting talent. Will be a lottery team but there is enough talent here that they likely miss out on a high pick.

Oklahoma City

Stars: E.Mobley
B-List: G.Hayward, T.Rozier
Solid Starters: C.Anthony, D.Vassell, I.Stewart, A.Horford, E.Bledsoe
C-List: K.Birch
Fingers Crossed: P.Reed, Jared Butler, U.Garuba

... Gotta be pleased with what Mobley has shows so far. Horford looks refreshed after sitting so much last year. If Hayward/Rozier can get/stay healthy, then ya boy Petis may have turned this into a playoff team quicker than expected.

Phoenix

Studs: L.Doncic

Stars: Gobert

B-List: K.Johnson

Solid Starters: J.Poole, KCP, Precious

C-List: J.McDaniels, C.Payne, Iggy, D.Dedmon
Fingers Crossed: M.Moody, Pokusevski, T.Ariza

... It would probably take a Luka injury to keep this team out of the playoffs. They somehow got better after trading Dame. Will be a tough out.

Portland


Stars: Ja Morant, D.Sabonis, K.Middleton

B-List: S.Bey

Solid Starters: J.Brunson, A.Simons?

C-List: G.Dragic, Thad Young, D.House, DFS, D.Jordan
Fingers Crossed: T.Bryant

... Ja looks like a man possessed this year and he could make the leap into the Studs level. This is a scary team in the West. If they can get anything out of Bryant, then that's just icing on the cake.

Sacramento


Stars: J.Brown, J.Murray
Fingers Crossed: K.Hayes, T.Mann, J.McDaniels, Davion Mitchell

... We all know this team was set up for the future. Brown is really good and I moved him into the Stars category. Gunning for a Top 3 pick here.

San Antonio


Stars: B.Beal, D.Fox

Solid Starters: Mo Bamba!, B.Brown

C-List: M.Beasley, O.Porter, Naz Reid
Fingers Crossed: T.Murphy, D.Sharpe

... It wouldn't be the Spurs without at least one really ugly contract on the roster. They probably don't have enough to make the playoffs but if the ascension of Mo Bamba is real, then maybe next year has potential.

Utah


Solid Starters: RJ Barrett, D.Hunter, S.Adams

C-List: Ish Smith, Nerlens, B.Portis, Kieff
Fingers Crossed: H.Diallo, R.Langford, Coby, TJ Warren, L.Bolmaro

... Another team with an eye toward next season. Has some useful young talent that will hopefully develop further over the course of this season. Hate to say it though I think a lot of them are at their ceiling already.