Which teams will quit, which teams will surge

[Alamorich]

Every season is every sport there are a few teams that just give up and other teams make a run. If these teams can be spotted early they can be ridden all the way to the bank. We all know San Antonio and Detroit are going to finish strong so leave them out.

My quitters are: Golden State, Minnesota, Utah, Seattle, LA Lakers

My surgers are: NO/OK, LA Clippers, New Jersey, Houston, Cleveland, Indiana

[JayEgdarWho]

No Portland among the quitters, Alamo? I might toss them in.

Also might argue for the Bulls in your column B.

And maybe there's a third category -- they might not exactly surge, but they are either too young to quit, or coached in a way that makes that unlikely. To me that's Charlotte, and it might be the Knicks too.

[Illusion]

I like your Utah choice. This team always folds in the second half.

[Razz]

I like your Utah choice. This team always folds in the second half.

If by always, you mean never, I agree.

If the injuries continue like last year, maybe, but this team will fight till the end.

[JayEgdarWho]

And maybe there's a third category -- they might not exactly surge, but they are either too young to quit, or coached in a way that makes that unlikely. To me that's Charlotte,

though what they did tonight in the 2H was a passable impression of quitting

[Dark Horse]

I'm slow playing the NBA right now, putting greater focus on fewer teams. Basketball, more than any other sport, is a sport of motivation. Because there are so many scores, surges in motivation translate directly into the scoreline. The NBA is the league where teams have huge swings in motivation, because the season is too long to be 'up' all the time. As a result, teams develop clear habits (trends!).

One way to beat the NBA is to identify the dominators, and analyze their motivational situations. Dominators determine the flow of a game; when a dominaTED team makes a run it is because the dominator allows it. The more motivational situations in your playbook, on a team by team basis, the greater the number of potential bets.

Lately, surging dominators have been PHX and DAL. LAC are starting to fall behind; not sure they'll be able to keep their edge. MIA should start to surge. Shaq only plays half a season at most, and it starts after the All Star break. SAC has surge potential with Artest. Things can change quickly, so it's important to keep trends updated to the most recent game.


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[bigboydan]

based on history alone, i will say the LA Clippers would be quitters. as far as surging, i will go with houston. van gundy will get this team to real off like 8-10 wins in a row.

[Illusion]

The Clippers will be fine. None of us have seen a Clippers team like this in nearly 15 years.

[imgv94]

based on history alone, i will say the LA Clippers would be quitters. as far as surging, i will go with houston. van gundy will get this team to real off like 8-10 wins in a row.

dan, you will quit before the clippers do.

[imgv94]

I think the Kings will have an extremely successful 2nd half of games.

[isetcap]

If by always, you mean never, I agree.

If the injuries continue like last year, maybe, but this team will fight till the end.

LOL, I agree. Illusion has lost his mind on this one. I hate Utah so I know very well that they never quit. They piss me off so much. Fortunately, they haven't had the talent necessary to put up a good record but that doesn't mean they don't play incredibly hard. I suspect you will always get that from a Jerry Sloan team.

[bigboydan]

dan, you will quit before the clippers do.

img, i'm basing them quitting on the recent history trends.

[Illusion]

You can't do that. This is the best Clippers team in 15 years. Past trends won't mean anything with this team.

[bigboydan]

ILL, it's the same ole sorry ass clippers team til they prove to me otherwise.

[Alamorich]

You can't do that. This is the best Clippers team in 15 years. Past trends won't mean anything with this team.

Clippers will make the playoffs if they stay healthy. They have a good mixture of veterans and young players and a good coach. Darius Miles and the other pot heads (no offense IMG) that used to make up the Clips are out of the league or are screwing up other teams.

I know Jerry Sloan is a good coach and his teams play hard but they are so short talent wise that IMO they will collapse at some point and fade away.

[Winston Smith]

I think the Hornets will continue to be a strong bet at home. A young team with a lot to prove.

I love Indiana. This team knows how to play with the cards they're dealt. I thought Carlile should have been coach of the year last year, and I would still push for him this year.

Minnesota and Seattle are done. Even if Seattle wanted to win, nothing could persuade them to play defense.

[bigboydan]

winston, i think that the Hornets will end up in a tail spin when it's crunch time.

[imgv94]

Alamo your right about darius miles, he smokes enough weed 2 kill
a cow. Lamar Odom also he is a major pot head.

[onlooker]

Even if Seattle wanted to win, nothing could persuade them to play defense.

You hit the nail on the head with that statement. No way do they play defense.

[imgv94]

Seattle is done. Even if Seattle wanted to win, nothing could persuade them to play defense.

They need Isiah Thomas as there GM

[Illusion]

They need Isiah Thomas as there GM

I'm sure that would do the trick.