Delusional overconfidence tier: You’ll hear many analysts preface a discussion about these teams with cliches such as: “don’t sleep on this team”, “don’t be surprised if they (insert unrealistic outcome)”, or “If they get healthy at the right time they could scare a top seed.” Keep in mind that none of those things will actually happen
Teams: Trail Blazers, Pelicans, Kings
The Memphis Grizzlies had a 3.5 game lead over all of these teams when the NBA season was suspended, and yet the three teams outside of the playoff picture are the ones that everyone is excited about.
Charles Barkley even said in a recent interview on ESPN’s “Get Up” that the Trail Blazers “could win the championship.” It’s the kind of statement that has me wondering if I need to petition to have our site name changed from “Sir Charles In Charge” to “Sir Charles Unhinged”.
Even if one of these teams can overcome a 3.5 game deficit and take the final spot in the West, they’ll be discarded in the first round of the playoffs with relative ease. Don’t take the bait.