Purple&Blues Q&A : Western Conference

March 25, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) looks on during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

2. Which team that made the playoffs last season, will miss the playoffs this season?

Haslam – Denver Nuggets- Without their great coach and losing Igoudala they have the best chance of missing the playoffs out of the 8 that made it in the West.  Obviously the Lakers are in this too.

L. McDermott – In the West it’s harder to say but my guess would be the Lakers. Kobe and Gasol just don’t have enough talent surrounding them this year to make a playoff run. The Denver Nuggets are a possibility here too.

R. McDermott – I think it will be the Lakers. Who Knows when Kobe will be back and if Gasol is truly healthy. After that they don’t really have anybody.

Newman – I don’t see the Lakers making the playoffs this season since their roster took a huge hit and Kobe is coming off injury but we do have to realize that this is Kobe Bryant and he may be ready for game one just to prove everyone wrong and the Lakers could be an 8th seed team again.  The team who I think will struggle a lot compared to last year is Denver.  I think they are still a playoff team but will probably drop a lot in the standings.  If Portland, Minnesota or even the Jazz over exceeds what they’re expected to do then I can see Denver possibly missing the playoffs.

Anderson – The Los Angeles Lakers or Denver Nuggets.

Powers – It’s kind of hard to imagine the Lakers not being in the playoffs, but I agree that it could happen this season. Kobe is coming off of an injury, but honestly, it is Kobe. He could come back game 1 of the season and play better than he has ever played before. I just think that the Lakers entire roster is not very strong and they will take a hit. Denver losing Iguodala is going to hurt. He was a key piece in their fastbreak offense.