Did you also take into consideration that we have about a 50% roster turnover (chemistry takes time, no matter who you add, I.e. LeBron to Miami), that last year the West was in a very abnormal downtrend, and that the West completely reloaded this offseason?
Boston added KG and Pierce and got off to a stellar start (was it 19-1 or something). So it can take time for additions to gel. Or it can just fit and click. I don't have enough data to really know whether it's normal to take time for pieces to fit together or not.
I don't pretend that it's a foregone conclusion that we improve. And I really acknowledge that my opTIMistic bias is exactly that. But Thibs has really ticked a few things that I like to see this offseason. I've mentioned it a few times, but I believe trading Quantity for Quality is the best way to get a step up in basketball given the smaller rosters and ability for star power to influence things. Secondly, I believe what we lacked last year was not talent, but the ability to piece it together. So the addition of defence and leadership is exactly what I think we needed.
P.S. Weren't you the one who told me not much had changed just prior to reminding me to consider that we had 50% roster turnover? <I realise I'm taking things out of context -so just having a bit of fun with this comment>.
Did you also take into consideration that we have about a 50% roster turnover (chemistry takes time, no matter who you add, I.e. LeBron to Miami), that last year the West was in a very abnormal downtrend, and that the West completely reloaded this offseason?
So roster turnover only applies to us and not all these other teams that had significant roster changes? Makes sense.
Of course it applies to every team? Did I state otherwise? Explain to me who else had a top end roster overhaul??
Sure, we have gotten better. How much is the big debate here. The GSW are the top dog. We won't beat them. Houston, even if you assume that Paul won't fit and that trading key pieces is a lateral move, is better than us. Spurs are the Spurs, they are better than us. OKC got 5x better. We will fight for 5-8, no doubt. It is not a given that we make it though. Butler averages 15 missed games a year. You can overcome that in the East. In the West dog Fight? Good luck. Especially considering our depth at the wing.
Did you also take into consideration that we have about a 50% roster turnover (chemistry takes time, no matter who you add, I.e. LeBron to Miami), that last year the West was in a very abnormal downtrend, and that the West completely reloaded this offseason?
So roster turnover only applies to us and not all these other teams that had significant roster changes? Makes sense.
Of course it applies to every team? Did I state otherwise? Explain to me who else had a top end roster overhaul??
Sure, we have gotten better. How much is the big debate here. The GSW are the top dog. We won't beat them. Houston, even if you assume that Paul won't fit and that trading key pieces is a lateral move, is better than us. Spurs are the Spurs, they are better than us. OKC got 5x better. We will fight for 5-8, no doubt. It is not a given that we make it though. Butler averages 15 missed games a year. You can overcome that in the East. In the West dog Fight? Good luck. Especially considering our depth at the wing.
Are you kidding me with the top end roster overhaul comment? Uh...
3 seed added a ball dominant PG who needs to share the ball with their ball dominant SG and they lost some good support players
4 seed lost it's All-NBA PG and have 3 new starters
5 seed lost it's 2 best offensive players and 38 PPG's
6 seed added another star who's gonna need to learn how to play with Russ
7 seed lost all of it's depth
9 seed added Paul Milsap and will need to learn how he works next to Jokic who runs their offense
And us...added a top 15 player and have 3 new starters overall.
Did you also take into consideration that we have about a 50% roster turnover (chemistry takes time, no matter who you add, I.e. LeBron to Miami), that last year the West was in a very abnormal downtrend, and that the West completely reloaded this offseason?
Boston added KG and Pierce and got off to a stellar start (was it 19-1 or something). So it can take time for additions to gel. Or it can just fit and click. I don't have enough data to really know whether it's normal to take time for pieces to fit together or not.
I don't pretend that it's a foregone conclusion that we improve. And I really acknowledge that my opTIMistic bias is exactly that. But Thibs has really ticked a few things that I like to see this offseason. I've mentioned it a few times, but I believe trading Quantity for Quality is the best way to get a step up in basketball given the smaller rosters and ability for star power to influence things. Secondly, I believe what we lacked last year was not talent, but the ability to piece it together. So the addition of defence and leadership is exactly what I think we needed.
P.S. Weren't you the one who told me not much had changed just prior to reminding me to consider that we had 50% roster turnover? <I realise I'm taking things out of context -so just having a bit of fun with this comment>.
That Boston team was remarkable in the way it jelled so quickly. I give Kevin Garnett a GREAT amount of credit for that.
He was arguably the best player on that team... but was the guy conceding the most when he arrived without complaint. By doing so, the pecking order was established and the team could simply work toward its goal collectively.
TheFuture wrote:We removed Rubio, LaVine, Dunn, Shabazz, etc. Yes, we overhauled. I expect this to take time. More time than allowed in the West.
We rearranged far more pieces than any other team whom is "perceived to contend".
We should make the playoffs. But We will be lucky to do such.
Maybe. The loss of Rubio will definitely change how this team plays. The loss of LaVine, Dunn and Shabazz will have much less impact.
And that might not be a bad thing. Muhammad was one of the most selfish basketball players I've seen in recent years. Doesn't make him a bad guy or a bad player... but he had a very selfish style of play. LaVine simply didn't play a smart style of basketball.
Dunn not running the point offensively like he did last season is a boon for any team.
