*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (5 Viewers)

[Captain Quinoa]

 

[Kev4029]

Damn it feels good to have that over and done. They'll be fun to watch next year. They were pretty fun to watch last year too, at least until the final minute or two.

How many games does this team win? 30-35?

Maybe 25.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Damn it feels good to have that over and done. They'll be fun to watch next year. They were pretty fun to watch last year too, at least until the final minute or two.

How many games does this team win? 30-35?

Maybe 25.

No numbers out yet but I'd guess o/u27.5 or thereabouts

 

[Kev4029]

Damn it feels good to have that over and done. They'll be fun to watch next year. They were pretty fun to watch last year too, at least until the final minute or two.

How many games does this team win? 30-35?

Maybe 25.

No numbers out yet but I'd guess o/u27.5 or thereabouts

That sounds about right.

 

[NutterButter]

Team USA kept Plumlee over Lillard. Since I don't think we have any regulars here who are Blazers fans, I'm going to be outraged on their behalf.

Uh, Plumlee went to Duke. Of course he makes the cut.

 

[Abraham]

I'm pretty sure chandler parsons is a better player than Rudy gay.

 

[Raider Nation]

Nash loves Kobe.

 

[Kev4029]

I'm pretty sure chandler parsons is a better player than Rudy gay.

Parsons is a little more efficient, Gay is much higher usage.

Gay is certainly the more talented player, but I think you would be hard pressed to find many teams that would rather have him. If Gay could take his usage rate down to 20% and show a little discretion, which will never happen, he would be a very nice 3rd/4th Banana, but instead hes an awful 2nd Banana.

 

[thecatch]

I'm pretty sure chandler parsons is a better player than Rudy gay.

Parsons is a little more efficient, Gay is much higher usage.

Gay is certainly the more talented player, but I think you would be hard pressed to find many teams that would rather have him. If Gay could take his usage rate down to 20% and show a little discretion, which will never happen, he would be a very nice 3rd/4th Banana, but instead hes an awful 2nd Banana.

He's a better defender and he's not going to have the green light to shoot at will on this team. I think it's a defensible selection for the tournament.

Oddly enough, I wouldn't trade Gay for Parsons in the NBA now either given parson's new deal.

 

[Sammy3469]

I'm pretty sure chandler parsons is a better player than Rudy gay.

Supposedly Parsons is a tad out of shape.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Gay was surprisingly efficient in Sacramento (.567 TS%) after being embarrassingly inefficient in Toronto (.468 TS% with more than 30% usage).

 

[scoobus]

I'll say 34 wins for the Twolves. I believe.

 

[mcintyre1]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

 

[Raider Nation]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker

Good luck, man.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Nash loves Kobe.

He and Adam Morrison were at each other's throats?

People are going to Cleveland of all places below market to play with lebron while guys turn down the max to avoid Kobe. :winning:

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

This is insane, but I love the excitement!

 

[Bobcat10]

I have a $10* bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

*millions

You guys didn't get out your monocles.

 

[Balco]

So what is Philly doing? (By the way, I am a big fan of their moves). Are they looking to build a homegrown championship contender like the Thunder, or do they have their sights set on a big name free agent in the coming years?

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

So what is Philly doing? (By the way, I am a big fan of their moves). Are they looking to build a homegrown championship contender like the Thunder, or do they have their sights set on a big name free agent in the coming years?

Until they get that franchise player to build around they're keeping their powder dry, developing players and accumulating assets.

Maybe Embiid is that franchise guy, maybe a Harden-type trade opportunity comes along and they have the assets to pull it off, or maybe they try to lure a big name FA though I'm not sure they'll be able to get a true top dog via FA (certainly not right now).

Either way, I'll take this approach over being a 43 win team stuck in perennial cap hell, which was Sixers basketball for the better part of a decade.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.

I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

 

[Balco]

So what is Philly doing? (By the way, I am a big fan of their moves). Are they looking to build a homegrown championship contender like the Thunder, or do they have their sights set on a big name free agent in the coming years?

Until they get that franchise player to build around they're keeping their powder dry, developing players and accumulating assets.

Maybe Embiid is that franchise guy, maybe a Harden-type trade opportunity comes along and they have the assets to pull it off, or maybe they try to lure a big name FA though I'm not sure they'll be able to get a true top dog via FA (certainly not right now).

Either way, I'll take this approach over being a 43 win team stuck in perennial cap hell, which was Sixers basketball for the better part of a decade.

Makes sense. I love that Hinkie has assembled young talent and the young talent will be able to develop by playing. Not one bad long term contract. Quite an accomplishment in today's nba. You have to figure they can get some nice picks by taking on a couple short term salary dumps.

I do wonder why they don't kick the tires of Bledsoe, though.

 

[Balco]

Is Rubio going to get a long term deal? I am unable to watch many Minnesota games, but it appears he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a bowling ball.

 

[mcintyre1]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.

I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

 

[mcintyre1]

Is Rubio going to get a long term deal? I am unable to watch many Minnesota games, but it appears he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a bowling ball.

I'd say it is a make or break year for him in terms of his long-term value.

Having watched pretty much every NBA game he's played, I'd say he's a near-elite defender (he needs to add overall strength to fight through screens), top 3 passer, excellent rebounder for his position, and damn near the worst scoring PG in the league. The thing that strikes me as odd about his terrible field goal % is that (at least, last I checked) he shoots a similar % no matter where he is on the floor. Despite playing professionally since 14, he has never been asked to be a primary scorer on any team he has played on and I think we're seeing that now. Unlike the AAU guys that grow up in the American system, he just plain hasn't learned how to score yet. Will it happen? Maybe, but I'd wager the Wolves are nearing the point of moving on if it doesn't happen now.

As a possible bright note for him, you can tell from the FIBA games that he's gained a lot of upper body strength since last year, which MAY help him absorb contact inside and get the foul calls he sorely needs to be a steady offensive threat.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

They rated out 9th on offence last year because they got to the line a ton (3rd) and hit a league average amount of 3's. They lost the guy responsible for the vast majority of those two categories. They had only 4 guys above league average in eFG. Love, Brewer, Pekovic and Turiaf. Love gone. Turiaf barely shoots. Brewer's season was far and away a career best and likely to regress back to below average. So that just leaves Pekovic. Martin sure wasn't the efficient scorer he used to be. Maybe he returns to it but he is now in the wrong side of 30.Eta: and Young.

 

[mcintyre1]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

They rated out 9th on offence last year because they got to the line a ton (3rd) and hit a league average amount of 3's. They lost the guy responsible for the vast majority of those two categories. They had only 4 guys above league average in eFG. Love, Brewer, Pekovic and Turiaf. Love gone. Turiaf barely shoots. Brewer's season was far and away a career best and likely to regress back to below average. So that just leaves Pekovic. Martin sure wasn't the efficient scorer he used to be. Maybe he returns to it but he is now in the wrong side of 30.Eta: and Young.

Yeah, I'm aware. I'm not saying it will be easy, I just believe that Wiggins will get to the line a lot immediately, and that we'll again be around, but probably under, league average at hitting 3's. Between Wiggins, Brewer (call it .490), Pek (.541), and Dieng (at league average last year, call it .510 next year), I think they'll be able to score, and they'll be a better defensive team with a much improved bench. I don't think its that ridiculous to assume they'll still be a fringe playoff team.

 

[Kev4029]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

They rated out 9th on offence last year because they got to the line a ton (3rd) and hit a league average amount of 3's. They lost the guy responsible for the vast majority of those two categories. They had only 4 guys above league average in eFG. Love, Brewer, Pekovic and Turiaf. Love gone. Turiaf barely shoots. Brewer's season was far and away a career best and likely to regress back to below average. So that just leaves Pekovic. Martin sure wasn't the efficient scorer he used to be. Maybe he returns to it but he is now in the wrong side of 30.Eta: and Young.

Yeah, I'm aware. I'm not saying it will be easy, I just believe that Wiggins will get to the line a lot immediately, and that we'll again be around, but probably under, league average at hitting 3's. Between Wiggins, Brewer (call it .490), Pek (.541), and Dieng (at league average last year, call it .510 next year), I think they'll be able to score, and they'll be a better defensive team with a much improved bench. I don't think its that ridiculous to assume they'll still be a fringe playoff team.

It's pretty ridiculous. They are going to be pitiful offensively.

 

[mcintyre1]

For what it's worth, Bennett is looking to be in a lot better shape than last year.

 

[mcintyre1]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

They rated out 9th on offence last year because they got to the line a ton (3rd) and hit a league average amount of 3's. They lost the guy responsible for the vast majority of those two categories. They had only 4 guys above league average in eFG. Love, Brewer, Pekovic and Turiaf. Love gone. Turiaf barely shoots. Brewer's season was far and away a career best and likely to regress back to below average. So that just leaves Pekovic. Martin sure wasn't the efficient scorer he used to be. Maybe he returns to it but he is now in the wrong side of 30.Eta: and Young.

Yeah, I'm aware. I'm not saying it will be easy, I just believe that Wiggins will get to the line a lot immediately, and that we'll again be around, but probably under, league average at hitting 3's. Between Wiggins, Brewer (call it .490), Pek (.541), and Dieng (at league average last year, call it .510 next year), I think they'll be able to score, and they'll be a better defensive team with a much improved bench. I don't think its that ridiculous to assume they'll still be a fringe playoff team.

It's pretty ridiculous. They are going to be pitiful offensively.

Agree to disagree, we'll know who is right in a few months.

 

[thecatch]

I'll bet the over on 20 and the under on 40 all day long.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

They rated out 9th on offence last year because they got to the line a ton (3rd) and hit a league average amount of 3's. They lost the guy responsible for the vast majority of those two categories. They had only 4 guys above league average in eFG. Love, Brewer, Pekovic and Turiaf. Love gone. Turiaf barely shoots. Brewer's season was far and away a career best and likely to regress back to below average. So that just leaves Pekovic. Martin sure wasn't the efficient scorer he used to be. Maybe he returns to it but he is now in the wrong side of 30.Eta: and Young.

Yeah, I'm aware. I'm not saying it will be easy, I just believe that Wiggins will get to the line a lot immediately, and that we'll again be around, but probably under, league average at hitting 3's. Between Wiggins, Brewer (call it .490), Pek (.541), and Dieng (at league average last year, call it .510 next year), I think they'll be able to score, and they'll be a better defensive team with a much improved bench. I don't think its that ridiculous to assume they'll still be a fringe playoff team.

I guess we'll see. When you're counting on a rookie, Pek, Dieng and a bunch of inefficient guys to carry your offence, you're in trouble. I think they'll be far from a fringe playoff team. Maybe by the end of the season they could start playing .500 ball but the first portion of the season could be really, really ugly. Maybe my expectations for Wiggins are just really low. I think at best you're going to get an inefficient 15-17 points a game from him and a lot of games with foul trouble early in the year.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Finally, something goes the Cavs way

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

So I guess lebron knew what was going to happen based on who he mentioned in his essay.

 

[Britney Spears]

So I guess lebron knew what was going to happen based on who he mentioned in his essay.

It's a business. Who knew?

 

[mcintyre1]

Flip was on the radio this morning and called Love a "#2, because he can't create or defend."

 

[Sammy3469]

Flip was on the radio this morning and called Love a "#2, because he can't create or defend."

And Flip knows #2!

 

[Snotbubbles]

So what is Philly doing? (By the way, I am a big fan of their moves). Are they looking to build a homegrown championship contender like the Thunder, or do they have their sights set on a big name free agent in the coming years?

Until they get that franchise player to build around they're keeping their powder dry, developing players and accumulating assets.

Maybe Embiid is that franchise guy, maybe a Harden-type trade opportunity comes along and they have the assets to pull it off, or maybe they try to lure a big name FA though I'm not sure they'll be able to get a true top dog via FA (certainly not right now).

Either way, I'll take this approach over being a 43 win team stuck in perennial cap hell, which was Sixers basketball for the better part of a decade.

Makes sense. I love that Hinkie has assembled young talent and the young talent will be able to develop by playing. Not one bad long term contract. Quite an accomplishment in today's nba. You have to figure they can get some nice picks by taking on a couple short term salary dumps.

I do wonder why they don't kick the tires of Bledsoe, though.

They're going to throw a max deal at someone in 2016. Don't want Bledsoe. Not only do you have to trade for him, but then you have to give him a 4 year deal and HOPE he stays healthy.

 

[Village Idiot]

]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

They rated out 9th on offence last year because they got to the line a ton (3rd) and hit a league average amount of 3's. They lost the guy responsible for the vast majority of those two categories. They had only 4 guys above league average in eFG. Love, Brewer, Pekovic and Turiaf. Love gone. Turiaf barely shoots. Brewer's season was far and away a career best and likely to regress back to below average. So that just leaves Pekovic. Martin sure wasn't the efficient scorer he used to be. Maybe he returns to it but he is now in the wrong side of 30.Eta: and Young.

Yeah, I'm aware. I'm not saying it will be easy, I just believe that Wiggins will get to the line a lot immediately, and that we'll again be around, but probably under, league average at hitting 3's. Between Wiggins, Brewer (call it .490), Pek (.541), and Dieng (at league average last year, call it .510 next year), I think they'll be able to score, and they'll be a better defensive team with a much improved bench. I don't think its that ridiculous to assume they'll still be a fringe playoff team.

I guess we'll see. When you're counting on a rookie, Pek, Dieng and a bunch of inefficient guys to carry your offence, you're in trouble. I think they'll be far from a fringe playoff team. Maybe by the end of the season they could start playing .500 ball but the first portion of the season could be really, really ugly.Maybe my expectations for Wiggins are just really low. I think at best you're going to get an inefficient 15-17 points a game from him and a lot of games with foul trouble early in the year.

But the burning question is who wins the season series?

Flip's gang or hey look at me I'm over 38% of our team's salary cap Kobe's Lakeshow?

ETA I'm on vacation and have been hammering Sam Adams Oktoberfests.

 

[Village Idiot]

So what is Philly doing? (By the way, I am a big fan of their moves). Are they looking to build a homegrown championship contender like the Thunder, or do they have their sights set on a big name free agent in the coming years?

Until they get that franchise player to build around they're keeping their powder dry, developing players and accumulating assets.

Maybe Embiid is that franchise guy, maybe a Harden-type trade opportunity comes along and they have the assets to pull it off, or maybe they try to lure a big name FA though I'm not sure they'll be able to get a true top dog via FA (certainly not right now).

Either way, I'll take this approach over being a 43 win team stuck in perennial cap hell, which was Sixers basketball for the better part of a decade.

Makes sense. I love that Hinkie has assembled young talent and the young talent will be able to develop by playing. Not one bad long term contract. Quite an accomplishment in today's nba. You have to figure they can get some nice picks by taking on a couple short term salary dumps.

I do wonder why they don't kick the tires of Bledsoe, though.

They're going to throw a max deal at someone in 2016. Don't want Bledsoe. Not only do you have to trade for him, but then you have to give him a 4 year deal and HOPE he stays healthy.

Bledsoe is more delusional than Wolves fans.

Not quite 1/2 a really good year and not a lock to be healthy wanting a max deal.

Martin, Barea, 3 otters and a moose for Bledsoe. /drunkAbetrade

 

[Cliff Clavin]

But the burning question is who wins the season series?

Flip's gang or hey look at me I'm over 38% of our team's salary cap Kobe's Lakeshow?

ETA I'm on vacation and have been hammering Sam Adams Oktoberfests.

That's a tough call. Lakers should have a bunch of guys who can score but they've quite possibly compiled the worst defensive team in the history of the league. Meanwhile the Wolves are the complete opposite.

Gotta think the Lakers get around 30-35 just by outscoring other teams.

ETA:

I don't think it is possible to have a worse defensive backcourt than the Lakers have compiled.

Nash/Lin - Nope. No one worse on defence than those two.

Kobe/Young - These two clowns are tough to beat. There may be worse defenders (Harden) but probably no one that gives less effort (other than Harden).

 

[Plorfu]

I am unable to watch many Minnesota games

You're not alone.

 

[Sammy3469]

But the burning question is who wins the season series?

Flip's gang or hey look at me I'm over 38% of our team's salary cap Kobe's Lakeshow?

ETA I'm on vacation and have been hammering Sam Adams Oktoberfests.

That's a tough call. Lakers should have a bunch of guys who can score but they've quite possibly compiled the worst defensive team in the history of the league. Meanwhile the Wolves are the complete opposite.

Gotta think the Lakers get around 30-35 just by outscoring other teams.

ETA:

I don't think it is possible to have a worse defensive backcourt than the Lakers have compiled.

Nash/Lin - Nope. No one worse on defence than those two.

Kobe/Young - These two clowns are tough to beat. There may be worse defenders (Harden) but probably no one that gives less effort (other than Harden).

There's going to be so many good teams in the West that the also ran teams are going to be lucky if they get to 35 this year.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

So what is Philly doing? (By the way, I am a big fan of their moves). Are they looking to build a homegrown championship contender like the Thunder, or do they have their sights set on a big name free agent in the coming years?

Until they get that franchise player to build around they're keeping their powder dry, developing players and accumulating assets.

Maybe Embiid is that franchise guy, maybe a Harden-type trade opportunity comes along and they have the assets to pull it off, or maybe they try to lure a big name FA though I'm not sure they'll be able to get a true top dog via FA (certainly not right now).

Either way, I'll take this approach over being a 43 win team stuck in perennial cap hell, which was Sixers basketball for the better part of a decade.

Makes sense. I love that Hinkie has assembled young talent and the young talent will be able to develop by playing. Not one bad long term contract. Quite an accomplishment in today's nba. You have to figure they can get some nice picks by taking on a couple short term salary dumps.

I do wonder why they don't kick the tires of Bledsoe, though.

They're going to throw a max deal at someone in 2016. Don't want Bledsoe. Not only do you have to trade for him, but then you have to give him a 4 year deal and HOPE he stays healthy.

Yeah. What they want most right now is flexibility and the possibility to strike for 1 or more true game-changing players. Best way to do that right now is just through the draft. In a couple years, they may grab someone if available, but for the most part, they are looking to build from the ground up. They will likely follow a similar blueprint as the Rockets, stay flexible and spend money only on top 15 player. But I agree that they probably won't spend for 2 years.

 

[Sammy3469]

So what is Philly doing? (By the way, I am a big fan of their moves). Are they looking to build a homegrown championship contender like the Thunder, or do they have their sights set on a big name free agent in the coming years?

Until they get that franchise player to build around they're keeping their powder dry, developing players and accumulating assets.

Maybe Embiid is that franchise guy, maybe a Harden-type trade opportunity comes along and they have the assets to pull it off, or maybe they try to lure a big name FA though I'm not sure they'll be able to get a true top dog via FA (certainly not right now).

Either way, I'll take this approach over being a 43 win team stuck in perennial cap hell, which was Sixers basketball for the better part of a decade.

Makes sense. I love that Hinkie has assembled young talent and the young talent will be able to develop by playing. Not one bad long term contract. Quite an accomplishment in today's nba. You have to figure they can get some nice picks by taking on a couple short term salary dumps.

I do wonder why they don't kick the tires of Bledsoe, though.

They're going to throw a max deal at someone in 2016. Don't want Bledsoe. Not only do you have to trade for him, but then you have to give him a 4 year deal and HOPE he stays healthy.

Yeah. What they want most right now is flexibility and the possibility to strike for 1 or more true game-changing players. Best way to do that right now is just through the draft. In a couple years, they may grab someone if available, but for the most part, they are looking to build from the ground up. They will likely follow a similar blueprint as the Rockets, stay flexible and spend money only on top 15 player. But I agree that they probably won't spend for 2 years.

There's staying flexible and then there's what they are doing. There's a problem when you're at least 2-3 years from even knowing if what they have is any good. It's one thing to draft Noel last year knowing you'll suck. Fine. It's a whole other thing to take him then Embiid and Saric. The thing with "assets" is that other teams have to think they're valuable.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I don't know that there is another great route for them to get the assets and remain flexible without identifying and acquiring those that are severely underpriced. One way or another, you have to get a top-5 player to even have a chance to win a championship. There has been maybe 1 exception to that in the past 35 years (2003 Pistons).

People have certainly gone around and around on this, so we don't have to re-hash the whole thing.

 

[scoobus]

The Spurs didn't have a top 5 player last year.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

fair point. I think that is probably an even more difficult situation to replicate than the Pistons.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Are we calling 2011 Dirk top-5? I know he's a great player, but I thought he would fall a little lower than 5.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Alright, let's everyone stop trying to find holes in my argument . . .

Dirk was probably not top 5, but he was number 10 in PER, so there might be an argument. I would probably concede the point though.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

I have a $10 bet with a co-worker that the Wolves win more games this year than last (40). I'm pretty confident. With Rubio at the helm and the Adelman hatred gone, I think the makeup of this team is much, much better. Rubio was never a good pairing with Love as the primary option. Love's a great player, but he's not an up tempo attacking player like Rubio needs to succeed. I think the team will immediately be better on defense and (sad as it is to say) Wiggins and Lavine are already the best players in iso from the perimeter the team has, which was a sorely lacking component in all of those close losses last season.

A Wolves fan that still has hope? That's rare.I think they end up around 20. The West is too damn tough and relying on a couple young/raw players isn't going to get them far. And they can't shoot. None of them. Getting 40 wins with what will likely be bottom 5-6 shooting is damn near impossible unless you have elite defence.

Totally fair critique, I'll easily admit I'm running on optimism. However, they couldn't really shoot last year either (and they do have one shooter, Kevin Martin :/). The team shot .444 on FGs, good for a tie with Utah at 23rd place and a little over 1% better than 30th place Chicago. If we're just limiting it to 3 pointers, they shot .341, good for 26th place and only 3% better than by-far league worst Philadelphia.

So I'd argue they got 40 wins last year while being bottom 5-6 shooting WITHOUT elite defense. Personally, I'd call the loss of Kevin Love's 3pt shooting and the gain of Wiggin's and Thad's defensive skills a wash in terms of team success.

They rated out 9th on offence last year because they got to the line a ton (3rd) and hit a league average amount of 3's. They lost the guy responsible for the vast majority of those two categories. They had only 4 guys above league average in eFG. Love, Brewer, Pekovic and Turiaf. Love gone. Turiaf barely shoots. Brewer's season was far and away a career best and likely to regress back to below average. So that just leaves Pekovic. Martin sure wasn't the efficient scorer he used to be. Maybe he returns to it but he is now in the wrong side of 30.Eta: and Young.

Yeah, I'm aware. I'm not saying it will be easy, I just believe that Wiggins will get to the line a lot immediately, and that we'll again be around, but probably under, league average at hitting 3's. Between Wiggins, Brewer (call it .490), Pek (.541), and Dieng (at league average last year, call it .510 next year), I think they'll be able to score, and they'll be a better defensive team with a much improved bench. I don't think its that ridiculous to assume they'll still be a fringe playoff team.

Oh my.