First I heard about PG. Trade is looking better all the time:
https://twitter.com/shaigIalex/status/12...2511350784
Earlier in thread I mentioned how I never saw this season coming. Someone called me on it saying I had to know. But my guesses were PG regression or not caring (based on bad rep from Houston). SGA needing 2-3 more years. Dennis doing too much and not scoring as efficiently. Adams being paced.
But if we don’t trade anyone big or hit injury bug or flat out stink its looking good to make a low seed. Could still crash and burn.
But even the oddsmakers had no idea. Not one but all of them:
https://twitter.com/ThunderDigest/status...5615875072
I guess it's fair to say, OKC is legit. I didn't see this coming either. Also, the Spurs aren't dead yet either, which is remarkable. They still have a chance for a 23rd straight playoff appearance.
(01-14-2020, 08:59 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]I guess it's fair to say, OKC is legit. I didn't see this coming either. Also, the Spurs aren't dead yet either, which is remarkable. They still have a chance for a 23rd straight playoff appearance.
Testament to good coaching. It goes a LONG way if you have players willing to be coached.
(01-14-2020, 09:59 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]Testament to good coaching.
Testament to the meaning of high BBIQ. OKC clearly won the Westbrook-Paul trade by fleecing Houston of draft picks in the process.
(01-14-2020, 08:59 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]I guess it's fair to say, OKC is legit. I didn't see this coming either. Also, the Spurs aren't dead yet either, which is remarkable. They still have a chance for a 23rd straight playoff appearance.
23? Holy wow that is amazing stat. TWolves almost exactly opposite too.
As for SGA, I never saw much of him last year so had no idea the hops he has. CP seems to be having fun maybe not being in that Houston pressure cooker (where he got blame but not glory) was good for him. Him and Harden did not get along and it seems that stunted his game and attitude. I fully expected him to be a trouble maker here.
My burning question is, what will Presti do?
1. Sit tight and play out string
2. Trade to improve now
3. Trade to improve later
(01-14-2020, 11:49 AM)ThunderMav Wrote: [ -> ] (01-14-2020, 08:59 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]I guess it's fair to say, OKC is legit. I didn't see this coming either. Also, the Spurs aren't dead yet either, which is remarkable. They still have a chance for a 23rd straight playoff appearance.
23? Holy wow that is amazing stat. TWolves almost exactly opposite too.
As for SGA, I never saw much of him last year so had no idea the hops he has. CP seems to be having fun maybe not being in that Houston pressure cooker (where he got blame but not glory) was good for him. Him and Harden did not get along and it seems that stunted his game and attitude. I fully expected him to be a trouble maker here.
My burning question is, what will Presti do?
1. Sit tight and play out string
2. Trade to improve now
3. Trade to improve later
With SGA being a PG, I can't see the reason to not trade CP3. The longer you keep him, the bigger a hindrance that contract is gonna be compared to the oncourt play. His value to a team has been built up to a great level at this point. Not sure why it is in question.
(01-14-2020, 03:00 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ] (01-14-2020, 11:49 AM)ThunderMav Wrote: [ -> ] (01-14-2020, 08:59 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]I guess it's fair to say, OKC is legit. I didn't see this coming either. Also, the Spurs aren't dead yet either, which is remarkable. They still have a chance for a 23rd straight playoff appearance.
23? Holy wow that is amazing stat. TWolves almost exactly opposite too.
As for SGA, I never saw much of him last year so had no idea the hops he has. CP seems to be having fun maybe not being in that Houston pressure cooker (where he got blame but not glory) was good for him. Him and Harden did not get along and it seems that stunted his game and attitude. I fully expected him to be a trouble maker here.
My burning question is, what will Presti do?
1. Sit tight and play out string
2. Trade to improve now
3. Trade to improve later
With SGA being a PG, I can't see the reason to not trade CP3. The longer you keep him, the bigger a hindrance that contract is gonna be compared to the oncourt play. His value to a team has been built up to a great level at this point. Not sure why it is in question.
You seem to imply I am talking only about CP. Gallo/Adams/Dennis have all been mentioned as trade bait. Lose any one of them and we may not make a seed. Its understood CP should go if offer comes but I don’t see anyone biting that apple. He has 2.5 yrs left so really 1.5 usable time. Due to fast maturation of SGA, Sam could be a buyer.
I’d love to get off CPs contract just don’t see a buyer. So why then trade the others when CP gives you a chance to win. To me CP is the key. If he stays then keep others.
(01-14-2020, 03:29 PM)ThunderMav Wrote: [ -> ]You seem to imply I am talking only about CP. Gallo/Adams/Dennis have all been mentioned as trade bait. Lose any one of them and we may not make a seed. Its understood CP should go if offer comes but I don’t see anyone biting that apple. He has 2.5 yrs left so really 1.5 usable time. Due to fast maturation of SGA, Sam could be a buyer.
I’d love to get off CPs contract just don’t see a buyer. So why then trade the others when CP gives you a chance to win. To me CP is the key. If he stays then keep others.
I didn't imply anything, I said what I said as what I believe your best strategy in making the team a much better team in the future. At this point, you've gotten some trade assets from acquiring CP3, no need to get greedy with it. If you mostly take back expirings and a project, I'd consider that a win.
(01-14-2020, 04:12 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ] (01-14-2020, 03:29 PM)ThunderMav Wrote: [ -> ]You seem to imply I am talking only about CP. Gallo/Adams/Dennis have all been mentioned as trade bait. Lose any one of them and we may not make a seed. Its understood CP should go if offer comes but I don’t see anyone biting that apple. He has 2.5 yrs left so really 1.5 usable time. Due to fast maturation of SGA, Sam could be a buyer.
I’d love to get off CPs contract just don’t see a buyer. So why then trade the others when CP gives you a chance to win. To me CP is the key. If he stays then keep others.
I didn't imply anything, I said what I said as what I believe your best strategy in making the team a much better team in the future. At this point, you've gotten some trade assets from acquiring CP3, no need to get greedy with it. If you mostly take back expirings and a project, I'd consider that a win.
But thats the whole problem, no one is going go take CP. Unless we give up picks and his value is better as an on court coach than giving up picks.
Do you have a team in mind who would realistically take him?
So for this year if CP is not traded then I hold out til summer to see how far they can go and not trade Gallo/Adams/Dennis. If CP goes then playoffs go with him and then sure, kick tires on Gallo/Dennis (keep Adams). CP is the key and if he stays due to no viable trade offers then keep the rest. We can S&T Gallo end of season if need be.
(01-14-2020, 05:06 PM)ThunderMav Wrote: [ -> ]But thats the whole problem, no one is going go take CP. Unless we give up picks and his value is better as an on court coach than giving up picks.
Do you have a team in mind who would realistically take him?
Teams that need a good PG that could use the boost to get into the playoffs...and then there's always NY. Min is a possibility, Chi could be a team to show Dunn the way, Orl might want to kick the tires, LA with LeBron uniting the banana boat crew could utilize a third team to bring him in,
Mia was heavily discussed in the offseason, Terry Rozier might gain alot from seeing someone other than Kyrie run a team at a high level.
There's plenty of teams with the want for a PG that is showing what CP3 is showing IMO. Maybe some of those named above aren't interested, but I pick up the phone and see/try. I don't think all the reports are accurate and some are more than likely posturing for teams. I think he's picked up his value enough to be worthy of an even swap even if you just break up that horrible contract into smaller bad contracts like Batum and MKG.
I also agree that CP3 is the lynch pin. Try to find a taker for him first, if no bites, then take him into the playoffs and further show teams what they're missing out on. I just think CP3 has done a really good job in repairing his image to the rest of the league, so much so, that I think you could at least get someone to bite on expiring contracts.
I agree with all you said, 100%. I think the challenge is his contract. I am positive Presti has had discussions and wish I was a bug on the wall. My guess is them doing better gives him more leverage to not hurry. But I have no idea what he’s thinking. Would it be beneficial to have CP take this team to playoffs for future experience? If you remove CP we have the youngest team in NBA. Knowing once CP goes so does our playoff chances. Is it better to let them learn with CP or without.
I see so many teams go into tank and its so very hard to get out. Then your players hate it too and its tough sledding for young players to get good because the players around them aren’t. So they get frustrated. So keeping him til summer might be good for now then his 2 year deal isn’t quite so bad. The key then is keeping his minutes down to pace him for full season.
Presti has so many options it isn’t funny. Plus factor in playoff excitement for fans. All thought this would be a tank year but now fans have fallen in love with team. So if he blows it up that hurts at this point. Had we been 12-24 then its actually easier to decide. But now they seem filly vested in a playoff year when nome was expected. Playoffs would be great for SGA and the others. Likely Lakers or Utah or Houston, possibly Denver.
Less than a month and we’ll know for sure. CP has held up his end of bargain, nothing but praise how he’s handled it. I fully expected a disgruntled CP yet he has been 100% a team player in all respects.
Memphis is playing well. Just knocked off Houston at home, 121-110. Ja Morant is the certain ROY and is fun to watch, and he has the 2nd youngest team ( Atlanta ) poised to make a run at a low playoff seed. And the Jazz have got hot as well, winning their 10th straight, 118-107 over the Nets. The trade for Jordan Clarkson has paid big dividends as he has provided scoring off the bench, and moving Ingles back in the starting lineup. The West is getting tougher by the week.
(01-14-2020, 10:28 PM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]Memphis is playing well. Just knocked off Houston at home, 121-110. Ja Morant is the certain ROY and is fun to watch, and he has the 2nd youngest team ( Atlanta ) poised to make a run at a low playoff seed. And the Jazz have got hot as well, winning their 10th straight, 118-107 over the Nets. The trade for Jordan Clarkson has paid big dividends as he has provided scoring off the bench, and moving Ingles back in the starting lineup. The West is getting tougher by the week.
Not only that but because you have so many teams fighting for a low seed there are zero tank teams other than GS. Most years there is enough separation from contenders to tankers you have 4 or so teams with no chance at a seed. This year there are no gimmie games in the west.
Man, you have to have nerves to watch Thunder. Playing Toronto without Noel and then Adams with a knee contusion early in game. Then Raptors shooting 61% for the game and 130 points.
And Thunder spotted them a 30 point lead in 2nd qtr but Thunder battle back to within 1 point in 4th. Finally ran out of gas and lost 130-121. But damn, this team never quits and it took everything for Raptors to win.
Gotta not get down so far. Split series with them.
Markelle Fultz with the 20pt triple double. Feel good for him.
Tired of this Jazz infatuation.
The only good team they have played during this streak is the Clippers - who they beat right, but still. The rest are Eastern conference opponents under .500.
They have a brutal schedule coming up towards the end of this month and Feb. I bet my money that they drop a few in the standings.
Next games:
Pelicans, Kings, Pacers, Warriors
Then it turns up:
Mavs, Rockets, Spurs, Nuggets, Blazers, Nuggets, Blzaers, Rockets, Mavs, Heat, Spurs, Rockets, Suns, Boston
I also think OKC is not a seed lock. Portland, SAS, Memphis are looking better plus no depth and some players dinged up. Very possible OKC could slide down with a mis season slump.