01-20-2023, 04:29 PM
(01-20-2023, 02:06 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Don't look now, but OKC is in a tie with four teams for 7th-10th in the west. They've won four in a row and sit half a game behind Utah for sixth. Can we imagine a world where OKC not only makes the playoffs, but avoids the play-in? I could see them passing Utah and Dallas, but they might get passed by LAC and GS. Today's Lowe Post spends some time talking OKC. I came away thinking their future is bright. More than that, I came away thinking they have a plan.
Prognosticators talk a lot about "locks" to make the playoffs and I always chuckle a bit. Injuries always play a role. Did anyone have the Kings hosting a first round playoff back before the season started?
I thought the bit about OKC only bringing in players "who can make a decision with the ball" kind of highlights the mistakes the Mavs have made when making this roster.
Feels like the evolution of the NBA over the past decade was everyone learned how to shoot threes, then everyone learned how to get switchable defenders to defend the three better and the next phase feels like everyone can shoot AND dribble and make decisions to counter the scrambling defenses. Basically...look at the Celtics roster.