Aldridge will make the All Star team if we are a top 2 team in the West when the decision is made, no matter what his stats are. If they stay at 19/9, he'll make it no matter what our record is.
I think we're close. The only gaping hole that Chicago (and even a couple of the other teams) took advantage of is our weakness in the paint. Once Oden comes back in a month, that hole will be filled almost 180-degrees the other direction. So that is huge. I will say one thing. We'll know tomorrow night how special this team really is. You're going against the new media darlings and supposed favorites to dethrone the Lakers and win the NW division tomorrow night in the Thunder. So if this team is special, then they have that game circled on the calendar and will make it known who is best in the NW.
Yep, the team HAS to make a statement tomorrow. And not a statement of "we're afraid of the Thunder", but "you our bitch".
I honestly do not think we know if this team is special or not until Oden is back and has 3-4 weeks under his belt. Until this happens, this is a pretty good team, possibly as good as the 54 wins team - which is a good, probably HCA in the first round and advancing based on match-up. We will find out if this team is special when/if Greg is playing and how well they integrate him.
If Joel and Greg come back healthy we can beat anybody. In fact I think we have the best team in the league if we're at full strength. I think GO, Prz, Camby, and Aldridge would ruin the Lakers front line.
I'm still in a "wait-and-see" mode. I love what I've seen so far from Aldridge, Johnson, Roy, Miller, and Camby. Batum has shown some real flashes, but he went from a major high, to a major low. I think he's still too inconsistent to be counted on. I also like Matthews so far, but he's been somewhat inconsistent as well. Once we get Oden and Joel back, it will be interesting to see how the rotation balances out. I think this team definitely has the potential to be something special, but I want to see it all put together and clicking.
I see them playing inconsistent until February. They still need to work two new Centers into the rotation, a back up rookie PG, and find the right roles for Rudy and Wes. But about a month after Greg gets back, they will start to gel.
We have won games against the Suns, Clippers, Knicks and Bucks, and lost against the Bulls. The teams we have beaten have a combined record of 4-13. The one team we have lost to has a winning record. Please stop with the special team crap. Let's wait until they actually do something other than come back to beat teams they should absolutely crush.
And the Celtics barely beat the Bucks, in Boston, and the Clippers just kicked the shit out of the Thunder.
Im very comfortable in saying that when we are healthy this will the most complete team I have seen in a long time. From there it will be dedication and heart. If healthy there is no reason this team couldnt be special. Will they? We shall see.
Hard to say, sometimes you can just "sense" stuff upstream about teams. I'm getting that type of feeling. Or, perhaps, it's from the sushi I devoured last night.
I am not saying they aren't good wins. I am saying this team has shown nothing to indicate it is special.......at this point.
I think Rudy plays alot better with a true point guard and the bench play has been much better. I am not counting on LA making the All-star team anytime soon. We still need someone to score in the low-post.
Again, our wins have come against teams with a combined 4-13 record. Our team with Brandon and LaMarcus is easily good enough to beat those teams.
I have always been a little down on Aldridge's overall game, but this year, he is playing at an all-star level
I hear ya. BTW, when reading your posts, I simply gaze at your avatar and pretend he's the one talking. Everything crystallizes at that point. It's all good, man.
Boozer and Amare leaving helps, but it is still a fight. It is still early and I do not expect those steals and block numbers to stay that high. Hopefully they do.
