At what point will you believe this team is for real?

I'll be OK with 2-2, very happy with 3-1, estatic with 4-0.

 

Welcome to the board! People have pointed out that Stotts values the 3-point shot more than the 2. That's why we have so many shooters, and that's why he wants us contesting the 3.

 

Yea that's why I don't see that changing at all. My thinking is giving up 3s sucks, but it might be a better way to get beat than having a team score 40 points in the point each game.

 

I think taking away the perimeter is actually way more important than points in the paint. I rank rebounds #1, perimeter d #2 and fast break #3. Those are momentum changers. Anytime a shooter gets hot, it becomes a huge problem.

Rebounding the ball is a good way to limit the team to only one shot, but getting an offensive board also deflates teams as well. How many times did we watch our team play a solid 24 seconds, only to give up an offensive board. I saw how deflated our team was right after.

Fast breaks get the fans involved, but it also tires a defense out. Limiting that helps control the game.

Points in the paint is a stat that is not a telling tale of performance. A fast break layup or dunk counts for paint. Does that mean the team has an inside game? Denver was one of the best points in the paint teams last year, but they had zero post up ability.

 

33% from 3 point line = 50% from the field = 50% from the foul line.

We are shooting less than 50% from the field and more than 33% from threes, so threes definitely are productive... but nothing matches going to the FT line. It is all about balance though.

EDIT: Actually I don't know what we are shooting from the field if you take out the 3 pointers... maybe we are close to 50%.

 

Mags, I think you underestimate just how important inside scoring (whether from post ups or off the drive) becomes in the playoffs. That's still where teams live and die in the post-season

 

I know in theory you are right. But it seems when I watched the games in the playoffs last year they were all shooting jumpers. Yes Miami does a good job with Lebron, but Bosh and Wade were shooting jumpers. Duncan now shoots mostly jumpers. Durrant is mostly jumpers, Indiana=jumpers

When the game is on the line you have Westbrook, Lebron, Parker, and Carmelo who can attack the rim and get fouled. A handful of post up players in Zach, maybe Hibbert,occasionally Duncan but it is usually a jumper, potentially Love if they ever make the playoffs...I am sure there are more.... but how many?

Barkley and Shaq were going off last night about OKC and GS and their lack of an inside game. Live by the jumper, die by the jumper....but isn't that today's NBA? Fast breaks in the playoffs are hard to come by and a post up game is rare.

 

I think you can believe in them right now. And I do. Because this team was built with players who are not of higher profile, bigger egos and personal agendas. I think they can sustain it. However, the roster will fall short in games against teams with better talent. Like they did against Houston. No matter how well they are playing together.

 

I look at the teams that were in the finals last year. The Spurs and the Heat both rely on good jump shooting but they also have guys in Lebron and Duncan who can make "close-in" high percentage shots. They don't have to score the majority of their points this way, but their ability to hit those shots stretches and strains a defense and forces them to be accounted for and also frees up their teammates to take jumpers that are less contested.

 

Interestingly, thus far Tony Parker has taken 50% of his shots within 8' of the hoop (and is shooting 62% on those shots)!

 

All star break for me. Gotta see if we can keep rolling.

 

I agree that you can get killed by a hot 3 point shooter. Just look at what Damian and Wes have done to kill opponents this year, it's demoralizing to get beat that way. And I suppose it really depends on your opponent. I would just like to see what the results would be like if we forced a team to beat us at our own game(3 pointers) rather than give them favorable match ups in the paint.

 

I think that should be our goal. And you are right those two teams as I mentioned before are one of the few who have someone who can make close in shots. But it is not a very long list.

 

I amend my post - I looked at the december schedule, and if we can get by that and still be decently over .500, I'd think we'd be legit.

 

It's going to all rely on the health of the team. I have no doubt that we will make the playoffs if we stay healthy. Getting to the show isn't the big accomplishment though. Getting out of the first round all depends on who we play against, if we have HCA, and if we're healthy. We've got some gamers on our team. I think someone like Lillard will thrive in the playoffs. I think Aldridge is ready to dominate in the post season. Guys like Mo and Dorrell will be crucial as well.

 

When they make a "Harlem Shake" or "What does the Fox Say" youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2D-BJrD-N0

 

I start respecting the standings at 10 games in. I decided on this number somewhere from 30 to 35 years ago. Only a Cesium-35 test of my bones could determine whether it was the 70s or the 80s. Anyway, 10 is the number I use, and you can clearly rely on my numbers.

 

Close-in shots generate fouls generate free throws. So 50% from the field = about 40% from the 3-point line, not 33%.