If it's the whole team, that only supports my point that it's not a matter of the guys that "got paid". CJs scoring and shooting percentages are up this year. He was never a good defender. Crabbe, Leonard and Harkless are the same as last year too. The team as a whole isn't playing as well, but it's not just a matter of the guys that "got paid" lapsing which is causing the problem.
Wait, are you saying they dropped off after getting paid or they haven't lived up to their new contracts? You're arguing two rather contradictory positions.
I said last year we only had two real quality NBA starters in our roster and got KILLED for it........ what do you think now?
I guess it depends on your definition of quality. I would say we have 2 quality starting stars, one average starting center and SF and a PF that should be on the bench. Would you define quality as simply any starter above that positions average? I think I would. Symantics, but your right. I think, however, we can live with Hark in his position and he could grow into an average starter, possibly even quality, if we upgrade PF and C.
I don't think you are right. Last season wasn't a fluke, guys genuinely played their asses off. Guys got paid. That's what happened. Mix that with some uninspired play and this is what you get. I think we have the least amount of quality starters but not just two quality starters
Yep, we have two above average starters (on offense but their D sucks) then we drop off a cliff having no real consistent starters starters who are threats after that. Hark I'd say is becoming average and if he keeps improving he could become perhaps modestly (at best) above average. Our C and PF positions are simply awful from an offensive standpoint and our C position is awful from D as well, depending on who plays PF we are decent on the D side.
Ed Davis is still getting extraordinary rebounds per minute. But he's not as lucky this season at making his only baskets, which have always been putbacks on the offensive rebound. He gets overpowered when trying to tip them in. Stotts had Plumlee playing more like a center last year, and more like a passing PF this year. Ed Davis was a good Assistant Center, but is not as good at playing Main Center. (New basketball positions.) So that's my theory for why Davis doesn't look as good this year...our other big men must play well for Davis to sneak in among them and do well. In Gestalt, they say, the whole exceeds the sum of the parts. Everything in the universe affects everything else. If my teammates suck, it makes me suck, despite my superlative talents. On the rare occasions my posts suck, it must be all of you.
This is my take as well. Where we lacked talent, we made up for it with hustle and intensity and effort on defense. This year, the effort on defense is noticeably absent.
My theory: we could be world beaters but the team doesn't want to have to visit the White House while Trump's there.
You're right. Plumlee and Harkless should be members of a good bench, but they are not at the level of "good starters".
Damian started off the season playing like an elite talent....he tends to start off with a bang then peter-out mid season. I don't know if he gets burned out or what. I remember he took a fall and landed on his fingers, and wasn't quite the same after....the same exact thing happened last year.
