What teams have stood out for you? Detroit: they finally look like they've turned a corner. Maybe all it took was getting rid of Greg Monroe, but their defense is fierce and now they have enough stretch forwards around Drummond. Talking of whom, Marcus Morris has really found a home. The Knicks: again, surprisingly good. Maybe the triangle CAN work! It certainly seems to have helped Derrick Williams. I imagine that Carmelo is available to whomever wants him, because he sort of looks like the odd man out. Denver: Maybe this Mike Malone guy can coach. Faried seems happier. Mudiay looks good. They still won't make the playoffs, but they're not the trainwreck I expected. Minnesota: Towns was amazing last night and Rubio is actually hitting jump shots. Wiggins looks a bit anonymous so far, but there's time. Houston: Not looking so hot. Maybe they're just not interested yet. Well, Motrezl Harrell is. LA Lakers: This is way early, but Russell is looking like a bust and they're looking like the trainwreck. Byron Scott for first coach fired!
I was firmly on the Kristaps hype train this past draft. He has that 'it' factor ....at 7'3" Sucks that NY got him - watch them ruin his potential.
Btw, the Pelicans are so overrated. You can make a case of just blowing up that roster outside Anthony Davis. Holiday is damaged goods and clearly lost a step. Iirc, didn't the Pelicans file some sort of complaint to the League this past summer about this? Asik is proving to be a product of Thibs' system. He was mediocre in Houston and now just flat out sucks in New Orleans.
Utah is going to be the best defensive team by far. Continuing where they left off after the Kanter trade. And Derrick Favors has suddenly worked out he can actually be really good. I would be amazed if they fail to make the playoffs.
Lakers are currently giving up 116.8 ppg. I can't quit saying it. 116.8 ppg. 116.8 ppg. It just rolls off the tongue.
The Lakers might be the most enjoyable to me. They struck out on all the free agents. They have below average young talent for a team thats been in the lottery 3 years. People there actually thought they could make a playoff run. Kobe has been one of the worst if not the actual worst player in the NBA for years. The better veterans they have are like Kobe ball stopping one dimensional scorers in Lou Williams and Nick Young. They drafted a player who needs the ball and their best rookie from last year needs the ball. There was millions of dollars bet on the Lakers to win the title! What the hell.
I hate the Lakers too but you dont think Clarkson and Julius Randall are any good? I think Clarkson is a stud especially and Randall is doing his thing considering he missed his whole rookie year and is only 20 years old. I dont know if they have "below average young talent"
The Lakers have one of the weirdest teams stylistically I've seen. Kupchak must have gone completely senile the past few years. Just look at their lineup.. Russell / Lou Clarkson / Swaggy Kobe / Metta? Randle / Bass Hibbert / Kelly
I think Kupchak wanted Okafor and caved under the pressure from the media and fans. He sounded like he really liked Jahlil up until the last week. Then everyone started talking about how Okafor would be solid but not great, Russell had potential for greatness. That you have to have a great PG to be successful. Hard to argue with that logic.......as long as Russell turns out to be great. But so far it looks like Kupchak should have gone with his initial gut feeling. Put Okafor with Randle and Clarkson and prayed that either Westbrook or Durant (or both) would come to LA.
I think Russell was the correct pick. Okafor and Randle would be tremendously bad defensive frontcourt.
It's way too early, but right now Russell does not look like he can play defense either or shoot for that matter. I wonder if he will be another Evan Turner. Ohio State may become the new Syracuse.
They have a couple nice pieces, way better than a team like the Nets. But compare them to young teams like Minnesota, Utah, Orlando, Milwaukee and they are very far behind.
Its a PG league nowdays; look at the west, all the top teams have an allstar PG except Houston where arguably Harden plays PG on offense. Agree with BDSF Okafor would be a terrible fit with Randle who was probably their most valuable player. Okafor could be very hard to build a team around; he doesn't block shots and doesn't shoot outside. So for a good playoff team you need a big man who protects the rim and hits threes. Who does that besides Ibaka? I'm sure Okafor will put up monster stats on a crappy Philly team. But what will be his role on a decent playoff teams? Either player was a great prospect though. Can only critique their draft choice by what teams knew at the time; I think Russell was the superior choice then.
