Why are we getting 5 cards in texas holdem before the flop? That just threw my mind for a loop. :MARIS61:
Not bad list, but the.. wont sign here, I think is a bit much for a few guys. I think mostly its about timing, but right now is a good time for a star to sign with us as long as he isn't old like Dirk.
I figure Horford is at the point in his career where if he leaves his current team it's ONLY going to be for a team that goes deep in the POs this season. I also could have added "not a position of need" to him, along with the other PFs/Cs - but I decided to only do that for PG. But personally I'm crossing off all the PFs/Cs from the list other than Drummond.
After mentally crossing off all the bigs the only players I can see us interested in are: Drummond DeRozan Nic Turner Green The only one that really blows my skirt up is Drummond, and I still don't think he puts us over the top. Or is all that likely to sign with us. I also believe him when he says he wants to work with DET to give them more cap space next summer - I don't think he's going to welch-out like bitchmade Aldridge. But if he does I hope we sign him!
I'm not counting on a high-level FA who by himself puts us in contention. Just a good quality veteran player at whatever position of need is identified by Olshey & Co. I think it's multiple baby steps combining good scouting and good luck that get the job done.
But you unlike most on here, I respect your opinion. You have a bit of common sense. You would have to admit, based purely on the amount or lack there of in talent, that we are closer to 20-25 wins.....than making the playoffs like some on here have predicted.
Here's the report that Pelton referenced: http://nyloncalculus.com/2015/10/24/2016-usage-adjusted-win-projections-part-2/ It has us winning 42 and making the playoffs.
I don't know if I'd say there is a lack of talent... because talent is a vague term. I think there is talent on this roster, but it's undeveloped talent. Guys like Vonleh, Harkless, and even Leonard are really in an unpolished stage of their careers. The problem I have is that I have no idea of how they're going to react to having consistent playing time. A lot of these guys have never gotten that opportunity. What if we have a situation like with Jermaine O'Neal where he just explodes once he's given a chance to show what he can do? I don't think we are going to make the playoffs, but I don't think that's going to be from a lack of talent. I think what we lack is experience. We have a lot of youth. Take the Clippers game, for example. We were kicking the crap out of them.... and then we just slowly lost steam. That's really common for a young team. They can't pace themselves and keep the pressure for four quarters. I think that will happen a lot this year. There will be quarters of brilliance where everything is running like a well oiled machine... and then there will be quarters where virtually nothing is going in. That's just part of the process. I'm not going to quibble over how many wins we get because I don't think it matters. I don't think we're going to make the playoffs, so that leaves us in the lottery. My hope is that we end up with a top 3 pick. Unfortunately that means a lot of losing, but I'm okay with that as long as we play the young guys and develop the talent we have.
Your middle paragraph is EXACTLY what I've been preaching. We just aren't going to be able to close games out. Exciting brand of basketball and a great pick is what I'm looking forward to.
If the East got better due in part to the Great Blazer Diaspora of 2015, the West might not feast on so many wins as they did before.
