i never realized washington started the season 10-3 last year. they finished the year going 25-44. ouch
They are outperforming expectations on the early schedule sufficiently that there might be some serious separation that starts to happen. But then the 00-01 season happened. So while I've gone from play in, maybe 6th to 5-6 maybe HCA, I'll not fret about it too much.
They get Utah, at Moda, a week from tonight. (Saturday)... After that, another roadie starting in Milwaukee on Monday. Talk about tests.
Dame predicted we’d win in 23, not me. And in the other thread, I said my EXPECTATIONS were a title. Didn’t predict it.
The 00-01 team had no leader. It was a mess of a team. Sheed was the A level talent but he win a title until playing with, you guessed it, a real leader in Chauncey Billups.
Regular season records dont really mean much, aside from being a barometer. That's why chauncy is being cautious with injuries.
Portland is way better than I expected. The win last night on the road, on a back-to-back, against CJ, and without Dame/Nurk/Sharpe, really raised the potential for these guys in my mind. In 2020, the Suns were coming off a 34 win season. Most people had them as a fringe playoff team, best case scenario. Their win/loss record since then? .708, .780 and now .727 this year. Their draft picks started producing in games, they made a key acquisition (Chris Paul), and the pieces just fit much better around their franchise player. Doesn't all of that sound kind of familiar? I'm not sticking my neck out and saying we're going to go on a .708 tear (that's 57 wins), but 52 definitely seems reasonable.
there was an article (or maybe reddit thread or something) a few years back that showed how predictive early season records were of the final records. but it had mentioned a threshold of games. it showed a bunch of previous years about how the standings on a certain date in december/january almost perfectly modeled the final standings. can anyone recall this article?
100% it can be done. The probability is low, but it's not impossible. Heck, going 79-3 can be done. Also, finishing 10-72 can be done. I don't think either are likely. I 100% want it to continue and will be rooting for it!
I thought Pippen was well respected, but the term leader is tough to define and prove, so I guess this is just a matter of opinion. I'm far more of pessimist than you and I thought/think that 2000 team was going to roll the Pacers just like the Lakers did.
also fun fact, the 13-14 team started out 17-3. we thought that was gonna be our year until wes tore his achilles.
