Not to be a smart ass or a downer, but we currently have a roster load of players who could vie for MIP. I look at that as a positive.
Agreed. Possible MIP could easily be: Aminu: if he adds a shot to his game; Harkless: if he could put it all together, remember he shot >40% from three just over a year ago; Leonard: with major minutes he could get lots of points and boards; Davis: ditto Vonleh: probably not this year, but if he could bring all his talent up to NBA speed, possibly;
I was just going to post something similar! Though my picks for those in contention would be: CJ Leonard Plumlee Harkless Vonleh And roughly in that order. My thinking is that Harkless/Vonleh won't get much of a chance to contend for MIP. But if they get the chance it's going to be BECAUSE they're in the conversation for MIP. CJ is the leader because he'll be playing with the ball in his hands, and awards generally go to those sorts of players. Leonard is behind CJ, but if he plays both ends of the floor well he could certainly make a strong case. And Plumlee is behind Leonard because he's already shown what he can do (apparently - I've never seen him play. But he's on Team USA). He's also more limited offensively than Meyers. However, there's always the chance that we have some freaky chemistry between him and another player which leads to him leading the league in alley-oops, or something. I don't think that's likely, because our rotation players aren't great passers. But maybe magic is made between Meyers and Plumlee (which would then add to the case for Meyers!)?
Seriously. All this team needs is a good start. 3-0 to 7-2 type of start and I really believe they will make it through the season a .500 team. This type of start might be possible based on our schedule coupled with us being an unknown and our guys will be sprinting out of the gates to assert themselves and maintain their starting roles. I think by the last 10-15 games, their wont be a team wanting to face us because of our momentum.
I'm thinking that the trade of Batum, brought us league MIP = Gerald Henderson! If Henderson could accomplish this level of play to garner MIP, then our backcourt of Lillard, Henderson and McCullum as our 6th man....would be something special.
I think Henderson will thrive next to Lillard with Aminu at the 3 ..Aminu is poised to have a career year as well..he had huge momentum in the playoffs
My Homerism ( I do believe) seems to be rubbing off. hahaha. Ill turn you all to the Dark side of winning soon enough!
Can't wait for the season to get rolling. Not enough to talk about right now.......but I think we'll have enough bright spots to keep this a fun place to gather come October and into the season!
I'm just excited to go on this journey in the next few years with the team. I think we truly peaked with "the shot". Now, we get a new set of talent and some of it is very promising... I know some like to just know when the cake is baked... but, I never minded watching the cake rise, either.
I agree with your entire list except I switch Harkless with Plumlee. Plumdog right now (maybe as the inevitable great white hope) is a "known" who is expected to show improvement. The same might be said for Leonard and CJ. Harkless started his career fairly promising and has tapered off since. He's in a contract year and needs to find his future. I'm not sure I don't put him #1 overall....
For me the real positive in this transition is the depth of the new guys. I think we'll have the best bench we've had in a long time. Lot of storylines to follow without the same cliche subject matter we've had for the last 3 years of the Stotts era. It's going to be fun to watch
I agree with bench depth, though starter depth is obviously...or at least probably....nowhere near as good. But I agree, I too am tired of the same old cliches. We have a boatload of assorted talent. I want to see the local, so called journalists disect it and provide greater insight into what we might be able to expect, personally and professionally.
Yeah, as I wrote it out I kinda talked myself out of including Plumlee in the conversation. But I didn't feel like revising what I had written. I think IF Harkless gets consistent minutes he could be at the top of the list, but I have doubts that Stotts will play him enough. I suppose the fact that he CAN hit 3-pointers should work in his favor though, since that seems to be 90% of Stotts' offensive "plan". I disagree that CJ/Leonard are "known" and at the same level as Plumlee. Plumlee is much more proven than either CJ or Leonard - he played all 82 games and shattered the 1,000 minutes played mark, whereas CJ/Leonard played 62/55 games, respectively, and neither broke 1,000 minutes played. So I guess my revised list would be: CJ Leonard Harkless (Vonleh - only keeping him because the talent is there, which combined with a disappointing rookie season has potential to become MIP. Still don't think he gets the minutes.)
