So NOW do you understand what I'm talking about??? We are a better team this year.

You initially said 15-20 games. I think we could end up winning 49 to 54 games and still have a better team that can compete better in the playoffs this year. This reminds me of when Ewing went down and then Sprewell and Allan Houston played BETTER and they went to the NBA Finals. Getting Aldridge out of the paint and putting Leonard on the three point line has made it EASIER for Lillard to get to the basket. FURTHERMORE, CJ and Dame are getting better shots on the perimeter now because Plumlee sets better screens than Aldridge. And Leonard is just as good (if not better), in pick and pop situations. You really don't understand the game at all. Yes, we had an excellent offseason. Lopez isn't worth 13 million. Wes is definitely not worth 17 million. Staying away from them was better for our future especially since Plumlee and CJ are better AND cheaper. Batum was AWFUL last season. Getting two players for him before HE demands a big contract was also an excellent move. When you get a Team USA center for a low draft pick, that's a fantastic move. Then you sign two players around Dame's age in Davis and Aminu. Davis has been a solid player for years and Aminu was Dallas' best player in those last few games of the playoffs. Yes, Aldridge chose to go elsewhere but he was bad for team chemistry. He was a complete diva. So much a diva that Stotts had to draw up the last play for him at the end of Game 6 even though everyone knew the shot should go to Dame. Dame ran to his spot, demanded the ball, and we avoided a clank by Aldridge that likely doesn't even get off in time. Everyone was on tiptoes around Aldridge. Now people can relax and just coach/play basketball. CJ and Dame are able to score in many new ways now that we're not tossing the ball into the post possession after possession. It's boring and it never got us anywhere. Before Lillard, Aldridge never did shit to help us in the playoffs.

 

Love that post. I will TOTALLY be closer.

 

We only need 40 wins for me to be right. Thanks for saving that post.

 

It's going to be tougher. We'll survive because Kaman can hit a 17 footer and he also sets good screens. Last game, both Dame and CJ knocked down midrange shots off of Kaman screens.

 

I thought it was pretty self-explanatory, but...
I agree with you that we aren't better. We're going to lose a lot more games than we lost last season. But we're better off because we're now in a position where we might be able to build a really good team over the next couple seasons. A team built around LMA - or nearly any PF in the league (Duncan/Dirk being the only exceptions...and Dirk being more a fluke, than a true exception) - isn't going to go far. We went as far as we could go with a team built around LMA.

I'm not upset in the least that LMA left. Because he IS a punk-ass pansy bitch. He's a PF but doesn't perform the duties of a PF. Sets shit picks, doesn't create rebounds but instead relies on his teammates to box guys out for him, doesn't rotate on defense but instead watches players waltz to the rim for lay-ups, rarely plays around the basket. He was crap. He was a volume shooter and not a team player. He's Kevin Love without the passing, shooting, and rebounding. I never liked him - so him leaving is the best thing that's happened to the team in a long time.

 

What? This team is so much worse than last year it's not even funny. There will be no playoffs. And unfortunately we won't have a top 5 pick. Olshey is screwed.

 

Sadly, I think you are right. No playoffs but not bad enough to get an impact Lottery pick without getting lucky in the draw.

 

I'll trust my own judgement thanks.....

 

Worst of both worlds.

 

IN every other year but this one. If there was ever a year I would be okay with this, it would be this year.

If we are mediocre, then it means some of our acquisitions are panning out. If we are a high lottery pick, then this 3 year rebuild in 3 months is a farce, but I just dont think thats true.

 

Not getting a top 5 pick might be a little hasty. The team is looking awful.

 

Oh yea top 5 pick is looking real nice. It's going to be a long season but it'll be worth it during the draft

 

I predicted 38

I hope the Blazers win 39

 

Right now that seems high but I'm with ya on that.

 

I predicted 32. They are one win off my game to game projections so that puts them at 31.

 

Similar here. I had them splitting with Phoenix earlier, only winning 1 of the 2 road games at MIN/UTA and then beating Charlotte so they are 1 behind in mine as well. Sadly, this next stretch looks very thin for wins but not bad for Lottery positioning.