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

They lost 2 out of the last 2 BEFORE the injuries.

BNM

 

Doc Rivers coaching adjustment == bitch harder.

BNM

 

Not sure if that would be possible, but I am certain he would have tried!

 

He watches tape of Draymond Green and thinks "I can do more."

 

Last year's team was 10-10 in last 20 games BEFORE the injury to Matthews. They completely collapsed then even having 2 All Stars. They finished 21-27 overall including playoffs. We finished 34-20 including playoffs. As for the Clippers series, injuries happen every year. They got hurt, we won the series. Are the Warriors champs since the Cavs didn't have Love and Kyrie? And I'll post this composition for people who didn't understand my thinking. This is why I knew we were better this year:

First, our two best players from the playoffs series vs the Grizzlies- CJ McCollum and Meyers Leonard- were still on the team. And of course, we still had Dame. Second, the additions were underrated. We got a Team USA center for our draft pick so right off the bat while everyone focused on whom we had lost, we had improved at SG and C. Third, Batum was coming off a horrible year while Aminu was coming off a year in which he, like CJ, had exploded during the playoffs. Adding Ed Davis and Henderson, Olshey significantly improved our bench. Then we had three unknown talents with potential in Harkless, Vonleh, and Crabbe. Two of them became very good NBA players this season though we didn't know that at the time. Crabbe showed signs during summer league though. The only problem with our starting lineup was PF but we had Leonard, Vonleh, and Harkless to compete for time at that position. We were obviously not going to have an All Star at this position though. Then there were intangibles. It was revealed that everyone in the organization including Dame had to tip toe around Aldridge's fragile ego and there was a reported "sigh of relief" when he left. Dame was excited to take over the leadership role and he demonstrated that right away by getting the whole team together in San Diego in September.

Knowing all of this, I decided to do what I rarely do: watch preseason basketball games. I was curious about all these new players and roles. So I watched our game against the Warriors. The Warriors played all of their starters and they were competing hard but we completely destroyed them nonetheless, scoring more than 70 points in the first half. Many people in this forum thought we'd struggle to score this season but the early evidence was proving them wrong. Then I watched us play the Clippers. Again, the Clippers were playing their stars and clearly competiting but we blitzed THEM too. We ended up blowing our 30 point lead and losing that game, but our potential based on the fact that we got that big lead was very encouraging.

I told everyone it was clear that we were a better, faster, more athletic, deeper team than last year and I was mocked and just told "it's just preseason" when it was clear there were very positive signs we'd be a good team. Nonetheless, HCP picked 23 wins, MM 24 wins, Nate 32 wins, and Vegas 26 wins. But then opening night happened. Now, no one could use the "it's just preseason" excuse." We destroyed a New Orleans team led by everyone's presumptive MVP Anthony Davis. We scored 40+ in the first quarter and CJ looked like the guy we saw in the playoffs vs Memphis. The offensive powerhouse I saw against GS and LAC in the preseason was on display in an official regular season game. And that's when I had my "NOW do you understand" moment and was still mocked. Nothing and I mean nothing surprised me about this season.