This Blazer team has become more of a pleasant surprise to me. I didn't even think we'd be close to a top 5 rebounding team, nor good at opponent's FG %. I know we've only seen the pre-season, but I believe that we will actually only get better. I wasn't concerned with W/L %, but I looked closely on how our philosophy and defense worked and it is looking good! REBOUNDING What I've noticed is the boxing out and how the wings are closing in to grab any long boards. Last season, we were dismal at best. Time after time, I watched other team's guards grab the "sure rebounds" because our guards weren't making the effort. Our bigs are blocking out and they seem to know where their teammates are. There seems to be good team communication between players; which help rebounding as a whole! --- We will be a top 5 rebounding team when this season's over. DEFENSE I don't know what Stotts did, but somehow this team hit the same page. I haven't seen this type of team oriented defense for years up until now. When a player gets beat, the teammate closes in until they recover. Every shot is contested. The long arms from our wings are swiping at all passing lanes. Fighting through picks and communication on the floor are becoming a normality. The thing that surprises me the most is how we are defending the "pick and roll". That play used to kill us and we've shown that isn't the other team's bread and butter any longer. --- Top 5 in the opponent's FG % by the end of the season as well. OFFENSE To every good defense will come easy offense. I noticed we are kicking out immediately after steals or good defensive possessions. There are some glaring weaknesses like turn-overs and low FG%, but our defense will be the key. What I mainly noticed is we have multiple weapons and threats from every part of the floor. That will keep the defense honest and team's will have tougher times trying to cover the full half court. What impressed me the most was Aldridge and Lopez setting damn good screens. Aldridge sucked so badly at setting a pick. Now he is on point and setting some mean picks. What the next game and see for yourself. It's a great sign! --- We won't be a top 5 in any of the offensive categories, IMO. PHILOSOPHY I think we've finally got it. I think the team is buying into the "defense win games" concept. This works even more on the road; where we had a terrible time winning games. If we have the ability to make the game ugly, we can take the other team's fans out of the game and take away that advantage. The defense also will help them win games, even if their offense isn't firing on all cylinders. We will be a top 4 team in the West. I don't care how other teams may have gotten better. Our team is destined for a top 4 seed. We will surprise a lot of people and soon (mid season), you guys will agree.
Our team didn't add as many difference makers as you think Mags. Mo Williams and Lopez are "nice" players and definitely add some depth where we were weak, but which Western playoff teams from last year are we leapfrogging? I don't see a lot of teams falling off of a cliff or moving to the Eastern Conference.
It's not just the additions, but the additional philosophy. Also, batum looks healthy and dame looks like he worked hard on his defense. And it's not just mo and Lopez. Wright and Robinson will be a huge improvement The teams I think that may have a better record than us in no particular order. I think we beat out sas and Houston, but they have a shot having a better record. Okc, clippers, Houston and sas.
With Westbrook out for part of the season we could win our division. We have advantages over the Thunder at PF and C and will at PG until Westbrook gets back.
I like the optimism, and I'd love for it to come true... but it's not about how good we've gotten... it's about the teams ahead of us. With a top 4 like Houston, San Antonio, OKC, and the Clippers, getting top 4 would make us elite, and unless Damian becomes Russell Westbrook and Aldridge steps it up big time there's just no chance of it happening, amazing rebounding and good defense aside.
OooooooOOoohhhhh I see what you've done here! Fine I will give you all 4-8 seeds. Still gonna have that steak dinner!
