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2015-2016 Around the NBA
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KilgoreTrout
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God-damned Warriors. So much luck.
KilgoreTrout
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Jscc
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I don't think it's luck anymore. They're a well-oiled machine riding absurd momentum. And unfortunately as I look at their schedule.. I can't pick one game out and say, "they're going to lose here!"
I don't know if we'll be rolling enough by the time the 25th comes around to beat them. Our defense has to get better and Kyrie and Iman have to be incorporated into the overall scheme first.
But then again, we have LeBron and they've not faced a LeBron this season thus far.
KilgoreTrout
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They were lucky that Utah missed the potential game-winner. I mean, at some point, an opponent has to hit a game-winner against them, right? It's like SORCERY, what's happening to the opponent's basket, at the end.
I'mWithDan
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This a good thread to talk about how the West kind of sucks this year?
Through 20% of the season two mediocre teams would be in the playoffs (Jazz, Suns). And a shitty team like Memphis is the 4/5 seed.
The 10-15 teams are all a hot mess. Seems like the bottom half of the conferences have done a 180 based on the first few months of the season.
Through 20% of the season two mediocre teams would be in the playoffs (Jazz, Suns). And a shitty team like Memphis is the 4/5 seed.
The 10-15 teams are all a hot mess. Seems like the bottom half of the conferences have done a 180 based on the first few months of the season.
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It's still early though. I'd be shocked if Houston doesn't find a way to turn it around, Dallas does not become consistently great, Suns find a way to play consistently, New Orleans does not get healthy, Sacramento does not continue to develop, etc.
Nonetheless, your overall point is something that I've noticed for awhile. The big surprise to me is how good Indiana has been. I thought they would be decent, perhaps even a playoff contender, but they are playing at an elite level. Perhaps it is I forgot that Paul George is an elite player. On that note, Miami, Chicago, and Toronto have all also played very good basketball.
The point I made about the West, too, applies to the East. I'd be shocked if Detroit and Milwaukee don't begin to play consistently good basketball, Milwaukee and Washington don't totally turns it around, and the Knicks don't continue to develop fast. Meanwhile, a team I thought was mediocre to start the year -- Charlotte -- is handily in the playoff hunt.
I think what is occurring is the mid-level talent of the East has become better than the mid-level talent in the West... With that said, the West has four elite teams (Golden State, OKC, SAS, LAC) to the East's two (Cleveland and Indiana, maybe Miami). I still would argue the West is the tougher Playoff competition, but, the East is absolutely closing the gap.
Tl;dr: I think the West will look excellent again, but, I think the East will remain at a competitive level throughout the season.
ACisKING
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And they were lucky that Utah not only took a terrible last shot, but then that last offensive rebound somehow miraculously popped right out of the hands of both Gobert and Hayward. Eventually one of these bounces has to go against them.
NorthCoastBias
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Don't let a team 3,000 miles away spoil the enjoyment of watching this team. We only have so many more seasons like this.
Chris
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I agree. Like most Cleveland fans, though, I'm consumed by my unending and unsatisfied desire for a championship. I suppose it's useless worrying about a team that we wouldn't even play until the Finals, in June, 7 months away. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't something I thought about every time I watched the Cavs.
czvo
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It is making it hard to enjoy the ride when you know there's a giant brick wall at the end.
Although I suppose that's better than getting kick in the nuts after getting off the ride like '09.
It will be interesting though, if the Cavs can make it back to the finals and do play the Warriors, to see if this team has the mental fortitude to finish the job. Or if at the first sign of the Warriors avalanche, they pack it in.
I'mWithDan
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No sense in getting too wrapped up in that until we see the team healthy.
You add Shump and Kyrie back to a team that is on pace to win 60+ games and that starts to get pretty scary for everyone.
Cavs will be fine. If you gave me 13-4 to start the season in October, with Shump / Kyrie out and Love coming off injury, I would have taken that and run.
Keep it in context. This team was a disaster to start the season last year. They're on pace to win 60 without two of their best players, something other teams can't even dream of doing when 100% healthy.
Triumph36
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i think minnesota is the "best option" from a basketball standpoint, although not necessarily for the 16-17 season. but yes, howard's health is a concern. with durant, his workload would be less and i think the rise of capela would help howard a lot too. the concern would still exist; although taking certain steps would lessen it enough to make houston worthwhile to me. i also have a lot more faith in their front office and the ownership's commitment to improve the team. have they been perfect? no. neither has okc, and i'd argue okc's decisions - both from ownership & presti - have been way more egregious than morey & alexander's.
to me, the bottom line is this: what has okc done in recent yrs to tangibly improve the team, with both short and long-term in mind? the 2012 finals was the biggest achievement for the team, so lets use that as the arbitrary cutoff date. what has okc done since then? all their most attractive qualities stem from years and years ago. in this league, you can't have a good 2-3 years then sit back and collect rings. continuous development, adjustments, and improvements are still needed and okc really hasn't shown much success in that regard.
one other thought on his free agency: what about utah? they'd need to move hayward somewhere; it's a really appealing team though. their front court is phenomenal on both ends of the floor with so much untapped upside still remaining, plus they have quality pieces in the backcourt too.
on the topic of durant, him blasting the media and stanning for kobe is super lame. all is good and well when the media is heaping on praise, any criticism - justified or not- is totally off-limits though!
