2026 Off-season Thread

[American Hero]

The Knicks, Nuggets and Warriors didn’t really hang their hats there either and that’s like half of the last six champions winning with like two good defenders and getting good enough efforts from the other guys

GSW were number one in defensive efficiency when they won the championship. Knicks were 7th last year

 

[Dr No]

The Knicks, Nuggets and Warriors didn’t really hang their hats there either and that’s like half of the last six champions winning with like two good defenders and getting good enough efforts from the other guys

The Knicks had the #1 playoff defensive rating. They may have cruised in the regular season, but always had the personnel to turn it up. The Nuggets also turned it up in the playoffs and the #3 playoff defensive rating (to go along with their #1 offense rating). The 2015 Warriors had the #1 defensive rating. The Durant Era teams were a cheat code & were the #2 defense in 2017. Even the aging 2022 team was #2 in defensive rating during the regular season. We are incapable of those kinds of numbers. I don't think we will be a bad team, but a team has to be able to get stops to win in May & June. We will be a playoff team (although we are thin enough in a few positions that a key injury or two could make that difficult), but we aren't serious contenders with the way our defense currently projects.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

The Knicks, Nuggets and Warriors didn’t really hang their hats there either and that’s like half of the last six champions winning with like two good defenders and getting good enough efforts from the other guys

The Knicks had the seventh best defensive rating of any team last season, but ramped it up to the best defensive rating in the playoffs - 104.9. The next best was the Spurs at 106.7.

GSW was literally the best defensive team in the entire league in 2021-22.

Denver was only 15th best during their championship season in 2022-23, but ramped up to 3rd best out of the 16 playoff teams.

 

[guitarguy]

Kenny's defensive strategy is "please save our Ass Mobley" which is basically good enough to get you a middle of the road defensive team. Otherwise I refuse to believe he actually has any other strategy for defense.

Anything more would make a huge difference.

 

[Expensive Jet]

We get the Sixers home opener to open our season and get snubbed for Christmas

 

[Omar The Horse]

Cancelled my league pass for the first time ever.

 

[foucault87]

Have we ever had an Xmas game without lbj? Im not surprised at all. The finals rematch, bron vs lal, okc vs min all make sense. Why they are choosing to use two mediocre east teams and let the nuggets drub a play in team i dont know. Give me Kings vs Wizards on Xmas you cowards

 

[NorthCoastBias]

Have we ever had an Xmas game without lbj?

Literally last season

 

[eChameleon]

The first game being a 3PM tip and not the defending champions is an odd move.

 

[pinoycavsfan]

Cancelled my league pass for the first time ever.

Cancelled my a long time ago when I learned you cant watch all the games unlike outside the US.

 

[bdc2014]

We had a crap ton of national games last year. This might actually be a better year for league pass without games on other streaming services.

 

[Phil Mixtape]

Home debut for Bron and it's nationally televised? Yikes, maybe Embiid will be out for some reason at least . . .

 

[eChameleon]

Our NBA Cup schedule is out. Hope the courts aren't eyesore colors this year.

 

[MirORich]

Our NBA Cup schedule is out. Hope the courts aren't eyesore colors this year.

So potentially the top5 teams in the ECF all in the same 5 team bracket? Weird choice but oh well.

 

[mopete12]

Our NBA Cup schedule is out. Hope the courts aren't eyesore colors this year.

Don't hold your breath on the court colors.