This is the most excited I have been about this team since we traded for Scottie

[SharpesTriumph]

Have a really hard time deciding how good I think this team will be next year. On the one hand we lost Dame as well as Hart whom only had us at a .500 level. On the other we made multiple good additions as well as drafted a player that may contribute much sooner than most rookies.

Wouldn't be shocked if we're one of the worst teams in the league. But we also see teams every year that play very hard, have good health, a couple young guys improve, and they unexpectedly play .500 ball or better. If I had to look at the most optimistic lens for the changes perhaps it is some of this;

1. Starting Center - big potential upgrade from Nurk to Ayton.
2. Backup Center - big upgrade from Eubanks to TimeLord
3. Sharpe should have significant improvement in 2nd season
4. Ant could have valuable improvement
5. Added #1 overall pick quality rookie in Scoot
6. Replaced ball dominant poor defensive Lillard with two way 6MOY player who is efficient and can play either spot. Allows the team opportunity for more balanced scoring and less hero ball.
7. Team is certainly much younger, with more upside
8. Much more athletic roster, especially helpful over 82 games although potentially less so in playoffs or halfcourt.
9. Low expectations,underdogs, and they didn't believe in us mindset. Positive atmosphere
10. Perhaps the team will be much healthier?

 

[e_blazer]

Off the bench? I find that funny.
Who cares about having a starting shooting-guard-sized shooting guard when you can have one off the bench. Problem solved.

Just going with the reports that Ant is going to start at SG. I know you hate that idea, but don’t shoot me, I’m only the messenger.

 

[Predator]

Magic and Hornets will make a jump this year. They play D and Banchero and Ball may be All Stars soon. Just what we’re expecting with Scoot and Shaedon next season.

They may or may not. Who knows.

However, Ball and Banchero have shown things on an NBA court - ROTY, both of em.

Scoot hasn’t.

And what Shaedon has shown hasn’t exactly knocked my socks off (not ROTY for sure).

Ayton has show a little something, but I wouldn’t consider him franchise changing.

 

[Natebishop3]

They may or may not. Who knows.

However, Ball and Banchero have shown things on an NBA court - ROTY, both of em.

Scoot hasn’t.

And what Shaedon has shown hasn’t exactly knocked my socks off (not ROTY for sure).

Ayton has show a little something, but I wouldn’t consider him franchise changing.

So you were unimpressed with Shaedon after he took over as a starter last year?

 

[blazerfan11]

 

[blazerfan11]

They may or may not. Who knows.

However, Ball and Banchero have shown things on an NBA court - ROTY, both of em.

Scoot hasn’t.

And what Shaedon has shown hasn’t exactly knocked my socks off (not ROTY for sure).

Ayton has show a little something, but I wouldn’t consider him franchise changing.

Banchero? He showed he could score 20 points a game on horrible efficiency. Whoopdee-doo. Trendon Watford could've done that.

 

[blazerfan11]

Just going with the reports that Ant is going to start at SG. I know you hate that idea, but don’t shoot me, I’m only the messenger.

Critical comments aren't aimed at the messenger. Shouting at the man upstairs and Chauncey Billups and Joe Cronin.

Please let it stop. Gimme Michael Jordan and Ron Harper.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Critical comments aren't aimed at the messenger. Shouting at the man upstairs and Chauncey Billups and Joe Cronin.

Please let it stop. Gimme Michael Jordan and Ron Harper.

Long as your expectations are reasonable

 

[Predator]

So you were unimpressed with Shaedon after he took over as a starter last year?

This is a cop out but I’m going to say, “Meh”.

Here’s why. He pretty much got unlimited shots on a really, really bad team and was put in a role that he will not play. Some of those games had Kobe-esque stat lines of 10-30 shooting with 30pts (pulled random numbers out of my ass, so don’t quote me on that … but the point is a lot of shots, bad fg% but decent points). I’m sure quite a few NBA players could put up those stats if they have free rein like that. His defense was lackluster at best. Our competition wasn’t exactly the stiffest either. However he did do it against NBA teams so I don’t wholly discount it.

And before I get called a Shaedon hater, I was captain of the draft Shaedon club because … highest potential even though he hadn’t played in almost (2?) years by the time NBA season came around.

I’m not OUT on Shaedon, I just need to see more. If he did that for half the season, then I would give it a little more juice.

 

[Predator]

Banchero? He showed he could score 20 points a game on horrible efficiency. Whoopdee-doo. Trendon Watford could've done that.

View attachment 58100

Still won rookie of the year, plus I was responding to KingSpeed who said they might be all stars soon. Winning Rookie of the Year certainly highlights that they could achieve that sooner rather than later.

Look forward to seeing who is an all star first. Trendon or Paolo, since Trendon apparently is as good as Paolo to you.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

This is a cop out but I’m going to say, “Meh”.

Here’s why. He pretty much got unlimited shots on a really, really bad team and was put in a role that he will not play. Some of those games had Kobe-esque stat lines of 10-30 shooting with 30pts (pulled random numbers out of my ass, so don’t quote me on that … but the point is a lot of shots, bad fg% but decent points). I’m sure quite a few NBA players could put up those stats if they have free rein like that. His defense was lackluster at best. Our competition wasn’t exactly the stiffest either. However he did do it against NBA teams so I don’t wholly discount it.

And before I get called a Shaedon hater, I was captain of the draft Shaedon club because … highest potential even though he hadn’t played in almost (2?) years by the time NBA season came around.

I’m not OUT on Shaedon, I just need to see more. If he did that for half the season, then I would give it a little more juice.

On the whole in that stretch, he averaged 46% from the field and 38% from 3. The only game where he had more shots than points was against New Orleans (12 on 13 FGA). There was really only one "Kobe-esque" game (the only one in which he took more than 20 shots); he was 10-27 for 30 points against Sacramento, and he also had 7 assists.

I think you're trying too hard to downplay the way he finished out the year. But I agree with you that we need to see more.

 

[Tince]

This team could make history!

 

[HailBlazers]

This team could make history!

How so?

 

[Tince]

How so?

The 18 win record is within reach

 

[Predator]

On the whole in that stretch, he averaged 46% from the field and 38% from 3. The only game where he had more shots than points was against New Orleans (12 on 13 FGA). There was really only one "Kobe-esque" game (the only one in which he took more than 20 shots); he was 10-27 for 30 points against Sacramento, and he also had 7 assists.

I think you're trying too hard to downplay the way he finished out the year. But I agree with you that we need to see more.

I wasn't trying to downplay anything. I didn't even bother looking at the stats.

He did shoot better than I remembered.

But the important thing I said is: Do you think he's going to average 19 shots per game? Do you think he's going to be in that same role?

In short, that sample size is nothing like what he'll actually be playing like on this team w/Simons, Scoot.