Around the NBA, 2014-15 Season Thread

[JoseRizal]

Thats annoying since he's still serviceable. I'm really wondering what the FO was thinking that time; Compete, Tank or just be a perpetual treadmill team...

[therealbig3]

Pierce would have been very solid here for us. But I can't blame Prokhorov if he felt that keeping Pierce and paying all that extra money in luxury taxes for a 2nd round exit anyway wasn't worth it. Losing in the 1st round vs losing in the 2nd round really doesn't mean much to us at this point...we're just trying to tread water and not give up lottery picks until we can start signing players in free agency.

What's more depressing is looking at the crop of 2016 free agents outside of Durant and not really seeing anyone that's worth it. Conley and Dwight would be nice, but Dwight is past his prime, and Conley probably isn't leaving Memphis...and if he was, there are other teams that are MUCH more attractive destinations.

[therealbig3]

I'd LOVE to have Russell Westbrook though, if he decided to move on from OKC. But he's only a free agent after 2017.

Since coming back from injury, he's been the best player in the NBA.

[Prokorov]

Pierce would have been very solid here for us. But I can't blame Prokhorov if he felt that keeping Pierce and paying all that extra money in luxury taxes for a 2nd round exit anyway wasn't worth it. Losing in the 1st round vs losing in the 2nd round really doesn't mean much to us at this point...we're just trying to tread water and not give up lottery picks until we can start signing players in free agency.

What's more depressing is looking at the crop of 2016 free agents outside of Durant and not really seeing anyone that's worth it. Conley and Dwight would be nice, but Dwight is past his prime, and Conley probably isn't leaving Memphis...and if he was, there are other teams that are MUCH more attractive destinations.

i see what you are saying.... but for me a first vs. second round exit is a HUGE difference. beating the raptors last year was great, had we lost, it would have sucked.

[Prokorov]

Al jefferson out 4 weeks, that could be big for us in 3 ways:

1) they are behind us in the standings, could bury their playoff chances completely
2) could make guys like lance, gerald henderson, and marvin williams available, all guys who could help us
3) without jefferson, lopez could be a fit for them and maybe MJ knee jerks to try and save their season

[Paradise]

We're only 2 games behind Cleveland in the standings. Let that sink in.

[Keith Van Horn]

We're only 2 games behind Cleveland in the standings. Let that sink in.

I think everyone in the east is beatable... we just need to figure out who the hell we are as a team.

I like the idea of keeping Deron with the bench unit so far... and continuing to find a suitor for Lopez, and hope we can get a quality PF or SG in return.

Also I like the JJ avatar a lot... very cool.

[Paradise]

We're only 2 games behind Cleveland in the standings. Let that sink in.

I think everyone in the east is beatable... we just need to figure out who the hell we are as a team.

I like the idea of keeping Deron with the bench unit so far... and continuing to find a suitor for Lopez, and hope we can get a quality PF or SG in return.

Also I like the JJ avatar a lot... very cool.

The only team I would fear facing in the playoffs right now is the Wizards. Everybody else seems beatable right now. Come playoff time when star power matters and defense locks in, Cleveland will most likely get exploited with their weak defenders and lack of depth. Toronto isn't a good defensive team and they will not average 110+ points in a 7 game series. Chicago needs MVP Rose to do anything significant and he's not even close to that and Atlanta has too many weak defenders.


Washington is the only complete team in the East right now capable of winning based on the pure talent of Wall/Beal or the gritty defense from Andre Miller, Nene, Gortat, Pierce, Hump, etc.

[Keith Van Horn]

Andre Miller is still playing in this league?! WOW!

Also I agree that the Wiz are legit, but the other two teams that could really give us fits I think would be the Bulls and Hawks.

[MrDollarBills]

I can't see us beating the Wizards, Hawks, or Bulls. Wizards are built properly from top to bottom, Hawks play excellent ball on both ends of the floor, and vs the Bulls I doubt Butler and Rose play that badly against us again.

Cavs, who knows. If Lebron is healthy I'm not betting on our chances.

Everyone else, sure I think as we are looking going forward yeah we can beat them.

Either way, I am pleased with the current progress.

[Prokorov]

We're only 2 games behind Cleveland in the standings. Let that sink in.

I think everyone in the east is beatable... we just need to figure out who the hell we are as a team.

I like the idea of keeping Deron with the bench unit so far... and continuing to find a suitor for Lopez, and hope we can get a quality PF or SG in return.

Also I like the JJ avatar a lot... very cool.

The only team I would fear facing in the playoffs right now is the Wizards. Everybody else seems beatable right now. Come playoff time when star power matters and defense locks in, Cleveland will most likely get exploited with their weak defenders and lack of depth. Toronto isn't a good defensive team and they will not average 110+ points in a 7 game series. Chicago needs MVP Rose to do anything significant and he's not even close to that and Atlanta has too many weak defenders.


Washington is the only complete team in the East right now capable of winning based on the pure talent of Wall/Beal or the gritty defense from Andre Miller, Nene, Gortat, Pierce, Hump, etc.

I agree with almost everything you said.... accept for atlanta. too many weak defenders? I feel like thats a strength for them, as almost their entire rotation is 2-way players. Teague, Milsap, Horford, and Carrolle all defend, and while korver doesnt have the reputation, he has been a really solid defender the last 3 seasons

[MrDollarBills]

korver gets his hands dirty on defense, his reputation as a deadly 3 pt shooter(50%!!! on the season from deep, good lord) makes people think that the guy is soft.

Can't sleep on Atlanta at all, they drubbed us with ease the last time we saw them too.

[Keith Van Horn]

Yeah I really like what Atlanta has done over the years... quietly becoming like a Spurs-East... thats really what they remind me of, especially with Mike Budenholzer at the helm. They have their explosive playmaker PG in Teague (Parker), legit low post scoring threat in Horford/Milsap (Duncan), deadly distance shooter in Korver (Green), good wing defender/shooter in Carroll (Leonard), etc. They are a very well balanced team and have a great coach. And they're looking extra good now b/c they're in the East.

[kerry kittles]

We (mainly as in this board) really should reevaluate pushing to get every underachieving cancerous personality on this team. I know lack of effort is a common concern around here, but objectively look at things.

Lance Stephenson has not played well this season. The Hornets have been worse without him. The Pacers want TWO 1st round picks just to take him back and his salary isn't that bad. Most guys in the Pacers locker room don't want him back.

The Pistons won 5 of their first 28 games. Since releasing Josh Smith they are 4-0, all wins by double digits. The Rockets are getting destroyed by the Pelicans currently, down 30, and are about to be 2-3 with Josh Smith. Over those 5 games he is 16/48 from the field.

Jason Kidd now doesn't want Larry Sanders around the team. He doesn't have a friendly contract at all.

[kerry kittles]

Pierce would have been very solid here for us. But I can't blame Prokhorov if he felt that keeping Pierce and paying all that extra money in luxury taxes for a 2nd round exit anyway wasn't worth it. Losing in the 1st round vs losing in the 2nd round really doesn't mean much to us at this point...we're just trying to tread water and not give up lottery picks until we can start signing players in free agency.

What's more depressing is looking at the crop of 2016 free agents outside of Durant and not really seeing anyone that's worth it. Conley and Dwight would be nice, but Dwight is past his prime, and Conley probably isn't leaving Memphis...and if he was, there are other teams that are MUCH more attractive destinations.

Yes, i can understand Prok's decision as he's paying more than any other owner in the league. As a fan it's obviously disappointing being in this position- both the decision's King's made and the underachieving our highly-paid players.

I disagree with losing in the 1st round vs 2nd doesn't mean much. Compare the last two seasons and last season making it to the 2nd round was more enjoyable despite the higher expectations. Can you imagine how insufferable it would be with all those Raptors trolls if we lost to them. Beating them, the excitement of that block Pierce on the final possession were high points. It would've been so deflating if he hit that.

Pierce does everything better than Mirza and is so much more consistent. And night like tonight where we nearly gave up a 26 point lead in the 4th having a strong, calming, leadership presence on the court would undoubtedly help. I know it's beating a dead horse, but I gained a lot of respect for Pierce last year and would've liked to see him around here for another year or two. I get the financial implications, but as a fan i would've enjoyed it as we'd be better and not really hurt the development of Plumlee or Karasev.

[therealbig3]

Not to speak too soon...but we're 7.5 back of Toronto for the division now. Still a sizeable gap, but not insurmountable if we can keep up our recent level of play. I honestly think that Toronto has been playing over their heads all year, and that they'll regress eventually.

[Paradise]

We (mainly as in this board) really should reevaluate pushing to get every underachieving cancerous personality on this team. I know lack of effort is a common concern around here, but objectively look at things.

Lance Stephenson has not played well this season. The Hornets have been worse without him. The Pacers want TWO 1st round picks just to take him back and his salary isn't that bad. Most guys in the Pacers locker room don't want him back.

The Pistons won 5 of their first 28 games. Since releasing Josh Smith they are 4-0, all wins by double digits. The Rockets are getting destroyed by the Pelicans currently, down 30, and are about to be 2-3 with Josh Smith. Over those 5 games he is 16/48 from the field.

Jason Kidd now doesn't want Larry Sanders around the team. He doesn't have a friendly contract at all.

Imagine if Proky gave Kidd free reign. He would've traded for Sanders on a terrible cap space killing contract and Lopez and Teletovic would be thriving in Milwaukee alongside Parker, Giannis, Knight, etc.

That proposed trade idea would've ruined any hopes in 2016 and caused a bigger toxic mess. Regardless of how good a coach Kidd is in Milwaukee, he's still an idiot.

[NyCeEvO]

Not to speak too soon...but we're 7.5 back of Toronto for the division now. Still a sizeable gap, but not insurmountable if we can keep up our recent level of play. I honestly think that Toronto has been playing over their heads all year, and that they'll regress eventually.

So our 6-1 stretch against mostly mediocre competition is more indicative of our true skill level than the Raptors 30+ games of good play and a 58-28 record since the Rudy trade last year?

They're on their longest and toughest road trip of the season, their schedule after PHX turns back to being easy, and they've been missing DeRozan for a month.

I think we're getting way ahead of ourselves if we're just writing off the Raptors like they won't be a serious challenge.

[kerry kittles]

Not to speak too soon...but we're 7.5 back of Toronto for the division now. Still a sizeable gap, but not insurmountable if we can keep up our recent level of play. I honestly think that Toronto has been playing over their heads all year, and that they'll regress eventually.

So our 6-1 stretch against mostly mediocre competition is more indicative of our true skill level than the Raptors 30+ games of good play and a 58-28 record since the Rudy trade last year?

They're on their longest and toughest road trip of the season, their schedule after PHX turns back to being easy, and they've been missing DeRozan for a month.

I think we're getting way ahead of ourselves if we're just writing off the Raptors like they won't be a serious challenge.

Yes there's no way we are catching the Raptors. We've had the easiest schedule in the league thus far. After the 6ers game next week our schedule is brutal until March. The Raptors have an easy schedule like you mentioned this month. And most importantly we are not nearly as good as them.

[SpeedyG]

Definitely should have traded Brook for this Larry Sanders fella