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Reason #1: Stan Van Gundy. I trust him. He knows the game. He lives the game ~ aka, works the requisite hours. He (seems to) know how to hire good assistants, front office and staff. And I love that our HC is our GM. Just love it. So correct. And still so rare in today's NBA.

Reason #2: Andre Drummond. No big in the league I'd trade him for other than Anthony Davis. Everything about him is just improving just as I'd hoped it would from day one so far.

Reason #3: Reggie Jackson. Such a great defender with his size, length and athleticism. Handles the ball better than any point we've had since Zeke. Penetrates as well as almost anyone in the league. And just finds open guys on the drive. P&R game with Drummond should be solid gold with work. Once we have some shooters on the perimeters, too, with his long ass arms and those weird crazy outlet passes he can make. Could be great.

Reason #4: Ersan Ilyasova. Really think he's going to be a perfect Rashard Lewis-type player for us. Will stroke those threes and open up the court. Will be tougher on D and battle more on the boards than you'd expect.

Reason #5: Anthony Tolliver. Really just love this guy. Brings so much energy off the bench. Stroke at the 4 from deep. High energy defense and rebounding. Between him and E, we really have a perfect combo 4.

Reason #6: Spencer Dinwiddie. I really love him as a backup point. When he got his minutes this year, we played well. It's strange, because he doesn't seem to really excel well above average in any particular aspect of the game. But he always just does pretty well. And as a team, we always just do pretty well when he's in there. Great backup point. And upside there, too.

Reason #7: This draft / trade rumor that's been floating around. #8/Jennings/Monroe for #4/THJ. I like Mario. But if Winslow's the better, safer pick. Hell yeah. He shoots fine from deep. Will be a good strong defender. Can score in some ways. Will be, at the very least, a good NBA 3 for us (probably). Or at the very best, a borderline all-star type. Good pick. Shedding Jennings contract and Monroe's cap-hold opens up a lot of space for us rest of the summer. THJ gives KCP some good healthy competition - - may the best man win. And I hope we can move Meeks.

Reason #8: All that cap space (see reason #7). Shoot, we'll need a backup center. Should be very get-able in FA, or even with a slight trade up in the 2nd rd to the late 1st. Got a starting center. A 4. A backup 4. A 3 (Winslow). A starting point. A backup point. A couple 2/3 guys in THJ and KCP. Lot of money, and not a ton of needs. Maybe we really shoot for the stars and pull a miracle out of our hats. Maybe we just get a backup center and a solid addition like Middleton or Danny Green. Shall see. Buuut..

All of this together. Cavs will be good in the East next season. Bulls if Rose is healthy. Hawks are solid~top 3 team in the E. That's really about it though. And that's not all that daunting. We could start making some noise in this league as early as next season, man.

You'll be surprised how good the East will be next season...Bucks are getting Parker back with an internally improved team. Pacers get Paul George back. The Knicks get to completely overhaul their team and they won't be the same as last season. Wade might leave Miami for money and Miami might gain another good FA. Magic also have plenty of money and a good pick this season with internal development. Charlotte's team will depend on Al Jefferson's play and Kemba Walker will come back healthy. Wizards might pick up a good FA now that Pierce is leaving and more internal development. Toronto will stay the way they are if they don't add veterans. Boston might end up getting Monroe and some other big FA.

You basically just don't know what's going to happen. Our division could be the strongest in the East next season. All 5 teams could be headed to the Playoffs.

Other than Reggie's defense, which really isn't good at all (given his physical gifts), I agree with almost all of this. We should improve significantly this year. The East IS getting stronger, though, and I suspect it'll take a .500 record to make the playoffs this time around.

Spider156 wrote:You'll be surprised how good the East will be next season...Bucks are getting Parker back with an internally improved team. Pacers get Paul George back. The Knicks get to completely overhaul their team and they won't be the same as last season. Wade might leave Miami for money and Miami might gain another good FA. Magic also have plenty of money and a good pick this season with internal development. Charlotte's team will depend on Al Jefferson's play and Kemba Walker will come back healthy. Wizards might pick up a good FA now that Pierce is leaving and more internal development. Toronto will stay the way they are if they don't add veterans. Boston might end up getting Monroe and some other big FA.

You basically just don't know what's going to happen. Our division could be the strongest in the East next season. All 5 teams could be headed to the Playoffs.

Yeah, with how bad the East has been it's like a cluster **** to get in to the playoffs because all the teams appear so close. I think we should be in the mix which is nice, but other fan bases are the same way.
Anyway, I'm super excited for the draft!! I've already planned out how I'm going to watch and everything. Plus, I'm with you that I have faith in SVG. The Dinwiddie pick last year pretty much really up'd my faith.

Spider156 wrote:You'll be surprised how good the East will be next season...Bucks are getting Parker back with an internally improved team. Pacers get Paul George back. The Knicks get to completely overhaul their team and they won't be the same as last season. Wade might leave Miami for money and Miami might gain another good FA. Magic also have plenty of money and a good pick this season with internal development. Charlotte's team will depend on Al Jefferson's play and Kemba Walker will come back healthy. Wizards might pick up a good FA now that Pierce is leaving and more internal development. Toronto will stay the way they are if they don't add veterans. Boston might end up getting Monroe and some other big FA.

You basically just don't know what's going to happen. Our division could be the strongest in the East next season. All 5 teams could be headed to the Playoffs.

All of that is true but as the great Bill Russell used to say: make them play your game.

We have a system, designed by a quality coach. He has acquired pieces that he knows fit his system and another training camp (or first) will be good.

This is Stan's team. He'll make the right call for his system. IMO we're the last stop on his coaching career and he's in it to win it.

We need to look beyond next season and try to view the future - because I believe SVG is. You don't leave Florida for Detroit without knowing what you're getting yourself into!

This off-season isn't the end, it's not even the beginning, it's the end if the beginning!

Every dude except Dre, KCP & BJ will be on this roster because of Stan. He's removed the stench of Joe in less than a year! That's impressive!

But I don't believe it's "playoffs or bust" next season. IMO its phase 2 of rebuilding

Eh, my excitement for this team has dampered after years off disappointment I see us in the lottery yet again next season barring miracle outcomes in draft, trades and free agency.

^^^Thats what countless years of mid-lottery picks get us. A slow trip to nowhere....until the kids grow up. Then the trick becomes keeping them here....

See Monroe leaving?

Piston Pete wrote:^^^Thats what countless years of mid-lottery picks get us. A slow trip to nowhere....until the kids grow up. Then the trick becomes keeping them here....

See Monroe leaving?

Basically we're just developing talent for the Lakers, NYK, and Chicago.

#7 isn't happening.

I've been overly optimistic for most of the past decade. That said I think we should be at least a .500 team. After years of being in a downward spiral it looks like we are finally trending the right direction with some real leadership, accountability and a plan not tainted by panic or restrictive ownership. I really wanna say that 50 wins, while a reach, should be the goal. But I believe you always aim high and I'd be very happy with that 8th seed in an improved East.

Spider156 wrote:You'll be surprised how good the East will be next season...Bucks are getting Parker back with an internally improved team. Pacers get Paul George back. The Knicks get to completely overhaul their team and they won't be the same as last season. Wade might leave Miami for money and Miami might gain another good FA. Magic also have plenty of money and a good pick this season with internal development. Charlotte's team will depend on Al Jefferson's play and Kemba Walker will come back healthy. Wizards might pick up a good FA now that Pierce is leaving and more internal development. Toronto will stay the way they are if they don't add veterans. Boston might end up getting Monroe and some other big FA.

You basically just don't know what's going to happen. Our division could be the strongest in the East next season. All 5 teams could be headed to the Playoffs.

Pacers definitely will improve with George healthy

Heat and Hawks are going after Monta Ellis and both teams would immensely improve (especially the Hawks) if Ellis signs

Why take Wade's injury filled season when you can have Monta? Dragic- Monta-Deng-Bosh-Whiteside is a top 5 team in the East if healthy

The most excited I was for an offseason was when we signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. I like what Stan is doing, but I'll get excited when we are involved in a 6+ game series against Lebron James again.

there's a ton of plays out there for us. Rudy Gay is available and this IMO would be my #1 priority if the kings indeed want to salary dump. Monta Ellis just opted out, NYK possibly looking to trade down, etc. I think we end up having a great offseason as unlike Dumars Stan and co are highly active when it comes to improving via trades or FA

blueadams wrote:
Reason #3: Reggie Jackson. Such a great defender with his size, length and athleticism. Handles the ball better than any point we've had since Zeke. Penetrates as well as almost anyone in the league. And just finds open guys on the drive. P&R game with Drummond should be solid gold with work. Once we have some shooters on the perimeters, too, with his long ass arms and those weird crazy outlet passes he can make. Could be great.

I agree with a lot of the points you made but to say Reggie handles the ball the best since Zeke is a little dismissive of how well Chauncy handled the ball and controlled the tempo.

Chauncy was an all-star and a finals MVP and I think Reggie has a ways to go before he surpasses him to be the best Pistons PG since Zeke.

It's hard not to be optimistic about the upcoming season given how well the team finished the year out after the Smith waiving.
Despite having multiple injuries and trades the team played .500 (or very close to) ball. it's been a long time since that has happened.
With another full off season and some improvements on the wings, the team should be in the playoff hunt. And for the first time i can say that with confidence and not just optimism and pure homerism.

blueadams wrote:Reason #1: Stan Van Gundy. I trust him. He knows the game. He lives the game ~ aka, works the requisite hours. He (seems to) know how to hire good assistants, front office and staff. And I love that our HC is our GM. Just love it. So correct. And still so rare in today's NBA.

i feel like SVG cares about basketball as much as us. I really think that he has a flow chart of every single scenario that could happen during the draft so he has a plan of action if Team A calls. Its been a while since i've felt completely confident in our FO and coaching staff. This will be his 1st first round pick for us, going to be fun.

Reason #2: Andre Drummond. No big in the league I'd trade him for other than Anthony Davis. Everything about him is just improving just as I'd hoped it would from day one so far.

Can't wait to see whats in store under year 2 of SVG toolage

Reason #3: Reggie Jackson. Such a great defender with his size, length and athleticism. Handles the ball better than any point we've had since Zeke. Penetrates as well as almost anyone in the league. And just finds open guys on the drive. P&R game with Drummond should be solid gold with work. Once we have some shooters on the perimeters, too, with his long ass arms and those weird crazy outlet passes he can make. Could be great

.

Our PGOF, really want to see what a full offseason with our young core together is going to look like.

Reason #4: Ersan Ilyasova. Really think he's going to be a perfect Rashard Lewis-type player for us. Will stroke those threes and open up the court. Will be tougher on D and battle more on the boards than you'd expect.

If Ily stays healthy, we very well could have found our R. Wallace for this team. PErfect compliment to our center

Reason #5: Anthony Tolliver. Really just love this guy. Brings so much energy off the bench. Stroke at the 4 from deep. High energy defense and rebounding. Between him and E, we really have a perfect combo 4.

The Law speakith the Truth

Reason #6: Spencer Dinwiddie. I really love him as a backup point. When he got his minutes this year, we played well. It's strange, because he doesn't seem to really excel well above average in any particular aspect of the game. But he always just does pretty well. And as a team, we always just do pretty well when he's in there. Great backup point. And upside there, too.

Dinwiddie struggled shooting last year, but the way he carried himself and the confidence he played with especially against rose and Wall..............this kid has a chance to be good. i hope he's the mainstay of leading our 2nd unit

Reason #7: This draft / trade rumor that's been floating around. #8/Jennings/Monroe for #4/THJ. I like Mario. But if Winslow's the better, safer pick. Hell yeah. He shoots fine from deep. Will be a good strong defender. Can score in some ways. Will be, at the very least, a good NBA 3 for us (probably). Or at the very best, a borderline all-star type. Good pick. Shedding Jennings contract and Monroe's cap-hold opens up a lot of space for us rest of the summer. THJ gives KCP some good healthy competition - - may the best man win. And I hope we can move Meeks.

Reason #8: All that cap space (see reason #7). Shoot, we'll need a backup center. Should be very get-able in FA, or even with a slight trade up in the 2nd rd to the late 1st. Got a starting center. A 4. A backup 4. A 3 (Winslow). A starting point. A backup point. A couple 2/3 guys in THJ and KCP. Lot of money, and not a ton of needs. Maybe we really shoot for the stars and pull a miracle out of our hats. Maybe we just get a backup center and a solid addition like Middleton or Danny Green. Shall see. Buuut..

All of this together. Cavs will be good in the East next season. Bulls if Rose is healthy. Hawks are solid~top 3 team in the E. That's really about it though. And that's not all that daunting. We could start making some noise in this league as early as next season, man.

In SVG we trust. As of now the 7 and 8 spots are still up for grab like they are every year. i think our record we'll have us higher than that

tmorgan wrote:Other than Reggie's defense, which really isn't good at all (given his physical gifts), I agree with almost all of this. We should improve significantly this year. The East IS getting stronger, though, and I suspect it'll take a .500 record to make the playoffs this time around.

That's fair. While not consistent, Reggie has shown some flashes of great defensive ability against top points (v. J. Wall, I remember as a specific showing).

Glad I'm not alone fellas! Talk to you tonight!