sashaturiaf wrote:I caught about 5 minutes of the game at the start of the 4th and then turned the game off knowing we were going to lose. This team is simply too slow and small to compete. KD covers up a lot with his presence but theres only so much a guy his age can do.
With KD, Nurk and Dunn back I think we're good enough to make the playoffs and maybe win a series but that's our ceiling without a major shakeup ie - a Booker trade since that's the only feasible move out there with our cap situation and lack of picks.
I'm in general agreement with you except for moving Booker. I just do not believe we would get anyone to make us better than we are with him, even when he's slumping.
I'm also less concerned than most with team speed based on NBA.com's findings:
https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/speed-distance?dir=D&sort=AVG_SPEEDIt has us 24th in average team speed, 20th on offense, and 29th on defense. For perspective, the Wizards are 4th, 4th, and 10th, and Boston is last, last, and 25th. Even at our worst defensive speed, good teams like the Mavs and Denver are below us. It seems to be less a measure of excellence and more a good coach's philosophy and use of team personnel.
I strongly agree about our size problem, however. I just think that with the absence of KD our major problem, that should be resolved by acquiring a good shooting, good to acceptable defender, at power forward. I think that would be infinitely more useful than, what I believe would be more nominal gains, and probably difficult cost, of improving our center position. I know it is a minority opinion and I could be wrong, but a good four would be the only way I would consider moving Beal to the bench. I think they are available and within our reach.