Have patience, we're good enough?

[bondom34]

Spot on wizkid. Prior to this season, the arguemet was that no team every won a title w/o going into the tax....well....now 1 team has, so the debate shifts. This is similar in some ways.

Edit: Also similar to how everyone would love Morey right now had Bosh just signed.

[Baller2014]

The Thunder are both loaded and hungry. I'm expecting them to win 65 games next season, and potentially the title too. The main thing threatening them is the Spurs, and as a Spurs fan I'm not sure if our old guys will have the same hunger and bounce in their step next year. Duncan will be 39 next playoffs, and he's our best player. I grow weary of all the criticism of OKC. They're looking great. Take a look at this rotation:

PF- Ibaka, Collison, PJ Jones
SF- Durant, Roberson, Huestis
C- Perkins, Adams, McGary
SG- R.Jax, Lamb
PG- Westbrook, Morrow, Telfair

Ridiculously deep and talented. Good for next year, and well set for the future. Adams and McGary look like nice bigs to take Perkins and Collison's places, and Lamb and Roberson have shown promising signs too. If they can afford to keep R.Jax (very likely IMO) then they're basically set long into the future. It's too easy to get dishearted by the losses the last 2 years, but you got a bad hand both times with unexpected injuries. The Thunder are like the Spurs little brother team, with a head owner, GM and coaches who all graduated from the Spurs. I won't be too sad when you supplant us eventually (though hopefully we're still ripping it up with Kawhi and Parker and Co for a while). Just watch out though, he Spurs have some other siblings growing up in the Pelicans, Hawks, and eventually the Magic and Jazz.

[bondom34]

The Thunder are both loaded and hungry. I'm expecting them to win 65 games next season, and potentially the title too. The main thing threatening them is the Spurs, and as a Spurs fan I'm not sure if our old guys will have the same hunger and bounce in their step next year. Duncan will be 39 next playoffs, and he's our best player. I grow weary of all the criticism of OKC. They're looking great. Take a look at this rotation:

PF- Ibaka, Collison, PJ Jones
SF- Durant, Roberson, Huestis
C- Perkins, Adams, McGary
SG- R.Jax, Lamb
PG- Westbrook, Morrow, Telfair

Ridiculously deep and talented. Good for next year, and well set for the future. Adams and McGary look like nice bigs to take Perkins and Collison's places, and Lamb and Roberson have shown promising signs too. If they can afford to keep R.Jax (very likely IMO) then they're basically set long into the future. It's too easy to get dishearted by the losses the last 2 years, but you got a bad hand both times with unexpected injuries. The Thunder are like the Spurs little brother team, with a head owner, GM and coaches who all graduated from the Spurs. I won't be too sad when you supplant us eventually (though hopefully we're still ripping it up with Kawhi and Parker and Co for a while). Just watch out though, he Spurs have some other siblings growing up in the Pelicans, Hawks, and eventually the Magic and Jazz.

I see what you're doing, Spurs fan with the reverse jinx . Thanks for the kind words, OKC hopes to someday have what San Antonio does now!

[Kizz Fastfists]

Just watch out though, he Spurs have some other siblings growing up in the Pelicans, Hawks, and eventually the Magic and Jazz.

The Magic are going to be scary in 2 more years. Hennigan did his understudy work in both San Antonio and OKC so he should have a complete grasp of both the maintaining and building of an organization. The 76ers are the other team the East needs to watch out for. When they grow up in two years they could be deadly. I'm not as concerned about the Pelicans, Hawks or Jazz as they seem to find ways to get in their own way. The Jazz matching for Hayward is going to hurt them down the line with the cap.

The Pelicans trading for Holliday was a mistake and outside of Anthony Davis they lack young talent under team control. The Hawks are in the same situation, depending on FAs and lacking any young developing talent. Phoenix doesn't get enough credit for what they have. If they could have landed LeBron this off-season that would team would have been very good, top 4 in the West at least. The real issue is that any of the top 4-5 teams in the West right now would all be the favorites in the East. So climbing the ladder in the West is difficult for a team like Phoenix when they can't land that missing star player to put them in contention.

[BrianDavis]

Spot on wizkid. Prior to this season, the arguemet was that no team every won a title w/o going into the tax....well....now 1 team has, so the debate shifts. This is similar in some ways.

Edit: Also similar to how everyone would love Morey right now had Bosh just signed.

2006 Miami didnt pay the tax, and the 07 Spurs and 04 Pistons both paid less than 1 million. There was no tax in 2005, but the Spurs won that year, and either would've paid less than a million or zero tax. Also the tax started in 2003.. so its not like theres this long history. Ive always hated that narrative, its a lie and it twists the facts (I think Simmons started it).

[bondom34]

Spot on wizkid. Prior to this season, the arguemet was that no team every won a title w/o going into the tax....well....now 1 team has, so the debate shifts. This is similar in some ways.

Edit: Also similar to how everyone would love Morey right now had Bosh just signed.

2006 Miami didnt pay the tax, and the 05 Spurs, 07 Spurs, and 04 Pistons all paid less than 1 million. Also the tax started in 2003.. so its not like theres this long history. Ive always hated that narrative, its a lie and it twists the facts (I think Simmons started it).

I wouldn't doubt this.

[Space Dracula]

The worst part of the tax argument is that the new tax penalties have only been in effect for two years. Taxpaying teams during previous CBA's don't seem applicable to the league today.

[Baller2014]

The Magic are going to be scary in 2 more years. Hennigan did his understudy work in both San Antonio and OKC so he should have a complete grasp of both the maintaining and building of an organization. The 76ers are the other team the East needs to watch out for. When they grow up in two years they could be deadly. I'm not as concerned about the Pelicans, Hawks or Jazz as they seem to find ways to get in their own way. The Jazz matching for Hayward is going to hurt them down the line with the cap.

The Pelicans trading for Holliday was a mistake and outside of Anthony Davis they lack young talent under team control. The Hawks are in the same situation, depending on FAs and lacking any young developing talent. Phoenix doesn't get enough credit for what they have. If they could have landed LeBron this off-season that would team would have been very good, top 4 in the West at least. The real issue is that any of the top 4-5 teams in the West right now would all be the favorites in the East. So climbing the ladder in the West is difficult for a team like Phoenix when they can't land that missing star player to put them in contention.

I think the 76ers (and by extension Morey and his disciple Hinkie) are grossly overrated. Never have GMs been given so much credit for comparatively little. A good argument could be made about just how lucky Morey has been, and he still hasn't exactly gamed the system or anything. The 76ers have proven nothing yet, and I am not a believer in MCW or Noel. Now don't get me wrong, the Pelicans are like the black sheep of the Spurs GM'ing tree, but the move for Holiday was still sound, and I expect the Pelicans to win 50 games next year.

[bondom34]

The Magic are going to be scary in 2 more years. Hennigan did his understudy work in both San Antonio and OKC so he should have a complete grasp of both the maintaining and building of an organization. The 76ers are the other team the East needs to watch out for. When they grow up in two years they could be deadly. I'm not as concerned about the Pelicans, Hawks or Jazz as they seem to find ways to get in their own way. The Jazz matching for Hayward is going to hurt them down the line with the cap.

The Pelicans trading for Holliday was a mistake and outside of Anthony Davis they lack young talent under team control. The Hawks are in the same situation, depending on FAs and lacking any young developing talent. Phoenix doesn't get enough credit for what they have. If they could have landed LeBron this off-season that would team would have been very good, top 4 in the West at least. The real issue is that any of the top 4-5 teams in the West right now would all be the favorites in the East. So climbing the ladder in the West is difficult for a team like Phoenix when they can't land that missing star player to put them in contention.

I think the 76ers (and by extension Morey and his disciple Hinkie) are grossly overrated. Never have GMs been given so much credit for comparatively little. A good argument could be made about just how lucky Morey has been, and he still hasn't exactly gamed the system or anything. The 76ers have proven nothing yet, and I am not a believer in MCW or Noel. Now don't get me wrong, the Pelicans are like the black sheep of the Spurs GM'ing tree, but the move for Holiday was still sound, and I expect the Pelicans to win 50 games next year.

I'll admit I'm mildly confused by some of Orlando's moves (especially the odd vet signings of Gordon/Frye), but am thrilled Morey fell on his face.

[Baller2014]

Lots of Spurs moves used to be "mildly confusing", but they almost always paid dividends. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and with some reason.