2nd best team in the nba right now?

nbafan38 · Post #1 » by **nbafan38** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 2:50 am

Look we all know GS is number 1 but after the recent trades I think you could make a compelling argument for thunder, cavaliers, spurs, or rockets, and maybe even Celtics as the 2nd best team, so many new faces on all these teams except the spurs and it will be interesting to see how they gel.

bklynspursfan · Post #2 » by **bklynspursfan** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 2:54 am

Still SA until proven otherwise

The_Hater · Post #3 » by **The_Hater** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:01 am

I think the Rockets will post the league's 2nd best record this season but a healthy Cavs team looks like the 2nd best on paper.

76ciology · Post #4 » by **76ciology** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:13 am

Post #5 » by **MadNESS** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:20 am

Why do I think it's gonna be Minnesota?

They didn't even make the list..,

nbafan38 · Post #6 » by **nbafan38** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:22 am

MadNESS wrote:Why do I think it's gonna be Minnesota?

They didn't even make the list..,

Too young to make that huge of a jump yet. Would be very surprising if they end up in the WCF this season

The_Hater · Post #7 » by **The_Hater** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:27 am

MadNESS wrote:Why do I think it's gonna be Minnesota?

They didn't even make the list..,

As much as I like Jimmy Butler, he's not turning a 31 win team into a 60 win team. They still have too many defensive holes in that lineup to turn a bottom 5 defense into an elite one.

mademan · Post #8 » by **mademan** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:32 am

I still dont think any other team can match up with the Cavs spread offense. They'll outscore every other team, imo

Pachinko_ · Post #9 » by **Pachinko_** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:38 am

On paper? just talent wise? Thunder.

But stacking talent doesn't always work as you'd expect, so I don't know, it depends how much players are willing to sacrifice stats for winning. It's up to them really.

Post #10 » by **Cactus Jack** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:39 am

The Lebron's are 2nd best.

Spurs & the Zombie Sonics are 3/4. Houston close behind.

nbafan38 · Post #11 » by **nbafan38** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:42 am

Pachinko_ wrote:On paper? just talent wise? Thunder.

But stacking talent doesn't always work as you'd expect, so I don't know, it depends how much players are willing to sacrifice stats for winning. It's up to them really.

Given everything I've heard this offseason I think all 3 Thunder stars are very committed to winning. Melo would've stayed in NY if he wants stats more than winning. With that said we still have to see how the on the court chemistry works.

Captain_Caveman · Post #12 » by **Captain_Caveman** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:44 am

Spurs had an iffy offseason, Cavs had a train wreck of one. Trust Boston, and their coach, to put the pieces together more than I trust OKC's or Houston's. Also worth mentioning how old LeBron and CP3 are in the scheme of things, as well as IT being injured.

Wizards are a team that could have made this list as well.

Pachinko_ · Post #13 » by **Pachinko_** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:49 am

nbafan38 wrote:
Pachinko_ wrote:On paper? just talent wise? Thunder.

But stacking talent doesn't always work as you'd expect, so I don't know, it depends how much players are willing to sacrifice stats for winning. It's up to them really.

Given everything I've heard this offseason I think all 3 Thunder stars are very committed to winning. Melo would've stayed in NY if he wants stats more than winning. With that said we still have to see how the on the court chemistry works.

It's not just who takes the most shots or the last shots, there will be stretches that him and PG will be asked to maybe play out of position, or stagger minutes, defend some monster, foul out, go stand in the corner to make space for another guy, all those things that people do for winning.
I hope they have it in them to do it, it will be great for the league

yoyoboy · Post #14 » by **yoyoboy** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:50 am

Captain_Caveman wrote:Spurs had an iffy offseason, Cavs had a train wreck of one. Trust Boston, and their coach, to put the pieces together more than I trust OKC's or Houston's. Also worth mentioning how old LeBron and CP3 are in the scheme of things, as well as IT being injured.

Wizards are a team that could have made this list as well.

I'm sure this has nothing to do with the fact that you're a Celtics fan...

mademan · Post #15 » by **mademan** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:51 am

I dont think people realize how well the Cavs played in the postseason last year, even against GSW. These guys were putting up historic numbers. Nobody else can keep pace with their scoring (when Lebron plays 40+ min) other than the W's

nbafan38 · Post #16 » by **nbafan38** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:54 am

mademan wrote:I dont think people realize how well the Cavs played in the postseason last year, even against GSW. These guys were putting up historic numbers. Nobody else can keep pace with their scoring (when Lebron plays 40+ min) other than the W's

True but their second best offensive player by far is gone. If IT is close he can at least possibly give them production in the ballpark of Irving but if he's not healthy they will be much weaker offensively.

Post #17 » by **Prez** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 4:09 am

I think Houston will have the 2nd best record in the RS, but the 2nd most dangerous team in the playoffs will be Cleveland or OKC, depending on IT's health. All comes down to IT's health and which version of Melo shows up. I agree with the general consensus that he was pretty crappy by his standards last year and won't be a huge difference maker in that form. But he was also really good the couple years before this past year and I don't see why he can't get back to that.

Captain_Caveman · Post #18 » by **Captain_Caveman** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 4:25 am

yoyoboy wrote:
Captain_Caveman wrote:Spurs had an iffy offseason, Cavs had a train wreck of one. Trust Boston, and their coach, to put the pieces together more than I trust OKC's or Houston's. Also worth mentioning how old LeBron and CP3 are in the scheme of things, as well as IT being injured.

Wizards are a team that could have made this list as well.

I'm sure this has nothing to do with the fact that you're a Celtics fan...

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Sorry that mentioning your offseason being bad surprised you.

Captain_Caveman · Post #19 » by **Captain_Caveman** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 4:27 am

Prez wrote:I think Houston will have the 2nd best record in the RS, but the 2nd most dangerous team in the playoffs will be Cleveland or OKC, depending on IT's health. All comes down to IT's health and which version of Melo shows up. I agree with the general consensus that he was pretty crappy by his standards last year and won't be a huge difference maker in that form. But he was also really good the couple years before this past year and I don't see why he can't get back to that.

Have the same sense about Houston. Will pile up regular season wins, but not a team to worry about in the playoffs.

At least they didn't add Melo.

Captain_Caveman · Post #20 » by **Captain_Caveman** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 4:29 am

mademan wrote:I dont think people realize how well the Cavs played in the postseason last year, even against GSW. These guys were putting up historic numbers. Nobody else can keep pace with their scoring (when Lebron plays 40+ min) other than the W's

They went 23-23 in the last 2/3rds of the season, then drew two teams in the playoffs that were effectively missing their best players before getting worked over by the Warriors in 5 games.

They already slipped hard. They just don't know it yet.

They won't have a top 5 record, and they won't make the conference finals.

Who is the 2nd best team in the nba?