Knightro wrote:thelead wrote:Houston, Indiana, and OKC were on our level back in 2022 (Hou 20 wins, Orl 22 wins, OKC 24 wins, Ind 25 wins)... yet, here they are as legit title contenders with most, if not a surplus, of their draft capital intact.
We are in a good spot but it could have been better with better management.
To be fair...
OKC in 2022 was not really a true 24 win team. They shutdown a bunch of healthy players, including SGA, and closed the season 2-23 over their final 25 games. It was one of the more aggressive and brazen outright tanking we've seen in a minute.
Indiana traded three first round picks to get Siakam last year which is more or less the equivalent of the Bane trade for the Magic now. I also don't think, even though they've had a truly amazing playoff run, that Indiana is actually a team that is actually going to contend for multiple championships. They were 9th in offense, 14th in defense, 13th in NET this year. This feels more like an all-time heater than the start of a team that's gonna kick ass for years to come.
Houston has managed their situation quite well.
Well... now that Hali just had a career altering injury, you're right about Indy. F***
