Pistolpete1947 wrote: This whole hypothesis about this year is for development is ok to a point. When does playing for winning become the first priority? Brook, Lin, Booker and Bogs are all in the prime of their career and maybe have 3 years left before they start declining. To try to rebuild thru draft choices will go beyond the prime of their careers. You're awfully patient if you're willing to rebuild for 5+ years (how has that worked out for Philly?)
Certainly no time this year. and depending on how we do in free agency maybe not next year either. I would think year 3 we would start to turn that corner. Bogs and Booker are on short deals, they may not be here long term. Lopez we may see traded this year. So I dont think those guys being in their primes is a huge issue.
I'm more the happy to wait 3-5 years after how bad the past 3-5 were. we saw what happens when you try and rush the processes. Also, we could change to a "win now" philosophic tomorrow but what would really change? Brook played 4-6 more minutes and we still probably lose all those games? We run a slow pace? im not sure what "win now" move could be made that would drastically impact the W/L column. We dont have the talent to where winning being a priority would change much.
Philly i think is a poor example and ive consistently criticized teams who tank. I think you cant develop well while tanking because young players get thrown huge minutes and develop bad habits and guys dont buy into things because they are purposely losing...
the nets arent tanking or purposely losing and you can see how guys are buying in. Young guys get time but its not just all our young guys getting 30 minutes a night. I think we are doing thigs the right way. similar to how ainge/stevens did it... only we dont have the draft picks they did, so we probably do take closer to 5 years like you said then the 3 years for them.
I think if we can add a few free agents to what we have now we could be be one of the top teams in the East in a few years. We've already defeated 2 likely playoff teams this year with brand new personnel, new coach and new system. I'll bet before the season started hardly anyone would have picked us to defeat Detroit and Indiana. The better you do the more attractive you are to free agents and the only way we're going to compete in the next 2-3 years (while we're alive).
I think you're still attached to the "experts" predictions that we're a 21 win team but it was very clear that when we're healthy we're capable of a lot more than that.
I dont know that anything is clear about when we are healthy, since thats been what, 6 games? not alot to go on. I think we are def better then i thought, although i dont think that translates into winning much more then the 25 games I originally predicted.
I dont know about "top team in the east" but if we can add 2 starting calibur players i think 40+ wins is surely very good possibility. doesnt even need to be stars. Add like a Gallinari and Korver and you suddenly have a really good looking team with shooters everywhere and defense at SG/SF/PF.