Will we make playoffs?

[JDR720]

We are currently 9th

[-Ian-]

I still think we will. But with the way we're playing recently, we don't deserve to be in the playoffs. I'm kinda hoping we miss the playoffs so that we can see huge changes in our roster but that probably won't happen because of MJ and/or Cho.

[Bassman]

No and frankly I hope it motivates this team to make some key deals before the deadline.

[catch20two]

Based on Clifford's track record we miss the playoffs every other year.

small sample size

[JDR720]

No and frankly I hope it motivates this team to make some key deals before the deadline.

What kind of key deals? We both know they aren't trading one of the key players or rebuilding. We'll keep trying to win now, if that's a good thing or not is debatable.

[fatlever]

I guess 50/50. We'll finish 7th, 8th or 9th, after we make a late run in March. However, we'll see 5 games below .500 before we see 5 game above .500.

This team is looking exactly like the team I predicted in the preseason, 41 wins.

I'm not really even that mad any more. I am more numb, than upset.

[TheKingofSting]

We'll make a move to get another shooter and barely make the playoffs but lose in the first round.


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[bravor]

Without a move, this is something that won't happen imo. This group needs to be rejuvenated. Right now, there is no pleasure on the court, just a bunch of frustrated guys.

Anyway with the kind of motivation and "agressivity" most players have right now, it would be a butchery in the play offs against any kind of team

Even though Clifford has still the possibility to move one starter to the bench.

[BatumtheGlue]

We'll make a move to get another shooter and barely make the playoffs but lose in the first round.


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Exactly what I think. I hope I will eat crow.

[catch20two]

Even though Clifford has still the possibility to move one starter to the bench.

If Clifford bench MKG for Marco I think we get worse imo. But that's something I could see him doing.

[bravor]

Even though Clifford has still the possibility to move one starter to the bench.

If Clifford bench MKG for Marco I think we get worse imo. But that's something I could see him doing.

I still like the Williams from the bench (and closing in the 4th) idea.

You can't reasnoably bench MKG when he is still the most reliable perimeter defender.

Another candidate would be Batum, but contract wise i don't see it happen. Which is sad, as he is really not playing at his level and does not react the way he used to after a bad game or two.

Clifford has been adjusting the rotation timing for those players though, so it is clear that the only "real" starters in his mind are Kemba & Cody. Something everyone will agree with him i think.

[GlenRiceARoni]

I think we are better than 50/50 if we stand pat because we could begin to play better or someone could fall off harder than us (esp via injuries).

If we upgrade the roster i think we will most likely get in but we are first round fodder for sure unless we get the 4/5 seed.

I'm dreaming of a slip to 9th and a lottery victory for Fultz to kickstart next season.



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[JDR720]

Now in 7 place

[TheKingofSting]

Now we're in sixth place and on the rise.


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[GlenRiceARoni]

We seem to have righted the ship thankfully.

I just hope we haven't dug too deep of a hole to compete for the 4 seed or at least secure the 5 seed.

A 2nd round appearance would do wonders for our financial viability to make additional payroll increases. Charlotte will get behind a winner.

It would also allow us to take that next step and put our name on the map as a legitimate free agent or trade destination for someone looking to compete deep in the postseason (think Millsap at the deadline or Wade this offseason). Its also helpful in attracting a below market deal from someone like Lin/Biyombo looking to boost their profile on a 2 year "prove it" deal with a player option in year 2.

And given the long term deals of Kemba, Cody, MKG, Marv, and Batum we've got known fixed costs which means we can accurately assess our obligations and take on other deals that might otherwise be deemed too risky in financial nature.

Jordan has made an absolute NUTLOAD buying this franchise for only around ~$200m when its valuation is close to $1b now less than a decade later.

On top of that he purchased the franchise with leverage taking on a lot of DEBT, which means his EQUITY has absolutely exploded the past few years.

Couple this with his huge annual earnings from Nike and we could see a shift where Jordan stops caring as much about the bottom line of short term profitability and more about his reputation/brand/competitiveness in bringing a winner to Charlotte.

The recent CBA is a huge win for the owners as the players basically rolled over in negotiations since the payjumps were so huge with the tv deal that there was no union support to play hardball.

Think about it. If you knew you were getting less than you and your coworkers COLLECTIVELY technically deserved but your INDIVIDUAL piece of the pie was about right (middle class is overpaid due to player maximum salaries) would you strike in the name of theoretical economic fairness?

The "stars" are being shortchanged but the advantage is they have all the power to control their playing destination and max salaries have allowed them to build superteams and promote their brand. Shoe deals and endorsements have grown so exponentially that its just not worth it for stars to rock the boat and appear selfish putting their interests ahead of the Mozgov's and Deng's of the world, of which they are outnumbered 10 to 1.


Lastly, the SUPERmax is a win for smaller markets but maybe not in the way you think. The Supermax will force teams to pay more for guys like Anthony Davis, Cousins, etc and limit those teams competitiveness even further but the real takeaway is the limiting of superteams.

Take Philadelphia for instance. If Embiid is given the supermax will Ben Simmons take exception and force a trade to another destination in advance to assure his supermax eligibility? Would lebron have ever abandoned cleveland, durant/ okc, bosh/ Toronto, or even love/Minnesota to form a "superteam" if it meant giving up a $70m bonus? Its one thing to sacrifice your stats but quite another to sacrifice your stats AND money.

Right now entirely too many guys are worth above the "max salary" which serves as a 'ceiling' in economic supply/demand terms and creates all types of market inefficiencies which lead to the haves/have nots. When some teams are paying the 'max' to Kemba, Derrick Favors, and Brook Lopez while others are paying the 'max' to Lebron, CP3, Durant, Curry, or Westbrook it creates a talent differential between teams that is nearly impossible to overcome with a few shrewd moves. See boston for example.

Now teams could theoretically build a team of five ~$20m players which could outperform a team with 1 Superstar and limited funds to surround him with other stars. If Kevin love/kyrie types are now negotiating $40m deals instead of being capped at $18m that pushes significantly lesser players into that $20m range and even lesser players into the $8-12m range.

The ultimate effect is a dispersion of talent across the league.

In other words Lebron's supporting cast would be comprised of:

1) lesser talented, middle class salaried vets like JR Smith, Shumpert, and Frye

2) ring chasers willing to play for vet min like Jefferson and James Jones

3) rookie salary scale, d league callups, and overlooked free agents like Liggins, Dellevedova, and Chalmers (miami example since cle has traded so many picks)

They may be able to secure ONE highly paid semistar like Love or Irving via trades, nifty cap navigation, and individual player salary sacrifice but almost certainly not two.



Ultimately most teams are concerned with profitable teams and stars like kobe, mel ol, wade, nowitzki lead to heaftier bottom lines even once their skills erode and their play no longer justifies it.

Again a team employing a balanced roster of non stars will have an advantage in this regard as the big markets overpay for declining veterans

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Hinkie has created a monster that will awaken in 2018 precisely 200 years after Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818 A.D.
I don't think for a second this is coincidental as Hinkie is well educated and a fan of Classic British Lit

[yosemiteben]

I just hope we haven't dug too deep of a hole to compete for the 4 seed or at least secure the 5 seed.

There are like 40 games left and we're only 3 games out of the 4 seed. We're only 1.5 games out of the 5 seed, and we can make that all up with a win Monday.

Don't have to hope too hard there.

[TheKingofSting]

I just hope we haven't dug too deep of a hole to compete for the 4 seed or at least secure the 5 seed.

There are like 40 games left and we're only 3 games out of the 4 seed. We're only 1.5 games out of the 5 seed, and we can make that all up with a win Monday.

Don't have to hope too hard there.

Not to mention that the city (and region) are already behind the team. We had several sellouts in a row on our last homestand.


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[GlenRiceARoni]

I just hope we haven't dug too deep of a hole to compete for the 4 seed or at least secure the 5 seed.

There are like 40 games left and we're only 3 games out of the 4 seed. We're only 1.5 games out of the 5 seed, and we can make that all up with a win Monday.

Don't have to hope too hard there.

Not to mention that the city (and region) are already behind the team. We had several sellouts in a row on our last homestand.


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We're 21st in % attendance and 18th in overall attendance after posting horrendous numbers for our entire bobcat/modern hornet history. Not to mention poor corporate support as well. I don't think 3 sellouts in a fairweather fan city is enough to sound the alarm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Hinkie has created a monster that will awaken in 2018 precisely 200 years after Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818 A.D.
I don't think for a second this is coincidental as Hinkie is well educated and a fan of Classic British Lit

[GlenRiceARoni]

I just hope we haven't dug too deep of a hole to compete for the 4 seed or at least secure the 5 seed.

There are like 40 games left and we're only 3 games out of the 4 seed. We're only 1.5 games out of the 5 seed, and we can make that all up with a win Monday.

Don't have to hope too hard there.

Not sure if you're being serious or you just haven't considered the math behind that statement.

Atlanta and Washington are both 16-6 in their last 22 games and we are 10-12. That's a quarter season's worth of data suggesting they are both going to play at a ~60 win team level from here on out while we play at a ~37 win level. That's an enormous disparity.

On top of that you make a three game lead sound trivial. If the Hawks completely bombed the 2nd half of the season and went .500 the rest of the way they'd be 45-37. We'd have to go 22-16 to tie or 23-15 to finish ahead of them. That's equivalent to a 47 or 49 win team. On top of that we'd have to hope Washington didn't go 22-17 or better.

If Atlanta wins 47 or 48 games (a more reasonable assumption) we'd have to play absolutely lights out the rest of the way. 24-14 or 25-13. (I.e. the level of a 52 or 54 game winner).

Right now we appear closer to a bad team than a good one. A win over a reeling Toronto squad, a poor Portland team, and the hapless Nets isn't enough to sway me that our recent 1-7 and 6-12 skids were a fluke.

I'm more than comfortable stating that the 4 seed is a serious longshot. Like id be willing to bet anyone on here up to $5,000 at 2:1 odds.

Looking at things realistically we will be tied for 8th or back in 9th after our loss February 4th (we're most likely to go 2-5 in our next seven games given that three of them are near guaranteed losses).



-----------------------------------------------------------------------Hinkie has created a monster that will awaken in 2018 precisely 200 years after Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818 A.D.
I don't think for a second this is coincidental as Hinkie is well educated and a fan of Classic British Lit

[BigSlam]

Yup.

And we'll progress through the 2nd round.


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