Are we a better team then last season

aad · Post #1 » by **aad** » Sat Jul 8, 2017 11:34 pm

We have improved our shooting and defense and I think we atleast are a 6th seed

Cavs
Celtics
Wizards
Raprors
Bucks
Pistons
Heat
Philly or hornets

Kilo · Post #2 » by **Kilo** » Sat Jul 8, 2017 11:36 pm

Depends on Reggie's knees.

MotownMadness · Post #3 » by **MotownMadness** » Sat Jul 8, 2017 11:58 pm

Yes, we've added some 3 point shooting and a All NBA defender vet. Kennard looks ready to contribute off the bench as well. How much better depends on Reggie and Dre but we should definitely be a playoff team in the East for whatever that's worth lol

Liqourish · Post #4 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:00 am

It's not so much that we've gotten alot better, I just think some teams got worse around us. I could see the Pistons in that 6-8 range.

haulerch · Post #5 » by **haulerch** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:07 am

As mentioned, teams in the East getting worse helps.

A lot will depend on A.) Whether or not Drummond and Stanley will take steps forward. And B.) How Reggie's knees will hold up.

Hoping to add a couple of depth signings with a vet SF and a defensive minded PF.

I think Tobias and AB end up having big years. Drummond and Reggie, not so much.

If we don't make the playoffs in next year's East then there will undoubtedly be a regime change.

mattao313 · Post #6 » by **mattao313** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:13 am

If Reggie comes back to 15-16 level, yes we're a top 5 seed quote me on it if you want to.

Montanabadboy · Post #7 » by **Montanabadboy** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:22 am

I think so, but it will really depend on 1. Reggie's recover. 2. Drummond's attitude/motivation. 3. The development of the young guys. If the improvements Henry has shown in SL translate at the NBA level, then that could really change the look of our bench unit, if SJ is ready for starters minutes and can play big boy defense, and if Kennard can contribute on the level that we need him to, then I really like our chances. 4. If Leur can play like he did in the first half of the season.
Based on the moves we've made so far, I think we have a chance to be better, if any of the above happen then I absolutely think we'll be better. I really, really, really, like Avery Bradley and while I really liked KCP, Bradley is everything we hoped KCP could become. I'm not sure how much Morris will be missed, and a lot will depend on how far SJ comes this year, I still have high hopes for him. Either way, I think we'll be more fun to watch.

DetroitPistons · Post #8 » by **DetroitPistons** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:24 am

It all depends on RJ and Drummond honestly. Right now I think we are about the same. We definitely improved our shooting but we lost 2 good defenders (KCP and Morris) for 1 good defender (Bradley). One thing I really would like to see is featuring Harris as a go-to scorer at SF now that Morris is gone. Last year he was our best player so if he is featured more and RJ and Drummond return to form I think we can get back to being over .500. Honestly though, I would really like to package RJ and a pick for Bledsoe or something like that and then try and bring in a defensive PF that has some sort of offensive game. Derrick Favors comes to mind.

Bledsoe
Bradley
Harris
Favors
Drummond

Something like that. Idk. I just think we need to make another move still before I legitimately get confident in this team.

Blkbrd671 · Post #9 » by **Blkbrd671** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:37 am

Yes we are

While i love KCP , fact of the matter is that if RJ+DRE+KCP all met their ceilings, there is still some serious doubt whether it would move the needle towards beating the Cavs let a lone Warriors, and because we committed so much money to RJ and Dre, we really didn't have a lot of wiggle room to resign KCP long term when the only thing he's proven is that he can improve.

So we get AB for cheap for a year, and proven production to help RJ ,Dre, and TH, while opening up minutes for SJ, HE and LK , whom if they hit their ceilings does move the needle. I think SVG saw enough of HE and LK to make the move and more importantly ( i am hoping) that SJ looks much improved to earn coaches trust. when you add LG to the mix we have several players who can hit the 3 ball at a higher clip and defensively can switch on the perimeter.

I also think we'll see RJ's Usuage drop significantly because we have other legit options and RJ, probably to his surprise, will probably improve not having to burden the whole offensive load.

ElectricMayhem · Post #10 » by **ElectricMayhem** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:37 am

Avery Bradley + Kennard + Galloway in vs. KCP & Morris out is a wash. I like Boban, but Baynes was better. That's a loss. However, Reggie can't possibly be worse than he was last year. Even if he is not 100%, SVG will give him a quicker hook. And I am going to assume that he is at or near 100% which is a huge boost. His health was the determining factor on our team last year. I expect he's better (although the knee issues will always come back) and we'll be a much better team. Also, a couple teams that were above us last year (namely Chicago and Indiana) have lost their stars. I think we can grab the 6th seed.

thesack12 · Post #11 » by **thesack12** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:42 am

Team is better at the 2, but I can't say I'm thrilled with Leuer being the primary 4.

However, w/o iso Morris the offense projects to be more free flowing, and Bradley should provide more spacing overall. Subtracting Pope and Morris opens up a lot of shot opportunities, which should mean the offense features Harris more.

tmorgan · Post #12 » by **tmorgan** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 12:58 am

The East is absolute trash. There are five teams in the whole conference that should be good -- Boston, Cleveland, Washington, Toronto and Milwaukee. We could stink and finish 6th, as the only competition is Charlotte and Miami, more than likely. Those eight teams should be the playoff favorites.

DETermination · Post #13 » by **DETermination** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:01 am

We were terrible at defense and shooting last season and we have already improved in those areas a lot this offseason but I think there still could be some more moves to be made.

Kilo · Post #14 » by **Kilo** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:05 am

tmorgan wrote:The East is absolute trash. There are five teams in the whole conference that should be good -- Boston, Cleveland, Washington, Toronto and Milwaukee. We could stink and finish 6th, as the only competition is Charlotte and Miami, more than likely. Those eight teams should be the playoff favorites.

And I'm not sold on Toronto or Milwaukee all that much either.

sc8581 · Post #15 » by **sc8581** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:27 am

We have no legit starter at the 3 but as mentioned, it really comes down to Dre and Reggie

Liqourish · Post #16 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:27 am

sc8581 wrote:We have no legit starter at the 3 but as mentioned, it really comes down to Dre and Reggie

Tobias Harris is not a legit starter? :-?

Kilo · Post #17 » by **Kilo** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:29 am

Liqourish wrote:
sc8581 wrote:We have no legit starter at the 3 but as mentioned, it really comes down to Dre and Reggie

Tobias Harris is not a legit starter?

I think he has him as our starting PF.

Liqourish · Post #18 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:30 am

Kilo wrote:
Liqourish wrote:
sc8581 wrote:We have no legit starter at the 3 but as mentioned, it really comes down to Dre and Reggie

Tobias Harris is not a legit starter?

I think he has him as our starting PF.

Why would we move Harris to start at the 4? We have Leuer/Ellenson at the 4. Only thing we have at the 3 is Stanley if we move Tobias over. :-?

DETermination · Post #19 » by **DETermination** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:32 am

Tobias should be the starting 3, hes always been a sf to me so playing him at pf just doesn't make sense. Plus him starting at sf gives Stanimal and Henry more minutes.

sc8581 · Post #20 » by **sc8581** » Sun Jul 9, 2017 1:47 am

Harris is clearly a PF, playing him at the 3 shouldn't even be considered.