re: ESPN's 2016-17 NBA Western Conference predictions. What are your predictions?

50? 40 would be a great season for them.

Oh thanks I forgot about that one for a split second when I made the post. Too bad for you that wasn't a coach D kinda team. He's finally got a roster built for his offense. For the first time since his PHX days.

quote:

---

Because they have a top 10 coach and a top 10 player.

---

Their coach is the antithesis of what works in today's NBA. Being one of the 5 slowest teams in the league isn't going to get your far in today's game.

Who was worth a shite on his Chicago teams post rose injury? Butler wasn't great yet, Noah was solid. Deng was good but he isn't somebody is name drop in a convo.

I don't think it's that crazy if they buy in to play hard nosed defense

quote:

---

Oh thanks I forgot about that one for a split second when I made the post. Too bad for you that wasn't a coach D kinda team. He's finally got a roster built for his offense. For the first time since his PHX days.

---

except Phoenix was more talented.

quote:

---

Who was worth a shite on his Chicago teams post rose injury? Butler wasn't great yet, Noah was solid. Deng was good but he isn't somebody is name drop in a convo

---

Who is worth a shite on Minny's lineup past Towns and Wiggins (an inefficient chucker)? Lavine is not one to write home about (those dunks tho), Rubio is meh, Gieng is solid, but injury prone. I guess we'll see what Dunn can do, but he won't even start most likely.


Towns is an absolute beast, but we see that you need at least 2, but more likely 3 all star caliber guys to reach 50 wins.

Minny has 1.

quote:

---

But if coaching isn't important, why should we think the rockets will be any better next year?

---

I mean, the Rockets did get better on paper.

1. If you watched them last year, you would know Dwight was a non-factor. He wasn't good on defense last year (or offense for that matter).

Capela was better than Dwight this past season both statistically and you could see it watching the games. Not-to-mention Dwight was a root cause of chemistry problems.

In case you don't believe that Dwight wasn't the best fit, the Rockets had a record without Dwight over the past 2 seasons of 34-18 (.653). With Dwight, they had a record of 63-49 (.562).

They actually played better when he didn't play. So addition by subtraction.


2. One of the problems with the Rockets on offense (even though their offense has been good since Harden joined the team), was that they shoot a lot of 3's but are only average at best at making them. Their 3 point percentage has been middle of the pack.

Well, by adding Anderson and Gordon, they have added two guys who can really shoot the 3 and space the floor. Harden with better shooters around him to space the floor even more will make him an even better scorer.

Mike D'Antoni has a lot of weapons with Capela being a very good roll man in his pick and roll offense with Harden handling the ball and 40% 3-point shooters spacing the floor.

They really could have one of the best offenses in the league.

In addition to Anderson and Gordon, they added Nene as a back-up center. He's getting up there in age, but is still a solid player.



3. Their defense is the question mark. They were pretty bad on defense last season and still finished with a .500 record. So even if they just maintained their 21st ranked defense from last season, they'd improve by being much better on offense.

If you believe that being better on offense can improve the defense by getting more chances to set up in the half-court after made buckets, then they may improve a bit.

And maybe they surprise people and have an average defense ranked about 13th or 14th.

Who knows. But they certainly improved.

PHX never had 4 40% 3 pt shooter to put around Nash. Oh and harden > Nash also.

Ws48, PER, etx show that hardens last two years have been better than Nash at his very best. Oh and we haven't seen hardens best yet.