i wonder how thibs does with a young team. he's got a good group, though. wiggins and towns both seem pretty level-headed, rubio's a pro; dunn seems like a bulldog. i'm not so sure about lavine, though.
Going by position, I'd say we have an advantage at the PG and SF position. Clarkson and Lavine are a wash imo. KAT is better than Randle. We shoot better and they defend better. I can't wait to see them in the playoffs.
If we add Whiteside that comparison changes quite a lot. I'm as biased as can be but I like ours by a hair. It'll be easier to tell when we see more from Ingram.
I think Minny has the most exciting young team in the league. KAT is a surefire superstar it seems. Wiggins can score with the best of them and LaVine is an amazing athlete, who is developing as a player. Dunn fits so well... The Lakers do have the potential to be better but as long as Minny wins more games, thats a mute point. Once we win as many games or more games, then we can compare.
That's why I want to wait and see the product on the floor first. We have lofty ideas and expectations for Ingram/Luke Walton but I want to see it first before I say we're at the same level or higher than them. We've got to remember now they've picked up a really good coach in Thibs. He's going to get that team into the playoffs sooner rather than later. Wiggins/Towns/Lavine/Dunn (Thibs) Russell/Ingram/Randle/Clarkson (Luke) I think we're going to see those two teams duke it out for the next 10-12 years out in the West. They're the next wave coming. I'm not sure yet which one is better.
^The point is, it really doesn't matter which team has the better talent right now. It matters what they do with it down the road. We have a foundation, and they do too. But the complementary pieces and the FA signings etc. will impact the future. Also the internal growth. If we want to win it all, we need at the very least 2 star players and several top notch supporting players. Chances are Ingram and Russell will be stars and Randle, Clarkson, Nance etc. will provide that complementary package. But I dunno how likely that is. Its not very likely, to say at least. Therefore, we probably plan that one of these guys turns into a star and others come from FA... its too complex to say at this point. Matter of fact, this all means nothing if you don't win it all. Championship or bust.
You're absolutely right and I appreciate your earnest views, but projecting, comparing, and arm-chair GM'ing is half the fun on these forums
^absolutely. I'm very excited about our young players. I remember in the past, when we used to win with the likes of Horry, Fisher and Fox...everybody wished we were younger, faster and more athletic. Well now we have all that but we are losing. The San Antonios of this world are simply more successful, even though there is nothing to get excited about the future and internal growth. One has to choose...win and be boring and live the moment or lose, hope for the future and see the potential day in and day out. Both views are enticing in their own way...
Very true! If I'm being objective then: as of today Minny's roster is more intriguing. Towns right now looks like he's got what it takes to be the best Power Forward/Center in the league for 10+ years. He can score down low, he's an excellent passer, good defender, very good rebounder, and a very intelligent player. Wiggins I'm not as excited about, but his athleticism puts him in a unique position to be successful. I actually think he's more like Vince Carter than Kobe Bryant, but he's got a lot going for him. LaVine is a bit of an enigma. He plays well against us, but is supremely average everywhere else. He's another intense athlete and a dangerous player. It's hard to say who or what Dunn will be right now, but what I see is a dogged defender. If he can develop a reliable three ball, he's got a good future ahead of him. They're going to be a force defensively very soon. The thing that puts us near them right now is our balance. Russell has developed slower than Towns obviously, but he's got a good shot at being a near All-Star caliber player. Where D'Angelo is a heady, more skill based player Jordan Clarkson is a fantastic athlete. He may not be Wiggins or LaVine, but Jordan has electric speed and quickness. He's a great counter balance to D'Angelo. Julius is a bit undersized, but in today's NBA that's not such a big deal and Julius's ability to rebound is truly elite. Julius is the only one of all these guys (both teams) that has a Top 10 translatable NBA talent right now. The rest do a lot of things very well and can develop into Top 10 talents in various areas, but Julius is the only one who has that today. Ingram is a wildcard. He could be Tayshaun Prince or he could be George Gervin, I'm not sure which. If he's either we're in an amazing spot, but obviously George (with a jumper) would be preferable. I think what we have going in our favor is various talents and abilities. Nearly all of our young players provide something different and give us another weapon that attacks in a way the others don't. LaVine, Wiggins, and as of right now Dunn are all just uber athletes that can defend a bit. D'Angelo, Ingram, and Clarkson are all capable shooters. Julius is a rebounding machine. D'Angelo has excellent vision on the floor. Jordan can create getting to the basket. Ingram is a tougher peg, but off the bat I think he's going to be a menace in the passing lanes. Over time I think those things put us over the top, but today it's the Wolves.
I like Nance and I think highly of Zubac's potential, but if we start getting into that we start having to talk about Rubio and Dieng and other guys over there who are more fringe. The core is definitely that first four on both sides. Heck Minny likes Dunn/LaVine so much they wouldn't trade them for Jimmy Butler! Now... if we sign Whiteside things change pretty abruptly. Whiteside is just 26 or 27 years old and his size, length, and athleticism was a tough match-up last season for Towns.
What!? Byron wasn't available? Swear to G this guy has 9 lives. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/sources--warriors-mike-brown-154835760.html From Luke to .... to ..... Potato Head?
towns is a trump card. until one of the young lakers shows something equivalent, we're behind, imo. that's ok, as minny had a several year head start in the rebuild.
Luke was loved. Part of the music have fun while you practice and prepare. A tremendous conversationlist with the Media already. Mike Brown read with his head down following every game looking at his score sheet. His nickname is All day every day. The guys are going to love him....LOLOL. A heart beat or finally destroyed back away from the pres...... errr ....head coaching job of the GS Warriors??
For now that's true, but I still think we're more balanced than they are and if we get Whiteside on board things look a lot more in our favor. Whiteside is a difficult match-up for Towns. We're behind at the moment, but I'm eager to see what Ingram brings and how close (or far) we are.
i just say this because this is still a superstars' league. minny looks to have one; you've got to be very optimistic to say the lakers do right now. but again, when you draft over and over in the lotto, you might get one. oh s***, i sound like hinkie...
It's a way early to call Towns a superstar. He had a great rookie season, but it's just one year. We've seen guys have great rookie years and never improve and sometimes even decline after it. Not saying that will happen with Towns, but he's still got a long way to go. They have to get to the playoffs for one. Everyone assuming that's gonna happen next year. I'm not so sure. The West is loaded and they still have a lot of youth. Not sure they're ready for that kind of leap.
i'm not predicting playoffs for them next year (unless a couple other teams slip a bit), but i'm comfortable predicting stardom for towns. this isn't a tyreke evans situation.
yeah, i think only injuries will prevent perennial all-nba appearances. i don't dole out these props lightly. in my prime basketball watching years, i've probably only said these things after the rookie years of: duncan, howard, paul, lebron, and anthony davis. i'm batting 1.000. if i'm wrong on towns, he'll be the first. of course, i have been wrong in the other direction (underestimating a young player).
