We have a thread like this every year. It's an opportunity for us to see if we're making any significant improvement over the course of the season. Also, it's a place to discuss what other teams are doing without having to go to the NBA Discussion. So, I'll start. We're playing 50% ball right now. That's not good, but it's not horrible either, considering we have 10 new players and some of them were out, including LeBron for two games. Our long-range shooting is better now (we're #4 in the league in 3pt%, and we'd be #1 if it wasn't for Russ taking quite a few), but the defense has looked pretty bad. We can't be #21 defense in the league and expect success. Here are the latest power rankings on nba.com: https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2021-22-week-2 Other than that, who came hot out of the gate? East: Knicks, Bulls, Heat, Wizards: 4-1. West: Jazz 4-0, Warriors 4-1. We are currently #9 in the West (3-3). Next game: Houston Rockets.
After this team was assembled, I told everyone(on a different site) that it would take around 20 games for these guys to figure things out. At that point, I won’t be surprised if we are 11-9 or even 10-10.
I agree. 20 games minimum just to figure out rotations/rotational players and try to put together some semblance of defense. It's a work in progress. Realistically, we'll see how good the team is after the all-star break. Bron isn't going to go 100% before than anyway.
Pretty much what I have been saying since preseason. We will be lucky to be 11-9 after 20 games. But, it was never about the first 20 games, it's about the last 20 games and I still like our odds.
The OKC loss was a bit disappointing and (we should be 4-2). Aside from that, we have losses against GSW, that is the best team in the west to start the season and an unfortunate loss to PHX. We got a win against the grizzlies who look dangerous and beat GSW, and against SAS who beat the bucks today. Our offence doesn’t look right just yet, but it’s been effective. While our defence has been a real mixed bag - a few quarters it’s been top notch, but the majority of the time it’s been poor. We should beat the rockets x2 next and revenge against OKC. Then we got our first real test: Portland Charlotte Miami If we can go 2/3 out of those we are rounding into form.
I don't remember the last time the West looked so weak when it comes to the best teams ( we knew this with Murray and Kawhi injuries) Too bad we are making things WAY tougher than it should be with a bad offseason
Jury is out on the off season. 5 slotted rotation players have been unavailable. 4 after getting Monk back recently.
I’m with the guys saying we need at least 20 games to see where we are at. I don’t think we will be rounding into form until January or February. We still need to incorporate all the guys that are injured.
20 games minimum for sure. No one expected Ariza and THT to have surgeries and miss a couple months each. Also no one saw Nunn getting a bone bruise and Ellington with the hammy. The good news is Reaves has been a pleasant surprise. Also with the injuries it was smart of the FO to grab AB off the waiver wire. Our squad is deep if we can get healthy. I definitely like our chances. In the meantime, wow do we need to work on defense. It's been pretty awful. Even last game the first half was terrible. Vogel and company have to get these guys on the same page. Specifically the pick and roll D has never been worse than I've seen this year. It's horrible.
I think guys like Monk better learn to play our defensive schemes or they are going to see very little floor time. Frankly, we should be a defensive unit first, especially considering that AD is donating his body to being center for most of his time on the court. I like Carmelo for his offense but when he is playing we need solid D next to him. It appears to me that Monk is not covering our defensive needs, nearly we well as AB is. Ariza should help as well, assuming he has some hops left after his recovery. He might not, so we will wait and see. I am already tired of losing to lousy teams.
New power ranking: We're still #9, but are improving defensively, offense is starting to click, NetRtg is now positive and the old fellas set the 2nd fastest pace in the league.
Update: Power Rankings, Week 5: Warriors on top as Bulls, Suns ascend 13. Los Angeles Lakers Last week: 17 Record: 8-6 Pace: 102.5 (3) OffRtg: 105.2 (23) DefRtg: 106.8 (12) NetRtg: -1.6 (20) The Lakers’ home-heavy start to the season (12 of their first 15 games at Staples Center) comes to an end on Monday, and it’s not clear if they’ve yet found their footing. They’ve won three of their last four games, with Russell Westbrook recording his second and third triple-doubles of the season and getting three big buckets in their win over the Heat on Wednesday. Anthony Davis has been finding his way to the basket more, with 18 points in the restricted area against Charlotte on Monday and 20 more against San Antonio on Sunday. But the three wins have come by a total of just 14 points, and they lost by 24 on Friday to a team (Minnesota) that is otherwise 0-7 over the last 16 days. When you take that loss into account, there hasn’t been much progress on either end of the floor. Only the Pistons, Thunder, Rockets and Magic have been worse offensively in the month of November. Frank Vogel is still searching for answers in regard to a starting lineup around his two healthy stars. Carmelo Anthony got his first start of the season on Sunday, joined by Avery Bradley (who’s started the last eight games) and Talen Horton-Tucker, who was making his season debut. Horton-Tucker’s performance (17 points in 27 minutes) was certainly promising, and every day that passes is a day closer to LeBron James’ return. A five-game trip through the East begins Wednesday in Milwaukee. Week 5: vs. CHI, @ MIL, @ BOS, @ DET
tough week down lebron. chicago's going to be motivated tonight for many reasons, mil just got smashed and will be frothing on wed. boston is boston. i'd say we smash det, but we've lost to the thunder twice and got obliterated by minny, so who knows?
