2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

You just did..

 

Yeah I said trade them..I'm greedy..that doesn't mean that I believe we can't win with them on the team. We don't have to be 15 deep. I think some of these kids are better than some folks think. We are about to find out by Christmas.

 

I don't know where this, "3 stars doesn't work" stuff has come from but it's gotta stop especially when history has shown us it's worked time and time again to the tune of rings and up to 60 to 70 wins in a season. With a 3 star teams, Vet mins aren't just old past prime players or g league players either but vet ring chasers who would take less money to get a ring with 3 stars. Boston in 08 got a few ring chasers that were defintely key in getting that ring and going back to the finals in 2010. Miami also got some ring chasers to go back to back as well as Cleveland. The history of the NBa has shown from the 72 Lakers to the 83 Sixers to the 96 Bulls to the 2016 Cavs to the 2018 Warriors that 3 star teams can win and usually its an easy road to the title.

 

You cant change the rules of your own question because the answer doesnt fit your narrative. OKC had 3 stars and did not win 1 title, exactly as you asked. Does not matter if they lost to a 3 star team or not...

You can also include our own Lakers on that list. the 69-71 Lakers had 3 stars (Baylor, Wilt, and Jerry) and did not produce 1 title. The title they won was in the yr Baylor retired early in the season.

 

It's the context of the conversation. The premise was 2 stars vs 3. Harden was not really a star until he went to Houston but I'll accept OKC. That also showed that it was a 3 star team then that both won their Conference.

Man you are overlooking those C Bags during Elgin, Wilt, and West. They had 7 HOF. You aren't disproving a point about not needing 3 stars when that team lost to a team of 3 stars or more. How does that work?

 

I am not in the camp that a 3 star model wont work. It has clearly worked in the past for several teams. The problem I think with our 3 star model is it results in the a gutting of our depth that relies on young unproven up and comers and way past their prime vets. Our 3 star model essentially needs a perfect storm of health and consistency to work in an NBA that quite frankly significantly deeper in talent than many of the previous 3 star modeled teams. Add in the fact that our 3 stars are mostly past their prime, it creates a lot of higher risk. As currently constructed this team in my opinion feels like those really good Toronto Teams of in 2015 and 2016. Able to rack up wins in the regular season and beat the bad teams to make the record a bit prettier, but in the playoffs unable to advance against deeper and more consistent teams.

 

We only lost to the C-bags once in that run, we lost to the NY Knicks and Bucks the other two years.

 

We have 1. Austin Reaves, or Dennis can be better than both...of course Westbrook is better than both too.

I'm not worrying about getting to top 3 in the next 10 games. What I'm saying is that going 8-2 for example is 16 out of 20. That's getting it done, ascending to the top of the conference is inevitable playing that type of ball..IE Folks singing a different tune. Frankly I don't see anything special in the West right now. No is playing well tho.

 

I do believe the Knicks had 3 HOF and the Bucks did too.

 

Actually our trio is better suited for the playoffs, we need the young guys for the regular season grind. As for the playoffs...Who do you have beating a healthy Lebron, AD and Russ in a 7 game series right now and why?

 

My point isnt that they lost to good teams with talent. The point is that just because you have 3 star team doesnt promise a title unless you have that extra that other 3 star teams do not have. If you have assets that can bring in that extra thing, it would be foolish to not attempt to do so. As constructed this Lakers team does not have that in my opinion. The Bucks have a potential 4th all star level player this year with Lopez, the Warriors have a 6th man of the year candidate to go with their big 3, etc.

Im not disagreeing that a 3 star model works, what separates the champs from the coulda beens is the rest of the guys around the 3 stars. Plus we are not the only other team in the league looking at moves. If we dont use our expiring contracts like Nunn and Bev, someone else will and make the gap between us and them even further. I am just saying as constructed, with no injuries we are a 6-10 seed, but if we have a chance to even the odds and make a move to go to that 3+ seed, why not try?

 

Idk..or maybe 1 3star team lost to a better one. It's cool to talk about the supporting cast and all that, but unless the 3 stars are playing like stars...it's a moot point.
Now I will acknowledge Dallas over Miami tho..but the Mavs were an outlier not the norm.
Back on topic, I'm all for moving Bev and Nunn for a better fitting talent. Ive been on that tip for awhile now. That's another 1 loss run through the West playoffs IMO. I don't think any team has an answer for AD, and James and Westbrook have enough left in the tank to finish the job.

 

The Bucks, we barely beat them Friday with Middleton in his first game back. Add some months on his legs and Im concerned.
The C-bags like it or not when Williams is healthy is very well suited to take AD out of the game.
The Suns, they have significant depth, have the asset in Crowder that will likely improve that, they have huge wings, and for whatever reason know how to defend AD extremely well.
The Nuggets, they have size, depth, shooting, and great one on one defenders.
The Clippers and Warriors pending their own health. They have the size, star power, and experience we lack while also be superior defensive teams when healthy and engaged.

Like Ive said, Im not saying AD, Lebron, and Russ all healthy are not a formidable opponent. I am saying that in the playoffs, defenses change, and the Russ not being able to shoot factor turns more deadly. Its also when depth, experience, and specialists matter more as well. We cant afford to think because we went 8-2 with 3 wins vs the dying Spurs, the 1 win in their last 7 games wizards (which required an all world performance from AD), the pistons, and the Dameless Trailblazers that we are now some great team. We went 2-10 to start the year because those teams are all playoff teams currently. We cant be blinded by victories vs less opponents and say "see look, we are good now". Im just in the camp as constructed its too big of a risk when you have the assets available to at least try to improve the odds in our favor.

 

I don't know why you are so down on Rozier. He would be fine. He has shot the three-ball consistently well over the course of his career. This season is an anomaly for him in terms of his three-ball. You can't just expect teams to trade us their younger players when they are only having good seasons.

 

We already saw that Phoenix can't deal with even a gimpy AD post season. Not worried about them in a playoff series or Denver either..what's their supposed advantage? Either team?
Clippers..meh..they have a less of a shot at being healthy than we do IMO. Golden State isn't as good as they were last season, and I don't see what big advantage they would have in the playoffs. They have no answers for AD or Lebron either. I'm not so sure that this version of the Warriors are some great defensive team at all. As for as the East..I'll contemplate them in the Finals.

Health is a question mark for everyone, I agree with that sentiment considering our last two seasons, but healthy and engaged? I like our guys going up against anyone in the West.

Starting of 2-10 is a terrible start, but it's not some indication of who we are, some of the teams that beat us are looking pretty mediocre today aren't they? Hell why does everyone else's injuries count but ours don't? We have about 8 games with our full team this season. Again look no further than the C-bags last season when it comes to poor starts but turning it around. I think they had a losing record in late January.

 

I do feel like we can get something done with the Hornets.

 

I don't really get the argument here.

If we somehow win without making a trade then....great.

I just don't see why we wouldn't try to improve the team though. I get not wanting to waste time on something that is unlikely to happen but every team is always going to be looking for ways to beef up rosters and address weakenesses.