Teams that improved & Teams that didn't

[NovU]

In case you guys didn't realize it's not a matter of whether Hinkie's doing it right or wrong. Who in this world does not know what he's doing. The franchise has been a joke, comedy central, total embarrassment, ofc deserves criticism and good laugh. Their progress is boring and predictable. Every year your team is considered as the possible historical worst, rightfully so because half the team consists of pick ups from D-League. Jrue, Thaddeus, MCW, all gone. No moves to improve the team but continues piling up picks with mega salary cap avail. No sign of fruition yet. No attempts at roster improvement. Yep, another last place contender with intention to do so.

I liked Vancouver Grizzlies because they tried the crap to get that one more W. They were naturally a loser, an honorable tanker despite management's tries. The Knicks may not have been good in recent years but they at least they had intention to get beefier.

How would everyone rate the Mavericks' offseason? I'm inclined to put them in the "didn't improve" category, despite a couple of solid (and potentially solid) additions. Granted, Monta Ellis isn't the most efficient scorer, nor an elite two way player, but he's still capable of putting points up on the board. They also lost Tyson Chandler, and ended up missing out on DeAndre Jordan. Do the additions of a capable (but seemingly rapidly declining) Deron Williams, a recovering-from-injury Wes Matthews, and JaVale McGee (not untalented, but questionable basketball IQ, and still less of a player than he could be) balance out those departures, or in Jordan's case, make up for what could have been?

Yeah, me too. I'm inclined to put them in Not Improved as well. Departure of Monta is addition by subtraction, so it should actually help the team with Parsons, Dirk getting extra touches (Matthews is good too). But loss of Tyson leaves too big of a hole in the paint which is just about unrecoverable with what they have at the moment. Imagine if they didn't trade for Rondo and kept Wright.

[Spree#8]

Every year your team is considered as the possible historical worst, rightfully so because half the team consists of pick ups from D-League.

Wrongfully so, because during Hinkie's tenure they've never even been the worst team in their own conference, let alone history.

No sign of fruition yet.

How about a 20-year old rookie anchoring an above average defense despite having a team of D-League pickups? Looks like a sign of good things to me. Looks like we can already conclude with a decent amount of confidence that one of those lotto picks they've been making is a hit.

The Knicks may not have been good in recent years but they at least they had intention to get beefier.

And mortgaging their future to get more overpaid, mediocre veterans on board? What exactly is that accomplishing? Dumb shit is dumb, regardless of whatever your fancy intentions may be.

By the way, that's exactly what Philadelphia was doing for quite a while before Hinkie came. Look where it's led them.

[shadowgrin]

Hinkie just streamlined and made more efficient what Sam Presti was doing with the Sonics/Thunder when he lucked with Durant, Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka.

[air gordon]

I think the Bucks did well in the offseason. They are handling the Jabari Parker return with baby gloves. If he comes back strong and the Greek freek is hitting consistently from the perimeter this team should be contending for the top spot after the cavs

[NovU]

Agreed. However one thing I'm skeptical about is MCW. He hasn't yet to be able to replace Brandon Knight's role efficiently. If he can't successfully improve on his terrible efficient basketball, I think there's a chance they might not even meet last year's 41 wins.

[mp3]

I know this will come across as a "homer" post as I am a knicks fan but I think credit where credit is due to what I have seen in the preseason.

Melo has being showing more leadership and defence while the whole knick culture has changed now and we have real core players.

Iam not kidding myself and screaming "championship" but I think we have a strong chance of making the 8th seed

[Kevin]

little to no chance to get the 8th seed. This is the preseason, teams do things differently come the 82-game season. I must admit though, Knicks did improve and probably will improve more this coming season. I'm on that Porzingis hype train.

[mp3]

Yeah he's growing on me too.

I think the 8th seed in the east is possible but that may mean the knicks nearly tripling there win total from the year before which being realistic would be a major improvement

[Nick]

The Wizards are fun to watch at the moment, trying to be the small ball Warriors. They've clearly been practicing pushing the tempo in training camp; they're darting up the floor immediately after every rebound, going for transition buckets. And Gooden and Humphries are jacking threes like they're Ryan Andersons!

phpBB [video]

[air gordon]

Agreed. However one thing I'm skeptical about is MCW. He hasn't yet to be able to replace Brandon Knight's role efficiently. If he can't successfully improve on his terrible efficient basketball, I think there's a chance they might not even meet last year's 41 wins.

Valid concern as well as 3pt shooting. There was a slight efficiency improvement for MCW as a buck. For them to get to 41 wins last year was remarkable or maybe a reflection on how watered down the league is.

Monroe down low should open up things for the rest

For teams like the Knicks with a bunch of new players, you take whatever positives comes your way. Excited to see the rook Grant play... And the euro of course

[mp3]

Grant is a solid play maker and defender.

KP is ok but needs a few years, very impressed with Derrick Williams so far!