Post by Haberino on Jul 19, 2011 15:41:45 GMT -5
This year has featured more assertions, debates, and laughable statements about who will or will not compete for a title. In this version of Contender or Pretender, I take a look at the boldest statements made by GMs who, whether or not they deserve to be there, have put themselves in the conversation for title contenders, and analyze whether each squad is for real.
Aar said all these things before a trade that made his team considerably better, but they remain misguided. There's no dynasty on its way for the Hornets, and that's because the same flaws everyone but Aar saw continue to plague his team's play. Their positional defense and steals are poor, they turn the ball too much, and their stars are redundant. You can't say JD Quincy is at all thriving alongside Dean Hollis, and anyway, perimeter duos rarely are the building blocks for a championship team. The Hornets need to upgrade at point guard, power forward (or at least have enough shotblocking and good ballhandling to offset O'Keane's flaws), and center, and I'd say the solution is to more Quincy for a talent at another position, but his value has to be at its all-time lowest. Clear pretender.
OK, so I'm presenting my bold talk for the first time in this article, and definitely only saying it for the article's purpose, but that doesn't mean I think it's any less true. The West is weak and I don't see any teams standing in my way. There are some flaws, but this has two losses at full strength since the big shakeup, is 23-5 since the 7-7 start, and has a chance to get better by toggling with the depth chart. The Thunder need another scorer to step up, and to lower turnovers. It's possible Frank Ramsey could add the scoring with a move to PG, which would also reduce John Wall's touches, lowering his turnovers. Regardless, this is the best shotblocking team in the league, with six guys who are legitimate threats to put up 20 points nightly. That's a contender.
The Rockets are 1-2 against the Thunder, are well behind them in the standings despite playing the second most home games in BBS, and are convinced they're going to fuck up the Thunder in the playoffs because they got Andre Hixon as a second option. OK, I know Jordan was joking, but I'm trying to write an article over here. The Rockets are a fascinating team because they seem to have so many deficiencies, but their pieces just fit together and are hard to stop. You wouldn't think a team giving half its minutes to B defenders would be a top defensive team, but they block shots everywhere, rebound well, and have two stud defenders. They overcome horrible scoring from their point guard with impressive balance elsewhere. But I think they're overmatched at every position but the 5, and that's too much to overcome. I know Gola got the strength upgrade, but I have to question it. If Jordan ACd Kwan Xi's inside categories and got him +10 in strength, the guy could go from a brilliant role player to the piece that makes Houston a contender. For now, they aren't there.
That's quite a quote, and while the Bulls are clearly a contender, their bench gives them so little that I think they're one of many contenders, as opposed to the odds-on favorite. Look, that starting lineup isn't matched anywhere, that's for sure. And the Bulls have very low turnovers, get enough blocks and steals, shoot a good percentage, and are sixth in opponents' field goal percentage. But what if Dickerson's in foul trouble? Or McCracken? The Bulls are a vastly different, and far worse team, with any one of their starters out, and you certainly can't say that for other teams in their class. That's a weakness, and while I'd pick the Bulls to win if I had to make a choice right now, they're not without flaws.
Unless I've missed something, Skillz hasn't made any outrageous claims about his team. That's smart, because the Knicks are certainly one of the best teams in the league, but they're a system team with starters of overall quality inferior to New Jersey and Chicago. Of course, their bench dominates other benches, their shotblocking is second best in the league, and their outside offense is brilliant, and for that, they're as good as it gets in the league right now. Losing Francis endangers their home court advantage against Chicago, and that could cost them the series, but with their core of shooters and defenders, NY always has a chance. They'll need to get Mitchell Jordan going for that top seed, though.
Alright then. Cleveland talked its way into the conversation as a ninth seed because CC apparently thinks his team can take down the Knicks. Cleveland isn't bad, although with the shameless tank job CC did, it makes me happy he had a chance to build a young core around Bill Russell and is already botching it. I say that because taking on Derrick and Bunn means Cleveland is an also-ran out in the East, and by the time Russell is ready to dominate, Derrick and Barnes will be overpaid and not as good as they are now.
Noves hasn't said much in the form of guarantees, but you know that with that frontcourt, New Jersey is never out of the mix. I'd like to see more out of Alf or JJ - both have scored way more in the past, and having a second unstoppable piece would mean a lot for the Nets' chances. The additions of Ray and McCutchan really upgraded the Nets' backcourt, and though I think Chicago has them beat at four of five positions, the Nets are close in three of them, and have a huge advantage at the 4. How they'd play against Oklahoma City or NY in playoffs, to me, is anyone's guess.
New Orleans Hornets - Pretender
"The goal is to preserve a dynasty ... Which teams are better? ... Why isn't that team a contender?
Aar said all these things before a trade that made his team considerably better, but they remain misguided. There's no dynasty on its way for the Hornets, and that's because the same flaws everyone but Aar saw continue to plague his team's play. Their positional defense and steals are poor, they turn the ball too much, and their stars are redundant. You can't say JD Quincy is at all thriving alongside Dean Hollis, and anyway, perimeter duos rarely are the building blocks for a championship team. The Hornets need to upgrade at point guard, power forward (or at least have enough shotblocking and good ballhandling to offset O'Keane's flaws), and center, and I'd say the solution is to more Quincy for a talent at another position, but his value has to be at its all-time lowest. Clear pretender.
Oklahoma City Thunder - Contender
The West is clearly mine.
OK, so I'm presenting my bold talk for the first time in this article, and definitely only saying it for the article's purpose, but that doesn't mean I think it's any less true. The West is weak and I don't see any teams standing in my way. There are some flaws, but this has two losses at full strength since the big shakeup, is 23-5 since the 7-7 start, and has a chance to get better by toggling with the depth chart. The Thunder need another scorer to step up, and to lower turnovers. It's possible Frank Ramsey could add the scoring with a move to PG, which would also reduce John Wall's touches, lowering his turnovers. Regardless, this is the best shotblocking team in the league, with six guys who are legitimate threats to put up 20 points nightly. That's a contender.
Houston Rockets- Pretender
We are going to fuck the Thunder up come the playoffs
The Rockets are 1-2 against the Thunder, are well behind them in the standings despite playing the second most home games in BBS, and are convinced they're going to fuck up the Thunder in the playoffs because they got Andre Hixon as a second option. OK, I know Jordan was joking, but I'm trying to write an article over here. The Rockets are a fascinating team because they seem to have so many deficiencies, but their pieces just fit together and are hard to stop. You wouldn't think a team giving half its minutes to B defenders would be a top defensive team, but they block shots everywhere, rebound well, and have two stud defenders. They overcome horrible scoring from their point guard with impressive balance elsewhere. But I think they're overmatched at every position but the 5, and that's too much to overcome. I know Gola got the strength upgrade, but I have to question it. If Jordan ACd Kwan Xi's inside categories and got him +10 in strength, the guy could go from a brilliant role player to the piece that makes Houston a contender. For now, they aren't there.
Chicago Bulls - Contender
I'm not losing this year...We will win the title...I don't care how good any of you think your team is...At the end of the season the Bulls will be Champs. Barring any major injuries of course. I'm tired of people talking about how good their team is. No team compares to mine...
That's quite a quote, and while the Bulls are clearly a contender, their bench gives them so little that I think they're one of many contenders, as opposed to the odds-on favorite. Look, that starting lineup isn't matched anywhere, that's for sure. And the Bulls have very low turnovers, get enough blocks and steals, shoot a good percentage, and are sixth in opponents' field goal percentage. But what if Dickerson's in foul trouble? Or McCracken? The Bulls are a vastly different, and far worse team, with any one of their starters out, and you certainly can't say that for other teams in their class. That's a weakness, and while I'd pick the Bulls to win if I had to make a choice right now, they're not without flaws.
New York Knicks - Contender
Unless I've missed something, Skillz hasn't made any outrageous claims about his team. That's smart, because the Knicks are certainly one of the best teams in the league, but they're a system team with starters of overall quality inferior to New Jersey and Chicago. Of course, their bench dominates other benches, their shotblocking is second best in the league, and their outside offense is brilliant, and for that, they're as good as it gets in the league right now. Losing Francis endangers their home court advantage against Chicago, and that could cost them the series, but with their core of shooters and defenders, NY always has a chance. They'll need to get Mitchell Jordan going for that top seed, though.
Cleveland Cavaliers - Pretenders
Hopefully we get the 8th seed and play the knicks. Derrick is gonna tear francis apart.
Alright then. Cleveland talked its way into the conversation as a ninth seed because CC apparently thinks his team can take down the Knicks. Cleveland isn't bad, although with the shameless tank job CC did, it makes me happy he had a chance to build a young core around Bill Russell and is already botching it. I say that because taking on Derrick and Bunn means Cleveland is an also-ran out in the East, and by the time Russell is ready to dominate, Derrick and Barnes will be overpaid and not as good as they are now.
New Jersey Nets - Contender
Noves hasn't said much in the form of guarantees, but you know that with that frontcourt, New Jersey is never out of the mix. I'd like to see more out of Alf or JJ - both have scored way more in the past, and having a second unstoppable piece would mean a lot for the Nets' chances. The additions of Ray and McCutchan really upgraded the Nets' backcourt, and though I think Chicago has them beat at four of five positions, the Nets are close in three of them, and have a huge advantage at the 4. How they'd play against Oklahoma City or NY in playoffs, to me, is anyone's guess.