|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on May 20, 2018 3:32:09 GMT -5
I'm getting ahead of myself here, even though we are in the thick of the playoffs, but just thinking about next year's team gets me giddy.
Let's hink about the players we are getting back next season.
Jaylen, Jayson and Terry have grown leaps and bounds this season, due to our various injuries, and in the playoffs they have mostly carried the offense on their young shoulders (and have done exceptionally well). They won't have to have that level of pressure on them next year when Kyrie and Gordon return to court. That's ABSURD to think about!! A young team that could make it all the way to the Finals is adding one of the best scorers in the NBA, and another 20+ ppg All-Star (you really have to stop and think about that). Al Horford is going to be our 5th best scorer (maybe 6th if Rozier is a 6th Man of the Year candidate), Jaylen our 4th best, Tatum our 3rd best, Hayward our 2nd best, and Kyrie our top scorer. Jaylen and Tatum would be [HASH]1's on many lottery teams -- but with us they're the [HASH]3 and [HASH]4.
Scoring the ball will not be a problem next season.
Defensively, we're already one of the best. Even with our various injuries, we're just 2 wins away from making it to the Finals, and you don't get there without playing really good defense. Next year, we'll have Daniel Theis added back to the squad, and what a tremendous boost he will be. He is one of the many unsung heroes on our team this year. Before he went down with his injury, he was really starting to come on. Once he starts playing 25 mpg, he'll be a 1.5 blocks/game guy, rebounding 8 boards a game, and giving us near double digit points -- off the bench!! He's going to be a heck of a glue guy, now that he's got a year under his belt.
We might be heading to the Finals this year (2 more wins against the Cavs, and we'll be there), but we're going to be there next year (barring injuries). Hope the Warriors are ready for us.
|
|
|
|
Post by jmost on May 20, 2018 7:01:14 GMT -5
The big unknown going into the summer is what Danny will do about Smart. Sign him? Let him walk? Sign and trade him? I'm rooting for door [HASH]3. Terry has shown that he is still growing a lot as a player. Smart has shown some improvement in his pick and roll game and post game, but has shown minimal improvement as a shooter. People will say we'll miss his toughness, but we heard the same thing about Bradley and Crowder and that didn't happen.
I can't wait to see the offense next year when Kyrie, Jaylen, Gordon, Jayson and Al are out there together. We saw glimpses of it in preseason and it was beautiful. I agree that our realistic goal for next year is nothing less than the Finals.
|
|
|
|
Post by runrondo on May 20, 2018 9:00:17 GMT -5
I'm fine with keeping Smart, but I'm glad we have options with him and the others. I'd hope with Hayward and Kyrie in the rotation Smart's minutes would get cut into and we'd maybe see less of the bad Marcus and yet still give him time to shine with his intangibles. He's playing and handling the offense too much now out of necessity which unfortunately means we see more of the bad Marcus (and the good as well!).
I'm most intrigued to see how well Hayward meshes with the team. I saw how well Kyrie fit, but Hayward is the one that I have not seen play enough of and I'm excited to see him out there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on May 20, 2018 22:30:07 GMT -5
The big unknown going into the summer is what Danny will do about Smart. Sign him? Let him walk? Sign and trade him? I'm rooting for door [HASH]3. Terry has shown that he is still growing a lot as a player. Smart has shown some improvement in his pick and roll game and post game, but has shown minimal improvement as a shooter. People will say we'll miss his toughness, but we heard the same thing about Bradley and Crowder and that didn't happen. I can't wait to see the offense next year when Kyrie, Jaylen, Gordon, Jayson and Al are out there together. We saw glimpses of it in preseason and it was beautiful. I agree that our realistic goal for next year is nothing less than the Finals. Bradley was an undersized guard, limited. Crowder, his defense was on the decline. Smart is like a zero sum player, when you deduct the poor shooting, from his defense. |
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on May 21, 2018 14:55:53 GMT -5
I'm fine with keeping Smart, but I'm glad we have options with him and the others. I'd hope with Hayward and Kyrie in the rotation Smart's minutes would get cut into and we'd maybe see less of the bad Marcus and yet still give him time to shine with his intangibles. He's playing and handling the offense too much now out of necessity which unfortunately means we see more of the bad Marcus (and the good as well!). I'm most intrigued to see how well Hayward meshes with the team. I saw how well Kyrie fit, but Hayward is the one that I have not seen play enough of and I'm excited to see him out there. All indications are Hayward is a coaches dream player. Executes the game plan and does it well. I'm excited to see how Brad will use him too. |
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on May 22, 2018 18:04:10 GMT -5
I'm fine with keeping Smart, but I'm glad we have options with him and the others. I'd hope with Hayward and Kyrie in the rotation Smart's minutes would get cut into and we'd maybe see less of the bad Marcus and yet still give him time to shine with his intangibles. He's playing and handling the offense too much now out of necessity which unfortunately means we see more of the bad Marcus (and the good as well!). I'm most intrigued to see how well Hayward meshes with the team. I saw how well Kyrie fit, but Hayward is the one that I have not seen play enough of and I'm excited to see him out there. All indications are Hayward is a coaches dream player. Executes the game plan and does it well. I'm excited to see how Brad will use him too. Hayward is very good, which limits the amount of time Morris/Semi will play. |
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on May 22, 2018 18:48:35 GMT -5
All indications are Hayward is a coaches dream player. Executes the game plan and does it well. I'm excited to see how Brad will use him too. Hayward is very good, which limits the amount of time Morris/Semi will play. Which is a good thing. Morris can shoot us out of games, so having him on a shorter leash could heighten his concentration level when he is on the court. And if Semi can hone his 3pt shot, he'll find playing time. |
|
|
|
Post by jmost on May 22, 2018 20:27:43 GMT -5
Semi has been a very, very solid guy. Good defender, and rarely makes mistakes on either end. Not a lot to his offensive game but at least he doesn't hurt us there, and contributes the occasional 3. Good guy to have on the roster.
Morris has been a blessing at times this year when the offense has otherwise ground to a halt - because of his ability to create his own shot. On the other hand, he's a classic ball stopper. I'd like to believe that we won't have those offensive droughts next year when we have our whole roster healthy, so his offense won't be needed as much.
Finding minutes for everyone is going to be a challenge for Brad.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on May 23, 2018 18:08:18 GMT -5
Semi has been a very, very solid guy. Good defender, and rarely makes mistakes on either end. Not a lot to his offensive game but at least he doesn't hurt us there, and contributes the occasional 3. Good guy to have on the roster. Morris has been a blessing at times this year when the offense has otherwise ground to a halt - because of his ability to create his own shot. On the other hand, he's a classic ball stopper. I'd like to believe that we won't have those offensive droughts next year when we have our whole roster healthy, so his offense won't be needed as much. Finding minutes for everyone is going to be a challenge for Brad. My issue w/ Morris is that he shoots where ever he is on the floor. Savy teams sag off of him when he is in a low percentage zone. |
|
|
|
Post by afceltic on May 23, 2018 22:22:42 GMT -5
Don't be suprised if Danny makes a run at Karl Anthony Towns since it is known that he is unhappy in Minnesota. I would like to use the Sacramento pick. I would love to add a sign and trade with Smart to that deal because Thibs would love Smart and some more draft picks.
Who else would you guys be willing to give in that trade. I assume one of the big guys would have to go too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on May 23, 2018 22:39:30 GMT -5
Don't be suprised if Danny makes a run at Karl Anthony Towns since it is known that he is unhappy in Minnesota. I would like to use the Sacramento pick. I would love to add a sign and trade with Smart to that deal because Thibs would love Smart and some more draft picks. Who else would you guys be willing to give in that trade. I assume one of the big guys would have to go too. I read on the internet, when Danny calls a GM, they do not pick up. LOL. |
|
|
|
Post by jmost on May 24, 2018 6:13:00 GMT -5
Caller ID comes up as a scammer.
One thing I'd want to know about Towns is how big is his ego, and by that I mean, how important is it to him to be The Man? We have some very good (and going to be great) young players in Tatum and Brown, neither of whom lacks confidence, but who also don't seem to care which of them is the star of any particular game. The one thing we don't need is someone ruining the team first mentality we have. I have heard nothing bad about Towns in this regard. Just a general thought.
|
|
