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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 3, 2019 3:13:55 GMT -5
Out are Kyrie, Horford, Baynes, Mook, and Rozier.
In are Kemba, Kanter, Langford, GWill, Carsen, Tremont, and Poirier.
Without knowing what other additions/subtractions we might make before the start of the season, what is your initial feeling about this team? Do you like it, not like? Feel it is a 45 win team? 50?
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Post by jmost on Jul 3, 2019 6:55:05 GMT -5
Too early for me to say. I'll have a better feel once I see the new guys on the court. I'll say this much: It's a playoff team as it stands, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another move for a big man before October.
I think we're all going to be amazed by how much Kyrie's presence hurt this team last year once we see the guys playing without him. I expect major improvements from JB and JT this year just because of that.
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Post by afceltic on Jul 3, 2019 7:04:34 GMT -5
I agree on the big man as I read another rumor (take it for what it is, just that) but we are discussing a trade with OKC (since they are trying to cut payroll) for both Adams and Schroder. They combine make 39M (Adams 25M and Schroder 15M) so we have to get to 27M to hit the magic 70% of the combined salary to make the trade happen. This can be done is a few ways, Gordon by him self can get us there with his 32M contract or we can add a 1st which I believe is worth around 6M to get even closer and to sweeten the deal for them. (as long as it isn't the Memphis pick) Or we can send Smart and either two firsts and a second round pick or just three first round picks to get them.
IDK how realistic that is but it would be nice to add Adams and Schroder to what we already have. At that point all we would need is another SG off of the bench but we would have time to see if the young guys fill that role or can get a ring chaser to fill it later.
As for the question about this years team, I also think it is way too early about putting expectations high or low on them because the roster isn't complete. All I know is I think we got rid of the two guys I blame the most for last year's debacle in Kyrie and Al. Kyrie was toxic and poisoned the team and Al did nothing as the grossly overpaid elder statesman to take control of the locker room and get the team back on track. Now that role is on Gordon as he is the oldest and most proven (when healthy) on the team. I hope he does what he is supposed to do in that role unlike the money chaser who is now in Philly.
Oh yea, back to Cryrie, apparently he was never going to come back to Boston anyway, him and KD may be two of the weakest minded stars in recent NBA history:
NBC Sports Boston Report: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant were set on teaming up before last season Darren Hartwell,NBC Sports Boston Mon, Jul 1 3:45 PM EDT
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Post by runrondo on Jul 3, 2019 13:14:31 GMT -5
Woah that is an interesting rumor.
I think we're dependent on Tatum and Brown being better and I'm good with that. I hope some young guys get some serious minutes - get some joy on that court.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 3, 2019 19:33:11 GMT -5
I want to hold onto Hayward. Really feel he returns to All-Star level this year, especially if Brad uses him in the facilitator’s role.
And I’m ok with Kanter, for the time being.
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Post by eja117 on Jul 3, 2019 19:48:19 GMT -5
I think we have a playoff team and possibly a better team than last year, but also possibly a lower finish in the seedings. Maybe a 6,7,or 8 seed. Hard to say
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 3, 2019 20:37:32 GMT -5
I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this team.
Tatum, Hayward and Jaylen are going to overachieve — Hayward because he’s going to make up for lost time and prove to himself that he’s back, and Tatum-Jaylen because they want to prove their run at the playoffs 2 years ago was no fluke.
Kemba is going to be a great fit — he’ll be everything that Kyrie could not be.
I believe this team will be a good team — top 5 in the east. And we’re going to be good because we’ll be a tight unit that plays well together. Just like how the Bucks play (the whole is better than the sum of its parts), we’re going to be unselfish and execute plays.
Defensively, we’re not going to be among the best in the league — but it won’t be for lack of trying. We’re going to have to rely on players talking to each other constantly and trotating and being in the right places.
We’re going to struggle to start the year, but we’ll see improvement month by month. By February we’ll see this team led by Hayward, Kemba and Tatum, with Jaylen accepting, and excelling in the Iguodala role, and Kanter being a menace on the boards and in the low post.
All in all, we’re going to like this team because of its character, makeup, unity and overachieving mindset.
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Post by jmost on Jul 3, 2019 20:48:43 GMT -5
I'm really curious to see if RWill shows any offensive game beyond alleyoop dunks. Summer league should provide an early glimpse.
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Post by mev17 on Jul 3, 2019 21:37:24 GMT -5
I have my doubts regarding us being as good as we were supposed to be last year, but I think we can be better than how last year's team performed. I do not think it will be the same divided, under-achieving group it was last year. A few ups and downs but will stick better to the game plan.
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Post by jmost on Jul 4, 2019 14:00:33 GMT -5
Great post, mev17. It's going to be hard to live up to the pre-season hype of last year, but with so many unknowns going into next season the guys might surprise us.
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Post by afceltic on Jul 4, 2019 16:31:57 GMT -5
I think they have a good chance to beat the 55 win total (most in Brad's era) from two years ago just by getting rid of Cryrie with his wannabe LeFlop drama (without the LeFlop results) and Al isn't a big of a loss as people are making him. I would really like another proven big man to back of Kanter to round out this roste because we are hosed if he gets hurt at the center position. But the question will be how will the perform in the playoffs? If Kawhi goes back to Toronto, then they along with the Bucks are and should be the favorites. I see us and Indiana fighting it out for that third spot (I give the Pacers the edge as of now once Olidipo gets healthy) with the overrated 76ers coming in at 5th. That team doesn't fit at all and it a disaster waiting to happen.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 4, 2019 18:41:28 GMT -5
AF, I’d like to hear more of your thoughts on our team defense, particularly with the loss of Horford.
According to some metrics used, it was said our defense was much better with Horford on the court, as opposed when he sat.
I remember when Tyler Zeller, Amir Johnson and even Kelly Olynyk had positive defensive metrics, and I couldn’t understand why.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Jul 4, 2019 19:12:47 GMT -5
I think this team is going to be fun to watch. I like these guys.
I think Kemba over Kyrie is close to a wash. Kyrie has bigger playoff moments, but Kemba has quietly gotten better and better under the radar in Charlotte, similar to Hayward during his time in Utah.
It is a bummer to lose to Horford. Dude did so much for this team. I'm Theis is up to the challenge of covering more nimble 5s when the time comes. If not, I can see us active in the trade market. Would love to pry away Bomba from Orlando.
Love Grant Williams. He's gonna be a big glue guy for this team, possibly as soon as next year.
So while this team doesn't look dominant, it looks formidable, and that is a lot more than we could've said a week ago.
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Post by afceltic on Jul 5, 2019 0:35:56 GMT -5
AF, I’d like to hear more of your thoughts on our team defense, particularly with the loss of Horford. According to some metrics used, it was said our defense was much better with Horford on the court, as opposed when he sat. I remember when Tyler Zeller, Amir Johnson and even Kelly Olynyk had positive defensive metrics, and I couldn’t understand why. I think team and individual defense is grossly overrated now due to the rules that pretty much ban it. If defense mattered, then guys like Curry and Harden wouldn't be winning MVP's because neither of them have ever played a lick of defense in their careers. In today's NBA you only need to get stops when you need them at the end of games. That is why rebounding percentage matters more than defense and why I believe that losing Al won't hurt as much due to him being a poor rebounding big guy. In today's game the mid range game is usually only for guys who have lost their athletic ability to get to the basket, so a high percentage of the players either go all the way to the rim where you need a rim protector (which we haven't had in a very long time) or they chuck three point shots and in that case we need to be able to get the rebound and with Al we were a poor rebounding team which always ended up killing us when it mattered. That is why I think Danny went and aquired Kanter and the guy from overseas who are both really good rebounders, especially on the offensive side. As of now the only thing that we will miss from Al is his pick and roll defense but we can overcome it in other ways and it isn't the end of the world losing that at the inflated price that Philly paid him. So I see us being a much better rebounding team without Al I think overall the team will have MUCH better chemistry and that will lead to a really fun regular season with a lot of wins. The playoffs will depend on match ups and where we end up at in the standings. It is my hope that we get home court over the Nets in the first round (I don't see them higher than 6th in the East this year) and get to end Cryrie's season.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 5, 2019 2:44:09 GMT -5
Thanks, AF. I hear what you are saying.
With drafting Robert Williams last year, having serious interest in Clint Capela, and now signing Vincent Poirier, I think we can see a common characteristic among these 3 -- not great, or versatile on offense, but are lob threats, can rebound and block shots. Quite the opposite of what Al Horford's strengths are.
Is this a new wrinkle in the way Brad wants to scheme his gameplan?
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