[valentine]

 In a month or two, at least one team that is currently expected to be good will struggle and lose significantly more than expected, and there will have been signs from the preseason that not all was well in (insert team here)’s land.

On the other hand, at least one team will play much better than preseason showed, and any such worries about preseason performance will be seen as having been a silly overreaction.

So, is any team looking worse than expected right now? Is there actual fire along with the smoky warnings of a bad team record or star underperformance? Or will that team easily bounce back once the real games start?

Some people think there’s not really anything to be learned from summer league and preseason, but I think there’s plenty to be learned. You just have to be careful about what looks real and what is not worth worrying about.

So what looks like a real problem/issue to you at this point?

The Bulls seem to be struggling mightily on the defensive end, and without doing a ton of research, I’ve be suspicious of that locker room chemistry all summer.

What else?

Expecting LeBron to once again bounce back from his latest back injection seems like it might not be the smartest thing to expect.

Everybody just assumes the Cavs will easily be the top team in the east even with Kyrie out til around January, and with LeBron facing problems with his back, and with Love coming back from shoulder surgery, and with Varajao supposedly healthy but probably not, and with TThompson holding out for maximum ransom money, and LeBron admitting that it’s a big distraction.

Talk about ripe for a disappointing season.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 I said this summer that the Pistons were overrated as usual, and they haven’t been playing great this preseason. Drummond is the king of preseason hype, and the master of consistently underperforming. 

Stanley Johnson looked awesome the first game or two as the Piston’s "point guard", but Reggie Jackson cramps his style.

 

Same with the Bucks, who for some reason people thought would be as good as the players looked on paper, rather than how they would actually play as a team.

[ChoppyParticipant]

Stanley needs to come off the bench, at least to start with. I haven’t seen any Pistons pre season games, but that might alleviate some of the style cramping you suggest.

I think the Pistons will surprise some people. Still don’t think they’ll make the playoffs but with much better chemistry they should at least be in the hunt.  

[ChoppyParticipant]

Stanley needs to come off the bench, at least to start with. I haven’t seen any Pistons pre season games, but that might alleviate some of the style cramping you suggest.

I think the Pistons will surprise some people. Still don’t think they’ll make the playoffs but with much better chemistry they should at least be in the hunt.  

[T Rex]

 You ain’t lying.

I don’t hear anybody calling  the Bucks a good team now, Pistons either.

Because the game isn’t played on paper.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 You ain’t lying.

I don’t hear anybody calling  the Bucks a good team now, Pistons either.

Because the game isn’t played on paper.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 I said this summer that the Pistons were overrated as usual, and they haven’t been playing great this preseason. Drummond is the king of preseason hype, and the master of consistently underperforming. 

Stanley Johnson looked awesome the first game or two as the Piston’s "point guard", but Reggie Jackson cramps his style.

 

Same with the Bucks, who for some reason people thought would be as good as the players looked on paper, rather than how they would actually play as a team.

[T Rex]

 I’ve been calling the Knicks a playoff team all summer, and they’re looking like it in preseason. 

Not much guard depth, but you can pick up a Jordan Crawford or a Kendall Marshall or a D’Angelo Russell type off the scrap heap any time, and team cuts are coming up.

 

[T Rex]

 I’ve been calling the Knicks a playoff team all summer, and they’re looking like it in preseason. 

Not much guard depth, but you can pick up a Jordan Crawford or a Kendall Marshall or a D’Angelo Russell type off the scrap heap any time, and team cuts are coming up.

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 out of your way to be annoying and antagonistic. It’s sad. "Russell type off the scrap heap." How many times have you bashed him since he has been drafted? It’s boring T-Rex. Get new material or go away.

And to give your thread the respect it doesn’t deserve… No the Knicks are not making the playoffs this year. Carmelo will have a great year, but it won’t be enough.

 

[T Rex]

 Let me guess, you still think DRussell is a solid athlete, lol. Maybe not Westbrook, but at least Harden, right?

I haven’t seen Russell do anything but swag around, pass the ball, and go stand in the corner. What else can a 40 year old pass first shooting guard do?

Interesting thing is that Russell is continuing to gain weight. You can see it in his backside and in his face too.

So if you’re expecting him to even show the "athleticism" of his college days, even after his stand still summer league "performance", you’ll be waiting a long time.

The only burst you’ll see from him is a burst of swag after a hockey assist.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Let me guess, you still think DRussell is a solid athlete, lol. Maybe not Westbrook, but at least Harden, right?

I haven’t seen Russell do anything but swag around, pass the ball, and go stand in the corner. What else can a 40 year old pass first shooting guard do?

Interesting thing is that Russell is continuing to gain weight. You can see it in his backside and in his face too.

So if you’re expecting him to even show the "athleticism" of his college days, even after his stand still summer league "performance", you’ll be waiting a long time.

The only burst you’ll see from him is a burst of swag after a hockey assist.

 

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 out of your way to be annoying and antagonistic. It’s sad. "Russell type off the scrap heap." How many times have you bashed him since he has been drafted? It’s boring T-Rex. Get new material or go away.

And to give your thread the respect it doesn’t deserve… No the Knicks are not making the playoffs this year. Carmelo will have a great year, but it won’t be enough.

 

[T Rex]

 Denver looks like a playoff sleeper, that one caught me by surprise, though I’ve been high on Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic since they were in the Adriatic League together with Saric and Bogdan.

Nuggets have a nice couple of decent point guard sized shooting guards in Gary Harris and Nick Johnson, and like I said before the draft, the benefit of a shooting guard sized point guard like Mudiay is that you can play him next to point guard sized shooting guards, the kind that always get drafted too low.

Second round steal Jordan Clarkson may not exactly be point guard sized, but at least he’s athletic enough to allow the increasingly sedentary DRussell to defend shooting guards.

 

 

[T Rex]

 Denver looks like a playoff sleeper, that one caught me by surprise, though I’ve been high on Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic since they were in the Adriatic League together with Saric and Bogdan.

Nuggets have a nice couple of decent point guard sized shooting guards in Gary Harris and Nick Johnson, and like I said before the draft, the benefit of a shooting guard sized point guard like Mudiay is that you can play him next to point guard sized shooting guards, the kind that always get drafted too low.

Second round steal Jordan Clarkson may not exactly be point guard sized, but at least he’s athletic enough to allow the increasingly sedentary DRussell to defend shooting guards.

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 I have him as a possible MIP pick. He has a great future ahead. Harris was a dud as a rookie, but I still believe he can turn it around and be successful. The Nugs are still at least 2 years away from a playoff apperance.

[ChewyParticipant]

 I have him as a possible MIP pick. He has a great future ahead. Harris was a dud as a rookie, but I still believe he can turn it around and be successful. The Nugs are still at least 2 years away from a playoff apperance.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 Ok… so my team that has been getting too much hype in the preseason is the Kings.

There has been tons of talk about them making the playoffs, but with Rondo, Cousins, and Karl on one team. Too much drama on that team, It ain’t gonna happen. Rondo has already said that him and Karl are having problems. I believe it was you, T Rex, that posted that on here. So, yeah, they’re not going to make the playoffs. And they’ll likely be a bottom dweller in the West again.

An underrated team this season will be Charlotte. Everybody expects them to be bad in this year, but with Jeremy Lin, Kemba Walker, a more fit Al Jefferson, and Frank the Tank. They should be at least a playoff team this year.

[trelos6Participant]

The MKG injury will hurt Charlotte.  A combo of MKG and Batum would have been great to help lock down opposing wings.

The East is tight through 4-12 seeds.  So it’s really going to come down to injuries throughout the year IMO.

 

  

[trelos6Participant]

The MKG injury will hurt Charlotte.  A combo of MKG and Batum would have been great to help lock down opposing wings.

The East is tight through 4-12 seeds.  So it’s really going to come down to injuries throughout the year IMO.

 

  

[T Rex]

 Charlotte looks extremely legit with that Linsanity and that Olynyk Effect that Kaminsky and Hawes bring.

They’ll be like what the Bucks were last year, even better if they don’t fall apart like the Bucks did.

 

 

[T Rex]

 Charlotte looks extremely legit with that Linsanity and that Olynyk Effect that Kaminsky and Hawes bring.

They’ll be like what the Bucks were last year, even better if they don’t fall apart like the Bucks did.

 

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 Ok… so my team that has been getting too much hype in the preseason is the Kings.

There has been tons of talk about them making the playoffs, but with Rondo, Cousins, and Karl on one team. Too much drama on that team, It ain’t gonna happen. Rondo has already said that him and Karl are having problems. I believe it was you, T Rex, that posted that on here. So, yeah, they’re not going to make the playoffs. And they’ll likely be a bottom dweller in the West again.

An underrated team this season will be Charlotte. Everybody expects them to be bad in this year, but with Jeremy Lin, Kemba Walker, a more fit Al Jefferson, and Frank the Tank. They should be at least a playoff team this year.

[Rip256]

 My overated team is the heat. In everyones top 4 East teams.

Not a single healthy, motivated player on the team.

Their talent levels are high but reality is a different story.

Dragic – Heard he was Trying to break Wilt Chamberlains most unbreakable record on south beach. 

Wade – Under/over is 40 games played

Bosh  – Lucky to be alive. Dude dresses like a woman recreationally. I know its 2015 but still…

Deng – Thibs put the squash on his longevity by making him play 42mpg

Whiteside – Talented but would rather be gangbanging.

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rip256]

 My overated team is the heat. In everyones top 4 East teams.

Not a single healthy, motivated player on the team.

Their talent levels are high but reality is a different story.

Dragic – Heard he was Trying to break Wilt Chamberlains most unbreakable record on south beach. 

Wade – Under/over is 40 games played

Bosh  – Lucky to be alive. Dude dresses like a woman recreationally. I know its 2015 but still…

Deng – Thibs put the squash on his longevity by making him play 42mpg

Whiteside – Talented but would rather be gangbanging.

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Old small forwards don’t always age well.  LeBron could have a Bird-esque drop off at any moment.

For Lebron this season: slightly fewer minutes, slightly less effeciency, slightly less defense, and slightly less overall production in the PTS, STL, REB, AST, BLK categories.  With that decline in several areas I can see the Cavs slipping to second tier status.

I took LeBron at 3 in my yahoo fantasy league, and I am still a bit nervous — if that means anything.

0-6 is not a good look especially with Kyrie Irving on the shelf for a long time and TT still holding out.  They didn’t get better — they just signed their same older/injured guys to more money.  LeBron and Love might just be the second coming of Bird and McHale, but maybe closer to 1991 Bird/McHale than the ’84-’87 vintage versions.

The Spurs are 1-3.  They will make the playoffs and still be a contender, but I am not 100% sold on LMA making them into a more elite team.  Mid-range jumpers and uncontested defensive rebounds do not a superstar make.  I think they lose a little without having Splitter manning the paint.  

Duncan and Aldridge do too much of the same things.  Plus, TD has better intangibles and knows the system better.  Tony Parker may not be done but he is no longer in his prime.  The only guy on the team who is in his prime is Kawhi Leonard.  Maybe Danny Green, too.  Kawhi will have to do more.  

Houston is at 2-4.  Other than James Harden, who is a manufactured superstar molded by Darryl Morey Moneybasketball, the rest of this roster looks like the rest of every other Western Conference roster.

I can see either the Spurs or Rockets underperforming.  Perhaps both.

Utah is at 2-3.  They look good on paper, and Rudy Gobert is a legit building block, but do the Jazz have enough offense to make the playoffs, or a deep run if they can get there?  Can they score EFFICIENTLY and hit 3’s at a decent clip?  Also, shot blockers peak early.  Look at Manute Bol’s career stats as well as Mark Eaton.  

I also like Denver a bit.  Some athletes on that team and some guys who can score, if not necessarily shoot.  They historically have played well at home.  I can see them ruining some road trips this year.  They also look like one of those younger, energetic teams who can look bad for an entire month then go on a 5-0 streak all of a sudden.  I can see them being the best bad team in the league this season.

The two LA teams are a combined 1-7.  Raw talent is usually in supply on both rosters with the Clips having the more recent success.  But, these teams tend to be more flighty.  I can see the Clippers checking out on Doc Rivers if they run into early trouble.  Stacked roster on paper, but some volatile personalities.  

I don’t see the Warriors winning 67 games again.  Only the ’97 Bulls team (69 wins) followed up a 67 win plus team with ANOTHER 67 plus win team.  And, they still lost 5 more games.  62 wins sounds about right for this year’s Warrior’s team.  

Some have the Pelicans in that 7-8 spot.  I think they can get in and probably should, but not sure the roster is as talented enough to be a surefire playoff pick.  I don’t like the way the roster has been built.  They need to pick two guards between Holiday, Tyreke, and Eric Gordon.  Maybe only one.  Preferrably, for the long-run, NONE of those 3.  I think Anthony Davis can improve around the margins, but he is essentially at 25 and 10-12 a night anyway.  How much more can he do?  I am also not sure what kind of big I would want to put next to him.  He is 6’10 and not anything more than a part time center.  And, he is not a knock down 3 point shooter.  I would ideally want an athletic, shot blocking, 3 point shooting, 7 footer next to him, but hey, EVERY team needs that at center.  Get a guy like that and you can put a D League guy at power forward and win 40-45 games, even out West.

Preseason division winners include Memphis and OKC.  I think these two teams will be in the mix the entire season.  The Hawks are at 4-1.  Good, solid team in Atlanta.  The Knicks are the top dog in the Atlantic division at the moment at 3-1.  Don’t see them winning 75% of their regular season games but the Knicks look like a sleeper team in that division.  

The Southeast division is the all-around best right now, in terms of win-loss records.  I think Miami is the best team on paper here, but each team in this division has at least a few athletes and guys with talent.  Still might be the Year of Kaminsky in the Southeast Division.

I am a bit disappointed in Jahlil Okafor for not putting up at least one gaudy stat line in preseason so far.  I will stick with my prediction of him being the next George Mikan (whatever that means).  My Karl Towns-Sam Perkins comparison is still holding up.  On the flip side, Brian Shaw is still safe.  Not sure D’Angelo Russell will even make fans forget about Brian Shaw.

Not sure there is a vintage, all-time NBA team out there this season.  Probably more parity.  At the top and at the middle.  

We won’t get the ’86 Celtics vs. the ’87 Lakers this year.

More of a Hawks-Grizzlies Finals type of year.

It will be a long year in Detroit, Philly, and Brooklyn — but, then again, it always is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Old small forwards don’t always age well.  LeBron could have a Bird-esque drop off at any moment.

For Lebron this season: slightly fewer minutes, slightly less effeciency, slightly less defense, and slightly less overall production in the PTS, STL, REB, AST, BLK categories.  With that decline in several areas I can see the Cavs slipping to second tier status.

I took LeBron at 3 in my yahoo fantasy league, and I am still a bit nervous — if that means anything.

0-6 is not a good look especially with Kyrie Irving on the shelf for a long time and TT still holding out.  They didn’t get better — they just signed their same older/injured guys to more money.  LeBron and Love might just be the second coming of Bird and McHale, but maybe closer to 1991 Bird/McHale than the ’84-’87 vintage versions.

The Spurs are 1-3.  They will make the playoffs and still be a contender, but I am not 100% sold on LMA making them into a more elite team.  Mid-range jumpers and uncontested defensive rebounds do not a superstar make.  I think they lose a little without having Splitter manning the paint.  

Duncan and Aldridge do too much of the same things.  Plus, TD has better intangibles and knows the system better.  Tony Parker may not be done but he is no longer in his prime.  The only guy on the team who is in his prime is Kawhi Leonard.  Maybe Danny Green, too.  Kawhi will have to do more.  

Houston is at 2-4.  Other than James Harden, who is a manufactured superstar molded by Darryl Morey Moneybasketball, the rest of this roster looks like the rest of every other Western Conference roster.

I can see either the Spurs or Rockets underperforming.  Perhaps both.

Utah is at 2-3.  They look good on paper, and Rudy Gobert is a legit building block, but do the Jazz have enough offense to make the playoffs, or a deep run if they can get there?  Can they score EFFICIENTLY and hit 3’s at a decent clip?  Also, shot blockers peak early.  Look at Manute Bol’s career stats as well as Mark Eaton.  

I also like Denver a bit.  Some athletes on that team and some guys who can score, if not necessarily shoot.  They historically have played well at home.  I can see them ruining some road trips this year.  They also look like one of those younger, energetic teams who can look bad for an entire month then go on a 5-0 streak all of a sudden.  I can see them being the best bad team in the league this season.

The two LA teams are a combined 1-7.  Raw talent is usually in supply on both rosters with the Clips having the more recent success.  But, these teams tend to be more flighty.  I can see the Clippers checking out on Doc Rivers if they run into early trouble.  Stacked roster on paper, but some volatile personalities.  

I don’t see the Warriors winning 67 games again.  Only the ’97 Bulls team (69 wins) followed up a 67 win plus team with ANOTHER 67 plus win team.  And, they still lost 5 more games.  62 wins sounds about right for this year’s Warrior’s team.  

Some have the Pelicans in that 7-8 spot.  I think they can get in and probably should, but not sure the roster is as talented enough to be a surefire playoff pick.  I don’t like the way the roster has been built.  They need to pick two guards between Holiday, Tyreke, and Eric Gordon.  Maybe only one.  Preferrably, for the long-run, NONE of those 3.  I think Anthony Davis can improve around the margins, but he is essentially at 25 and 10-12 a night anyway.  How much more can he do?  I am also not sure what kind of big I would want to put next to him.  He is 6’10 and not anything more than a part time center.  And, he is not a knock down 3 point shooter.  I would ideally want an athletic, shot blocking, 3 point shooting, 7 footer next to him, but hey, EVERY team needs that at center.  Get a guy like that and you can put a D League guy at power forward and win 40-45 games, even out West.

Preseason division winners include Memphis and OKC.  I think these two teams will be in the mix the entire season.  The Hawks are at 4-1.  Good, solid team in Atlanta.  The Knicks are the top dog in the Atlantic division at the moment at 3-1.  Don’t see them winning 75% of their regular season games but the Knicks look like a sleeper team in that division.  

The Southeast division is the all-around best right now, in terms of win-loss records.  I think Miami is the best team on paper here, but each team in this division has at least a few athletes and guys with talent.  Still might be the Year of Kaminsky in the Southeast Division.

I am a bit disappointed in Jahlil Okafor for not putting up at least one gaudy stat line in preseason so far.  I will stick with my prediction of him being the next George Mikan (whatever that means).  My Karl Towns-Sam Perkins comparison is still holding up.  On the flip side, Brian Shaw is still safe.  Not sure D’Angelo Russell will even make fans forget about Brian Shaw.

Not sure there is a vintage, all-time NBA team out there this season.  Probably more parity.  At the top and at the middle.  

We won’t get the ’86 Celtics vs. the ’87 Lakers this year.

More of a Hawks-Grizzlies Finals type of year.

It will be a long year in Detroit, Philly, and Brooklyn — but, then again, it always is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 The Seatle Seahawks have started out terribly after losing a close Super Bowl.

Being runner-up the year before is aften followed by a disappointing season, in all sports.

It could easily happen to the Cavs. And while Kevin Love finally started enjoying being around his teammates leading up to and during the playoffs, he’s going to be looking for his stats this year with Kyrie out, and with his re-signing coming after a pool-side sit-down with LeBron where Love was probably promised a bigger role.

And like you said about the Clippers looking sketchy, their chemistry problems between CP3, Jordan, and Blake will once again rear their head, and the front office princess might not be the only one out for Doc’s scalp.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 The Seatle Seahawks have started out terribly after losing a close Super Bowl.

Being runner-up the year before is aften followed by a disappointing season, in all sports.

It could easily happen to the Cavs. And while Kevin Love finally started enjoying being around his teammates leading up to and during the playoffs, he’s going to be looking for his stats this year with Kyrie out, and with his re-signing coming after a pool-side sit-down with LeBron where Love was probably promised a bigger role.

And like you said about the Clippers looking sketchy, their chemistry problems between CP3, Jordan, and Blake will once again rear their head, and the front office princess might not be the only one out for Doc’s scalp.

 

 

 

[Author]

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