[2quick4uParticipant]

1.HOUSTON: last year the Rockets won 65 games, they finished with "GSW championship like collective numbers" and they were 1 injury away from getting to the finals, so the question is: why are they not winning¿?

People tend to say the difference from last year is the lost of Ariza and Mbah a Moute and even though there might be some truth there, to me that is not the main problem for Houston, i mean those 2 are good compliments but is not like they are the quintessence now…

It’s also true that teams are learning to play against teams with rim protectors like Houston or Utah, getting their big out of the zone with a P&R, but still, i think there’s a bigger reason.

Houston’s ranks 5th in "Off Rtg" so their offense is good and they are 12th in "Opp Pts/G" so that means their defence although not great is not that bad, so what is their problem?  PACE.

While losing those 2 players and all the "Carmelo thing" might have caused some problems, the real problem for Houston is the Pace they play at this year; they are the 2nd slowest team in the league when last year they were the 13th fastest… that difference in pace is what makes their defensive numbers drop drastically to the 27th in "Def Rtg" while the reason that holds them from scoring more points, ranking only 19th in "Pts/G" when last year they ranked 2nd, and therefore their "SRS" stays "even" ranking only 19th when last year they had a +8 ranking 1st.

Recipe: increase Pace to at least 15th in ranking, the rest will come alone.

2.WASHINGTON: before season started last year many people thought Wall would fight for MVP and Wizards for ECF. Now they are thinking about trading their franchise player and blow up the whole team. So what has happened in between¿? New Era.

The Wizards are the perfect example of a team that has got caught up in the transition between different "Eras" and therefore now has to blow up the team and rebuild.

Wall is not a player suit for today’s game and has a horrible contract; M.Morris doesn’t represent the starting PF in this game anymore, especially if you don’t have a rim protector and their Center whether Howard/Mahinmi/Bryant can’t play today as they are not able to protect the rim… as a result, the team is not suit for this New Era of basketball and players get frustrated for not understanding the reason.

Recipe: get rid of Wall, Howard and Morris and start all over again but not making same mistake again. If can’t trade Wall, get rid of Howard, sign a rim protector like Noel and play Ariza at SF with O.Porter as PF.

3.PHOENIX: The franchise (and most people) thought that with the acquisition of Ayton they would form a new tandem with Booker ala Kobe&Shaq and would be already fighting for a playoff spot. Big mistake.

Phoenix has the same problem than Washington with the aggravating that the Suns just started wrong with their Nº1 pick.

Last year before the Draft i made a long post explaining how a team should draft their Top pick not looking at who’s the best player, but who’s the best player under a "given condition", that is, under the current Pace&Rules and i stated that the Top picks should therefore be Doncic, J.Jackson Jr and Bamba as Ayton was not a center for today’s game, especially considering his lack of defensive presence.

Now Phoenix has a problem as they can’t play slow because Ayton can’t defend but they can’t run fast neither because of Ayton too, so they are trapped within their Nº1 pick without being able to find a winning identity in the same way as the Timberwolves can’t with Towns.

Recipe: Tough one as they’ve just started and just drafted a Nº1 pick. I’m sure Phoenix is not going to accept their mistake and will keep Ayton for a long time until they can’t ignore the project doesn’t work, kind of like the Wolves are doing, but if Ayton doesn’t improve drastically his defense within the near future, i would think about trading him for good assets before his value falls.

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Utah’s gotta be up there as well. So many people were picking them to be top 3 in the West with Golden State and Houston

[festar35Participant]

Houston need an actual starting PF (give up a first rounder to do it as well) & a proper back-up forward as well. I think Nene will help with depth behind Capela.
I’d be looking at Bobby Portis & Trey Lyles as for back-up wing they may need to wait for guys like Demarre Carroll to be bought out.

Washington’s problem to me is Wall & Beal, I feel like they divide the locker room a bit. So I think you HAVE to trade 1 of them, Wall would be the preferred choice, but Beal will get you the most return without a doubt. Washington don’t need to bottom out to rebuild they need a change in chemistry & if 1 of those to go I think it’ll start to happen.

Phoenix need a leader & a PG, not necessarily going to be the same player.

[MopgrassParticipant]

If James Harden ever cries foul all the way to the finals, I will stop watching basketball.  

[ChammesParticipant]

Why would you even think about trading Ayton? He’s a worst gonna be Boogie and he still has a super high ceiling. Trading him on his rookie year is just bizarre 

[ChammesParticipant]

Why would you even think about trading Ayton? He’s a worst gonna be Boogie and he still has a super high ceiling. Trading him on his rookie year is just bizarre 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 for the Eastern Conf Finals & who thought Wall would be competing for MVP b/c every single Media outlet had Phila, Boston & Toronto as the Top 3 teams in the East & no one was quite sure how Kawhi would work out but those 3 were absolutely considered Top 3 in the East & Milwaukee & Indiana were locked into 4 & 5 

And those 5 appear to be absolutely correct – the order might flip around back & forth but No one thought Washington would do anything 

And Phoenix was Never considered for the playoffs – Absolutely people are excited about Ayton & Booker – Long term – they are 22 & 19 years old respectively & the team around them needs a major Rebuild 

And Lastly Houston – yes it has been a Shock just How much they’ve fallen off but losing Ariza & Bha Moute both fantastic Defensive Wings was positively expected to have a major impact & just about every expert had them dropping anywhere from one spot down to #2 in the West all the way to out of the Top 4 into maybe 5th place b/c the West was considered so Strong & losing those Wings plus CP3’s age figured to hurt Houston in the Reg season 

I am MUCH more surprised by Utah struggling so much, Boston is really good but we all thought they’d be Dominant & they have not so that’s been a surprise & on the Positive side the Dallas Mavs, Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies & Orlando have looked Really good w/ exciting young talent 

 

 

 

 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 when talking about Wall and Washington’s expectations i was not talking for this season, if you read well i said "before season started LAST year", that is, before the 2017-18 season started.

In season 2016-17 the Wizards won 49 games in RS and lost 3-4 in ECSemifinals Vs the Celtics, and after THAT season and prior to the next season as i mention everybody was super high on Wall and the Wizards for the upcoming season (2017-18) in that super weak eastern conference.

Even Wall himself proclaimed he was ready to fight for the MVP and a lot of people actually bought that statment.

 

 

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 Who the hell thought Wall would be an MVP candidate and the Wizards were going to be contenders? 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 

Same response as for Beastmode:

if you read well, when talking about the Wizards and Wall’s expectations i was not talking for this season but before 2017-18 season began.

In season 2016-17 the Wizards won 49 games in RS and lost 3-4 in ECSemifinals Vs the Celtics, and after THAT season and prior to the next season as i mention everybody was super high on Wall and the Wizards for the upcoming season (2017-18) in that super weak eastern conference.

Even Wall himself proclaimed he was ready to fight for the MVP that season, and actually most people bought that statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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