Just to add on your last part about Pistons is while they didn't have by basic standards a superstar, they did have a slew of high lotto picks that were exiled from their original team with chips on their shoulders with something to prove collectively Sheed/Billups were like top 3 picks and I think Rip was a top 7 pick Though R Wallace was aged when he got there he was probably closest thing to superstar talent/game and he was one of the original stretch bigs of the NBA but he wasn't near the Blazers version that destroyed Horry/Lakers on the block but was capable in spurts and he assisted with the other Wallace to make their team defense even more superstar-ish level And then add on Prince who was a strong wing defender as well and the other Wallace(dopy/superstar defender) with the coaching from Carlisle to L Brown(superstar coach at that time) and that was basically the 2000 Ravens defense of the NBA
Don't be a homer. OKC has a better future as of now. If the ping pong ball falls to us, that's a totally different story. OKC currently has better rosters, and also owns more draft picks than us in the upcoming years. The problem for OKC is that they tended to draft too many very good but low ceiling players, then gave those players a hefty extension. Under the new CBA, they'd be more incline to do so. Every star player has some flashy moves, or some commenters would call it unguardable moments. I saw that occasionally on Green and Sengun, but not on Giddey and the thousands of J-Will on their roster. I also saw that on Chet, his health would be crucial for the success of their franchise. SGA is a star, but he can't do it alone. When your star player shoots over 51% on the field, contributes 30+ points per game and you can barely sneak in to the a play-in, especially the west is not as dominant as a decade ago - There are some serious holes to fill on your roster. That being said, at least they have less problems than us. We also have some pretty good but low ceilings players, for instance, KJ is up for extension. It's going to be a tough decision because Eason has been a stud in limited minutes. In short, Unless Tilman's pray for Wemby comes true, OKC should have a better future than us, for the next five years or so.
Just a different way to view it. The russ trade probably harmed the rockets more then the okc harden deal, but okc went from winning likely multiple rings to zero. Rockets went from winning almost certainly 0 rings to 0 rings, so it had little to no title impact
None of this who is ahead of who stuff matters... With Free Agency, the draft, injuries, Coaching and GM changes...Things can change up pretty fast... Before the Warriors started their run, they pretty much had the same team...They were decent, but the Rockets used to smoke them when Mark Jackson was their coach. Steve Kerr comes in and takes pretty much the same team and turns them into one of the all time greatest teams. Miami was a good team when they just had Wade...Lebron and Bosh decide to team up with him and they become the Heatles...And still only won 2 of 4 Finals Toronto Trades for Kawhi...They win a title... Stone is learning on the job and he has made his fair share of mistakes, but it's not like everything he has done has been all bad. --------------- Also, everyone talks about the tough Job Silas having to take on the team and then having Harden and Westbrook request trades...But Stone was in the same position. He had to try to get what he could for Harden and Westbrook and fix the asset shortage from the CP3/Westbrook deal. First time GM hiring first time HC...There was definitely going to be growing pains. Hopefully stone has learned and we get a good coach that can elevate this team to the next level... If we get lucky in the draft and get some nice FA additions, we could easily jump OKC and a lot of other teams....
When you’re literally the #1 seed and 2 seed literally right after harden is gone, no their chances did not go to 0 Rockets went from one of the favs in the two years prior to 0 with westbrick. So no they’re not relatable at all your different way to view it is nonsense and not supported when okc wins 60 and 59 games and being a top seed
okc didn't win any titles after the trade and almost certainly would have had they not made the trade. Rockets were not going to win a title, all that happened was the rockets got decimated. OKC was still good, but nowhere near what they would've been had they not traded harden. Surprised that there are people who don't agree with that but whatever
Oh here comes the good ole title or nothing logic. Go figure. Typical cf response you shouldn’t be surprised. What you’re saying is pure nonsense.
ya that was my entire original premise....that the harden trade likely had more impact on championships then any trade in recent history
Chauncy Billups was the best point guard in the NBA for the 2000s, if WS/48 are to be believed, he peaked as a top 3 player in the NBA. A superstar in every sense of the word.
“When your leader is not flustered and under control out there, it’s a spiral effect. Guys see that and feed off it.” -Josh Giddey
No nicknames on the fanbase yet? Wemby wagon Henderson herd Thompson tribe For the coaches: Atkinson acolytes Nurse nation Cassell camp Vogel vouchers ... and Udoka alibi
San Antonio started a complete read down only this year . To see how they match us , check back in a couple of years . obviously it’s a different starting point . San Antonio has been getting like the 10th-14th picks the last couple of years . they let a very talented player with character concerns go , dropped him like it’s hot . We have been nurturing kpj . Granted , I don’t think kpj exposed himself to anyone . and about our draft pick , sure we lowered the floor , but the ceiling didn’t change . We still have the exact same odds at top 4 as we would if we were number 1 I don’t think those wins were good . But they weren’t the end of the world . if we get the 7th pick , well then stone will just have to deal with it . If you tank for 3 years idgaf if you don’t get lucky . He already got lucky enough the first year to keep our pick . I agree that you can’t say for sure if we’ve done things wrong . I just know I don’t care . Until the rockets show me something I don’t care . as far as I’m concerned, stone has done a job that 95 percent of CF could do . It’s easy to be bad . San Antonio got a lot of value last offseason for white and Murray . I do think we didn’t get enough for harden . But , whatever . Like I said. I don’t care
