Season's Pretty Much Over - Thoughts moving forward?

Exactly, Shai was projected to be an All Star by some but few would predict he would be an MVP candidate 5-6 years ago.

He has mastered the midrange, going to the rim and finishing through contact like none other.

 

He makes shots........if you can MAKE SHOTS - you can do well in the league.....

DD

 

Architecture of spacing without wasting one inch of space.

 

that many of them becomes all stars/stars. that saying

 

The Key to a Championship Formula

 

Reed isn't going to be a star. He could be a solid role player though.

 

he isn't going to shoot at that clip in the league. Teams focus on stopping reeves/dj/rob. he plays with a number of talented guys next to him which is typically the norm at kentucky. He's a smart player who fills in the gaps. that part should translate.

 

Spurs will end up drafting Reed Sheppard if the Rockets don't get into the top 4, so the Rockets should try to trade the 2024 Brooklyn pick for a guard that shoots the 3P% well. We desperately need shooters.

 

Makes me wonder if defensive centric teams can win in todays game.
I mean sure, you would like to have 2 way guys who were excellent at every starting position.
But in the real world, if you see a guy who excels at defense, then you sacrifice offense unless that guy is a top tier 2 way guy.
No team can field a starting 5 made all of top tier 2 way guys.

You can field a team with 3 or 4 potent offensive players that play meh defense though.
That has been the model of choice for several teams.
Use up all that teams assets, and then move on when they run out.

Can the Rockets do it differently?
Don't have any mind blowing theories, here.

Does anyone think a starting 5 of 2nd tier 2 way guys can win it all? (super role players)
Maybe with a couple 1 way 1st tier guys mixed in?
Avoid the 2 way 1st tier guy altogether? Maybe only 1?

 

The last time we saw this happen was the 03-04 Pistons. no true elite star but all good defenders.

But we won't see a team like that win it all for a long time again

 

Maybe 4th or 5th seed in the west built that way if you had the right guys?

 

I don't know but that team had an ortg of 100 during the regular season and down to 97 in the playoffs. those would be dead last numbers in the playoffs in this era.

They had an elite defense but how much that stops the elite players depends i guess on what takes precedent these days

 

The Spurs have the Raptors protected top 4 2024 pick. Currently, that pick is projected just ahead of our Brooklyn pick, so I can see them taking Sheppard 8th. It's a mute exercise until the ping pong balls settle though. We will have a clearer picture of mock drafts after.

 

In this age of insane efficiency, it does seem like someone who can Chuck Daly a defensive approach today could do something special . If you can counter it so it’s not just offense vs offense…and I’m not sure how you do that…seems like the pendulum is due for a swing the other way.