KD is not the answer !

Theyre saying mpj with a baldspot and nice pr

 

Would love to see Spain pick and roll with Alpy screening for Amen as ball handler and Bari/KD screening Alpy’s man.

 

1. Our starting PG is out for the season after yearning his ACL. It’s pretty obvious we need a a PG.

2. We need more shooters. Finney-Smith, our biggest signing of the offseason, has played a minute all season. Thompson is t a threat from the outside and we’re basically playing a bench player in his absence.

3. Jabari Smith is okay, but rarely hits the big shot and can’t dribble and drive to save his life. He’s a solid role player but nothing special. I would actually rather see the Rockets resign Tari over Smith. He’s just not a championship caliber player. If the Rockets can upgrade this position they wouldn’t have to rely so much on Durant to make the big shot.

Bottom line: We need a healthy Finney-Smith and possibly a PG like Coby White to see what this team looks like before hitting the panic button.

 

I’m typically the one to panic but for some reason I’m cautiously optimistic. We didn’t forget how to play basketball. I think a win on Christmas Day gets us back on track. However, we do need a point guard hopefully Fred can miraculously be back before the playoffs.

 

KD's defense is adequate. He isn't a tone setter like Brooks but not James Harden either. With that said our defense has been somewhat lackluster without dillon brooks and FVV. I just don't feel the intensity is there. On KD's offense, I agree with posters who said he is being used wrong. He is a finisher not an initiator or creator. When we don't have a real PG, KD believes he can just become that but he is below average, just see ast/TO ratio. We need a dillon brooks like PG. Someone who sets the defensive tone but yet at the same time initiate some offense. Sounds like FVV next year or Jrue Holiday this year. FVV and a first rounder for Jrue. Of course we need to figure out whether Jrue wants to win another one at this age. Another under the radar candidate is Marcus smart. He is still only 31 and has a chip since being traded from Boston.

 

I don’t think KD is the problem at all on either side of the court.

However if this continues much longer I do think Stone should start to think about moving KD at the deadline because obviously this young immature team is not yet ready to compete. They barely know how to play basketball from what it looks like the past few weeks.

Hopefully they have a reset soon and get back to where they were, but if this continues crap… guys this is a rebuilding team still and we should be trying to get more and more young talent and draft assets instead of thinking are one KD away from winning a championship.

This current team other than KD is still full of immature prospects who are going to need more time AND more competition for their playing spots (missing a draft pick this year was a terrible mismanagement of assets by Stone) and this team still doesn’t have the culture of winning from a coaching staff and front office that real contenders have.

We aren’t as good as we think but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a future. If things don’t turn around I totally think Stone should entertain getting picks for KD at the deadline. Hope that doesn’t happen though and I do love what I see from KD this season. He’s not the problem.

 

It was a bad trade and I called this day 1. All of my fears are coming true. Stone should have said no to Ime like a smart GM would.

 

I agree! iI there is a page in the playbook, and I say if because I am not sure Ime actually has an offensive playbook, the page titled KD ISO needs to be ripped out. Let him play off ball to take advantage of his shooting after one of our home grown good passing big three Alpi, Amen, or Reed draw the defense to them. KD should NEVER be a play initiator only a play closer.

 

We were playing better with the young talent smh

 

I didn't like it either. In fact, I made some very large bets to back that feeling up. The good news is that I lose almost every bet I make. It's uncanny and almost statistically impossible how often I lose bets. So rest assured, the team will be fine.

 

Right there with you buddy.

 

The problem is the defense. And I don’t need anyone to quote defense statistics at me because I’m aware of our averages. But in our losses we lose because our defense is pathetic. I don’t know what the issue is, whether it’s effort or motivation or whatever else, but the problem is all defense.

 

Ask yourself: Do you think there is any chance this team can beat SAS/MIN/LAL, then Denver, then OKC, then the Eastern Conference champion, in consecutive seven game series?

Here’s the thing. KD / FVV / Adams / DFS will be either washed or retired in two, max three years. Their value is depreciating to zero.

If we are not truly competing for a title in that time period -- if we'd be a huge dog to OKC/DEN/SAS etc. -- why are those guys on the roster?

People will get mad at saying that, but this will be the key question soon IMO. Probably this summer. Either push in young guys and/or picks to raise this team's level and compete around 38-40yo KD (lmao), or trade the old guys for what you can get and retrench into the development project we were before KD, in pursuit of the next top 5 player.

There's no point being a non-contender whose "best" player is 37. Either be a contender, or flip him. This is the reality we chose.

 

They’re on the roster because Ime wants them on the roster. Because the team has gotten older/more veterans under Ime.

Damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Go “all in” now (whatever that means), rebuild in 3 years
Trade the vets and then…become the 8th place play-in team with Reed-Amen-Jabari-Sengun? Real exciting!
“But but but in 2 years, all those guys will still be 25&under and still have value!”

OKC and SA are already better than you, are just as young as you and have more future picks than you. The idea you’re just gonna…wait them out? Hope they cheap out?

Shai is 27, Jalen is 24, Chet is 23, Dort is 26, Cason is 22, Mitchell is 22, Hartenstein is 27, Wiggins 27, Joe is 26
Gumby is 22, Harper is 19, Castle is 21, Fox is 28, Vassell is 25, Keldon is 26, Champagnie is 24, Sochan is 22, Carter Bryant is 20
Luka is 26, Reaves is 27
Ant is 24, McDaniels is 25, Reid is 26
Sengun is 23, Amen is 23, Jabari is 22, Reed is 21, Tari is 24
Flagg is 19, Lively is 21