And we were the most injured playoff team. I don't think that will happen every year. And you are operating under the assumption that all of these other teams go without major or a combo of multiple minor injuries, which is unlikely. I'm not sure, but you also seem to be operating under the assumption the team we have right now is it, which again is unlikely.
Wouldn't the SnT put us in the position of being "hard capped" and not being able to use the MLE. If I'm right there wasn't a SnT for JSmoove.
We could land Durant and Kwame and the usual suspects would be predicting a 1st or 2nd round exit. There just seems to be a lot of overlooking our injury problems from last season and how good TJ and Dmo have shown they can be. Especially Dmo. There is also quite a bit of "knowing" other teams got better. Popular sentiment last season was Dallas got a lot better. They didn't. OKC was for sure going to be better than us. They weren't. **** happens to teams that appear to be better before the season starts. It's just how this league works. The fact that we had significant injuries to our STARTING 1, 4 and 5 last year and STILL got the 2 seed is reason, for me at least, to be very optimistic. Some people are acting as if we put out our best possible squad last season when we didn't even come close to it.
Not 100% sure but I believe the hard cap only applies to the team RECEIVING the sign and traded player. Can anyone verify this?
I am a homer but all this overrating of Beverley and Dmo's injuries are too much IMHO. Bev is no Rondo as a Bostonian and Dmo is no Sabonis in the playoffs. Yes, they would have helped to tip 1 or 2 games in the playoffs to our favor but that is all. They have done nothing in the playoffs so far to convince me otherwise. Except that Bev injured Westbrook and did a decent job defensively once.
Translation: Morey refused to give him the MLE when he could have, so he signed with the Clippers. During the offseason Morey made clear to Josh and his agent that the Rockets' MLE priorities were Sergio Llull and KJ McDaniels. Not Josh Smith. Morey offered Corey Brewer $7.9 million/year. Accepted. Morey offered Patrick Beverley $6.3 million/year. Accepted. Morey offered Josh Smith $2.5 million/year. Not accepted. So he left on principle. Doesn't matter what Detroit is paying him. Morey's lowball offer told Josh he didn't value him as much as the other guys.
people have forgotten how Blake punishes Tjones. And now we have to 2 big ass holes to fill. Nevermind that, I just want a young potential player so we can daydream together how good 1 day he can be and cherish how we signed him to low ball rookie contract.
I think you underestimate their boost to our team, but just put the playoffs aside. I keep hearing we barely got the 2 seed and all these teams got better so we have no chance at the 2 seed. During the regular season, where you earn your seeding, we were decimated by injuries. We got MAYBE 25 actual healthy games out of Dwight during the season? Our REAL starting lineup played something like 10 or fewer games together. Still got the 2 seed in a brutal conference. With the way this conference is looking you aim for the highest seed possible and pray things work your way in the playoffs. Great teams can lose in the first or 2nd round in this conference, we saw it this year. With better health I think we are easily vying for home court in the first and have a decent chance for home court in the 2nd round. I do think we have moves that are needed to be made to increase our chances in the playoffs, but losing Smith just doesn't scare me that much. As far as contributing to our team next year I think the impact of a healthy TJ, Dmo and Bev outweighs what Smith brought to the table. I'm not saying the overall team got better by losing him, but a healthy team minus Smith is better than what we had last year with Smith.
And considering he has 3 players (or more) who can handle Smiths role on the roster, this valuation is eminently rational. Something that you have trouble with.
what 3 or 4 players are you willing to lineup against LMA or Blake? DMo coming off season ending injury? TJones and his multiple injuries and playoff disappearing act? or one of the rookies...? or are you planning on lining up Capella at pf?
I didn't know Terrence Jones and Donatas Montiejunas can play a point/power forward role, handling the ball, leading the break, passing and creating opportunities for their teammates... then spread the floor and hit clutch back to back 3-point shots in the 4th quarter to win playoff games. With Terrence Jones at PF the Rockets were getting blown out and were down 1-3 to the Clippers.
Reading Clutch's article just upsets me more. The dude wanted to be here. Was clearly willing to take a small contract. Yet you were too focused on KJ freaking McDaniels, a bench warmer for 2015-16, to feign true interest? This is on Morey and he better have a damn good backup plan.
Can't wait for him to cut his first state income tax check in California. Can't wait for his FT shooting to go down more so he really shines next to DJ. Can't wait for his "defined role" to not quite work out and another implosion happens. Can't wait for LA to waive him. Can't wait for him to come back to Houston and play for veteran minimum for the rest of his career.
