We are absolutely stacked. One more solid addition to the bench will put us into the top tier with SAS/GS.
It's possible. I think Clippers and Rockets are sort of a coin flip. We had the exact same record last year with both teams dealing with major injuries. Clippers added Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith to their rotation while we've added Ty Lawson and Marcus Thornton. I know Pierce is old, but he's essentially replacing a scrub. It would be like people saying we wouldn't improve if we replaced Nick Johnson with Ray Allen. I think the Warriors/Spurs are 1 and 2 with Clippers, Grizzlies, Rockets and Thunder in a hat.
Rockets are head and shoulders better than last years team. And last year they were the #2 seed in the west. Who lost in the conference finals to the eventual champions, the warriors. Compare the playoff rotation the Rockets had last year: Playing Rotation Hardly Contributed Injured players Terry / Pririoni NIck Johnson Beverly Harden / Brewer McDaniels Ariza / Pap Smith / T Jones Montiejunas Howard / Capella / Dorsey And this is the rotation they have: Lawson / Beverly Harden / Brewer / McDaniels Ariza / Dekker T-Jones / Montiejunas / Harrel Howard / Capella From the way the Warriors played last year, they should be without a doubt the favorites again. They were head and shoulders better than everyone else they played. At the moment, the Spurs, Rockets, and Clippers will be fighting it out to see who is the # 2. And it is all going to depend on chemistry. All 3 teams have added talent.
with a healthy Dmo & Bev and the additions of (head on straight) Lawson, MT, plus one more year of chemistry with the core I'd go to war against anybody so pumped for the season! glad i bought my season tix when i did
You forgot our crucial Back up Center. Capella grew leaps and bounds in the playoffs this past year. He'll be ready to throw up 10 and 7 backing up dwight.
I personally hate their bench. Crawford, Stephenson, Smoove and Pierce are all ball centric players (Pierce still the man). They don't have any role players outside of Reddick.
They want threats, constant pressure on the defence by shot creators. But pierce is definitely a role player, he even said each year it gets harder, he'll be ready to minimise his role.
Dmo should start before Jones, who is still soft as hot butter. I want to see Capela increased minutes with Dwight averaging around 30 minutes per game. Let's let practice dictate who starts between Lawson and Beverly. If Lawson can make it go facing Mr 94ft everyday, then he should start
With the Lawson trade, the rockets would be the top four. Spurs Warriors Thunder Rockets Clippers Grizzlies
To be honest, if we still can't get anybody to stop Griffin (that person could be Chuck Wagon), Clipper might beat us this time. It was a break down last year in the playoff for them. It is pretty hard to happen again. Just hope Montrezl can develop and be the guy who protect the paint at the 4th spot, obviously both D-Mo and Jones won't be the guy.
I'm tempted to put rank the Rockets over the Clippers. And I probably should but they are still light years better at PG and PF. Probably better at SF and arguably a wash at C. Their bench was their downfall last year and they've improved that. On the other hand, the addition of Lawson and a healthy DMo improves a team that beat the Clippers last year.
I recall that when we used Howard and Ariza at 4, Griffin started to have a trouble. Agree with you that PF is still the weak position, but overall our team should be better than last year. Clearly it is very close between us and LAC.
It's why I say coin flip. When all is going right for the Clippers, I think they can crush us. Blake and CP will absolutely abuse us and if their shooters (Reddick and now Pierce replacing Barnes) are hitting, it's impossible to slow them down. Top it all off with our weak rebounding being exploited by DeAndre because Dwight has to move too much to cover up defensive issues... They are a really bad matchup. With Pierce there now it's also harder to just shift Ariza to Paul on defense.
Everybody said West was crazy last year. This year.....wow, just can't wait for the Chaos to begin :grin:
Clippers shouldn't be ranked over us until they prove they are better plus this bs about them collapsing is exactly what I say it is... BS! Seven games are seven games ain't no fluke.
So true! You are what your record says you are. The Clippers are consistently a 2nd round exit until proven otherwise. The Rockets advanced to the WCF last season and there are a bunch of players that gone that far before and further before. People that say the Rockets in the WCF was just a fluke last season have not been paying attention.
Would you say that +Josh Smith + Paul Pierce + Lance Stephenson + Cole Aldrich - Matt Barnes > +Ty Lawson + Marcus Thornton - Josh Smith - Jason Terry (still hasn't signed)?
As much as I like Capela, I don't think he's ready for the backup C role. Like DMO when he first came over from Europe, I think Capela needs at least another year to mature and bulk up. I see Capela as more of a PF at this stage. If Dwight goes down for any significant amount of time this year (which is more likely than not, to be honest), we may be in trouble. Dorsey, while he was a complete liability, could at least passably play defense even against the likes of Marc Gasol, Boogie, etc. We need someone who can fill a similar role. But shoot FTs. Capela going up against Gasol scares me. He would get manhandled.
