Remember, last year's team ran away with first place in the West. Last year's team had more consistent defensive intensity. There are flashes, but I would have to say no overall. BUT, I think Harden is better, more focused, and productive. Can they win it all? Yes, I think they can if they stay healthy. I really like the addition of Faried. GS appears more beatable than last year, which is surprising. They actually have more talent.
Regular season 2017/8 obviously >> regular season 2018/9. But I think playoff 2018/9 has greater potential than 2017/8. Harden 2018/9 elevated his game to another level. CP3 and Gordon obviously has fallen off. I think CP3 will be there, but Gordon is so streaky, who knows. Capela is the same player, except he can sustain more minutes. Tucker and Green is also the same player. We lost a great glue guy in Ariza, but in the playoff, he played terrible on the offensive side. He shot barely 30% in the CF overall and 20% from 3. While Luc was a key piece during the regular season, he was negative in playoff and hardly play in the final. Nene and JJ was invisible. Anyone still remember Anderson? Shumpert, River, Faried will get mins in the playoff. Along with additional playoff depth, Harden improvement, I think Faried addition gives you the biggest upside, allowing the team to play big but still with quickness.
Deeper at guard and center Weaker at wing Harden is better is that was even possible CP3 is a year older Capela is still improving. It’s a wash IMO
Remember this years team had multi injury to your core guys...n we started the season with mcw Ennis n melo lol...yea people need to understand that's the only reason our record is what it is. This is a better team without a doubt. Record ain't the only story
There is one way of bridging the gap. Mind you, the road to unlocking this new form of the team may be risky, expensive , and downright miserable for Tillman. Legend has it that if Danuel House, the first of his name and king of the Valley were to align with us we would get House Harden , one of the most powerful houses in the NBA.
U had guys on last years playoff roster that couldn't give u anything 0(luc,anderson,Joe johnson) every player on this years playoff roster(not g league guys that wont make the playoffs roster) will be able to do something
I think we are about to find out going down this stretch to end the year. We havent been healthy and we are finally getting there and not surprisingly, we are hitting a win streak. I have trust and take what MDA, Morey and jeff Bzdelik as truth when they say this team is better. They would know better than us. It was always gonna take time to mesh and get it together, and instead injuries hit. Now everything is coming together. Since the all star break, we are 4th in Ortg, 7th in Drtg and 2nd in net rating. And it appears we are only getting better. I loved last years squad, but tbh that team meshed perfectly and absolutely maxed out its potential. It ultimately wasn't good enough. I know cp3 hammy and we could have won but we didnt. This year I have just as much faith as that squad and we havent peaked yet. I'm expecting a Hakeem like post season run from Harden this year.
On paper, in terms of personnel, I think this team is better, but the relationships haven't formed like last year's team. CP3 was on JJ Reddick's Ringer podcast and he describes last year's team as a "gang" and he mentioned that they went out to eat every night. CP3 went on to say that this year's team doesn't go out to eat as much and he misses it. I think it is because all of Morey's off-season moves didn't pan out and there wasn't the camaraderie, especially with the Melo turmoil. I think Rockets have performed better during this stretch of games because the team is pretty much set and now they are building the gang mentality of last year.
Well...in March 2019...We are 3-0 with the #1 ranked NBA Defense in the league...against three top teams in the East Yes, that's not a typo. We are the #1 Defense in March 2019 over last 3 games....haha. But, I still agree with your "nope" point, regardless.
I think they'll be better than the team that played in last year's conference finals. Ariza is a significant loss, but Ryan Anderson, injured Luc Mbah a Moute, and elderly Joe Johnson were useless. I expect Faried and Rivers to give this team far better depth than last year, especially Faried.
I'd love to have House for the playoffs. Danuel House is a name so sacred on Clutchfans that I almost dare not utter it.
Statistically? Absolutely not. This year is worse in every team statistic metric imaginable than last years team and its not even close. On paper, ehh maybe individually in certain circumstances (Harden's offense, Farried, Rivers...etc)
We turned Ariza, Prince and Anderson for Faried, Rivers and Shumpert plus majority of our players regressed due to age. At peak we are nowhere close, lets just hope we are healthier because GSW looks more vulnerable too
Well eating out every night didn't do anything for the team's 3 pt shot or LMM's injury. I understand chemistry is extremely important but there are also limits, pretty sure RA Kings had better chemistry than Lakers Shaq and Kobe but that didnt prevent them from a 3 peat. This team may not go out to eat every night but it is better and deeper than last year's team. Clint Faried Tucker Harden Cp3 Bench: EG, Rivers, GG, Nene, Clark At full strength, this team is the best team in the league even with GSW 100% healthy. Last year Iggy was missing for them which was huge.
Last year's team proved to have illusory depth, with too many players deemed to be unplayable. Without proper depth, guys had to play extended minutes, a big factor in going 0-27 3's in game 7. This year's team on paper is better. We will see in the playoffs. I've faith.
You do realize both your examples had heavy ref chicanery, right? Of course there are limits to chemistry, but we are discussing the differences between teams.
