Title Number 3 It's time to start aligning all of our thinking around the inevitable. This team is revealing the potential I always believed it had. Let’s call this phenomenon The Aura. The pursuit of that elusive third title is at the forefront, and we're approaching a point where it feels reasonable to discuss it. However, let’s not forget that anything can happen in the second half of the season; nothing is guaranteed. They will need to fight just as hard to maintain their progress. Before we delve deeper into The Aura, let’s take a moment to measure our position as a championship team. THE ROCKETS & THE WESTERN CONFERENCE The future is mostly Texan. Dallas, San Antonio and Houston will clearly battle along with OKC for possibly a decade. This top 4 will be insanely difficult to stop once Dallas and San Antonio re-tool a little better. The old teams have faded. It became evident before the season that the California squads, along with Phoenix and Minnesota, would face struggles. New Orleans, lacking Zion, stands no chance in the West. Now, those teams are scrambling to catch up to us. Among them, the Clippers shine brightest, contingent on Kawhi's health, while the Pelicans depend on Zion's fitness. It’s a gamble. Minnesota is on a path to improvement, having taken a necessary step back. As for the Spurs, Blazers, and Jazz—they require time and talent to rebuild. This leaves Denver, Dallas, Memphis, and OKC as the serious contenders, and it’s clear we belong in this group. OKC possesses the most talent, Denver brings the most experience, and Dallas remains a formidable presence. This season, data reveals that among the top five teams generating points created by young players, the Rockets stood out as the only non-tanking team. With Sengun and Amen’s developing jumpers along with Jalen’s inconsistent shot as part of our core, we are investing in our youth more than any others. I believe it’s reasonable to expect that we’ll see the highest rate of offensive growth among this group of contenders in the coming years, with OKC likely close behind, already in the top ten. Defensively, we instill fear in our opponents. When healthy, we rank among the top two. We have yet to witness our full potential, especially with Steven Adams back in game shape. I am confident that when fully healthy, we can match the league's best defenses. In a playoff series, we would be practically even with the top defenses in the NBA, and I have no doubt we will prove our capabilities. What I’m emphasizing is that we’ve entered the ranks of the elite, and we are the youngest among them. The potential for internal improvement is vast, with external enhancements also within reach. We are rich in trade assets. At the season’s halfway point, we hold a comfortable #2 position in the West. We now have about a month to decide whether to enhance our rotation with a couple of second-round picks in a trade. Imagine, for a moment, acquiring a solid shooter in exchange for Tate and those picks—someone who fits comfortably among our top nine impact players. Nothing extravagant. And, if we maintain relative health for the rest of the season, the possibilities expand. THE AURA Understand, I do not claim to be unbiased; I simply share what my intuition whispers. Since those darkest days early in Jalen’s journey, he has shown a remarkable ability to rise when deemed the underdog. This pattern is what Ime is now diligently correcting. When the coach chooses not to start him? He ignites. When shots are withheld? He ignites. When stats falter? He rises in the second half of the season, fueled by the disrespect of ASB numbers multiplied by three. This season too, we had to descend to our lowest depths before his return. He is a formidable player when the stakes are high, yet one must tread carefully. This can morph into a savior complex, a reliance on the thrill of stepping in to save the day—a dangerous cycle. Ime, the master of breaking and forming habits, speaks of them with fervor, showing remarkable patience, far beyond my expectations for Green. We learned recently, Green understood that in Udoka’s system, commitment to defense could secure his place, and he embraced it wholeheartedly. What emerges from this is a clutch Jalen Green—this is my instinct. I sense he carries within him the essence of those two-way players with a shaky three-point shot: the likes of Kobe, MJ, Jimmy Butler, and Dwyane Wade. This is but one piece of the puzzle. Others, like Amen, Sengun, and Jabari, have also shown flashes of clutch ability on offense, while Amen, Tari, and Brooks shine defensively. What comforts me about this core is their defense, character, and work ethic. Each was open to growth, and Udoka has excelled in molding them into professionals on and off the court. This level of dedication is rare among young cores. Together, this group radiates an Aura I have yet to witness in a homegrown team. We have seen similar chemistry among young teams in the West—an unexplainable synergy, much like the early days of Ja and JJJ, the Warriors’ unexpected deep playoff run, Jokic's meteoric rise, OKC exceeding expectations annually, and the Celtics peaking early with Tatum and Brown. Doncic nearly achieved it as well. The common thread is a blend of great prospects, wise veterans, and skilled coaches—often accompanied by astute GMs. It’s a fallacy to insist on identifying a championship-capable star player in their early 20s; this overlooks the essential journey of player development within a well-crafted team plan. My Prediction This team is destined to make waves in the playoffs, setting the stage for - at minimum - a captivating seven-game series in the first round. We are on a promising path toward home-court advantage, provided we navigate the next two weeks of a grueling stretch with Jabari sidelined. If Stone steps in to bolster this roster with playable shooting, I believe we will comfortably secure that coveted home-court spot in the West. The experience and player data gained from this journey would be invaluable, steering us toward our inaugural title challenge in the 25-26 season, with or without a significant trade before then. We’ve waited long to reach this moment, enduring a disgusting patch of basketball culture to get here. Now is the time to relax and embrace the journey ahead. I’ve shared with you before that this core is truly blessed. We are on a path to Number 3. Say it with me: Number 3. This is the singular focus as these young players forge their destinies before our eyes. Say it 3
Lmao anyone with Flagg, Harper or Dybantsa plus a halfway competent management team can break out in time.... The trendy words are Competence, Luck and Perseverance.
Lmao anyone with Flagg, Harper or Dybantsa plus a halfway competent management team can break out in time.... It just so happens that the Lakers, Clips, Phoenix, to an extent GSW are banking on the last existing dinosaurs. Utah had some great middling talent since Karla Malone and John.....DWill, Donovan Mitchell etc. The trendy words are Competence, Luck and Perseverance.
Lmao anyone with Flagg, Harper or Dybantsa plus a halfway competent management team can break out in time.... The trendy words are Competence, Luck and Perseverance.
Lmao anyone with Flagg, Harper or Dybantsa plus a halfway competent management team can break out in time.... The trendy words are Competence, Luck and Perseverance. And a dash of razzle dazzle.
What if someone has Flagg, Harper or Dybantsa plus a halfway competent management team can break out in time?....lmao. Don't forget about the refs calling bogus roughing the quarterback calls
Lmao anyone with Flagg, Harper or Dybantsa plus a halfway competent management team can break out in time.... Severo kicks ass. The trendy words are Competence, Luck and Perseverance.
In the next few years, we'll have number 3. Yes I know not every good young team gets the ring, but this team has an aura about it. They are way too coachable and that's a rare trait.
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I actually think that we are so well set up, we can split up our title chase into two era’s. We can acquire a win now player over the next two weeks to give us a shot in the Vanvleet and Brooks era. AND we can have more than enough assets to acquire somebody else for when those guys are no longer on the team or relegated to the bench. I personally hate Steph Curry and Durant but acquiring one of them right now to try to push us over the top. The next couple season seems worthwhile to me. I see only Boston as (potentially) insurmountable. Sengun/Adams KD/Smith Amen/Eason Green/Tate/Reed FVV/Holiday I truly think could sneak out a title over the next couple years if things break their way.
i'm cautiously optimistic but need at least a western conference final, hell even a playoff appearance, before any auras ...
Vegas does not really see a shift. The Rockets were +5000 to win beginning of the season, with all of the progress they have made they are still a +4500. They view OKC and Boston as being in a completely different tier.
There are levels of aura that are best defined by how a team performs against good competition on the road... Low aura: The good home team sees you in the schedule and decides it's the perfect opportunity to rest a starter or two. Even so, there's about zero chance you'll beat them. (example: the Silas Rockets teams) Medium aura: The good home team expects to win, but knows they might have to fight for 2 or 3 quarters. (example: this year's Lakers) High aura: The good home team knows they're in for a fight and the coach stresses not to let up. That said, they expect to win and usually do, but you win those games often enough to start to sow doubt. (example: the current Rox team) Hyper aura: The good team is forced to play their absolute best against you and fight like hell, but you can tell they fear you. And then you prove that fear is justified by beating them on their court. (example: the Warriors with Durant)