Blazers are not almost contenders. They have played the Suns, Nets, Kings, Nuggets, Pistons, Raptors, Bucks, Knicks, and Roseless Bulls. They have some nice wins vs the spurs and Warriors, but they also just lost to the Suns. They have had a ridiculously easy schedule so far.
I know that one game doesn't define a team but I think we can all agree that the spurs tightened up their defense in the second half. But we still managed to put up 55 pts - only 2 pts less than the first half. The Memphis game also showed we were able to execute down the stretch. I see positive improvements in this aspect of our play.
We also lost to Philly - a worse team than the Suns. What's your point? They have a very strong team in Lilliard, LMA, and Batum. Not to mention that Wesley Matthews is having a terrific season. They are a legit 50 win team.
You're right, we did score 55 points in the 2nd half and 29 in the 4th quarter - definitely progress, but it was definitely ugly at times as well. We still have a lot of room for improvement which is a good thing.
Relegation and promotion adds a totally different dimension to being a sports fan. If you don't have it, then the NFL model makes sense.
I think we ARE contenders, but won't seriously be in contention to win it all until next year. If that makes sense.
The main positive I see is we play like tbe best team in the league through stretches. Our offensive efficiency can be off the charts at times (ex: the 1st halfs of Spurs, Dallas games). My concern is our turnovers and lack of execution when the momentum isn't in our favor. Also, I still don't like the lack of touches Dwight gets.
You guys who are making tiers and putting the Rockets in the second tier aren't getting the point. No matter how many tiers there are, NOBODY can win the championship besides the five teams I just mentioned. That's my contention. Golden State can't. The Clippers can't. Portland definitely cannot. The efficiency stats don't take into account strength of schedule. Indiana and Portland who have had two of the easiest schedules to date will continue to see their ranks tumble as they face more competition in the course of the year. I will admit that the Rockets have had a bit easier than average SOS so far. But unlike any of the other teams we have a good amount of potential yet to be realized. If you want to argue the Rockets are not a contender because we won't pass OKC or SAS in the playoffs, fine. My contention is that we CAN beat any of these teams in a playoff series. For a balanced team like the Spurs, I would argue that what got us the win last night is what should keep us winning in the playoffs: we have the BEST player at any given time out there on the court in Harden. Shoot you could say we have the best TWO players, if Dwight can recover back to old form. Harden > Parker, and Howard > Uncle Drew aka Tim Duncan (see below). In the playoffs usually the team with the best player prevails. <img src = "https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1546_558067207577902_1189528354_n.png" height = "400" width = "500"> Against OKC and Miami you can't say we'll have the best player. BUT, what we will have will be the bane of each team: the best center in the NBA. OKC has Kendrick Perkins and, what? Nothing to stop Dwight Howard from going off. Miami has two weak spots that you can beat them at, the PG (which SAS did with Parker last year) and C. My bet is that we'll match up very well against Miami, plus we'll have 6 warm bodies to throw at Lebron and not risk foul trouble: Parsons Garcia TJones Casspi Harden and Brewer, probably in that order. Other teams had better fear us come playoff time.
The problem with the top 10 criteria is that how you perform as a whole against the entire league becomes secondary to how your offense and defense performs against the specific teams you face in the playoffs.
We are a very efficient offensive team, defensively speaking though we're trying to find ourselves. I expect that as we learn how to play more defense we will even be scarier. Miami will have its hands full with Indiana so maybe this year another.team wins the championship.
Rockets and T'Wolves are the elite underdogs this year going into the playoffs if healthy. These 2 teams have the potential to make some serious upsets.
Still blows my mind that we were rebuilding to fighting for playoffs to second rounders to final contenders in what in actuality is just 1 year. It isn't even the end of 2 years yet.
Very very good points OP. I generally just function on point differential, which you could have used to justify Indiana's inclusion. I believe it is somewhat more straightforward than offensive and defensive rank.
When the playoffs start I doubt that the Rockets will be underdogs to any team other than maybe MIA by a small margin. The Wolves? Not so sure about that.
Look at it this way... we beat the Spurs in their court, with the refs calls in their favor, in a playoff like closely-contested 2nd half... while still making mistakes, and having plenty to improve on... Think about that for a second...
This is true if you're talking about individual teams and their playoff series. As far as guessing which teams could do this four times in a row...you're not going to have any of the underdogs with this capability. We might be in a situation this year where LAC are our Seattle Sonics from the 90's, a team that just has our number yet has no chance to win it all otherwise. In that case we just have to hope we don't face them. I for one would HATE to see the Clippers, but if you're talking second round when the top four teams are remaining I would probably still rather want to play them than SAS or OKC. They haven't become our bane just yet.
Only 2 teams are top 10 in both ORtg and DRtg (PPP). Heat: 1,7 Spurs: 10,2 OKC: 11,5 Pacers: 14,1 Rockets: 2,13 Clippers: 4,15 Without accounting for SOS, Miami is the most balanced and still the top favorite by a a significant margin. edit: Minny is actually top 10 in both: 8, 8 ... surprised!
