Last years Magic combined with JJ, MoT, Deke, Ward. We'll never have that EXACT matchup in Orlando. Besides I didn't even want to compare any East team. The Bulls won 23 games with less talent. The Magic 28 games with some of the roster. But I left them out. On a side note...We don't have Cato's D (and bad offense), although we gain Deke's shot blocking and better jumphook. Starters? We don't have Mobley's backcourt defense...that we DO miss.
PG: Ward/Lue SG: JJ/Bowen SF: Nachbar/JJ PF: Howard/MoT C: Deke/Weatherspoon ^That team? Sometimes you take this TEAM thing way too far, that team's ceiling is around 20 wins no matter how much chemistry/team work they develop. It sucks, it's worse than tonight's New Jersey Nets, worse than tomorrow night's Atlanta Hawks, worse than the Chicago Bulls.
What you do is take THIS base team, and then pick them appart, player by player....improve here and there. Then, assess the team again. For example, replace Ward/Lue with Antonio Daniels. Then, you take the PF postion and replace him with a more atheltic rebounder. Then, go from there. Fine-tune. Enough to get a team that can reach 35 wins (?) with role players (minus McGrady/Yao).
We are actually already in the top 5 in opponents FG% and it will probably stay that way. The problem is our OFFENSE. We are holding our opponents to a stingy 89ppg, but we are only scoring 87-88ppg. Yes, TMac's been hurt, Yao's been inconsistent. But JVG needs to find a way to put points on the board. Its hard to imagine TMac/Yao/Taylor/Howard/Jackson struggling to score 90ppg, much like Francis/Yao/Mobley/Taylor/Jackson. We are 26th of 30 teams in scoring. It is an unbelievable stat. We can hold opponents to bad shooting as much as we want, but it doesn't mean anything if we can't put the ball in the basket either.
Yao needs to be a slow KG in terms of his play. Yao needs to develop a jumpshot similar to what Mo has in order to prevent him from become a non-factor in games where the officiating is allowing very aggressive, physical defense in the paint.
^ ^ ^ TMac's been hurt, and Yao's been inconsistent, yet JVG *needs* to find away to put *points* on the board? Heh... Oh, the irony. All I want is for McGrady/Yao to play games together for some length of time. Please....no more injuries!
What about Francis/Mobley/Yao/Taylor/Jackson struggling to put 88ppg? Or the Knick's team of Houston/Sprewell/Ewing/Camby putting up similar numbers? Is that ironic?
Nope. Francis was a special case (too many TO; wasted possessions). It's IS ironic that you mentioned that McGrady has been hurt, and Yao inconsistent, then say that we need points. That's what I was talking about. Now, if you want to get back to me at the end of the year. See what our PPG, FG% and win % is. Then, we can talk. Lets get some consistency going. Lets see if we're at 89ppg at the end of the season. Do you think we will be? Even if we only reach 92PPG, but have a higher FG% and, of course, win %, that's what I want. Our defense must improve too. P.S. Don't forget that we have a lumbering Yao who plays best in the half-court. You can forget about 100PPG. It will never happen. We're not the Suns. Man! Do I wish that Yao could run like Amare or Duncan. He can't.
Do I think we will be at 89ppg at the end of the season? Unfortunately, I do, but I hope I am wrong. History shows that it will be very hard for us to score 90-95ppg, and last year was a prime example. Like you, I will be happy with 92ppg w/ good FG% and win% I don't expect to score 100ppg, but atleast 94-95ppg. I think that is a good number. I just don't like what I am seeing with the imbalance of offense and defense that JVG plays with. But as long we win...thats all that matters.
No way? Let the season finish first. Right now our even our back-court defense has much to be desired. Also, our FG% and TO rate has to improve if we want to win consistently. Those are the things I'm looking at right now: FG%, 3PT%, TO, and defense intensity. Then, intangibles like confidence and chemistry. After that, ppg should increase.
Sorry to interrupt the thread, but i've got a few questions concerning NBA inside ticket. Is playoff coverage included in the 'season long' package? What should I choose, 'season long' or monthly? When i played the preseason video offered by NBA.com for free, the picture is no good, does that mean I should only get Audio League Pass only? Anyway, just hope some of you guys who already purchased give me some advice. Last but not least, GO ROCKETS!
tick, tick, tick.... Your prediction of a "95 ppg average" is quickly getting out of reach, even though only ten percent of the season is done.
Yeah, and? Don't you want to win? A 92ppg season would be fine with me ONLY if we have a higher win%, FG% lower TO rate and improve our defense. The playoffs is the goal. You don't want to win. A 90ppg season with the same FG% and TO rate would suck. But those % must improve, else we wont get anywhere in the play-offs.
Just like I said two years ago, Gundy sucks. I never liked him in NYC, so why in the hell should I like him now? He is a green pea when it comes to P.R. realations with players. I'll never forget the qoute I read in the paper a couple of mounths ago. It said to this day, JVG looks up in the raffters and hates seeing the Championship banner. Please excuse my spelling. I know it needs work, but I hope you get the point.
Don't be a p***y. Don't make me laugh. The Rockets won't even make it to the playoffs under JVG again. Screw 20, I'll bet YOU 100.00, and don't ever call me a p***y. You don't even know me.
