Really exciting thread with good reads. But I wanna add a thing or two.
I still am not quite sure how the Mavericks won the title two years ago, but if every young player we have hit their ceiling, i suppose we could be better than that team was?
Totally disagree. The Mavs had a badass team. They had a franchise player, who's a matchup nightmare. They had 2 player, who elevate their play on another level in the 4th quarter with Jet and Dirk. I don't see that on the current Jazz roster. Maybe Trey Burke can be that 4th quarter guy...
They had Defense(Chandler, Marion, Stevenson, Kidd), outside shooting (Stevenson, Dirk, Jet, Kidd). Kidd was a true floor general and Barea providing huge sparks from the bench.
Glad I'm not the only one a little down on Aaron Gordon. People say he MIGHT be the next Griffin--who is totally overrated. Then you throw in the tweener label on top of that and I'm not so excited.
I wouldn't judge him that early and I won't. He's a full year younger than Randle for example...In the videos I have seen his shooting isn't broken. But not developed and consistent either yet. He knows he's got to expand his game and will probably work on it hard.
With his reported defensive presence worst case he's similar to Josh Smith. If he adds a midrange game he will be considered franchise player by some. I wouldn't be overly surprised either, given his age, if he stayed 2 years in college to headline a 2015 draft class, which PKM isn't exactly raving about.
I love the idea of Eric Maynor and Carroll. Hate Randy Foye. Best case the Jazz win 20 home games to keep the crowd happy, and lose all their road games...
About other tanking teams: I think Celtics and Hawks are full rebuild mode. I agree with the Bucks as stealth if they manage to keep either Ellis or Jennings. Else it's clear full tank for them too after grabbing Adetokunbo.
I think Raptors will be 6 seed.
Detroit has as good chances as Cleveland to get 8th seed. Cleveland has no defense. That is going to hurt them. Agree with Wiz as 7th seed.
In the West I see Suns and Jazz as the 2 tanking squads. At least I hope the Jazz tank. The Nuggets, Mavs, Rockets, Lakers and Grizzlies have huge question marks all over them. Lakers, Rockets and Mavs depend on the Dwight Howard situation. Memphis has reportedly considered shopping Z-Bo and other options. Then their changed coaching situation. Same for Denver. What's Javale doing as a starter? New coach? Other players? Trades?
As a conclusion I see the majority of tank squads in the east. And the east plays each other more often, so these tank squads will compete for losses. In the West there is less interest in tanking and more confidence in the talent levels on many squads. Thus I think the Jazz will have a good position to have a real awful record while playing okay basketball which would be close to a playoff spot in the east.
