At First Glance-open discussion

We have 2 of Top 5 bigs in the NBA. Do we not, after thoughtful consideration think we won't be a playoff team?
6 teams that I feel we are ABOVE in the pecking order, w/out trying to dissect why/who etc.
1)Sacto
2LAL
3)PHX
4)Memphis
5)Dallas
6)Utah
That leaves 9 ! Including Pels
Denver, Portland & Minny are very attainable.
That leaves 6 ! Including Pels
I'm not sold on Houston or Aldridge led San Antonio or Griffin-DJ led LAC
OKC & Dubs! Oh well!
Therefore, we will be the #3 seed from now until we go 1-11 to start the season !
O P T O M I S M. Springs eternal .

I like your logic.

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Originally Posted by P_B_&_G

I like your logic.

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Logic w/ a hint of rose tint ! Lol!

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Originally Posted by Tinman

We have 2 of Top 5 bigs in the NBA. Do we not, after thoughtful consideration think we won't be a playoff team?
6 teams that I feel we are ABOVE in the pecking order, w/out trying to dissect why/who etc.
1)Sacto
2LAL
3)PHX
4)Memphis
5)Dallas
6)Utah
That leaves 9 ! Including Pels
Denver, Portland & Minny are very attainable.
That leaves 6 ! Including Pels
I'm not sold on Houston or Aldridge led San Antonio or Griffin-DJ led LAC
OKC & Dubs! Oh well!
Therefore, we will be the #3 seed from now until we go 1-11 to start the season !
O P T O M I S M. Springs eternal .

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Seems logical imo

I can dig it. We just gotta put the days of the 3rd quarter slump behind us!

Mostly fair, but Aldridge led San Antonio? Pretty sure they're Kawhi Leonard led.

I expect the Clippers to fall off hard. An Austin Rivers lead guard rotation shouldn't be able to keep up with us. Without CP3 Deandre Jordan won't get nearly as many easy looks either. Really I'm not sure how anyone can look at our two teams and not have us ranked higher than them.

If I were ranking right now I'd have us probably somewhere around 5-6.

Dubs - OKC - SA - Houston

Pels - Clippers - Denver - Portland - Utah (though the loss of Hayward probably drops them more than this)

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Mostly fair, but Aldridge led San Antonio? Pretty sure they're Kawhi Leonard led.

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Kawhi is injured & out until further notice.

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Originally Posted by Mythrol

I expect the Clippers to fall off hard. An Austin Rivers lead guard rotation shouldn't be able to keep up with us. Without CP3 Deandre Jordan won't get nearly as many easy looks either. Really I'm not sure how anyone can look at our two teams and not have us ranked higher than them.

If I were ranking right now I'd have us probably somewhere around 5-6.

Dubs - OKC - SA - Houston

Pels - Clippers - Denver - Portland - Utah (though the loss of Hayward probably drops them more than this)

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Do you trust Houston? Not because of talent Per se. But, every free agent pick-up they made is axiomatically 180 from The Dantoni offense
Also, pending on the Duration of Leonard injury, San Antonio CAN NOT win w/out him.

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Originally Posted by Mythrol

I expect the Clippers to fall off hard. An Austin Rivers lead guard rotation shouldn't be able to keep up with us. Without CP3 Deandre Jordan won't get nearly as many easy looks either. Really I'm not sure how anyone can look at our two teams and not have us ranked higher than them.

If I were ranking right now I'd have us probably somewhere around 5-6.

Dubs - OKC - SA - Houston

Pels - Clippers - Denver - Portland - Utah (though the loss of Hayward probably drops them more than this)

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Are you in the same corner as Me regarding Minny or did you accidentally omit them? I think they are the Sexy, but Flop pick of the year.

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Originally Posted by Tinman

We have 2 of Top 5 bigs in the NBA. Do we not, after thoughtful consideration think we won't be a playoff team?
6 teams that I feel we are ABOVE in the pecking order, w/out trying to dissect why/who etc.
1)Sacto
2LAL
3)PHX
4)Memphis
5)Dallas
6)Utah
That leaves 9 ! Including Pels
Denver, Portland & Minny are very attainable.
That leaves 6 ! Including Pels
I'm not sold on Houston or Aldridge led San Antonio or Griffin-DJ led LAC
OKC & Dubs! Oh well!
Therefore, we will be the #3 seed from now until we go 1-11 to start the season !
O P T O M I S M. Springs eternal .

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I dig the message but you gotta capitalize on the spelling at the end there.

The PELS have a lot to prove imo. They haven't proven anything with Gentry.

GSW, OKC, SAS, HOR, DENVER, Portland, Minny, Clippers.

Right now I think Denver and Portland are better teams. Clippers, Minny, and Jazz might not be ahead of the PELS but spurs, rockets, OKC, GSW, Denver and Portland are better teams.


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Originally Posted by pelicanchamp

The PELS have a lot to prove imo. They haven't proven anything with Gentry.

GSW, OKC, SAS, HOR, DENVER, Portland, Minny, Clippers.

Right now I think Denver and Portland are better teams. Clippers, Minny, and Jazz might not be ahead of the PELS but spurs, rockets, OKC, GSW, Denver and Portland are better teams.


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So IYO--- Hardin-CP3-Anderson-Capela & Ariza Comprise a better 5 than Boogie-AD-Jrue-Dante & Rondo ? I just don't see it. I can't see Anderson & Capela matching up w/ AD & Boogie. I certainly can see Jrue & Rondo holding their own against an aging CP3 and Hardin. & Cunningham basically is Ariza w/ a headband.

I think we are a playoff team but it's just a matter of what seed. I want to believe that our twin tower and defensive stoppers will put this 6-9 center/fast pace/who can collect the most top 10 players super team phase that's going right now. But I just hope our team gels and stay healthy for the majority of the season. All we really have to do is make it to the playoffs to get Boogie to resign. I'm pretty sure we should at least be able to do that!

Health is the only thing that keeps us out the playoffs, IMO.

Plus, at some point, we are trading our 1st rounder. Just depends on who we can get and how well they fit.

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Originally Posted by pelicanchamp

The PELS have a lot to prove imo. They haven't proven anything with Gentry.

GSW, OKC, SAS, HOR, DENVER, Portland, Minny, Clippers.

Right now I think Denver and Portland are better teams. Clippers, Minny, and Jazz might not be ahead of the PELS but spurs, rockets, OKC, GSW, Denver and Portland are better teams.


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Denver, Portland, Clippers, and the Jazz aren't better teams than the Pelicans. We have a more talented roster than those teams but it's just a matter of how they are all going to fit.

Also, I really don't see Houston and OKC really working based on the fit. Yeah Melo/Westbrook and CP3/Harden are all stars but they basically are ball dominant players. It's seems like to a to many chiefs not enough Indians problem that's going to wear on the team on the season develops.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

Health is the only thing that keeps us out the playoffs, IMO.

Plus, at some point, we are trading our 1st rounder. Just depends on who we can get and how well they fit.

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So true! Dell hates first round picks!

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Originally Posted by Tinman

So IYO--- Hardin-CP3-Anderson-Capela & Ariza Comprise a better 5 than Boogie-AD-Jrue-Dante & Rondo ? I just don't see it. I can't see Anderson & Capela matching up w/ AD & Boogie. I certainly can see Jrue & Rondo holding their own against an aging CP3 and Hardin. & Cunningham basically is Ariza w/ a headband.

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Harden and CP3 will likely be a huge matchup problem. If Jrue and Rondo contain them, big if imo, then I think we can beat them every time. In this league guards and SFs tend to do the most damage. I hope our team changes that.



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Originally Posted by Topdawg26

Denver, Portland, Clippers, and the Jazz aren't better teams than the Pelicans. We have a more talented roster than those teams but it's just a matter of how they are all going to fit.

Also, I really don't see Houston and OKC really working based on the fit. Yeah Melo/Westbrook and CP3/Harden are all stars but they basically are ball dominant players. It's seems like to a to many chiefs not enough Indians problem that's going to wear on the team on the season develops.

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Denver has a team that will be a problem. Their center is a top 3 center and they added Paul millsap. They are fundamentally sound basketball players. Denver has great potential and can't be underestimated.

You make a good point about OKC. I guess we'll see. I honestly think melo will be the key for their success. If he adjusts and plays the 3rd option their offense could be top 3. RW is only getting better and they have a good supporting cast. If they work out I think they will be the 2nd seed.


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Originally Posted by pelicanchamp

Denver has a team that will be a problem. Their center is a top 3 center and they added Paul millsap. They are fundamentally sound basketball players. Denver has great potential and can't be underestimated.

You make a good point about OKC. I guess we'll see. I honestly think melo will be the key for their success. If he adjusts and plays the 3rd option their offense could be top 3. RW is only getting better and they have a good supporting cast. If they work out I think they will be the 2nd seed.


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Jokic is a top three center to you? I have him behind Cousins, KAT, and Gobert at the very least. He could easily be behind Whiteside and Gasol too.

In my opinion the Pelicans still have a gaping hole at the 1 and 2 guard position.
Holiday has not showed anything close to being a aggressive dominate player on the floor.
Rondo? I have disagreed with the Jrue Holiday signing since last year. I really believe we over payed for a player with a lacking skill set and damaged goods.
As said the first 20 games will tell the tale for this ball club.
Coaching is something I have huge questions with? Is Cousins going to follow the plays? He seems to have issue when he is coached? Example watch the first pre season game against the Bulls. Second half he is having words with staff on sidelines after being pulled out on a substitution. He has had a pattern of that throughout his professional career. I hope we can be 10-10 in the first 20. If not we will not get out the hole it will be difficult.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Jokic is a top three center to you? I have him behind Cousins, KAT, and Gobert at the very least. He could easily be behind Whiteside and Gasol too.

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Jokic is in his 3rd year now. I see him being better than every center except cousins and KAT. But I can see your point. Still Denver seems to be in a position to be a good playoff team. I hope the PELS prove to be better.


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Originally Posted by Tinman

Are you in the same corner as Me regarding Minny or did you accidentally omit them? I think they are the Sexy, but Flop pick of the year.

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A little of both. I forgot about Minny but I'm also not high on them. I'd probably put them somewhere around Utah for now. I think I read somewhere that AD has never lost to KAT and we know he always plays super hard against them so I don't expect anything different this year.

As far as Houston goes, do I trust their team? Not in the playoffs, but they will be regular season Heroes and be a top 4 seed.

I feel the too 4 are pretty well locked. It will be the last 4 spots where all the fighting is. My gut says Pels @ 5-6 but I could see them as low as 8. It really depends how fast they feel comfortable in this system.

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Originally Posted by Mythrol

A little of both. I forgot about Minny but I'm also not high on them. I'd probably put them somewhere around Utah for now. I think I read somewhere that AD has never lost to KAT and we know he always plays super hard against them so I don't expect anything different this year.

As far as Houston goes, do I trust their team? Not in the playoffs, but they will be regular season Heroes and be a top 4 seed.

I feel the too 4 are pretty well locked. It will be the last 4 spots where all the fighting is. My gut says Pels @ 5-6 but I could see them as low as 8. It really depends how fast they feel comfortable in this system.

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100% agreement on Dubs,OKC . Do we have a timetable on Kawhi injury? Because if he is out for an extended period, I'm not sure that Spurs can stay afloat. They certainly aren't a playoff team w/out Kawhi.
On the KAT front. Now he doesn't just have Blueblood AD, but I'm sure Boogie ain't letting the young gun show him up, either.

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Originally Posted by pelicanchamp

Jokic is in his 3rd year now. I see him being better than every center except cousins and KAT. But I can see your point. Still Denver seems to be in a position to be a good playoff team. I hope the PELS prove to be better.


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Jokic is good . He is not better than Marc Gasol. He is not as dominating as Gobert or Whiteside. He's average on Defense at best. Top 10, not Top 3.

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Originally Posted by Tinman

Jokic is good . He is not better than Marc Gasol. He is not as dominating as Gobert or Whiteside. He's average on Defense at best. Top 10, not Top 3.

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Jokic's offensive numbers, both raw and advanced metrics, were off the chart ridiculous last year. Like Steph Curry great. I am not a believer he can sustain that though. The league will adjust, and the Pels even stole the assistant coach who helped create that.

And on the other end of the court people just sort of passed over that he charted out as just about the worst defensive center in the league. There's a reason last year that Denver reverted to its franchise stereotype of high scoring/no defense.

I think there's a class of 3 already there superstar level guys, guys who can easily go out and get you 25-10, one of whom needs to play to make it a reality:

Cousins
KAT
Embiid

and then there's three guys who are "also great" in their own ways:

Jokic
Gasol
Gobert

Gasol is what he is. he'll never be a superstar, he's always the "best of the rest". Gobert is the defense, a new Deke. And right now Jokic is the offense, a one side of the ball genius. If Jokic learns how to play at least respectable defense though, he could easily jump into the top group.

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Originally Posted by Mythrol

I expect the Clippers to fall off hard. An Austin Rivers lead guard rotation shouldn't be able to keep up with us. Without CP3 Deandre Jordan won't get nearly as many easy looks either. Really I'm not sure how anyone can look at our two teams and not have us ranked higher than them.

If I were ranking right now I'd have us probably somewhere around 5-6.

Dubs - OKC - SA - Houston

Pels - Clippers - Denver - Portland - Utah (though the loss of Hayward probably drops them more than this)

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Milos Teodosic is better passer than Chris Paul, but worse at defense.