tkf wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I disagree. I think the only team that has a chance at a title is Houston if they add a star big. None of those teams have a Harden not even close actually. These teams can't compete with Miami and OKC

THE thinking that you need a star to compete is just not correct.... the nba is evolving a bit, or at least I hope.... lebron and durant are the cream of he crop, outside of that, teams that are putting together a nice core of talent are proving they can be a true contender... we are seeing it now.. there just are not enough superstar players to go around that make will make it necessary to have one to compete.. I don't see a league of Jordans, Ewings, Hakeems, barkleys, malones....anymore

Regular season contenders?

holfresh wrote:

tkf wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I disagree. I think the only team that has a chance at a title is Houston if they add a star big. None of those teams have a Harden not even close actually. These teams can't compete with Miami and OKC

THE thinking that you need a star to compete is just not correct.... the nba is evolving a bit, or at least I hope.... lebron and durant are the cream of he crop, outside of that, teams that are putting together a nice core of talent are proving they can be a true contender... we are seeing it now.. there just are not enough superstar players to go around that make will make it necessary to have one to compete.. I don't see a league of Jordans, Ewings, Hakeems, barkleys, malones....anymore

Regular season contenders?

That's all the Nuggets were with Melo, yet we gave the farm up to set ourselves up for similar results.

3G4G wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I disagree. I think the only team that has a chance at a title is Houston if they add a star big. None of those teams have a Harden not even close actually. These teams can't compete with Miami and OKC

There is no immediate over the top addition in the horizon for Houston at this time. They do have a bright future and but they are not in a better position to challenge out West than Denver nor GSW. You have to keep in mind Denver/GSW have more players other teams covet, they have just as many future assets, and are ahead at the moment in experience and youth learning curve. Houston will have somewhat of a bump come poison pill year so their moves have to be made sooner rather than later. As of now it's Denver/GSW/Rockets in that order in terms of projected current/future success. I'd kill to be either team right now, that's for sure.

Sorry I didn't see the Warriors mentioned. They are clearly better than those teams but no title contenders. No more than the Clippers are

3G4G wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I disagree. I think the only team that has a chance at a title is Houston if they add a star big. None of those teams have a Harden not even close actually. These teams can't compete with Miami and OKC

There is no immediate over the top addition in the horizon for Houston at this time. They do have a bright future but they are not in a better position to challenge out West than Denver nor GSW. You have to keep in mind Denver/GSW have more players other teams covet, they have just as many future assets, and are ahead at the moment in experience and youth learning curve. Houston will have somewhat of a bump come poison pill year so their moves have to be made sooner rather than later. As of now it's Denver/GSW/Rockets in that order in terms of projected current/future success. I'd kill to be either team right now, that's for sure.

I'm not a believer in GS..I watched a few games and they are a jump shooting team..They aren't good defenders and they lack quickness...I think they are a nice regular season story and MJackson has found a way to use the talents he has to the best of their ability...

gunsnewing wrote:

3G4G wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I disagree. I think the only team that has a chance at a title is Houston if they add a star big. None of those teams have a Harden not even close actually. These teams can't compete with Miami and OKC

There is no immediate over the top addition in the horizon for Houston at this time. They do have a bright future and but they are not in a better position to challenge out West than Denver nor GSW. You have to keep in mind Denver/GSW have more players other teams covet, they have just as many future assets, and are ahead at the moment in experience and youth learning curve. Houston will have somewhat of a bump come poison pill year so their moves have to be made sooner rather than later. As of now it's Denver/GSW/Rockets in that order in terms of projected current/future success. I'd kill to be either team right now, that's for sure.

Sorry I didn't see the Warriors mentioned. They are clearly better than those teams but no title contenders. No more than the Clippers are

The argument is between GSW/Denver/Rockets though.

I mean if we want to dumb it down to this extent...Knicks will be losers this year as will everyone else in the East except 1 team and so will those young start teams and the rest in the West. It's Miami and OKC at the end of the day. I give the Spurs a potential outside chance if healthy.

holfresh wrote:U guys are miss reading the Clippers and Chris Paul..Chris Paul game goes up exponentially in the playoffs ...

But Blake hasn't and those other teams will slow the game down defensively. Clippers were swept last year by the Spurs. Nevermind what they would do against OKC

holfresh wrote:U guys are miss reading the Clippers and Chris Paul..Chris Paul game goes up exponentially in the playoffs ...

It depends on his health and if they can win series in the halfcourt. They are incredibly dangerous but have question marks. They need Billups too.

NYKMentality wrote:

OGkush121 wrote:Dragič balling again...he's really improved since Hunter took over, but that's also due to the fact that now he's actualy being handed the ball and allowed to dictate play. Which is surprising given how much Dragič loves Gentry and he was the one who encouraged him when he came into the league and told him to be more aggresive.
Weird....but atleast now he's playing like I knew he could :)

So far against the Mavs he's got 14 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 0 TOs in the 1st half

Edit: Scratch that...17 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds in the 3rd, close to a triple double :D

Yea, I personally believe that Houston dropped the ball by paying Jeremy Lin over Goran Dragic during the offseason. Should have continued to develop Dragic while still landing Harden for Dragic to compete alongside of. A Dragic/Harden backcourt would be pretty damn strong.

Dragic: 14.1 points, 6.4 assists, 2.8 boards, 1.5 steals and 2.3 turnovers per game. .445 FG%, 17.51 Player Efficiency Rating.
Jeremy: 12.2 points, 6.1 assists, 3.7 boards, 2.0 steals and 3.0 turnovers per game. .431 FG%, 14.34 Player Efficiency Rating.

I just feel that Goran is a much better overall PG when compared to Lin.

I think if Dragič stayed in Houston and they managed to get Harden there as well their backcourt would relatively easily see them make the playoffs.