playa2 wrote:gunsnewing wrote:They haven't won yet but
Indiana drafted George and Hibbert
Okc Durant and Westbrook and Harden!!
And just when they are ready to make a major splash on the scene, one of them go somewhere else to make more money. See James Harden
IN the new era the CBA really allows for 2 max players.
So you better have the balance right. They spend money in other areas not just in Harden. Im not sure there were enough shots for Harden anyway.
By trading him a team can perpetuate itself with other assets.
Forget the past, the new CBA is a different animal and perhaps dynasties are a thing of the past. The matrix to success is different and the clever teams in my opinion are the ones that can draft guys and then evaluate the chemistry. Maybe Harden was seen as the odd man out and a combo of young players and picks is how you stay ahead.
A guy like Lebron is so rare as he is a facilitator and makes those around him "better". They are suseptable now with Wade beyond his "prime". They won last year by staying relevant most of the year getting a good seeding and keeping Wade rested as much as possible.
The addition on paper of Bargnani at age 28 seeme reasonable as he can still reach some potential and in his "prime". With JR seemingly ready to break out heading into this season it was a gamble I can understand. It game Stat all season to play back into shape.
I'd even say it was working but injuries have been awful (Luck), JR has regressed and our PG play has been awful. Shump has also regressed.
Hardaway has been a nice suprise but he is a rookie and they hit walls. I know fans like to extrapoplate good play but guys like Murry and Tyler are not to be trusted and need to be bought along slowly. We think sometimes coachs hold them back when they eventually break out but the reality is holding them back PREPARES THEM FOR THE BREAKOUT!
Lets not forget, Kobe needed 2 years before he became Kobe and Indy has been a work on progress for a few years.
I might add that with our asset base drafting players and developing them around Melo is not a sound strategy in my opinion. To do that you must parlay him into an asset more suitiable.
Thus, if you keep Melo Im not sure how you do this with the exception of cap space we get in a year.
I was very excited last year when SAS nearly beat the Heat but the concept of having the core in their prime together proved correct.
If Kwai Leonard was more advance they might have won, if Ginobli was a bit younger they might have won. If Timmy was a bit more younger.....Etc. They came darn close!!!!! But Heat core was still in the prime and they pulled it out.
OKC with Westbook might be the team this year. Losing Harden was about keeping Ibaka. They are 35-10 without Westbrook. A series with Indy would be a great matchup in the finals!
1/27/2014 9:20 AM