Hornets @ Timberwolves

[Liminy]

Gary Neal looks like he just busted his own ankle.

[bLACKpANTHER]

W

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Back in 8th place haha

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

No one wants to go to the playoffs in the east.

[Omega Atrocity]

Yea bc they're smarter than the Hornets.

8th seed and get sweep or draft pick? Let me guess

The difference between the 10th pick and the 15th pick is very little.

[cbarrier90]

No one wants to go to the playoffs in the east.

 

Somehow this year's "race" is even more pathetic than last year's. At least Atlanta didn't have Horford last year.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Somehow this year's "race" is even more pathetic than last year's. At least Atlanta didn't have Horford last year.

Yeah... they should just take PHX and NO from the west and give them the 7th and 8th seeds in the east.

[Omega Atrocity]

Yeah... they should just take PHX and NO from the west and give them the 7th and 8th seeds in the east.

The six seed will likely be under .500 too haha

[cbarrier90]

If I was confident that the front office would shake things up regardless of this token playoff appearance, I would not mind being first round roadkill again.

 

However, this is Cho and MJ, and I can easily envision a situation where they reason that injuries are the cause for poor performance and Al opts out and re-signs with the team as a "thank you" for making the franchise relevant for five seconds. I think missing the playoffs, especially in this East, would speak much greater volumes to the front office.

[Wundrbread33]

If I was confident that the front office would shake things up regardless of this token playoff appearance, I would not mind being first round roadkill again.

 

However, this is Cho and MJ, and I can easily envision a situation where they reason that injuries are the cause for poor performance and Al opts out and re-signs with the team as a "thank you" for making the franchise relevant for five seconds. I think missing the playoffs, especially in this East, would speak much greater volumes to the front office.

 

I'm with you on this one. When a team squeaks into the playoffs, changes that need to be done do not happen. 

 

As a fan...of course I want to make the playoffs, but the reality is that this team will not compete. 

 

I do believe, however, that this team would do what our others have not, and that is win a game. They are so inconsistent and all over the place, there is no doubt in my mind that they would win one.

 

That win would be a convincing one too, most likely by 15+ points. We would get all pumped up...then they would follow that with four losses; a close lose and three blowouts.

[cbarrier90]

Biyombo is only 22 and didn't start playing basketball until he was 16. He was the best rim protector in the entire NBA last season. You're selling him short.

 

Maybe, but I think it's important that we don't get too caught up in potential simply because of age. The fact is he still struggles offensively and progression in that area since he entered the league has been minimal at best. I think we can all agree it's best to move on from Al, but do you really want to hand the keys to a guy who is likely never going to live up to his top ten pick status?

 

The only legitimate "franchise player" this team has ever had was Gerald Wallace who made one all star appearance as a Bobcat and spent the rest of his career as an energy role player on contending teams. Prior to his stint in Charlotte he was buried on the bench of those elite Kings teams of the early 2000s. Was Gerald really THAT good, or did we simply overvalue him because he embraced the city and gave effort every night and was surrounded by mediocrity all those years?

 

Considering the "hard times" the franchise put itself through in order to upgrade the cupboard of talent, I think it's important that we step back and ask if we've actually accomplished our goal. Sure, we're much more flexible and much younger than that dreaded 2010 team we tried to get away from, but what is the potential for this team? We just went 0-3 in marginally competitive games against the Kings and Jazz, two teams going through rebuilding stages who don't get the benefit of playing in the Eastern Conference.

 

Very difficult to be excited about anything related to this team, even if they're technically in a playoff spot right now.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

On second thought, I don't know if I'd tank.

This draft is fairly weak in our areas of need. Outside of Justice Winslow, I don't see a player that we could draft at 10 that is a must have.

However, I'd kill to have a 1-2 combo of MKG-Winslow at the small forward position.

This draft is so heavy at the power forward position in the middle (Portis, Lyles, Harrell, Wood, Looney) and unfortunately that's the one position we don't need.

I guess at this point, the guys I'm looking at are Justice Winslow and Kelly Oubre at 10.

And then Devin Booker, Jerian Grant, and Sam Dekker at 15.

[cbarrier90]

On second thought, I don't know if I'd tank.

This draft is fairly weak in our areas of need. Outside of Justice Winslow, I don't see a player that we could draft at 10 that is a must have.

However, I'd kill to have a 1-2 combo of MKG-Winslow at the small forward position.

This draft is so heavy at the power forward position in the middle (Portis, Lyles, Harrell, Wood, Looney) and unfortunately that's the one position we don't need.

I guess at this point, the guys I'm looking at are Justice Winslow and Kelly Oubre at 10.

And then Devin Booker, Jerian Grant, and Sam Dekker at 15.

 

Lottery winners and their chances:

 

2014 - Cleveland - 9th best odds

2013 - Cleveland - 3rd best odds

2012 - New Orleans - 4th best odds

2011 - Cleveland (via LAC) - 8th best odds

2010 - Washington - 5th best odds

 

Obviously, no guarantees, but by putting yourself in the lottery you at least get a chance, however slim, to get the top talent in the draft as opposed to the playoffs which automatically put you in the teens.

 

I would love to be able to pull off a trade similar to what Cho did to tear it down when he dealt Livingston and Stephen Jackson to Milwaukee in a 3 teamer that gave us a top ten pick. Given the contracts that should be on the books at that time, it's very possible a deal could be made.

[JJman Returns]

NBA should make it where if teams finish under .500 in one conference for the playoffs, that other teams over .500 in the other conference can take their place.