Around the League: Playoffs

[Indy]

Fair enough. But what do you think the ceiling is with this roster?

I think that if we add our draft pick and maybe one decent FA signing, with a healthy Bledsoe, this squad is capable of being a .500 team. We've all just watched Knight stink it up so much that I think we might be undervaluing Bledsoe or lumping him in with Knight right now. Bled is a much better overall player and starting guard. He isn't a great distributor, but he's a much, MUCH better defender, and he does at least sometimes pass the ball (though not quite enough). I think having a 100% healthy Bledsoe as our starting PG and relegating Knight to a bench microwave role could actually be a very noticeable improvement for this team. That, plus scrapping the stupid Len 4 + Chandler 5 starting frontcourt, would be great changes. Rough lineups:

Starting lineup: Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Leuer-Len
Bench: Price-Knight-Tucker-Rookie?-Chandler

I'm guessing our draft pick will be a forward, and I'm unsure if he'd start or come off the bench at first.

So we are a +20 games by simply adding 50 games of Bledsoe? And a rookie PF?

And some Warren. Some improvement from young guys, extra Knight games, Watson's famous training camp also Mori forgot his FA signing in lineups.
Not to say that I agree. Too soon to predict anything, given that a lot can happen in the offseason (not just with us, but other teams as well).

Well, since he had Leuer and Price in there, I assumed that is what he meant by FA signings.

[Mori Chu]

BTW, here is the reddit thread about Vogel's firing. Most of the posters think Indy is dumb to fire him and/or want their team to hire him. I don't think I saw any such posts about Earl Watson.

[Cap]

Most of the posters think Indy is dumb

That's just because he looks like Lance Blanks.

[TOO]

Most of the posters think Indy is dumb

That's just because he looks like Lance Blanks.

[ShelC]

I think we have a very flawed roster. I have no idea what we do this offseason in terms of trading some players (Knight, Chandler, PJ) or keeping everything together. I don't think, with the roster as is and players at 100%, we're a contender. So I don't have those expectations for the team, nor would I blame Watson if we're not playing like the Warriors or Spurs in November. Could we win 46 games or so with this roster at 100%? I think that's possible. Under Watson, probably not and I don't think we'd get to 40 under him. More like 35.

[Mori Chu]

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[Indy]

I think we have a very flawed roster. I have no idea what we do this offseason in terms of trading some players (Knight, Chandler, PJ) or keeping everything together. I don't think, with the roster as is and players at 100%, we're a contender. So I don't have those expectations for the team, nor would I blame Watson if we're not playing like the Warriors or Spurs in November. Could we win 46 games or so with this roster at 100%? I think that's possible. Under Watson, probably not and I don't think we'd get to 40 under him. More like 35.

I am really surprised that you think this roster is a 46 win team, with a good coach. The roster is a mess, and to say you don't think we are contender is the biggest understatement of the year. We lost Bledsoe for 2/3 of the year, Warren for 1/3 and Knight for a quarter. There is no way, even with the best coach in the league, that this team would have been +23 wins by not having injuries this year. It is flawed. We don't have a starting quality PF. We don't have a PG that can run an offense. The 2nd PG we bought for 70M can't distribute or shoot. Sure, I think we are about average at SF and C (meaning half the league has a better SF and C roster), but that doesn't win you 46 games. We need a real rebuild, and honestly, it shouldn't start with PJ, or Chandler. We need to get rid of the guys that are paid to be all-stars and leaders, but can do neither.

[Indy]

[youtube][/youtube]

I think you could find similar BK defensive plays, and similar Bledsoe offensive plays. Shrug...

[carey]

That Harden compilation made me laugh. Shaqtin' a Fool MVP for sure this year. Dude is lazy as hell.

Side note: Does anyone's kid play travel sports? Not even a month into actual baseball season and I'm exhausted. I wish his younger brother played because he is supposed to throw 20 pitches down to a catcher 4-5 times a week and my back and knees can't take it since I only have 1 working leg. I could barely get out of bed this morning. I bought this bucket with a foam pad on the lid so at least I'm not squatting like a catcher. I just sit on the bucket. Sometimes I feel like I'm 60 instead of 40.

[JustWinBaby]

Fair enough. But what do you think the ceiling is with this roster?

I think that if we add our draft pick and maybe one decent FA signing, with a healthy Bledsoe, this squad is capable of being a .500 team. We've all just watched Knight stink it up so much that I think we might be undervaluing Bledsoe or lumping him in with Knight right now. Bled is a much better overall player and starting guard. He isn't a great distributor, but he's a much, MUCH better defender, and he does at least sometimes pass the ball (though not quite enough). I think having a 100% healthy Bledsoe as our starting PG and relegating Knight to a bench microwave role could actually be a very noticeable improvement for this team. That, plus scrapping the stupid Len 4 + Chandler 5 starting frontcourt, would be great changes. Rough lineups:

Starting lineup: Bledsoe-Booker-Warren-Leuer-Len
Bench: Price-Knight-Tucker-Rookie?-Chandler

I'm guessing our draft pick will be a forward, and I'm unsure if he'd start or come off the bench at first.

I agree with just about everything in your post with one exception. Knight will be in the starting line up, so the only way to get Booker into the starting line up will be to put him at the three. I really believe that the main reason for Watson getting the job without any other coaches being interviewed is that he agreed to make the $140 mil back court that McDonough and Sarver paid for, work. It could change going forward but to start the season Bledsoe and Knight will be our starting back court. Book it.

[Superbone]

Let me put it this way...I don't think there will necessarily be a player revolt against Watson. I think we the fans will be sick of losing games while hearing his philosophies and pep talks and the players will mostly feel the same way, but won't come out against him because they'll still like him as a coach/person.

OK, here we go. Here comes the back peddling. Wow, that didn't take long!

[Superbone]

BTW, here is the reddit thread about Vogel's firing. Most of the posters think Indy is dumb to fire him and/or want their team to hire him. I don't think I saw any such posts about Earl Watson.

First of all, Watson wasn't fired. Secondly, why would you expect to see such posts from other teams? He is a rookie coach with 30 something games under his belt with a low-level remaining roster. The lack of support on this board for Watson astounds me. Give the man a chance before you lambaste him. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised. Then again, maybe you'll hate him. But can we give him at least half a season with a full training camp and healthy players before the "I told you"s come out?

[LazarusLong]

I'm with 'Bone on this.

You may not like the selection process, but that wasn't Watson's doing.

Let's see what happens during the upcoming season, and then assess.

[OE32]

I think we have a very flawed roster. I have no idea what we do this offseason in terms of trading some players (Knight, Chandler, PJ) or keeping everything together. I don't think, with the roster as is and players at 100%, we're a contender. So I don't have those expectations for the team, nor would I blame Watson if we're not playing like the Warriors or Spurs in November. Could we win 46 games or so with this roster at 100%? I think that's possible. Under Watson, probably not and I don't think we'd get to 40 under him. More like 35.

My plan for this offseason:
1. Trade Goodwin, Tucker, #28 for Thad Young. Tucker to third team for 2 2nds to Nets.
2. Draft one of Simmons, Ellenson or Bender ("SEB").
3. Draft one of Valentine or Luwawu ("VL").
4. Draft one of Morris, Payton or Felder ("MPF").
5. Re-sign Mirza and Price. I don't expect Bogdan here next year.

Resulting roster (rotation players in bold):

Bledsoe/Price/MPF
Booker/Knight
Warren/Mirza/VL
Young/SEB
Len/Chandler

I think that's a playoff team. I'm assuming only one of the two first rounders is a rotation player.

[OE32]

Of course, there's the fantasy option, Knight + Goodwin + #5 + #13 for George (http://hoopshabit.com/2016/05/04/nba-tr ... -george/6/)

Bledsoe/Price
Booker/Bogdanovic
Warren/Tucker
George/Teletovic
Len/Chandler

I''d be willing to send Len instead of the #13, if the Pacers prefer. I'd take Johnson or Sabonis in that scenario. We'd still have the #28 as well. This is all a fantasy, of course. And George doesn't want to play the 4. But hell, maybe we throw Warren in there (ouch!!!) and try to convince Al Horford that this is the place to be.

[Indy]

I am not fawning all over Watson like Bone is, but I have at least seen he is good at saying the right thing. If he can live what he preaches, I expect him to be a successful* coach in this league for a long time.

A successful coach in this league has nothing to do with record, and more do to with just keeping a job. Only about 15% of the coaches in the history of the NBA/ABA actually have winning records for their careers, even though over 33% were able to coach for at least 5 years.

[Superbone]

I am not fawning all over Watson like Bone is...

Please. I don't appreciate you mischaracterizing my position. All I ask is that he is given a chance.

[Indy]

I am not fawning all over Watson like Bone is...

Please. I don't appreciate you mischaracterizing my position. All I ask is that he is given a chance.

That wasn't a dig at you. You are a huge supporter of the guy. You were "very excited" that we hired a 9-24 rookie coach. And you consistently deride people that say negative things about him.

[Mori Chu]

I'm just glad we locked up Watson early and interviewed zero people instead of waiting and getting stuck with a bum like Frank Vogel.

[Superbone]

I'm just glad we locked up Watson early and interviewed zero people instead of waiting and getting stuck with a bum like Frank Vogel.

Exactly.