« Reply #15 on: October 23, 2018, 05:27:40 PM »
I’m curious about this. Logic and hope tell me we’ll still win 55 - 60 games.
But, there’s at least some precedent for teams struggling across an entire season when integrating new players. Lebron’s first year with the Heat is the best example, but there’s also the Lakers with Malone, the Lakers with D12, etc.
My point was that whatever chemistry issues there are, the real problem has been that the team is just missing an egregious number of open shots or shots they've made in the past and that's something that is unlikely to continue to this degree.
I think it’s more than “the shots aren’t falling”. Guys look lost and tentative. I expect that to eventually get worked out. But, sometimes those transitions take longer than expected.
Yeah, I think it's both.
And I think the Lebron-in-Miami thing is particularly apt. Lebron went to the Heat and wanted to share the team with Wade but that team hit its stride in their second season when Lebron finally said, "Screw it, I'm the best player so I'm going to start playing like it."
I weirdly think Kyrie is in a similar spot. It's nice that Kyrie wants to expand his game and his point guard skills but he just isn't a pg in the Bob Cousy/Chris Paul mode. He doesn't have great passing skills and there are other players on the team who do. Kyrie is an elite scorer. At some point I think his best move is to have the realization that Lebron had in Miami and go out and stark wrecking defenses and letting Hayward, Horford, and Smart be the primary offense-runners.
He should really be out there trying to score and make the defense react to him which will then open up for everyone else. He's trying to get others involved first but that might be backwards.
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