Didn’t CP3 at 36 take the previously playoff drought Suns to 2nd seed and the Finals?
Veterans win in the NBA, always have. The problem is that these veterans were never above average defenders, are worse at it in the present, and are being exposed for their deficiencies. Westbrook and Melo are playing in mud, they’re poor perimeter defenders with poor lateral movement on a team that had the #1 defense last season
Vogel’s going to have to change his entire approach with this team to get them to be Championship level. They were penciled in as #1 in the West before the season, Bucks #2 in the East, and Hawks bottom of the East playoff bracket. it’s too early in the season to count any of these teams out of it, but their poor start has been disappointing.