I like last year's team better.
Steve Bullpett was right. We had the talent to go all the way, just lacked the discipline, ball movement, trust. That's why the Heat beat us.
We also lacked Gordon Hayward, while MIA was totally healthy. We cruise through that series if tables were turned (Hayward healthy, Dragic injured). We also probably cruise with just a healthy Hayward.
Anyway, that team is pretty boss. I guess we are trading Theis for some reason(?). Having essentially our same team (again, injured Hayward), but adding Turner and Jrue would certainly raise our team’s ceiling)
OK.
Discipline, ball movement, trust.
Normally, that means four guys, in order of responsibility for 2019/20
Kemba
Tatum
Smart
Hayward
(Brown just didn't have that role. That will change going forward)
Kemba was slowed a bit, but I don't see how he can be expected to get quicker from here.
Tatum was 22, and we can expect things to change considerably. Still, there isn't much evidence that the team is pushing him to keep the ball moving.
Marcus was actually better than we have a right to expect, but when it really counted, his ugly side came out.
Hayward was hurt. Some guys can adjust, and contribute at 80%. Apparently he cannot.
So what do we do with that information? I don't see reasons to expect that Kemba or Smart will change. Hayward probably will if he's healthy.
So...