I Think I Am Aboard The Tank Train Now

[dannyboy35]

 I think not testing guys for extended games this ranking is a huge mistake . There are several difference makers this year. You don?t have to get the actual #1. Pick. You guys see the Greek kid from Virginia Tech? Oh my goodness.

[Goldstar88]

Joe doing his best to stop the tank. That Orlando Magic team has a lot more talent and had no business losing to the Celtics. Credit where credit is due, no?

[slamtheking]

Joe doing his best to stop the tank. That Orlando Magic team has a lot more talent and had no business losing to the Celtics. Credit where credit it due, no?

"Credit where credit it due, no?" --> Yes, but not to Joe.  Credit to the players for playing hard and for doing their best not to mail it in during a down year.

I will credit Joe with getting the players to play hard which is not a small thing.  He seems to have finally figured out the best players to start which is another good thing.  if he can actually get 2 of Walsh, Hugo and Baylor to develop into rotation quality players for next year, I'll give him credit for that (although it does beg the question what took so long with Walsh if that happens).

What he still needs to do is figure out a better offensive strategy because he's still relying on a 3-heavy offense that is not functioning because he's got 4 'reliable' 3-pt shooters and they are woefully inconsistent to just downright awful this year.  needs to figure something out for when the shooting is bad (which has been the same issue since he took over).  also need to figure out how to cut down on the offensive boards we surrender.  Granted, he can only do so much with the frontcourt he's been given but this is pretty bad and that's coming from someone who predicted they'd quite possibly set the record for most offensive boards given up in a season and lowest defensive rebounding percentage.

[Phantom255x]

Joe doing his best to stop the tank. That Orlando Magic team has a lot more talent and had no business losing to the Celtics. Credit where credit is due, no?

The East might be a lot worse than we think, including me

I knew the West was very loaded and a bloodbath but I thought the East would still have 3-4 legit teams at the top. Despite the records of a few like Detroit I don't feel awesome about any of them, they all have flaws and have been inconsistent. I know it's early in the year but it feels that way. I still don't really believe in Charlotte, Toronto, etc. and if those teams don't take that step and the C's are ahead of them they are definitely a 7-8 seeded play-in team at worse.

[keevsnick]

Joe doing his best to stop the tank. That Orlando Magic team has a lot more talent and had no business losing to the Celtics. Credit where credit is due, no?

The East might be a lot worse than we think, including me

I knew the West was very loaded and a bloodbath but I thought the East would still have 3-4 legit teams at the top. Despite the records of a few like Detroit I don't feel awesome about any of them, they all have flaws and have been inconsistent. I know it's early in the year but it feels that way. I still don't really believe in Charlotte, Toronto, etc. and if those teams don't take that step and the C's are ahead of them they are definitely a 7-8 seeded play-in team at worse.

I agree. Right now it feels like the 1-11 spots in the east are pretty bunched up. Detroit has been the best team so far, and the C's were like 2 rebounds away from beating them.

I've operated on the assumption that Tatum will be to all year, but with no clear #1 goliath at the top I'm starting to think about what happens if Tatum could come back this year. Even if he's taking it slow to start, get him back and add a backup big and you might have a shot.

I think going for it is as viable a path as tanking at this point.

[Who]

Joe doing his best to stop the tank. That Orlando Magic team has a lot more talent and had no business losing to the Celtics. Credit where credit is due, no?

The East might be a lot worse than we think, including me

I knew the West was very loaded and a bloodbath but I thought the East would still have 3-4 legit teams at the top. Despite the records of a few like Detroit I don't feel awesome about any of them, they all have flaws and have been inconsistent. I know it's early in the year but it feels that way. I still don't really believe in Charlotte, Toronto, etc. and if those teams don't take that step and the C's are ahead of them they are definitely a 7-8 seeded play-in team at worse.

I agree. Right now it feels like the 1-11 spots in the east are pretty bunched up. Detroit has been the best team so far, and the C's were like 2 rebounds away from beating them.

I've operated on the assumption that Tatum will be to all year, but with no clear #1 goliath at the top I'm starting to think about what happens if Tatum could come back this year. Even if he's taking it slow to start, get him back and add a backup big and you might have a shot.

I think going for it is as viable a path as tanking at this point.

It is why we never should have broken up the team.

Title opportunities are not something to walk away from.

[slamtheking]

Joe doing his best to stop the tank. That Orlando Magic team has a lot more talent and had no business losing to the Celtics. Credit where credit is due, no?

The East might be a lot worse than we think, including me

I knew the West was very loaded and a bloodbath but I thought the East would still have 3-4 legit teams at the top. Despite the records of a few like Detroit I don't feel awesome about any of them, they all have flaws and have been inconsistent. I know it's early in the year but it feels that way. I still don't really believe in Charlotte, Toronto, etc. and if those teams don't take that step and the C's are ahead of them they are definitely a 7-8 seeded play-in team at worse.

I agree. Right now it feels like the 1-11 spots in the east are pretty bunched up. Detroit has been the best team so far, and the C's were like 2 rebounds away from beating them.

I've operated on the assumption that Tatum will be to all year, but with no clear #1 goliath at the top I'm starting to think about what happens if Tatum could come back this year. Even if he's taking it slow to start, get him back and add a backup big and you might have a shot.

I think going for it is as viable a path as tanking at this point.

It is why we never should have broken up the team.

Title opportunities are not something to walk away from.

this would have been my preference as well.  some tinkering on the edges if needed but dropping 4 key rotation players because your key player for a season when you could reasonably still contend when he gets back (next season or late this season) is a hole that could be too deep to effectively dig out of.

I get the tax implications as well as the draft pick situation but if you're winning titles, let that stuff iron itself out at a later date.  The team would likely be focussing on FA signings for the next 5 years rather than worry about how they can build through the draft.