What does a realistic Tatum/Brown team look like without going over 2nd apron? Im talking about a team that can beat the Knicks, Timberwolves, Spurs, and Thunder
I don't think you worry about the West. And OKC are going to have their own problems trying to keep that team together.
You just worry about your own conference. So can a Tatum / Jaylen tandem lead a team over the best teams in the East? Heck yes!!! That is why you do not break them up.
they lost to the Sixers. THE SIXERS. AN INJURED SIXERS TEAM. the team is done contending. They have no shot. They can't even beat Philly where Embiid plays in just 4 games.
They didn't lose because Tatum & Jaylen aren't able to win.
They lost because the supporting cast isn't good enough. They can improve the supporting cast. Keep Tatum & Jaylen together and improve the supporting cast.
As someone else said, forget Horford, if we even had Aaron Baynes in that series to defend Joel Embiid we would have won it.
There is huge scope for improvement in the supporting cast.
Yeah the frontcourt was terrible. It was pretty brutal watching them having to go smallball out of necessity especially that Game 7. There were absolutely other issues, but that felt very noticeable. And lets face it, the rest of the NBA has formidable frontcourts. Either a superstar big (Jokic, Embiid, Wemby, etc.) or a legit duo (KAT-Robinson, Hartenstein-Chet, Mobley-Allen, Giannis-Bam, etc.). The C's made or won the Finals with 2 of Timelord/Horford/Porzingis with Kornet as a 3rd ish guy.
Generally true. I do think Queta was overwhelmed in his first playoff experience. He was just not mentally ready for how the game changed. He played much better in game 7, and if we had someone to help him, we might have pulled it off. (Say what you will about Joe?s coaching, I think bringing Queta from the bench in Game 7 slowed down his adrenaline, and we were +9 in his 33 minutes). I am fine with Neemy in the rotation, and even starting next year, but he needs someone with him. (That is why I want Mitchell Robinson so badly. I think the two of them will be able to withstand a star big).
But we also got unlucky in our first-round matchup. Our biggest weakness was at center, and we got matched up with Philly, who had a healthy Embiid for just long enough to swing the series. The Magic, Hawks, and Raptors would have been just fine as any of the other 5-8 seeds, as would have Charlotte and likely Miami if we want to look at the play-in teams. If we had gotten to the second round and lost to the eventual champions in a transition year, I do not think as many people would be losing it. (Some of course, who consider conference finals early exits, but it would be fewer).
Anyway, my point is the biggest change we need is a second big. Plenty of competent ones are available in free agency. While I am supportive of trading Brown and making wholesale changes, because I think there is sufficient evidence that he does not make this team better enough relative to his salary and despite his legitimate production, I also think that the path of adding a legit center in free agency, having a more recovered Tatum, and getting a leap from one of the young wings (my vote is Hugo, but it does not matter) is enough to elevate this team back to the Finals. Not a given, but in this day of the second apron where it looks like the Knicks are going to lose multiple important rotation pieces, every team has warts, and are thus beatable. (Except the Thunder, and they lost in the WCF, so they are beatable too).
