NBA Season 2015-2016

[mef730]

I was actually pretty happy to see Detroit knock off Atlanta last night. The Pistons are one of the teams that I was worried could give the Nets a run for the bottom of the division. Okay, Atlanta kinda sucked last night, but I'll take what I can get.

Mike

[PhoSita]

Davis has been pretty lousy tonight, but New Orleans is looking terrible overall lately.  Just a mess out there. 

They started Dante Cunningham, Kendrick Perkins, and Nate Robinson -- three guys I'd be uncomfortable relying on for more than 10 minutes a night off the bench.

So it's not a great surprise that they looked bad.

It's a bummer the Pelicans are so poorly constructed.  Davis is so good that all he needs are average starters and replacement level role players with clearly defined skillsets next to him.  That would be enough for the Pellies to win 50-55 games and have a shot against any playoff opponent.


I mean, imagine if they could just find role players like, I dunno ... Darren Collison, Marcus Thornton, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Carl Landry, Robin Lopez, Chris Kaman, Greivis Vasquez, Al-Farouq Aminu, Trevor Ariza . . . .

[Lucky17]

Davis has been pretty lousy tonight, but New Orleans is looking terrible overall lately.  Just a mess out there. 

They started Dante Cunningham, Kendrick Perkins, and Nate Robinson -- three guys I'd be uncomfortable relying on for more than 10 minutes a night off the bench.

So it's not a great surprise that they looked bad.

It's a bummer the Pelicans are so poorly constructed.  Davis is so good that all he needs are average starters and replacement level role players with clearly defined skillsets next to him.  That would be enough for the Pellies to win 50-55 games and have a shot against any playoff opponent.


I mean, imagine if they could just find role players like, I dunno ... Darren Collison, Marcus Thornton, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Carl Landry, Robin Lopez, Chris Kaman, Greivis Vasquez, Al-Farouq Aminu, Trevor Ariza . . . .

Missing 3 starters in Jrue, Tyreke, and Asik. That's tough sledding for any team in the NBA.

[fairweatherfan]

Davis has been pretty lousy tonight, but New Orleans is looking terrible overall lately.  Just a mess out there. 

They started Dante Cunningham, Kendrick Perkins, and Nate Robinson -- three guys I'd be uncomfortable relying on for more than 10 minutes a night off the bench.

So it's not a great surprise that they looked bad.

It's a bummer the Pelicans are so poorly constructed.  Davis is so good that all he needs are average starters and replacement level role players with clearly defined skillsets next to him.  That would be enough for the Pellies to win 50-55 games and have a shot against any playoff opponent.


I mean, imagine if they could just find role players like, I dunno ... Darren Collison, Marcus Thornton, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Carl Landry, Robin Lopez, Chris Kaman, Greivis Vasquez, Al-Farouq Aminu, Trevor Ariza . . . .

Oddly they looked pretty good for about a quarter and a half.  But when it got ugly it got very ugly.  Some of it's just first night stuff though. 

Little bit of an aside but it's crazy to me how many players are already unavailable for Opening Night.  No data but it seems like a trend that's jumped up the last few years.  Maybe it's just a greater focus on not exacerbating minor injuries, though.

[PhoSita]

Seriously, though, look at the list of quality role players the Pelicans have had on their team since 2011 that they've dumped in favor of this current group.  Blech.  And they sacrificed three first round picks that could have been rotation players, too.

The Pelicans could be way better than they are right now.

[CelticSooner]

If NOLA starts out of the gate slow they are in trouble of making the playoffs. Considering all the injuries they have that's a distinct possibility. One game in and I already don't like what I'm seeing from Davis. Why is Gentry trying to turn him into a stretch four? He's a beast in the paint and having him away from the basket hurts 3/4 of his game.

[GetLucky]

If NOLA starts out of the gate slow they are in trouble of making the playoffs. Considering all the injuries they have that's a distinct possibility. One game in and I already don't like what I'm seeing from Davis. Why is Gentry trying to turn him into a stretch four? He's a beast in the paint and having him away from the basket hurts 3/4 of his game.

Probably Davis's body type. He's put on a ton of weight but is still very lanky-looking. I can't see him lasting 82 games spending 40 minutes a night battling in the paint.

[fairweatherfan]

If NOLA starts out of the gate slow they are in trouble of making the playoffs. Considering all the injuries they have that's a distinct possibility. One game in and I already don't like what I'm seeing from Davis. Why is Gentry trying to turn him into a stretch four? He's a beast in the paint and having him away from the basket hurts 3/4 of his game.

Probably Davis's body type. He's put on a ton of weight but is still very lanky-looking. I can't see him lasting 82 games spending 40 minutes a night battling in the paint.

He's also had some (mostly minor) injuries already. 

Based on the kinds of jumpers he was taking last night (just a step or two inside of 3), it almost seems like Gentry wants him to mimic KG's offensive game.

[jpotter33]

Rubio, Wiggins, Prince, KG, and Towns might be the strangest mix of veteran talent with young potential that I've ever seen in a starting lineup.

[mr. dee]

Lousy basketball for the Kings so far. So many unforced turnovers.

[fairweatherfan]

The Lakers have so many me-first guys on offense, it's ridiculous.  And Lou Williams hasn't even come in yet!

[tarheelsxxiii]

J. Winslow looks to have had a positive impact on tonight's game.

CJ McCollum doing workk early.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

So, Minny's core moving forward would be Rubio-Wiggins-Towns. They will also have LaVine-Dieng-Muhammad on their bench.

That's a very young team that could be very dangerous in 2-3 years.

[Atzar]

Rubio, Wiggins, Prince, KG, and Towns might be the strangest mix of veteran talent with young potential that I've ever seen in a starting lineup.

Would love to see that team somehow overachieve.  We have their 1st, but it's top 12 protected and turns into two 2nds if it doesn't trigger this year.

[hpantazo]

The Kings are destined to blow up. Cousins is going to be on the block by december.