JJZFL

Since none of us know the future, you have to make assumptions about different scenarios and assign some probabilities to them. Remember we didn’t have our starting lineup fully together when we had our ten game win streak either. But we’ve seen ourselves get beaten convincingly by better teams often enough to have a good basis for estimating how this team could unfold going forward. If we wait until we have perfect knowledge to do anything, we will never do anything. And some change is inevitable anyway, as when contracts expire

Everyone agrees on that. The differences have to do with what strategy gets us there. Will be interesting to see how this plays out, because at least this team is now interesting in January!

We’ve waited a very long time for a decent team. If a trade will help this team get better and avoid us getting swept in the playoffs or give us a chance of getting to second round, why would we not want to do it? We added key pieces by trade in the past which helped make us much better. Why not now also if such a player is available?

It’s very likely right regarding the easy schedule and making up ground in the standings. Ultimately, though, while beating bad teams may help you reach the playoffs, it probably doesn’t help you win games against the better teams you’ll face in the playoffs.

Completely agree about not making a trade for the sake of appearances. In this case, though, I think it’s abundantly clear that our guard play is inadequate compared to other teams, and that lack (which includes guards being able to shoot) is impacting the effectiveness of our two young hopeful future stars. Maybe we’ll work our way through it with “internal growth” but I think that’s risky.

You might be right but it took them years to pull that trigger.

By that logic, though, you could always justify doing nothing by saying a good deal just wasn’t available. It does seem other front offices have historically been more active than ours. Part of it could be actively initiating and proposing helpful trades vs waiting for people to offer us something. Hard to know what’s really going on behind the scenes, of course. All we can see are the results.

Proving my point LOL

Someone is taking this waayyy too seriously

Maybe we can come up with a deal to get Bamba back.

I feel bad for the people who don’t make loads of money but splurge once in awhile on good seats, and got that performance. Kind of like paying a lot of money to go to a Broadway musical and having everyone sing off key or something. The players may be rich, but most of the fans aren’t.

Agree. Magic playing like they’re in quicksand, whole team. Would have put in 3rd stringers awhile ago, at least they’d hustle. Did they have a big pizza party today or something?

On the bright side, people at the game can leave early and get some extra sleep! Always a silver lining somewhere. :)

Agree. So far CD-DNP for Okeke and Houstan as of start of third quarter.

I think these are both very interesting points. I'm still not convinced Houstan is going to be a consistent outside threat, and his shooting has been a liability for us more than a benefit most of the time. The AB stats are really interesting but it's hard to know whether it's just a statistical fluke (look hard enough and you can find patterns in data just from random chance) or whether it's meaningful. I do like the way AB plays, although his shooting is extremely inconsistent (last night he swished a three from the left corner, and then had another shot from almost exactly the same place and airballed it).

He got a few minutes of garbage time last night. Does that count?

He was barely even an NBA guard, whatever else he might have been

If we’re trying to “showcase” Okeke it’s not working too well. Yesterday he was 3/9 from the field and 0/4 three point range. 6 points total in about 30 minutes of playing time. +\- of -8 was second worst in a game we lost by 2. If we’re really trying to increase his value by giving him extra playing time, it may be backfiring and reducing his value instead. It might be best to showcase him by keeping him in full view on the bench.

During the stretch I was commenting on he took four heavily contested shots on consecutive possessions and missed three of them. It’s still a team game. Take a look at the play by play starting at around the four and a half minute mark.

Finally someone else

Is our plan to have Banchero take every single shot in the last five minutes of the game no matter how well defended he is??

Agree with your take. Perhaps the Pacers have some additional information based on conversations behind the scenes with Siakam’s people. Do they really believe they are that close to competing for a championship that’s its worth mortgaging their future for one very good player??

Won that bet and also won another dollar I put on the under :). I think we match up well against the Knicks. + $3 on that game. Retirement here I come!!

LOL. Ya think? Your description of our offense was the best I’ve seen in awhile. I might add make a couple of passes back and forth outside three point range before the dribble dribble dribble shoot part. LOL.

You’re right. But I’d hope we at least cover the spread. In fact I bet $2.40 on it (like I said not much of a gambler :) )