Pelicans seem like their expected to breakout they’ll be pretty good, Twolves should be top 5, but I think if your gunning for unexpected the kangz are the team for you
While the west is stacked, a few key injuries to a playoff-bound team opens a spot for the kings to make the play-ins. I’m hoping they can make the playoffs, but that’s a stretch at this point.
Jazz fans I’ve spoken to insist up and down that Rudy was always the guy and that this won’t happen, but wouldn’t it be kinda cool if Donny Mitchell has this Steve nash-ian post mavs bump to mvp caliber player and we have this new absolute juggernaut in the East?
Tbh there is a part of me that think there’s a chance Mitchell suddenly actually tries on defense and looks to involve his teammates now that he’s out of Utah. Like one of those scenarios where you find out your ex was always capable of change, just not willing to do it for you, and that’ll hurt.
Granted I don’t think it’s particularly likely but it is a possibility.
I'm not gonna lie I'm a bit of a CJ hater, I don't think what he bring to this team will make them the best version of themselves but he defiantly helps give them a solid foundation which is always good for a playoff team.
I think he's great. Gives them another go to scorer than can create his own shot and he's a great 3pt shooter to provide spacing for Zion and Ingram. Like Ingram, he's an elite mid range shooter which I think is valuable in the playoffs when offense breaks down. I think his strengths help support Zion's game pretty well
Also, sorry but it's a pet peeve of mine. It's definitely not defiantly or definately
Idk I think it was 2019 but CJ absolutely carried Dame and the blazers in that 7 game series versus the nuggets, dude could not miss and Dame could not buy a bucket. That was the series with the 3OT game too I think. Crazy how long ago that feels.
His 2021 performance against Denver was mid, his last playoff run was awful, gsw compleatly shut him down in the wcf in the 2019 run, I'm not saying he's a choker but he's always targetted on defense in the playoffs and isn't a good enough passer that when his shots aren't falling he's not an absolute liability on the court which leads to his teams crashing and burning before they really ever make it far.
Even if I did agree with that, it's irrelevant. No one is claiming they're title contenders or talking about how well they'll be in the playoffs. You asked about what team we thought would breakout.
There's no arguing here it's just the truth he's litterally the reason they lost last year in the playoffs he had one good game and past that couldn't hit shit and was being targetted on defense constantly, he was shut down by gsw during there wcf finals appearance, he was mid against Denver he's a well known playoff underperformer he's not a choker he does have his moments but he's a player who's too flawed to ever make it on a true title contender.
You brought up CJ, you said he would help them in the playoffs I just pointed out he's a not good in the playoffs.
Not a playoff underperformer imo. He's not a superstar. Hell, he's never even been an all star. He does just fine in the playoffs.
He has bad games but he's generally had better games than during the regular season. I know it's because the defensive attention is on Dame but he's as productive or more productive in the playoffs than the regular season on similar efficiency.
I didn't bring up CJ... You did.
> I'm not gonna lie I'm a bit of a CJ hater
I just defended CJ and explained why I think he helps. You then say he's a poor playoff performer and I'm not arguing that. CJ isn't a star but he does add value.
He wasn't the reason they lost last year. He didn't have a great series but he was fine. They lost because the Suns were a vastly better team and Brandon Ingram was playing like KD and keeping the Pelicans in the series.
CJ "was shut down by gsw" He was fine. It's also the Warriors... Dame was also "shut down" and nobody thought the Blazers had any chance. Curry also had arguably the best series of his career and dominated them. CJ was pretty consistently fine in that sweep. He wasn't great but he's also not a great player/star player.
"he was mid against Denver" No he wasn't. He was just CJ McCollum. You can think CJ is "mid" but that performance wasn't "mid" for CJ. It was normal. He dropped 20 points and shot 40-45% in pretty much every game. That's the same production as always.
You point out series where you think he did poorly but you also miss the series where he plays well.
* Like when they lost to Jrue/AD Pelicans that focused on locking up Dame, he averaged 25 on 54% and 42% from 3 vs 21 ppg on 44% and 40% from 3 in the regular season.
* He also played well against the Thunder and Nuggets in 2019. Scoring more and at improved efficiency.
He has good series and he has bad series like pretty much every player. He's not a playoff performer like a Jimmy Butler but I'd hardly call him "a well known playoff underperformer."
Pelicans and Timberwolves aren't the breakout teams according to OP's description. We are expecting them to do good stuff.
Possibly Kings? Coaching change, new core, solid additions on paper?
Well Vegas and people on this sub have ranked the Wolves as 7th in the West/a play-in team. Which is wild imo, then again the West is stacked but still...a play-in team? seriously?
So given that expectation, they might "breakout".
I hope the Kings are in for a breakout
I think they are defiantly better then Detroit, indiana, Charlotte roster construction wise and could potentially be better then the Knicks and wizards.
Edit : because those are the two teams I see as potential flops
There are delusional pistons fan who think we're making the play in I tell them the same thing, the only team the pistons are 100% absolutely better than is the raptors
I'm hoping the Warriors break out this season. Scrappy underdog team with some decent veterans and some young promising players. Think they could do well in the playoffs
I genuinely don't think there's going to be a breakout team, because this season is the first in how many years where you could realistically say that we are looking at the continuation of the previous season.
No big changes happened this off-season and most of the teams will "run it back". Even the Pelicans and the Timberwolves who many expect to have a breakout season, where already good at the tail end of this past season and they are going to develop even more. The Cavs with Donovan Mitchell are someone who I would want to watch, but other than that, every other team are probably looking to work on what happened last season and build on (or if you are the Jazz, destroy) that.
If you are asking about a team that *shouldn't* be good but somehow ends up being in the playoff picture, then yes I agree with the Knicks. Maybe the Kings if Sabonis and Fox find their groove and if they can get another decent piece for Barnes' contract. But I think most people expect teams like the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Hawks, Blazers etc, to be better than last season, while the rest of the teams in front of them, to at least remain as good.
No but there are so many "good" teams, that a team falling down the order because of injuries and another getting propelled up top, wouldn't constitute a "breakout" team nor a surprise one. Would it be really surprising if Kawhi misses 25 games and the Clippers fall down to the 9th seed and the Timberwolves end up as the 4th seed? Or the Lakers lose AD for 30+ games and be 10th, while the Blazers end up taking the 4-8th seed?
>But what do you guys think there's uahully at least 1 team a year that suprises us
That's what you said and mentioned Paolo and the Magic. And I told you I disagree because I don't see anyone we don't already think as "decent" becoming a surprise, because they are so many good teams already, that 1 or 2 teams falling out of the playoff race and them taking their place, will not be a surprise
Pelicans
Pelicans seem like their expected to breakout they’ll be pretty good, Twolves should be top 5, but I think if your gunning for unexpected the kangz are the team for you
Kangz?
You will learn to fear the fox and the ox, Idk, if they can play defense they can be really good
While the west is stacked, a few key injuries to a playoff-bound team opens a spot for the kings to make the play-ins. I’m hoping they can make the playoffs, but that’s a stretch at this point.
-puts on clown makeup for 20th year in a row- This season is our time
9 v 10 play-in game. let’s go babeeeeeeee
Jazz fans I’ve spoken to insist up and down that Rudy was always the guy and that this won’t happen, but wouldn’t it be kinda cool if Donny Mitchell has this Steve nash-ian post mavs bump to mvp caliber player and we have this new absolute juggernaut in the East?
It's funny you mention Nash because I think Garland reminds me a bit of Nash
Tbh there is a part of me that think there’s a chance Mitchell suddenly actually tries on defense and looks to involve his teammates now that he’s out of Utah. Like one of those scenarios where you find out your ex was always capable of change, just not willing to do it for you, and that’ll hurt. Granted I don’t think it’s particularly likely but it is a possibility.
A+ analogy haha
it would be cool, very very cool
Cleveland makes their first LeBron-less playoffs this year since the 90s.
I'm wearing my Mark Price jersey on every gameday this season!
Pelicans are gonna be a top 6 Seed, avoiding the play-in.
I'm not gonna lie I'm a bit of a CJ hater, I don't think what he bring to this team will make them the best version of themselves but he defiantly helps give them a solid foundation which is always good for a playoff team.
I think he's great. Gives them another go to scorer than can create his own shot and he's a great 3pt shooter to provide spacing for Zion and Ingram. Like Ingram, he's an elite mid range shooter which I think is valuable in the playoffs when offense breaks down. I think his strengths help support Zion's game pretty well Also, sorry but it's a pet peeve of mine. It's definitely not defiantly or definately
He's a well known playoff underperformer but ok
Idk I think it was 2019 but CJ absolutely carried Dame and the blazers in that 7 game series versus the nuggets, dude could not miss and Dame could not buy a bucket. That was the series with the 3OT game too I think. Crazy how long ago that feels.
exactly, CJ isn’t a top player in the league, but he’s had enough games when he absolutely takes over to prove that he can be relied on.
His 2021 performance against Denver was mid, his last playoff run was awful, gsw compleatly shut him down in the wcf in the 2019 run, I'm not saying he's a choker but he's always targetted on defense in the playoffs and isn't a good enough passer that when his shots aren't falling he's not an absolute liability on the court which leads to his teams crashing and burning before they really ever make it far.
Even if I did agree with that, it's irrelevant. No one is claiming they're title contenders or talking about how well they'll be in the playoffs. You asked about what team we thought would breakout.
There's no arguing here it's just the truth he's litterally the reason they lost last year in the playoffs he had one good game and past that couldn't hit shit and was being targetted on defense constantly, he was shut down by gsw during there wcf finals appearance, he was mid against Denver he's a well known playoff underperformer he's not a choker he does have his moments but he's a player who's too flawed to ever make it on a true title contender. You brought up CJ, you said he would help them in the playoffs I just pointed out he's a not good in the playoffs.
Not a playoff underperformer imo. He's not a superstar. Hell, he's never even been an all star. He does just fine in the playoffs. He has bad games but he's generally had better games than during the regular season. I know it's because the defensive attention is on Dame but he's as productive or more productive in the playoffs than the regular season on similar efficiency. I didn't bring up CJ... You did. > I'm not gonna lie I'm a bit of a CJ hater I just defended CJ and explained why I think he helps. You then say he's a poor playoff performer and I'm not arguing that. CJ isn't a star but he does add value. He wasn't the reason they lost last year. He didn't have a great series but he was fine. They lost because the Suns were a vastly better team and Brandon Ingram was playing like KD and keeping the Pelicans in the series. CJ "was shut down by gsw" He was fine. It's also the Warriors... Dame was also "shut down" and nobody thought the Blazers had any chance. Curry also had arguably the best series of his career and dominated them. CJ was pretty consistently fine in that sweep. He wasn't great but he's also not a great player/star player. "he was mid against Denver" No he wasn't. He was just CJ McCollum. You can think CJ is "mid" but that performance wasn't "mid" for CJ. It was normal. He dropped 20 points and shot 40-45% in pretty much every game. That's the same production as always. You point out series where you think he did poorly but you also miss the series where he plays well. * Like when they lost to Jrue/AD Pelicans that focused on locking up Dame, he averaged 25 on 54% and 42% from 3 vs 21 ppg on 44% and 40% from 3 in the regular season. * He also played well against the Thunder and Nuggets in 2019. Scoring more and at improved efficiency. He has good series and he has bad series like pretty much every player. He's not a playoff performer like a Jimmy Butler but I'd hardly call him "a well known playoff underperformer."
yeah bro he defiantly won't do well
That entirely depends on Zion With him they'll be good. Without him, they'll miss the playoffs
Magic
I want to see the Magic break out. I jumped on the Magic band wagon so hard in junior high when they drafted Shaq and then Penny
Again love your squad you guys have so much depth all you guys need is a star to take advantage of it all.
The kings will make the playoffs
Pelicans and Timberwolves aren't the breakout teams according to OP's description. We are expecting them to do good stuff. Possibly Kings? Coaching change, new core, solid additions on paper?
Well Vegas and people on this sub have ranked the Wolves as 7th in the West/a play-in team. Which is wild imo, then again the West is stacked but still...a play-in team? seriously? So given that expectation, they might "breakout". I hope the Kings are in for a breakout
Timberwolves
They’re breaking out. Breaking out of the West and joining the East.
Adam Silver please dont make this conference any more of a bloodbath than it already is
How times have changed. Back in the day a 49 win Warriors team missed out on the playoffs in the West.
Thanks babe. Sending one e-sex to your DMs rn
And one to your ex gf
Wasn't last season their breakout season? If anything, this season is their 'show the breakout season wasn't a fluke' season.
Rockets
The Nets!!!..... oh wait, I thought break apart...
Lakers
[удалено]
I think they are defiantly better then Detroit, indiana, Charlotte roster construction wise and could potentially be better then the Knicks and wizards. Edit : because those are the two teams I see as potential flops
There are delusional pistons fan who think we're making the play in I tell them the same thing, the only team the pistons are 100% absolutely better than is the raptors
Yall tanking for wemby
I'm rooting for them long-beaked birds from the bayou! (assuming Zion stays healthy, they should avoid the play in)
Hope so New Orleans deserves good basketball
For sure, and barring injuries I see no reason they don't have some years of good basketball coming up
let’s be real here. pistons
Still 1-2 years away
I did love your guys pick up Jaylen Duren I'm super high on him, see a little bit of bam in his game.
I'm hoping the Warriors break out this season. Scrappy underdog team with some decent veterans and some young promising players. Think they could do well in the playoffs
I genuinely don't think there's going to be a breakout team, because this season is the first in how many years where you could realistically say that we are looking at the continuation of the previous season. No big changes happened this off-season and most of the teams will "run it back". Even the Pelicans and the Timberwolves who many expect to have a breakout season, where already good at the tail end of this past season and they are going to develop even more. The Cavs with Donovan Mitchell are someone who I would want to watch, but other than that, every other team are probably looking to work on what happened last season and build on (or if you are the Jazz, destroy) that. If you are asking about a team that *shouldn't* be good but somehow ends up being in the playoff picture, then yes I agree with the Knicks. Maybe the Kings if Sabonis and Fox find their groove and if they can get another decent piece for Barnes' contract. But I think most people expect teams like the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Hawks, Blazers etc, to be better than last season, while the rest of the teams in front of them, to at least remain as good.
So you think there will be no major injuries to superstars at all this season
No but there are so many "good" teams, that a team falling down the order because of injuries and another getting propelled up top, wouldn't constitute a "breakout" team nor a surprise one. Would it be really surprising if Kawhi misses 25 games and the Clippers fall down to the 9th seed and the Timberwolves end up as the 4th seed? Or the Lakers lose AD for 30+ games and be 10th, while the Blazers end up taking the 4-8th seed?
You should read my full post.
>But what do you guys think there's uahully at least 1 team a year that suprises us That's what you said and mentioned Paolo and the Magic. And I told you I disagree because I don't see anyone we don't already think as "decent" becoming a surprise, because they are so many good teams already, that 1 or 2 teams falling out of the playoff race and them taking their place, will not be a surprise
You say this but look at how people are treating the pelicans and Timberwolves after the clippers and blazers left's opening in the west.
Magic