sturt

I like our chances, but objectively, I have to admit we have a few too many "ifs" to be considered the primary contender. Several things have to go our way that seemingly should, but very well might not.

Can't buy that, Dies. Pat Riley has it right. Wade is an afterthought and not worth the money at this point.

Yep, JayBird... and it's all a stunning illustration to me of how hype can tilt the odds.... I'm sure there's been a serious surge from New Englanders, as well as those who became Celtics fans across the fruited plain back in the Bird era, making early bets on their team.

Don't get the rosy view of Bulls. To me, CHI picked up some scraps to replace guys who are mostly done. Butler can only do so much.

Note, I figure this is more of an illustration of just how many BOS fans and uninformed others have bought into the hype. All told, what has BOS actually accomplished this off-season? Did they land that outside shooter that they were starving for in the playoffs? Al will be a good player for them, but honestly, their draft seems a disaster, at least in the short term, and beyond Al, there's nothing else impressive to me. I'm guessing many here would agree, no? ... closer view... My best shot at an objective take: 1) CLE 2) TOR 3) IND 4) ATL 5) DET 6) BOS 7) MIL 8) CHA

Catalog that clip. I don't want to make any predictions, but it don't hurt none to say that might be one that is meaningful if we take our place among the elite somewhere down the line.

+ 2 2nd round picks, the first of which ended up being Cordinier.

Understood. I don't think even the most ardent Moose supporter would say he necessarily is. There's just a recognition that the pool of anyone with greater certainty at that price.... and who is available... is pretty shallow if it exists at all. (My last post on the topic, mom, I promise.)

Yeah, one more game tomorrow. And yeah, we did seem to get tired.

Yes. I thought we already agreed on that, but if we didn't, we should have.

He started it, mom! ;)

Um. Statistically, it was setting him back, even while it was giving him the look you suggest. Thus one and the same. Edit: And again... not saying your theory doesn't hold water, but am saying you're more persuaded that it's totally correct than I can be persuaded at this stage.

po-tae-toe, pat-tot-oe

Perhaps. Moose did get more regular rotation PT last season, and so, I too am inclined to think that that explains a lot of what set him back. I can't say it enough.... I'm not asserting that he did anything to get excited about, I'm only asserting that the jury is still out as it should be.

No, but he is a good rebounder. And if Moose can get back to rivaling a good rebounder, together with getting back to a better 3pt%, I for one will be content. Certainly, there's a reason they signed Hump; had Moose performed better last season, that wouldn't have happened. And so, truly, Moose' roster slot is hanging by a thread as it should be, depending on Scott's status and on if any better opportunity surfaces.

What's Isiah talking about... there was zero lower-body contact. At all. From either guy, Edy or Lasme. (re: that last play b4 the half)

Love seeing Prince giving Oubre... who arguably might have been a Hawk... fits.

He rivaled Sap in his first two seasons. That's impressive. He didn't rival Sap in his third. That's not impressive. And to be clear, I'm not asserting that he was necessarily an exceptional college rebounder. I'm very precise here. All I'm saying is on that front is, he could have eliminated himself from the conversation and didn't. He did what he could possibly do at that stage, which is not something everyone can say. All of which doesn't make him a valuable commodity at this stage, but does put a finger on the scale toward the benefit of a doubt from my perspective. In the previous thread, I looked at him in comparison to Zaza at approximately the same point in their careers.... Zaza slightly better rebounder, Moose slightly better shooter. It's worth a year to get more data.

Yes, but that's one year. Heretofore, he's rivaled Milsap's numbers, and while playing in the Patriot League may have enhanced his ranking, it's still better to be ranked 2nd in all of NCAA having played there than somewhere down the list... ie, that at least puts him in the conversation of best rebounders coming out in the draft that year. Again.... he's just turned 25 this month. Rule of thumb I've always heard said is that most NBA players don't plateau until their 25 year-old season at the earliest. There's merit in seeing what happens this year with him, imo.

Agree: He still needs upper body strength. Disagree: He is a capable scorer, and on this team, more often than not, has been right with the best rebounders... but there's certainly room for improvement in both areas. He's not where he was expected to be, given his progress shown in his sophomore season, but he didn't fall off the wagon. It's still reasonable if not smart to see what he can do for $1m this season.

(Agree he needs to show improvement. Disagree that he was as lousy as alleged. But already did that topic myself a few days ago.)

Addressing the original question, I think we have to wait to see if our rookies continue to impress in SL and in TC. Captain Obvious has reported that those two, based on history, perhaps along with Tavares, are the odds-on favorites to be getting D-league action. Then, too, there's the matter of Jack's rehab. If all goes well... too well, that is, for Bud to keep the rooks in D-league... we might have a serious DNP-CD rotation at the back end of the roster for the first time in memory.

Wish we had some way of digging into Banks County's history in prosecuting drug charges, just to give us some concept of what they've typically done, plea deals and otherwise. Better yet, wish we have an ace journalist who would do that kind of investigation. I'm guessing at this point Moose is essentially our insurance policy against Scott's contract being voided, and if it somehow turns out that Scott escapes the molly charge (the weed charge carrying a much lesser penalty to be concerned about), Moose will be shopped for a 2nd round pick or rights to a stashed player.

Ultimately, if 8 only meant a new beginning to Dwight himself, that's all that really matters. It's a theme he's embraced, and it really does come through to me and I'm sure any of us... he's just got a much more mature demeanor to him than I'd ever seen before.

Just saw this... incredibly bad timing, eh? http://soaringdownsouth.com/2016/07/11/lamar-patterson-next-breakout-hawk/