He said the P word.......Playoffs for 2020-2021!

[JayBirdHawk]

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So we’ve got to combine all of our talent with a relentless effort and a relentless pursuit of making each other better and holding each other accountable.”

 

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If nothing else, Wednesday’s public-facing sentiment was certainly different and, in Pierce’s words, he believes it was received differently inside the locker room, simply because it wasn’t something that was spoken in such plain terms previously.

 

“It was great,” Pierce said. “I said it and Trae’s head shook. De’Andre Hunter looked up, got out of his seat and looked forward. They haven’t heard me say that before. They’ve heard me talk about preparing to win. There are a lot of phases we have to go through to prepare to win games that De’Andre and Cam didn’t know about at the beginning of the season. So I think I caught them off guard a little bit just by saying that. They haven’t heard me talk about wins and playoffs. But that’s where we are. We’re at a point where that’s more important for our growth. We’ve gotta get out of development and transitioning to what it takes to win games. It’s more than just the individual. It’s our team, as a whole, really coming together, pushing each other holding each other accountable.”

“We know what we have returning,” said Pierce. “We’ll look and see what else is added, but the guys we have returning have been together enough, enjoy being with each other, believe they’re a playoff team and want it. We got to change the mindset to that and really start approaching it that way. It’s still not expectations, it’s just a belief. The guys believe. They believed it this year. But I want them to hold each other accountable.”

For the Hawks, the future is still more important than the present and, while that isn’t an excuse for the team’s performance this season, it does serve as an explanation. In the grand scheme, that doesn’t change for the 2020-21 specifically but, for the first time in a public form, Pierce made it clear that, even if expectation isn’t the word he’d use, the playoffs are the focus for next season.

“Everything that we do is about our team progressing and going forward,” Pierce said. “Next year, the progression is playoffs. That’s just a natural step. I’m not afraid to say it. Holding each other accountable, me holding them accountable, and them holding me accountable is very important for a team to be successful.”

 

[Spud2nique]

PLAYOFFS BABY HERE WE COME!!!! (Next year)

[GameTime]

Playoffs or bust next year for LP

[sturt]

 

(... don't tell me you didn't know this was coming... )

[JayBirdHawk]

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All season, Pierce has stressed that this season isn’t about wins or making the playoffs. But on Wednesday the tone changed, and we know what the next stage of the process should look like next season.

“Everything that we do is about our team progressing and going forward,” Pierce said. “Next year, the progression is playoffs. That’s just a natural step. I’m not afraid to say it. Holding each other accountable, me holding them accountable and them holding me accountable is very important for a team to be successful.”

The Hawks held a meeting before Wednesday’s practice — Tuesday was an off day — to talk about the approach when they face a game like Monday’s. It wasn’t necessarily about the particulars of what went wrong but how to prevent it from happening.

 

[Buzzard]

I am pretty sure the writing is on the wall. Barring a major injury to Trae or Collins, its playoffs or bust next season. Three years in the bottom of the standings is about all Ressler will stand for.

Here is something I have been thinking about as I see the Nets in 7th place, the East is going to get tougher if Durant and Kyrie are healthy next season. That is a big if but a definite possibility.

[Spud2nique]

2 minutes ago, Buzzard said:

I am pretty sure the writing is on the wall. Barring a major injury to Trae or Collins, its playoffs or bust next season. Three years in the bottom of the standings is about all Ressler will stand for.

Here is something I have been thinking about as I see the Nets in 7th place, the East is going to get tougher if Durant and Kyrie are healthy next season. That is a big if but a definite possibility.

Not a guarantee Nets get in. Durant healthy is not guaranteed. Kyrie will need time and rhythm and flow with each other to integrate what they already have with Allen and Dinwiddie and Prince. I don’t know it’s not a given they get in. There’s only one ball and 2 ball dominant hogs.

[Buzzard]

5 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Not a guarantee Nets get in. Durant healthy is not guaranteed. Kyrie will need time and rhythm and flow with each other to integrate what they already have with Allen and Dinwiddie and Prince. I don’t know it’s not a given they get in. There’s only one ball and 2 ball dominant hogs.

I will bet you on the Nets getting in. How'd you like looking at Luka again after next season

[kg01]

All the clp haters now want us to tank.

10 minutes ago, Buzzard said:

I will bet you on the Nets getting in. How'd you like looking at Luka again after next season

Haha.  Gott eeemmm

[Buzzard]

Just now, kg01 said:

All the clp haters now want us to tank.

I don't want us to tank and I don't hate. I payed for a full year of NBA League Pass and games like the last one make we want to ask for a refund. I want to watch a win every time my friend!

Go Hawks!!!

[Thomas]

37 minutes ago, Buzzard said:

 Here is something I have been thinking about as I see the Nets in 7th place, the East is going to get tougher if Durant and Kyrie are healthy next season. That is a big if but a definite possibility.

I get it now....

Edited March 5, 2020 by Thomas

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Speaking of the Nets . . . they're down by 29 to Memphis late in the 4th.   26 - 6 run in the 4th.

Edited March 5, 2020 by TheNorthCydeRises

[Buzzard]

14 minutes ago, Thomas said:

I get it now....

Yes the 6th seed 76ers are 37 and 25. The 8th seed next season may be the only one around .500 or lower.

[Buzzard]

1 minute ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Speaking of the Nets . . . they're down by 29 to Memphis late in the 4th.

At least they can say that is without Kyrie and Durant. We did have Collins and Trae, just saying.

[RedDawg#8]

44 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Not a guarantee Nets get in. Durant healthy is not guaranteed. Kyrie will need time and rhythm and flow with each other to integrate what they already have with Allen and Dinwiddie and Prince. I don’t know it’s not a given they get in. There’s only one ball and 2 ball dominant hogs.

The Nets were a playoff team last year, they are a playoff team this year.

They are getting better players back, and likely a few additional ring chasers over the offseason who see who is coming back and want to join the party. 

The Nets will be better than the Sixers, Heat and Pacers next year. Not as good as Milwaukee, yet, but competing with Bos and Toronto for a top 3 seed next year.
 

Book it 

 

The East is gonna be tough next year make no mistake.

Orlando is the incumbent 8th seed, no signs of regression.
 

Washington and  Chicago are in the same category as us, teams that look in the mirror and believe that they are playoff worthy. 
 

Detroit is headed for rebuild. Knicks are a huge mess and they cant even see it yet, and Cleveland is a crapshoot. They may have enough for a quick turnaround if they play their cards right this offseason. 
 

We arent the only ones who think we will be better next year. There is going to be heavy competition for  1 playoff spot. Maybe 2 spots if Miami keeps trending in the wrong direction. 

[RedDawg#8]

Lets make a push to get to 9th. We're 4.5 games behind Washington. If we can finish at 9, 3rd in the division, our guys will have much needed confidence for next year

 

30 wins is still the magic number in my opinion. That's 11-8 the rest of the way

Edited March 5, 2020 by RedDawg#8

[Peoriabird]

All season, Pierce has stressed that this season isn’t about wins or making the playoffs.

 

So this was a tank year after all!

[marco102]

31 minutes ago, Peoriabird said:

All season, Pierce has stressed that this season isn’t about wins or making the playoffs.

 

So this was a tank year after all!

Travis said he expeted the team to win 30 games.  Don't know if it was a tank year, but with two rookie wings, and a bunch of youngins. this was definetly a developmental year  The team wasn't expecting many wins.  

If JC and Kevin are healthy the entire season, we'd be much closer to the playoffs than out right now.

[Buzzard]

34 minutes ago, Peoriabird said:

All season, Pierce has stressed that this season isn’t about wins or making the playoffs.

 

So this was a tank year after all!

After the Collins suspension I did not see much hope. Is there a difference between telling your team its not about winning and losing is ok? Lloyd speak. I am sure he sees a difference but I don't.

[Peoriabird]

1 minute ago, Buzzard said:

After the Collins suspension I did not see much hope.

I think the quote clearly stated all season long not just during the Collins suspension