bLACKpANTHER

Would have rather lost to Bucks and beat Hawks.. we own tiebreaker against them but they and Miami are most likely teams to leapfrog us for #4 and #5 seeds.. Boston could get #6 and we have to compete for spot in playoff if we continue to slip.. Staying in #4 or #5 is key because I feel we can win a series against any of the teams mentioned earlier - when we are at full strength.. if we fall to #6 and have to deal with one of those Elite 3 seeds - we are cooked..

I'm more than a little upset. The 2 times we really needed a good showing - we came out the gates looking like clowns. BKN and ATL are the only 2 games I have been disappointed in our team. We rely on the 3 too much and can't guard the 3.. we were even with them in FG%, boards and FTs. We also outscored them in the paint. They just beat us from the 3pt line: 44% to our 35%..

Honestly believe when we traded for Darnold - it was a red flare that we announced the #8 pick is up for grabs.. There are a lot of other teams that want a QB and #8 is a perfect spot to grab any of them.. Those that were upset at what we gave up to get Sam (6th, 2nd & 4th) should be happy after we trade back and pick up two 2nds.. Essentially: 2nd + 4th + 6th = Sam Darnold + two 2nds Golden..

Just saw this on the Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/4/8/22373059/playoff-lottery-odds-probability-model

So I have been keeping a running list of what our remaining schedule is while highlighting specific things: - potential wins (green circle) - potential loses (red circle) - KEY matchups (yellow/green circle) - road trips [3 games or more] (pink shade) - back-to-backs (red bracket) I also highlighted when Ball, Monk and Hayward were injured and their projected return/re-evaluations on our schedule.. FYI, I made these predictions before the Monk/Hayward injury.. In the upcoming games, if we can beat OKC, ATL and Cleveland - I think we will have weathered the worst of the storm.. There are tougher stretches of our schedule but to be honest, we can lose against the tough teams as long as we pick up W's in the yellow KEY matchup games.. After looking at the schedule of other teams in the hunt, i think - even if we ONLY won 6 more games against CLE x2, DET x2, ORL & WAS - that would put us at 31 wins and probably still good enough to be the last team in the playoff (IND & CHI have tough schedules).. but I think we will be closer to 36-36 final record.. Those 8 yellow/green games will determine how things shake out the rest of the way..

I was already more excited than last year with CMC coming back and the defensive additions.. on a scale of 1-10 of excitement: I was at a 7/10 now with Darnold, I would say a 7.5/10

Sign Rozier long-term.. it ain't even a question.. we have had to deal with Kemba and clowns for so long and can't even remember what it's like to have 2 good players - let alone 3 with Ball & Hayward!! it's sad as a franchise, that the first thought when a player is doing well, is to trade him and get something else.. it's like players having a wide open layup but kick it out to the 3pt line.. ugh.. the core of Ball, Terry and Hayward is super solid.. finding a center and figuring out if PJ has reached his max-potential are key.. if we can keep Graham and Monk on team friendly deals that don't break the bank - it's a no brainer as well.. they can get hot in an instant and light it up from outside - but are streaky and might go 1-6 some nights..

"lose"

they knew we were decent playoff team and came out with a playoff intensity.. we came out thinking this was any other normal regular season game and it showed.. we weren't ready.. they tested us and we failed the test plain and simple

Harden out tonight

dang.. woulda been amazing to get that W crazy how we just got back off 2 West Coast trips and now we run right back out for a 6 game road trip.. good thing is we will have a ton of home stands down the stretch.. the next few games are not crazy tough like the stretch of DEN, LAL, LAC, SA we just came back from - but they are some more important games against IND, BOS and ATL..

W

I don't think Oladipo will be ready to play for the Heat by tomorrow night - right?

we get Wanamaker for the remainder of the season for literally almost nothing..

watching the Lamarcus Aldridge buyout.. he's said to be headed to the Heat.. if he is, that sucks..

East Top Teams: 76ers: + George Hill Bucks: + PJ Tucker Nets: +/- East Mid Teams: Hornets: +/- Heat: + Oladipo / – Olynyk, Bradley Knicks: +/- Hawks: + Lou Williams / – Rondo Celtics: + Fournier / – Tice Pacers: +/- Bulls: + Vucevic / – Wendell Carter Jr, Otto Porter Raptors: +/- Conclusions: - Heat improved and I think they will solidify the #4 spot. - Hawks slightly improved because they were getting. nothing from Rondo and Lou will give them scoring off the bench. - Celtics slightly improved their scoring but their interior got even weaker. - Bulls improved but not sure by how much. Could be a threat now.

Okay.. we sit at 4th in the East.. super hype!! now this Friday might be the most important game we play so far this season.. we only play the Heat 3 times this year and we already won the first one in OT.. if we win Friday, we will own tie breaker scenario over them and they are they team that will really be fighting for the #4 & #5 spots.. Just looking forward at tiebreakers: Heat - 1/0 - 2 more left Hawks - 2/0 - 1 more left - own tiebreaker Knicks - 1/0 - 2 more left Celtics - 0/0 - 3 more left Pacers - 1/1 - 1 upcoming Bulls - 0/1 - 2 more left

I think the Turner/Holmes type of deals we are walking away from but the McGee/Whiteside type of deals should still get done.. a 2nd rounder for McGee needs to happen unless someone else comes in and gives something more

Cleveland is also hopeful to move veteran center JaVale McGee in a trade that would net a second-round pick in return, league sources told HoopsHype. – via Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype I hope we can get Holmes or Turner without sending too much away.. but if they want too much, McGee for a 2nd is a no brainer.. In Mitch I Trust

Proven Upgrade: Myles Turner, IND - 24 yrs old - $18m (3yrs) Richaun Holmes, SAC - 27 yrs old - $5m (1yr) Andre Drummond, CLE - 27 yrs old - $28.8m (1yr) Nikola Vucevic, ORL - 30 yrs old - $26m (3yrs) We have been linked to be interested in all of these guys but their teams are not willing to simply give them away. We would have to send back at least one 1st round pick + a few of our young-core players (Monk, Bridges, PJ, Graham).. the asking price is too much to be honest. Maybe we can get Drummond but his price tag is huge for a 1 year rental. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Short-Term Vet Help: JaValee McGee, CLE - 33 yrs old - $4.2m (1yr) Ed Davis, MIN - 31 yrs old - $5m (1yr) Hassan Whiteside, SAC - 31 yrs old - $1.6m (1yr) I'm sure all these guys could help our rebounding numbers and/or defend the paint. I have to imagine we wouldn't have to give up much more than a 2nd round pick. Our available open roster spot is where this could be of great use. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Roll of the Dice: Mo Bamba, ORL - 22 yrs old - $5.8m (2yrs) Wendell Carter Jr., CHI - 21 yrs old - $5.4m (2yrs) Montrez Harrell - 27 yrs old - $9.2m (2yrs) Marvin Bagley, SAC - 22 yrs old - $9m (2yrs) JaBari Parker, SAC - 26 yrs old - $6.5m (1yr) These players are somewhere in between. They could be great fits but could be someone we run out of town at the end of their contracts. Good thing is - they are really short term and not too pricey. ----------------------------------------------------------------------