2019-2020 season commentary

[Crow]

J Jackson / J Val has only been used 28 minutes. It was terrible. I don't care how terrible, this should have been tested 200 plus minutes. If they didn't test, they might be intent of trading JVal or hoping he opts out. Ok... if you can do better. But they are basically ignorant about that pair and what it might do in future if JVal remains.

Almost -11 pts / 100 possessions in almost 300 minutes of testing. So they don't know how to make it work. So what are they going to do about it?

[Crow]

Wizards should blow it up. They can chase the 8th seed next season or season after but more likely than not won't get it. Probably 4-5 years minimum to get back to something beyond chance for 8th seed. Just a matter when you want to start the process Ted.

There are no strong player pairs with Beal or otherwise to argue in favor of paying to retain the free agents. Wall's eventual return does not offer hope. Wall-Beal etc. was largely meh and I doubt it changes.

New coach? Sure at some point. Brooks wasn't the answer, isn't going to be.

Beal's only positive pair in the main rotation this season so far is with Bertans. So are they going to keep or not?

[Crow]

There is a pretty good chance the 2020 conference finals have a completely different group of 4 teams than 2019.

So far it is looking like 3 different.

[Crow]

Strongly disagree with an early max extension to Denver's Murray. Barely above average impact player. Didn't improve much from year 2 to 3.

Boxscore metrics up a bit because of steals but basically nothing else. RPM up from plus 1 to 2. Does he go up further or not?

[Crow]

Last season only 3 teams had a road record in regular season notably better than .500. The two finalists and the Bucks. That was the fewest in at least last 5 years. It appears that 5 or more is typically clear of .500, though only 3 may have great road records.. Title winner met this criteria every season for at least last 5. Probably better meet it and / or have best record & get home court throughout playoffs.

Currently 10 teams with a road record above .500. The 3 great ones are Lakers, Bucks and Mavs.

[Crow]

I should have said that Kadeem Allen should get a shot to unseat Smith or Payton at some point.

Has played one game. Pretty good on individual stats. Are more chances coming?

[Crow]

With Nurkic injured and Aminu gone, the Blazers really need the super-rebounding of Whiteside. Especially with Tolliver. Will they play Skal L. much? I dunno. Might need to. Or get someone else.

When Whiteside is not on the court they probably will lose rebounding, maybe badly.

Blazers in bottom 10 on both offensive and defensive rebounding. With Whiteside on court offensive rebounding is sllghtly above average.

[Crow]

Jazz make changes but Mitchell and Snyder remain. Both really sucked in last playoffs. Mitchell had the by far worst boxscore metrics of the top 8 rotation guys. Snyder's most used 4 playoff lineups were really bad to horrendous. Unless they do way better next playoffs, team will likely not get better results.

Mitchell a bit better.

Most used lineups are pretty hit or miss. Strong starting lineup should probably play way more. The player pairs are generally strong but Snyder is still finding ways to get less from them and be just above .500 and just plus 1 on SRS.

[Crow]

The idea that T Ferguson is someone the Thunder has refused to include in trades seems ridiculous to me. Perhaps I am wrong, but I see nothing special about him.

So far this season not that change. More turnovers. Better defense. -2 on RPM, 1 pt better than last season, but for a still low 102nd of 115 SGs.

[Crow]

Griz off season included good moves, bad moves and wait n see moves.

How good is the coach?

The roster doesn't really show a clear design to me.

Not really focused on next year of course.

A lot depends on big pairs and if Morant has anything relationship with them.

Bottom 12 on all factors except defensive rebounding. Weak on Moreyball.

Morant negative on 9 of 10 most used player pairs. Not so bad with Brooks, Crowder and Hill. Fairly bad with JVal and JJJ.

[Crow]

Nuggets offense way underperforming expectations.

More good defenses than I expected. Might partly be underperforming offenses.

[Crow]

Will Morant and Jones play together much for Griz? Probably not, but I think they should try it some, especially in clutch time.

Used just 15 minutes so far. Bad, but so small sample they know virtually nothing about the possibility.

[Crow]

Zion gives impression of wanting to go full out . It sounds good but how much should you do it in regular season? A full out hype spin move may work well and entertain but I'd also think it would potentially stress knees and ankles and pose some heightened risk.

Presumably D Griffin will give some input and guidance. Presumably he will talk to other stars and maybe their trainers and doctors. Hopefully ahead of time instead of late.

So... when will he play and for how long?

[Crow]

By RPM, the Celtics have the lowest rated top star among the top 15 teams (if you count Oladipo as coming back). Kemba Walker was in 35th place last season. Their success this season is likely going to have to come as an extended ensemble of positives.

Tatum is the RPM star. Brown, Hayward, Theis, Walker and Kanter are a nice ensemble.

[Crow]

TWolves GM decided not to keep Tyus Jones. Can manage this season and this season isn't likely to have much importance (playoffs not expected). But next summer he'll have to decide whether to keep Teague, Napier or get different. He'll probably decide to go for different. But who will he actually get and how ready to help push for playoffs? How many years til they are back in playoffs? Could be 2, 3, 4 or more.

Not keeping Jones appears to have been good choice. Teague has good boxscore but meh on and on /off and negative RPM. With 7 straight losses and 3-11 to go go back further, probably need change. I dunno what they can get for him. Maybe someone more expensive. Napier a big disappointment.