People keep talking about how the team needs to get off to a good start or MU will look to blow it up. MU even said that he is taking a "wait and see" approach to this team in the Season Event Kick-off the other night. Many people are optimistic about the season and that this group could put it all together, but looking at the schedule, they have a pretty tough start to the season. What is good enough for MU to hold it all together? How long will he be patient? Where would you draw the line?
The Raps first 20 games includes Miami (twice), Indiana, Houston, Memphis, Chicago, Brooklyn, Golden State and San Antonio. That's 9 losses in the first 20 games almost guaranteed.
With 2 sets of back-to-back games, the Raps face Miami-@Charlotte, and then @Indiana-home vs Utah, the Raps could lose winnable games (@ Charlotte and home vs Utah) if they are fatigued from their games the night before against Top Tier teams. If the Raps were to somehow keep it close into the 4th Q against Miami or the Pacers, we might waste a lot of energy that could cost us in the 2nd, more winnable, game. Raps went 7-7 in back-to-backs last season (including the Bargs game-winning missed foul call vs Charlotte). So assuming we'd win one and lose one is fairly reasonable.
We have 2 Sunday afternoon games vs West Coast teams, Portland and Denver, that are usually winnable games since it is much harder for a west coast team to play at 1pm EST. Portland should be a winnable game, but Denver will be a tough challenge.
Boston, Philly, and Phoenix represent the "easiest" games on the schedule, and perhaps the Lakers could be added their too depending on their health.
Raps First-Half Season Schedule
Wed - Boston W
Fri @ Atl L
Sat @ Mil W - a close matchup, giving the Raps the win since the Bucks have had such a large turnover from last season
Tue - Mia L
Wed @ Charlotte L - 50/50 in back to backs, predicting we drop this one but win at home vs Utah
Fri @Indiana L
Sat - Utah W
Mon @ Hou L
Wed @ Mem L
Fr - Chi L
Sun - Port 1pm W
Wed @ Philly W
Fri- Was W - if the Raps want to make the playoffs, they need to win games like this one
Tue - Brooklyn L
Fri - Miami L
Sun - Den 1pm L - Could go their way with the time difference and Denver's changes, but Denver still has a lot of talent on their team
Tue @GS L
Fri @ Pho W
Sun @ LAL W
Tue SA L
----20 games---- 10-10 at best, 6-14 maybe, guessing 8-12 here though.
Fri Philly W
Sat @ Chi L
Wed Char W
Fri @ Dallas W
Sun @ OKC L
Mon @ SA L
Fri @ NYK L
Sat NYK W
Tue @ Chi L
Wed Indy L
----30 games---- 4-6 stretch, so that's 12-18 so far
Fri @ Was W
Sun @ Mia L
Tues @ Indy L
Wed Det W
*
Sat Brook L
Mon Mil W
Wed @ Bos W
Fri Min W
Sun LAL W
Mon @ Char W
----40 games---- Let's go full optimistic here, a 10 game stretch of 7-3 then...
Wed Dal - W
Jan 22nd is our half way point in the season, based on my estimates, we are likely 20-21 at the mid-way point in the season. With the trade deadline on Feb 20th, this would be 4 weeks prior to the deadline, with 14 games to go. Those 14 games are likely more of the same (.500 ball) as they play the Clippers twice, the Nets, New Orleans, Chicago to go with the 76ers, Magic and Kings.
*A date on the calendar: Jan 10th - all contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
So what does MU do? Wait until the trade deadline? That might be too late if he wants to land a high pick. If he holds on too long and trades too late, we would be stuck in the same no mans land. I'm very curious to see how this will play out.
No matter what happens, this will be an important year for this franchise, and could be the lynch-pin for the next decade.
The Raps first 20 games includes Miami (twice), Indiana, Houston, Memphis, Chicago, Brooklyn, Golden State and San Antonio. That's 9 losses in the first 20 games almost guaranteed.
With 2 sets of back-to-back games, the Raps face Miami-@Charlotte, and then @Indiana-home vs Utah, the Raps could lose winnable games (@ Charlotte and home vs Utah) if they are fatigued from their games the night before against Top Tier teams. If the Raps were to somehow keep it close into the 4th Q against Miami or the Pacers, we might waste a lot of energy that could cost us in the 2nd, more winnable, game. Raps went 7-7 in back-to-backs last season (including the Bargs game-winning missed foul call vs Charlotte). So assuming we'd win one and lose one is fairly reasonable.
We have 2 Sunday afternoon games vs West Coast teams, Portland and Denver, that are usually winnable games since it is much harder for a west coast team to play at 1pm EST. Portland should be a winnable game, but Denver will be a tough challenge.
Boston, Philly, and Phoenix represent the "easiest" games on the schedule, and perhaps the Lakers could be added their too depending on their health.
Raps First-Half Season Schedule
Wed - Boston W
Fri @ Atl L
Sat @ Mil W - a close matchup, giving the Raps the win since the Bucks have had such a large turnover from last season
Tue - Mia L
Wed @ Charlotte L - 50/50 in back to backs, predicting we drop this one but win at home vs Utah
Fri @Indiana L
Sat - Utah W
Mon @ Hou L
Wed @ Mem L
Fr - Chi L
Sun - Port 1pm W
Wed @ Philly W
Fri- Was W - if the Raps want to make the playoffs, they need to win games like this one
Tue - Brooklyn L
Fri - Miami L
Sun - Den 1pm L - Could go their way with the time difference and Denver's changes, but Denver still has a lot of talent on their team
Tue @GS L
Fri @ Pho W
Sun @ LAL W
Tue SA L
----20 games---- 10-10 at best, 6-14 maybe, guessing 8-12 here though.
Fri Philly W
Sat @ Chi L
Wed Char W
Fri @ Dallas W
Sun @ OKC L
Mon @ SA L
Fri @ NYK L
Sat NYK W
Tue @ Chi L
Wed Indy L
----30 games---- 4-6 stretch, so that's 12-18 so far
Fri @ Was W
Sun @ Mia L
Tues @ Indy L
Wed Det W
*
Sat Brook L
Mon Mil W
Wed @ Bos W
Fri Min W
Sun LAL W
Mon @ Char W
----40 games---- Let's go full optimistic here, a 10 game stretch of 7-3 then...
Wed Dal - W
Jan 22nd is our half way point in the season, based on my estimates, we are likely 20-21 at the mid-way point in the season. With the trade deadline on Feb 20th, this would be 4 weeks prior to the deadline, with 14 games to go. Those 14 games are likely more of the same (.500 ball) as they play the Clippers twice, the Nets, New Orleans, Chicago to go with the 76ers, Magic and Kings.
*A date on the calendar: Jan 10th - all contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
So what does MU do? Wait until the trade deadline? That might be too late if he wants to land a high pick. If he holds on too long and trades too late, we would be stuck in the same no mans land. I'm very curious to see how this will play out.
No matter what happens, this will be an important year for this franchise, and could be the lynch-pin for the next decade.
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