History is upon us. The Warriors can claim the best NBA start ever on Tuesday, while the Sixers are a week away from potentially claiming the worst start in league history. In this edition of FLANNS & ZILLZ, we discuss the problems in Philadelphia, the magic in Oakland and what it all means.
The Sixers are like the Warriors but the opposite
Two NBA teams are on the verge of history. That is about all they have in common.
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ZILLER: The 76ers are 0-15. The Warriors are 15-0. We're flirting with lots of history this season, some good and some bad. I wrote on Friday that the Warriors are fully capable of going 73-9, breaking the 1995-96 Bulls' record for wins. Is that a pipe dream?
FLANNERY: It’s not a pipe dream, but it’s still an unlikely occurrence. Even with 15 straight under their championship belt, the Dubs would have to go 58-9 to get there. That’s a winning percentage of 87 percent and that’s akin to a 70-win season. We all know the reasons why it can’t happen: injuries, ennui, schedule/travel losses. It will be very, very hard to do and I’m not even sure it’s worth doing after a certain point. But yeah, it’s totally possible and they are that good.
You know what else is on the table? 9-73.
The Sixers are to the basement what the Warriors are to the penthouse. It’s getting a little old hearing how hard these guys play when they’re getting blown out on the regular. We both hit with waves of Twitter anger after suggesting in the preseason that they were going to be terrible. Even their defenders have to be embarrassed by this, no?
ZILLER: They must be, and I have sensed a minor tone shift among the Trust The Process faithful. I can’t blame anyone in Philadelphia for believing in the method or for getting a bit disenchanted at this point.
Consider that Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis both look phenomenal. Both being better than Jahlil Okafor are indictments of the process, though Okafor fared well against Towns on Monday. Towns shows how heavy a role luck plays in the lottery gambit, and Porzingis shows that perhaps Sam Hinkie's scouting chops are fallible.
Of course it’s absurd to think we already know Porzingis will be better than Okafor: it’s as fuzzy as ever. But that Porzingis looks better than Okafor early is yet another indictment of the process, because Okafor doesn’t have a single healthy guard who can set him up. That backcourt is a travesty.
FLANNERY: I suggested that I would rather have the Zinger over Okafor on John Gonzalez’s show and people lost their mind. Only true process believers could come to the conclusion that a defensive liability with fit issues would be an upgrade over the Latvian sensation at this point.
You’re right about that backcourt. That’s one of the worst offenses I’ve ever seen. I really don’t want to fight the Hinkie Wars all over again, but this isn’t even close to a functioning basketball team. That’s a problem.
Seriously, what’s the point of their season? It can’t all be about accumulating lottery chances. There has to be some room for development. Right?
More on Golden State
ZILLER: Like I said, I don’t think we are close to having an answer on Porzingis-Okafor, and won’t until we see them develop. It’ll take time. But having such a poor supporting cast is bound to damage Okafor’s development! This is, in a way, an unforeseen flaw of the Hinkie plan: you’re all about assets and development, but focusing on acquiring future assets at the expense of current players stunts the development of the assets already collected.
In a way, Hinkie has tanked too well. I’ve written that before from the perspective of lottery reform, which the Sixers have avoided. But in this view, there’s no reason for Philly to be this bad. Having a starter-level point guard wouldn’t put this collection of talent above 20 wins. There’s no need to purposely be THIS bad.
That said, the Warriors were almost completely built through the draft, with the exception of Andrew Bogut (acquired via trade that centered on a Warriors draft steal) and Andre Iguodala. The draft is the best method to build from mediocre to great.
FLANNERY: Absolutely, but the Warriors are unique in that they didn't have a top-three pick to grab that franchise-changing player. Stephen Curry and Harrison Barnes both went seventh in their respective drafts, Klay Thompson was taken at the end of the lottery and Draymond Green was a second-round pick. They nailed those picks while missing badly on Ekpe Udoh. They could have had Paul freaking George or Greg Monroe or Gordon Hayward. The draft will always be an inexact science. That's the flaw in Hinkie's plan and I think it's fair to question whether a Plan B exists at this point.
Let’s get back to the Dubs for a moment. I think it’s possible that we’re still underrating three things: Steph Curry, the overall talent and depth they possess and their collective maturity. I thought Steph had a career year last season, but he’s playing so far above that level it’s frightening. Remember when Bogut’s injury-related absences were a cause of much panic? Festus Ezeil is the starter now and playing notably well. And then that last part, I think this winning streak is the best thing that could have happened because it gives them a singular focus right out of the gate.
All that said, I’m not sure pursuing 73 is the greatest thing in the world for them. Is there a danger of burning out during the regular season?
ZILLER: That’d be a concern for teams that weren’t so freaking deep and for teams that aren’t, as you say, mature. They’ve won a title. They know what it takes to get things done. Curry isn’t playing huge minutes in service of the streak, and everyone is so flexible that the team can afford to miss guys a game here and there without picking up Ls.
You mention the focus this 15-0 streak has tightened. Imagine playing with an edge from something like that all season! I say they should go for it so long as the record is plausible. The other option is, what, lose on purpose? Rest dudes in December for the hell of it?
FLANNERY: Nah, I think they should go for it but not at the expense of resting a pulled hamstring or burning through minutes in pursuit of some ephemeral goal. How valuable/important/lasting was Miami’s 27-game winning streak in 2013? It was only two years ago and I barely remember it. The Warriors are a smart organization and the players know what’s up, so I don’t think there’s a huge danger here, but it’s also not a meaningless concern. Don’t get me wrong: I want to see if they can do it, but I also want to see them going full-tilt in the playoffs.
This is also absolutely great for the league. We can obsess over this stuff all winter, but nothing draws casual attention like a superstar playing out of his mind or a dominant team that can’t lose. Every game with them is a Capital-E Event right now.
ZILLER: Absolutely. And to a degree each game is becoming an event for the Sixers. (Just not one anyone else wants to watch.) How badly they must want to win! Nerlens Noel began his rookie year 0-17 and now Okafor is in the same predicament.
In a league that feels so mushy in the middle it’s kinda nice to have two polar opposite clubs bugging our eyes out for different reasons.
FLANNERY: It’s parity, kind of.
ZILLER: Just like the league drew it up.
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