Different Places, Same Problems (Injuries and Overabundance)
It's funny to me that the Bucks, Magic, and Timberwolves all have the same identity and the same problem. They all have really young rosters that are entertaining to watch, yet all are extremely poorly constructed teams.
The Timberwolves have the number one pick Andrew Wiggins. Listed as a 6'8" shooting guard. That's all well and dandy. They also have Kevin Martin and Shabazz Muhammad at shooting guard. All three receive minutes. (Shabazz obviously gets the least.) Which would be fine if they could shift one to the small forward at times, but that's where things get even more dicey. Corey Brewer, Robbie Hummel, and Chase Budinger are all fighting for minutes at that spot.
The Bucks have the number two pick Jabari Parker who plays both forward spots. The same can be said for Khris Middleton and Ersan Ilyasova. At center is John Henson, Larry Sanders, and Zaza Pachulia. And how could we forget about Giannis Antetokounmpo who floats around at seemingly all 5 positions. Keep in mind all of these players are averaging at least 11 minutes a game.
The Magic have a boatload of forwards: Tobias Harris, Channing Frye, and Aaron Gordon. Moe Harkless/Kyle O'Quinn have seen a bit of action as well. (O'Quinn also can play center.)
Are you noticing a pattern? These three teams all have really exciting athletic players (for the most part) who all seemingly play the same position. Since none of them are setting the world on fire, I'm doubting there will be any trades to free up some playing time, but it would be foolish to think they won't move some of the parts at some point down the line. (It may not happen this season. It's also early and I'm sure they will figure out what rotations they like eliminating the "too many guys" problem.)
Two other teams in the same boat for entirely different reasons than the aforementioned ones, are the Thunder and the Pacers. The Pacers were supposed to suck this year. Losing PG-13 first, then Lance to free agency. If that wasn't bad enough, George Hill went down in the preseason. Then David West. Talk about salt in the open wound.
The Thunder lost MVP Kevin Durant in the offseason due to foot surgery. Well, all was not entirely lost. Maybe Russell Westbrook can steady the ship in the rough waters of the Western Conference? That wasn't to be either after Westbrook broke his hand in the second game. Wait what's that you say? Anthony Morrow and Reggie Jackson are hurt too, and Sebastian Telfair is now your starting point guard? Holy shit, the Thunder are worse off than the Pacers.
Unless something goes wrong with Durant's recovery, I don't foresee the Thunder missing the playoffs. But it will be a tough row to hoe, playing catch up all season long.
So in case your not keeping track at home, here's the baggage list for this season: Paul George and Steve Nash are missing the entire season (Nash's playing career is seemingly done for good.) Julius Randle will miss 81 games, Durant probably 2 months, Westbrook at least one month, Derrick Rose currently has an ankle sprain (and hopefully nothing more) and we're only a week in.
Welcome to the NBA, where injuries and too many players of the same position happen!
The Timberwolves have the number one pick Andrew Wiggins. Listed as a 6'8" shooting guard. That's all well and dandy. They also have Kevin Martin and Shabazz Muhammad at shooting guard. All three receive minutes. (Shabazz obviously gets the least.) Which would be fine if they could shift one to the small forward at times, but that's where things get even more dicey. Corey Brewer, Robbie Hummel, and Chase Budinger are all fighting for minutes at that spot.
The Bucks have the number two pick Jabari Parker who plays both forward spots. The same can be said for Khris Middleton and Ersan Ilyasova. At center is John Henson, Larry Sanders, and Zaza Pachulia. And how could we forget about Giannis Antetokounmpo who floats around at seemingly all 5 positions. Keep in mind all of these players are averaging at least 11 minutes a game. The Magic have a boatload of forwards: Tobias Harris, Channing Frye, and Aaron Gordon. Moe Harkless/Kyle O'Quinn have seen a bit of action as well. (O'Quinn also can play center.)
Are you noticing a pattern? These three teams all have really exciting athletic players (for the most part) who all seemingly play the same position. Since none of them are setting the world on fire, I'm doubting there will be any trades to free up some playing time, but it would be foolish to think they won't move some of the parts at some point down the line. (It may not happen this season. It's also early and I'm sure they will figure out what rotations they like eliminating the "too many guys" problem.) Two other teams in the same boat for entirely different reasons than the aforementioned ones, are the Thunder and the Pacers. The Pacers were supposed to suck this year. Losing PG-13 first, then Lance to free agency. If that wasn't bad enough, George Hill went down in the preseason. Then David West. Talk about salt in the open wound.
The Thunder lost MVP Kevin Durant in the offseason due to foot surgery. Well, all was not entirely lost. Maybe Russell Westbrook can steady the ship in the rough waters of the Western Conference? That wasn't to be either after Westbrook broke his hand in the second game. Wait what's that you say? Anthony Morrow and Reggie Jackson are hurt too, and Sebastian Telfair is now your starting point guard? Holy shit, the Thunder are worse off than the Pacers.
Unless something goes wrong with Durant's recovery, I don't foresee the Thunder missing the playoffs. But it will be a tough row to hoe, playing catch up all season long. So in case your not keeping track at home, here's the baggage list for this season: Paul George and Steve Nash are missing the entire season (Nash's playing career is seemingly done for good.) Julius Randle will miss 81 games, Durant probably 2 months, Westbrook at least one month, Derrick Rose currently has an ankle sprain (and hopefully nothing more) and we're only a week in.
Welcome to the NBA, where injuries and too many players of the same position happen!
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