And to be fair, KAT was in a funk most of the season, had trouble accepting his role, and was disappearing in games. Hiis defense has always been subpar. He did a lot of dumb stuff. Then something clicked, and whether it was him or Brown that was responsible, I agree that it likely wouldn’t have happened under Thibs. So I’ll definitely (and happily and humbly) take the L on him and on that, so long as folks are representing what I said accurately.

The Sixers seem to have improved the most but Embiid is still the elephant in the room. If VJ develops, this will be possibly the best team he’s ever played on.

Indiana has been lying in the weeds. (Thank goodness they got unucky with the lottery balls!) But Carlisle is really good and Hali & Co., minus Turner.

Those two seem to be our most serious competition. Maybe Toronto too if Kawhi is 100%.

Every other team seem either unpredictable or underwhelming. But with no tanking any more, I don’t see any 60-win teams, and think that even though losing Mitch is a significcant blow, we should be in a good position to return to the finals no matter how we replace him, so long as we stay reasonably healthy.

Thanks Hubert. Kane is our Brunson, it seems!!

Long time Spurs supporter, you don’t have to tell me 🙂

Good luck in the Azteca.

You were completely wrong about Thibs and you were completely wrong about KAT (*), and if someone says, “Running with one leg makes it harder to finish a marathon,” they’re 100% correct even if the one-legged runner in fact finishes the marathon.

Probably better to reflect upon those things, rather than continuing your ridiculous demands for repentance, including from people who don’t need my defense and wouldn’t agree with me if I told them water was wet.

(*) And others — raises hand — were completely right about them. So, now — who exactly should be “taking the L”??

I am really bummed about Mitch (especially since he went to the freaking Celtics), but it still seems to me that the East is ours and the real issue is beating whoever comes out of the West. But it makes no sense to moan about it when the die is not yet cast. I would hate to lose Deuce, but are we really going to pay him in a year when he’s somewhat duplicative? Could be a piece to bring us back someone better than a scrap heap backup big. We shall see.

Of course, other teams aren’t done either, so the East could get tougher… Not scared by Philly or Boston, though. Chances are at least 50/50 that neither Mitch nor Embiid are playing come May….

Agreed that I’m not super worried about Philly, but they are definitely a better team now! And totally agree re KAT!!

I’m not concerned about the Sixers as challengers. Our Mitch thing is sad on a personal level and frustrating on a who-is-in-charge one, but it truly is a first world problem compared to what the East is going through.

The way things went down with Brown & the Celtics gives me reason to re-examine KAT’s season. If dangling Brown for Giannis just ended with the Celtics having to break up a beloved, championship-winning pairing in one of the worst trades in franchise history, then it’s clear we (and I, in particular) underestimated the impact of KAT being similarly dangled throughout the season.

New role, new coach, and trade rumors? In hindsight, I should have given him more grace, particularly when he moaned about being the one asked to sacrifice. It seems no surprise he began to improve after the all star break.

And it makes KAT even more admirable IMO. He could have easily gotten stuck in his feelings like Brown but he fought through it. (And shout out to Director, who was trying to tell us all this in January. The man clearly has a lot of experience managing sensitive egos.)

The Mitch thing is sad & frustrating but it’s not the end of the world. And as others have mentioned, seeing the state of these other teams is quite an elixir (until you see the state of OKC, and then you realize why it’s actually critical we have more than a journeyman off the scrap heap for those 12 mpg, but I digress).