Winding it down

[peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>]

I have to say my greatest disappointment with this season will be not that we
finished out of the playoffs, or even that we finished well back of teams like
Indiana, Miami and Atlanta. But God, it galls me to see the Sixers in 5th
place! And to be 5 games back of the RAPTORS ... I mean, c'mon, we have more
talent than those teams ... (fume...)

But then I recall an earlier post: that both those teams added significant
veteran help, while our guys are mostly Kiddie League age.

I picked us for something like 24 wins this season, but I at least thought
we'd be competitive with teams like Detroit and Milwaukee -- not battling with
Washington to stay out of the division cellar. If there's any consolation, at
least we're not alone in our misery: just look at the Knicks and especially
Nets. (Though the Nets may end up adding a lottery pick this June.) 

I have to hope we can at least win 20 games. A win total in the teens again
would just be unacceptable. I don't think we can expect to beat Miami again,
especially on their turf; our best hope for wins, I think, will be against the
Bucks and Pistons (though maybe I'm being optimistic, as Detroit has beaten us
by double digits both games). If the Hornets have dropped back out of playoff
contention by the final game, we should be able to pull one out for pride and
offseason momentum, as the Bugs won't have much to play for except Silas' pride.

Maybe we will come strong out of the gate this fall, bolstered by strict
summertime traing regimens, a solid camp and (I hope) a roster that has not
undergone too many dramatic changes.