@christopher_m  @brandonmitchell If they had a healthy Bogut it would help bridge the gap to the Spurs/Clips/OKC group some. If they do get him back fully healthy next season and Barnes improves then that could be a pretty dynamite team.

 @TiMB  @brandonmitchell x factor in terms of the playoff race or x factor in terms of them beating the ultimate #1? I don't see them beating the ultimate #1 if it comes to that but he could sure make a difference against Memphis in a series. and down the stretch, even if limited. sooo much better than Ezeli.

 @christopher_m  @brandonmitchell Bogut is the X-Factor, but he's gotta be waaaaaaay out of game shape at this point.

 @brandonmitchell yeah whoever ends up in the 4/5 between GS, Denver and MEM that will be really fun, too bad any of them will get slaughtered by the #1.

 @skywaker9 (David)  @ian21 Yeah, those things often have more sentimental than monetary value

 @TiMB  @ian21 Nah, my collection is probably worth a few hundred bucks all told but it'd be a pain to get rid of since most cards are worth maybe 20 cents a piece at most.

 @skywaker9 (David)  @ian21 The lot, of course : P

 @TiMB  @ian21 For which?

 @skywaker9 (David)  @ian21 Best I can do is 25 cents

 @christopher_m Ah true. Burks would be a lower risk move if the Jazz were willing to give him up.

 @TiMB yeah probably his cap hold would be big though since he was a high pick.

 @christopher_m I'd rather trade for him and use the space elsewhere.....if we got him for Matthews and JJ somehow, then we'd have max room to go after someone before re-signing him potentially, right?

 @TiMB hmm yeah. Other chance might just be to make an offer and hope they don't match, I'd pay him 10 a year... I know it sounds steep but like Batum he is pretty productive and young so at least he is not going to get worse. I wonder if Sacto would match that given  their situation.

 @christopher_m In that vein, Burks would still be a good gamble for us too, if we could nab him.

 @christopher_m I know the Kings are a mess and their assets are somewhat frozen until it's resolved, but I'd still love some kinda Tyreke for Wes and parts deal, even involving a third team getting JJ and giving the Kings more assets.

 @christopher_m I don't ever see it going that far - superstars still get their calls and those will be the guys battling it out for the titles. Which is why I still think we need a bulldozer type guard, probably starting for us. 

 @TiMB yeah, and I think it'd be good. Although if it swings too far toward 3 point shooting being pretty much the determinant of who wins championships that would be kind of stupid (but good for the Lillard/Batum led Blazers).

 @christopher_m Yeah, but if what you're saying is true regarding contact then the league is loosening the leash a little.

 @TiMB its actually been a steady march of defense getting better for like 25 years, just the league has to fight it.

 @christopher_m Time for a swing back to defense! 

 @TiMB even if it increases efficiency FTs are stupid to watch.

 @christopher_m Yeah, likewise.

 @TiMB I am happy with both of these adjustment btw.

 @TiMB i believe it is the reffing, I have seen a lot more drives where they are letting contact go, and they are also calling tons of illegal screens.

 @christopher_m Interesting that teams are still playing pretty much at lockout level.

 @christopher_m I should've known that. Thanks.

 @christopher_m http://bkref.com/tiny/SbnIv Not many WC teams near the top.

 @TiMB http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/stats.html

 @TiMB bbr.

 @christopher_m Where do you find that, out of interest?

 @TiMB offense was almost 2 points better that year.

 @christopher_m I wish BBR had rankings for teams in each category rather than having to search manually

 @TiMB adjust for league average though, offense is worse this year than it was that year.

 @christopher_m Souped up is right - DRtg 4 points better, ORtg 3 points worse. Play even slower too. 

 @TiMB the imbalance in quality is bigger this year though you are right that the West has tended more offensive and the West defensive for a number of years now.

 @TiMB true enough. The Pacers are basically like a souped up version of the Bobcats team that had a #1 defense.

 @christopher_m Yeah sure, but you could say the same about the great Bulls and Celtics defenses we've seen the past few years.

When was the last time a WC team had the highest ranked D?