I need to start watching some of their games. Curious as to why they are struggling like they are.
I thought they got so many steals in the off-season, they were going to be legit.
Their expected record is inverse of their actual one: 12-8. (We'd expect a team that wins by their average to hit 50 wins over a full season.)
They're winning by their defense though, in part because despite the odd looking lineups from an offensive perspective they can basically always switch defensively, they're 3rd in the league. 21st on offense.
The Big Three's ORtgs are kinda nuts considering everything we assume about usage and efficiency:
Westbrook: 103 (2016-17: 112, Career: 109)
Carmelo: 106 (2016-17: 108, Career: 108)
George: 106 (2016-17: 109, Career: 106)
Alex Abrines, Patrick Patterson and Josh Huestis have done a lot of damage too, 103, 98 and
78 ORtgs, and even though they only play 10-15 minutes a game, with the Big Three also league average or worse and the fact that Andre Roberson can't really shoot outside of three feet, that really kills them. They look like they have spacing problems like the Nets did when they assembled a team full of guys who all shot from the same areas. Melo's never been a three point bomber and George isn't being able to get to the line as much without the ball. Westbrook's oddly tanked to 72% at the line. George is also down to 81%.
spoiler (click to show/hide)
The obvious comparison is Miami's first year, but that team won 58 games (expected: 61-21) and ripped through the East to the Finals with a 3rd ranked offense.
LeBron: 116 (2009-10: 121, Career to that point: 114)
Wade: 114 (2009-10: 113, Career to that point: 111)
Bosh: 115 (2009-10: 117, Career to that point: 113)