Pretender or Contender: ESPN Insider

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by magnifier661, Nov 21, 2014.

  1. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/stor...s-pretenders-based-early-returns?refresh=true

    Portland Trail Blazers

    Record: 8-3
    Pythagorean record: 8-3
    Schedule: 0.3 (13th)

    Quietly, the Blazers have the league's fourth-best point differential (plus-8.5 PPG) against an average-ish schedule. Portland's defense has improved to eighth on a per-possession basis, and the Blazers have the league's third-best offensive rating. With Chris Kaman and Steve Blake upgrading the bench, this looks like a better version of last season's 54-win team that won a playoff series.

    Verdict: Contender
     
  2. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Non insider portion: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-141121/title-contender-pretender

     
  3. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Breakdown of Contender votes:

    CLE: 1 of 5
    WAS: 0 of 5
    POR: 3 of 5
    HOU: 1 of 5
    LAC: 2 of 5
     
  4. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    To: Elhassan... Psst... Our Bench has been much improved. In fact, our bench is a top 10 bench... Nice way of taking shit from last season and using it for the current season. Fucking Lazy reporting!

    To Gutierrez: Jump shot oriented? http://stats.nba.com/league/team/#!/shooting/

    FGA: Less than 5 ft: 24.3, 5-9 ft: 7.7, 10-14: 5.9, 15-19: 13, 20-24: 25.8, 25-29: 7.3

    So our large portion of "jump shots" are coming from the 3 point line, while we almost match that from the paint. Seems like another lazy reporter that took things from last season again.
     
  5. BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94

    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 AWOL

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    I can't fucking stand Israel Gutierrez
     
  6. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    The Elhassen comments ignore the fact that Terry is trying to develop our inexperienced bench players in time for the playoffs. There is plenty of time for that and to establish a set bench rotation. For the playoffs. Which is the only time being a 'contender' matters.
     
  7. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    I am not sold that we are a contender yet, but I don't think the two who called us pretenders made a very good argument.

    lhassan: Pretender! While the Blazers boast one of the best and most complete starting fives in the league, bench depth is still a very real problem. Beyond Chris Kaman and Steve Blake, the Blazers' bench rotation has been a revolving door of "whoever's got it going," with no player definitively claiming the spot. That indicates that coach Terry Stotts hasn't totally trusted any one of them, and while that strategy has worked so far, it will only take the Blazers so far.

    (if it has worked so far then IMO the Blazer bench deserves the benefit of the doubt-to say Stotts doesn't trust his bench is a HUGE guess IMO by Ihassan )



    Gutierrez: Pretender. The Blazers started off last season strong as well, but what we learned is they're just not deep enough, and too jump-shot oriented to win consistently at a high level. There's not much different about this year's group.

    (Really? Kaman alone makes this statement look foolish)
     
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  8. Eastoff

    Eastoff But it was a beginning.

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    Wait, do we have the most votes?
     
  9. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    He does have a smug look. I hate his podcast w/ guests. Dude doesn't stop talking
     
  10. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Good points.
     
  11. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Yes we do
     
  12. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    On this list. DAL, TOR, GS, MEM are prolly in a different article and ranked higher.
     
  13. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Oh and this talk about the bench lack is fucking foolish... Look at the players and their "PIE" Player Impact Estimate

    http://stats.nba.com/team/#!/1610612757/players/advanced/

    We don't have a negative on any of our players. Each player has provided a positive impact in the game.

    Now look at Chicago http://stats.nba.com/team/#!/1610612741/players/advanced/

    Looks like their bench is weaker. They must reply so much on 4 players. They have 2 players that don't have a positive or negative impact, while 1 with a big negative impact.

    Or how about Golden State? http://stats.nba.com/team/#!/1610612744/players/advanced/

    Looking at their starters, they absorb the most of the PIE. They have 3 players that have a negative impact.
     
  14. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Also look at the usage metric and it seems like Stotts is balancing out the attack.
     
  15. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    Contender bitches!
     
  16. santeesioux

    santeesioux Just keep on scrolling by

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    It seems like that guy has been hating on them since before the season even started.
     
  17. rasheedfan2005

    rasheedfan2005 Well-Known Member

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    Honestly this is our year. Next year is either blow it up or paul allen opens the bank account to keep it together. We have to win
     
  18. PDXFonz

    PDXFonz I’m listening

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    Wow, we are all over ESPN today with the game coming up tonight.
     
  19. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    We are, or their sadness that their rosebud is out? espn, they be fucking idiots.
     
  20. OneLifeToLive

    OneLifeToLive Well-Known Member

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    Even if they have less success this year, I don't see them blowing it up. I think they have embraced the Spurs way of doing business. I think they will let Aldridge, Damian, Batum and cast simmer. The way the Spurs have done for all these years.
     

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