20 Games

[SheedSoNasty]

A lot of you have been saying that you'd give the team 20 games before making any judgements. Now that we are here, what is your assessment? Has Evans improved enough? Will Crabbe bounce back? Meyers? Calabro and Hurd?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

41-41 seems about right for this team without any changes

 

[illmatic99]

Moe Harkless is a freaking revelation.

He has all the makings of becoming our third piece. Locked in for 4 yrs at age 23.

The defense will come.

 

[Sinobas]

My view hasn't changed. Turner, Leonard, and Crabbe are all on terrible contracts. Harkless was the only good signing. Still prefer Mike and Mike, Blazers are mediocre.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Championship!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think it took them 20 games to finally turn in a respectable defensive performance. Crabbe and Meyers haven't done anything to show they deserved their deals. Turner looks like a pro; he's never going to be great, but he looks more comfortable and seems to be carving out a niche. Harkless has been a very pleasant revelation. Aside from Lillard he's probably my favorite Blazer in years.

10-10 record is probably earned given how terrible they've been on defense, but maybe with some more effort they'll return to modest respectability at that end and they'll probably finish with about 46 wins (assuming no major injuries to key players).

At the end of the day, the team still needs some kind of trade if they want to take another step.

 

[Tunchi]

41-41 seems about right for this team without any changes

Yup. Solid little 39-41 win team

 

[Tunchi]

My view hasn't changed. Turner, Leonard, and Crabbe are all on terrible contracts. Harkless was the only good signing. Still prefer Mike and Mike, Blazers are mediocre.

Pretty much right

 

[jlprk]

To be a .600 team, you need 50 wins. To get from 10-10 to 50-32, we have to go 40-22 (.645) the rest of the way. I don't see it, even if we get some big star at the February deadline like Cousins. There is no reason to delay the tank; start now and stop any trades in progress.

 

[Rhal]

44-46 wins is probably right where we are at. The defense cannot stay this bad throughout the year, we see flashes of good defense but no sustainability. I believe we can get better on D as the year goes on because we weren't this bad even lillards first year and I just cannot believe in a years time with no major upheavels we can regress thsi badly on D for the entire year.

 

[Rhal]

I also don't think we are going to make a panic trade this year. If a player we covet becomes available then sure a big trade could happen but Olshey signed young talent to mature and be traded based on potential to other teams not to trade them away for garbage just because Meyers/Crabbe are having a bad year so far. I don't think Olshey is in any rush to make a trade and will instead wait for the right opportunity, be that this year in the off season or next year.

 

[Nate]

To be a .600 team, you need 50 wins. To get from 10-10 to 50-32, we have to go 40-22 (.645) the rest of the way. I don't see it, even if we get some big star at the February deadline like Cousins. There is no reason to delay the tank; start now and stop any trades in progress.

Starting in January last year, we went 67% the rest of the way. Maybe we can start doing that in December this year?

 

[Scalma]

I also don't think we are going to make a panic trade this year. If a player we covet becomes available then sure a big trade could happen but Olshey signed young talent to mature and be traded based on potential to other teams not to trade them away for garbage just because Meyers/Crabbe are having a bad year so far. I don't think Olshey is in any rush to make a trade and will instead wait for the right opportunity, be that this year in the off season or next year.

I disagree. We had a hole going into the offseason, and everyone knew what it was. We still haven't filled it, but I think that was by design because Olshey didn't want to spend his cap money on guys like Biyombo. I think Neil will make a move for a center by the deadline. Even if Ezeli gets healthy, he's more of a bench player (like a better Ed Davis) than a starter. Doubt the plan was ever for him to be the answer.

 

[jlprk]

Starting in January last year, we went 67% the rest of the way. Maybe we can start doing that in December this year?

You are right, of course. I checked last season's inflection points. After a game on Dec. 23, we were .355, yet went .647 the rest of the season. After a game on Jan. 8, we were .384, yet went .674 the rest of the way.

 

[fumanchu]

Our defense is shite.

 

[Nate]

You are right, of course. I checked last season's inflection points. After a game on Dec. 23, we were .355, yet went .647 the rest of the season. After a game on Jan. 8, we were .384, yet went .674 the rest of the way.

 

[Boob-No-More]

KingSpeed == Lloyd Christmas

BNM

 

[Nate]

 

[KingSpeed]

We'll win at least 50 games. Turner has turned out to be great. So glad I was patient! Crabbe and Meyers are starting to play better. When everyone is hitting their shot, not even Cleveland or GS can beat us as was evident when we blasted both teams last season.

Nik- why is Harkless your favorite Blazer in years? Curious.

Also, I think Harkless is why we had to re-sign everybody. Lots of potential but we didn't know for sure who would blow up so had to sign them all. Good strategy. Better than guessing.

 

[Strenuus]

We'll win at least 50 games. Turner has turned out to be great. So glad I was patient! Crabbe and Meyers are starting to play better. When everyone is hitting their shot, not even Cleveland or GS can beat us as was evident when we blasted both teams last season.

Nik- why is Harkless your favorite Blazer in years? Curious.

Also, I think Harkless is why we had to re-sign everybody. Lots of potential but we didn't know for sure who would blow up so had to sign them all. Good strategy. Better than guessing.

Green font?

 

[Tunchi]

We'll win at least 50 games. Turner has turned out to be great. So glad I was patient! Crabbe and Meyers are starting to play better. When everyone is hitting their shot, not even Cleveland or GS can beat us as was evident when we blasted both teams last season.

Nik- why is Harkless your favorite Blazer in years? Curious.

Also, I think Harkless is why we had to re-sign everybody. Lots of potential but we didn't know for sure who would blow up so had to sign them all. Good strategy. Better than guessing.

You hate Turner what are you talking about ?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Turner has turned out to be great. So glad I was patient!

Yeah, I'm sure Evan appreciates your patience and unwavering support. It's not like you started a thread titled Okay Turner is awful four days before the season even started.

What do we do? Yes, he can make a pass here or a steal there but his shot is BROKE. I never want to see him shoot again. Could we trade him back to Boston? Who would they give us for him?

I would trade Turner for anything too. Anything.

BNM

 

[jlprk]

There is no reason to delay the tank; start now and stop any trades in progress.

Turner has turned out to be great. So glad I was patient!

I appreciate King. You guys shouldn't take yourselves so seriously.

 

[Nikolokolus]

*snip*

Nik- why is Harkless your favorite Blazer in years? Curious.

Also, I think Harkless is why we had to re-sign everybody.
*Snip*

Harkless plays with verve. He has an edge. He hustles. He does all the little things that winners do.

As for signing everybody that simply isn't true. Moe was our only free agent that I felt was a "must sign" because of that hard to define "edge" that I see him play with. Crabbe doesn't have it. Meyers doesn't have it. Very few players have "it."

 

[riverman]

after 20 games we're a 500 ballclub......Ed Davis, Mo and Turner seem to be improving recently...we're not contending unless some real defensive improvement clicks in though...might be lottery bound this season...if they get home court in the playoffs, I'll be really surprised

 

[Rhal]

I disagree. We had a hole going into the offseason, and everyone knew what it was. We still haven't filled it, but I think that was by design because Olshey didn't want to spend his cap money on guys like Biyombo. I think Neil will make a move for a center by the deadline. Even if Ezeli gets healthy, he's more of a bench player (like a better Ed Davis) than a starter. Doubt the plan was ever for him to be the answer.

If a good center becomes healthy that NO likes sure but I dont' think he is going to make a trade just to make a trade.

 

[The Professional Fan]

I'd like to echo the Harkless love. Was texting with a buddy last night about it. We both came to the conclusion that he's quickly becoming one of our fave Blazers in a long time. We're both big time Kersey guys, I think that's the connection. Hustle, defense, tenacity, willing to do the little things. LOVE IT.

As for overall team eval after 20 games, I'd be way more concerned if I hadn't seen signs of defensive life in last nights game. I really loved what I saw last night. I believe we continue to improve and finish with 50 wins. Defense needs to be ONLY mediocre. Our offense is ridiculously good. Pick your fuckin' poison.

Calabro and Hurd are growing on me a little. They're starting to take jabs at each other and it's kind of fun. Calabro playing the old-school role is kind of funny. And I like Calabro's stance on hard fouls. I love a good, solid message sending foul. Something the Blazers have lacked. He promotes it and I like that. I still like Mike and Mike more but it's getting better.

 

[KingSpeed]

Green font?

Yes. I was having trouble highlighting that part.

 

[KingSpeed]

You hate Turner what are you talking about ?

I like him now.

Yeah, I'm sure Evan appreciates your patience and unwavering support. It's not like you started a thread titled Okay Turner is awful four days before the season even started.





BNM

I've changed my mind because he's playing better.

I appreciate King. You guys shouldn't take yourselves so seriously.

Thanks man.

after 20 games we're a 500 ballclub......Ed Davis, Mo and Turner seem to be improving recently...we're not contending unless some real defensive improvement clicks in though...might be lottery bound this season...if they get home court in the playoffs, I'll be really surprised

I think we have a great shot at the 4 seed with the 3rd seed being an outside shot. Especially with Memphis' injuries.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I like him now.


I've changed my mind because he's playing better.

Well, the irony went sailing right over your head. We know you like him now and we know it's because he's playing better.

You said you were glad you were patient with him. You were not. You completely wrote him off and wanted to trade him 4 days before the season even started. Does that sound like patience to you?

Everyone else said give him 20 games. You weren't even willing to give him 1. Everyone else was right. Glad to see you've come around.

BNM