2021 Blazers Training Camp

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didn't Billups say that while a 6'3 SF would work, most time, in the regular season it was going to be problem in the playoffs? Not every team can take advantage of Powell's defense at SF

but a primary defensive issue is still there: teams can hide one bad perimeter defender. Teams can't hide 2 bad perimeter defends, and that's the cross Portland has to bear

the much bigger regular season problem with a 6'3 SF, with this particular 6'3 SF, is rebounding. Powell had a terrible 5.1% rebounding rate in Portland last season. That was worse than Dame & CJ. The Blazers are already at a rebounding deficit at PF with RoCo. Having the 11% of RoCo and 5% of Powell has to be about the lowest combined rebounding rates for forwards in the league. That puts lots of pressure on Nurkic and Zeller to control the glass
 
Scalma said:
powell
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ya i figured he would. still would like to add a long/rangy wing, though.

i know he was super inconsistent but having harkless around to throw at these guys was a weapon in the past. he actually did a terrific job on PG in the OKC series that often went unnoticed.
 
wizenheimer said:
tempting karma considering the two Blazer bigs have combined to miss 200 games over the last 3 seasons. That's like 67 games a year....yikes! Fortunately, Nance has only missed 70 games in the last 3 seasons...much better
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They all look great in the practice clips I saw today...last two seasons we had hobbled bigs which was my point....I'm happy about the roster..tempting karma is saying injuries to those guys has not been corrected...they put Nurks leg back on you know? Zach is the Spurs problem...I don't think Nance broke the same foot three times in a row though...
 
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wizenheimer said:
didn't Billups say that while a 6'3 SF would work, most time, in the regular season it was going to be problem in the playoffs? Not every team can take advantage of Powell's defense at SF

but a primary defensive issue is still there: teams can hide one bad perimeter defender. Teams can't hide 2 bad perimeter defends, and that's the cross Portland has to bear

the much bigger regular season problem with a 6'3 SF, with this particular 6'3 SF, is rebounding. Powell had a terrible 5.1% rebounding rate in Portland last season. That was worse than Dame & CJ. The Blazers are already at a rebounding deficit at PF with RoCo. Having the 11% of RoCo and 5% of Powell has to be about the lowest combined rebounding rates for forwards in the league. That puts lots of pressure on Nurkic and Zeller to control the glass
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You can make these types of arguments against every team in the league. How will the Lakers defend. How will Utah play when teams go small.

Yes the Blazers have weaknesses. The job of Billups is to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses.

The Blazers have good defenders in Nurk Rolo Nance Powell. They have great shooting and scoring.

These other teams with defenders like Ntilika will have other problems when hes on the floor.

The Blazers don't need to be a top5 defense, if they can be average or a bit better with their offense they are very dangerous.

If rebounding is needed maybe we see more of Nance NAS Snell and less of Powell at SF. This will be Billups job to get the right balance in all the various areas, or wisely choose the right areas to disregard.
 
I won't be surprised if Dennis Smith takes Ant's spot in the rotation. He is a bad shooter, but better playmaker and way better defender.
 
GDiama said:
I won't be surprised if Dennis Smith takes Ant's spot in the rotation. He is a bad shooter, but better playmaker and way better defender.
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from what chauncey said, cj & ant will share backup pg duties, powell will also play sg, but he also mentioned dennis smith jr and it sounded like hes gonna be part of the rotation
 
PtldPlatypus said:
In a series in which Powell's size would be a liability at the 3, you start 6'7" Snell in Powell's spot (or hopefully Nas if he makes the proverbial "jump"), and bring Powell off the bench in the microwave role. Lineup is versatile enough that we can mix/match as necessary.
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BonesJones said:
I don't see many series where Powell's size will be a liability. He has a long wingspan and a solid standing reach, is strong, and plays bigger than his listed height. If Chauncey's able to gameplan proper help in a situation where Norm might have trouble then I think we'll be fine.
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wizenheimer said:
it would seem much better to move RoCo to SF, start Nance at PF, and bring Powell off the bench. Actually, it would be best to bring CJ off the bench but that won't happen
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This is all fine and dandy until you are playing a healthy Lakers or Nets team. Blazers have no answer for either of those teams if they the starting units are healthy.
 
Fairly-Hard said:
This is all fine and dandy until you are playing a healthy Lakers or Nets team. Blazers have no answer for either of those teams if they the starting units are healthy.
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May as well just not even play the season. Let's just skip to an LA/Brooklyn final and save everyone a lot of time and heartache.
 
julius said:
with the exception of Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, LeBron and the Greek Freak, (which are all almost unstoppable no matter who you have), where is the height in the league that is so frightening?
Forgot Joker.

5 players, of which 2 are on the same team, and another two they only see twice each...
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Western Conference
Gobert?
Ayton?
Wiseman?
Zubac?
Jokic?
Towns?
Thompson?
Porzingas

Eastern Conference
Lopez
Drummond
Embiid
Valanciunas
Vucevic
Adebayo
Capela

There is no shortage of quality centers in the league and they all have decent length next to them.

Pretty much every team in the league will go big against the Blazers because they can. And SHOULD.

Is this damning? Probably not The Blazers do have Nurk and Zeller unless they both get injured as has been the case most of the time. The problem i see is that the Blazers are not prepared for injuries and just a few completely shut this season down. Just like Stotts had to deal with for years, Billups will be at the mercy of the injury bug. How long are people around here gonna give Neil a pass for not filling that last spot with another quality backup Center? The Blazers need length and it's painfully obvious.
 
Fairly-Hard said:
Western Conference
Gobert?
Ayton?
Wiseman?
Zubac?
Jokic?
Towns?
Thompson?
Porzingas

Eastern Conference
Lopez
Drummond
Embiid
Valanciunas
Vucevic
Adebayo
Capela

There is no shortage of quality centers in the league and they all have decent length next to them.

Pretty much every team in the league will go big against the Blazers because they can. And SHOULD.

Is this damning? Probably not The Blazers do have Nurk and Zeller unless they both get injured as has been the case most of the time. The problem i see is that the Blazers are not prepared for injuries and just a few completely shut this season down. Just like Stotts had to deal with for years, Billups will be at the mercy of the injury bug. How long are people around here gonna give Neil a pass for not filling that last spot with another quality backup Center? The Blazers need length and it's painfully obvious.
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Yeah, it's too bad the Blazers aren't built like the other teams in the league that can have multiple significant injuries to starters and still win championships.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
May as well just not even play the season. Let's just skip to an LA/Brooklyn final and save everyone a lot of time and heartache.
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It's pretty much what ESPN has done. If you honestly think those teams will be beat if they are healthy then you have not been watching.
The Nets are a super team. The Lakers are Loaded. The Blazers need a bunch of luck to be in the running this year. Yes it can happen. No it probably won't happen.
 
Fairly-Hard said:
It's pretty much what ESPN has done. If you honestly think those teams will be beat if they are healthy then you have not been watching.
The Nets are a super team. The Lakers are Loaded. The Blazers need a bunch of luck to be in the running this year. Yes it can happen. No it probably won't happen.
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The likelihood of the Blazers winning a championship is low?! No way!!

i-cant-believe-it-unbelievable.gif
 
Fairly-Hard said:
This is all fine and dandy until you are playing a healthy Lakers or Nets team. Blazers have no answer for either of those teams if they the starting units are healthy.
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Thats why the Nets are a huge favorite for the title, when healthy no team in the league has an answer for them.

Last year all 5 of those stars missed significant time and/or had playoff limitations, so the chance all are perfectly healthy seems unlikely.

Add to that the Blazers could only see the Nets in the Finals.... if we make the freaking finals I will happily accept not having an "answer" for the opponent.
 
Fairly-Hard said:
Lakers and Nets are odds on favorites AGAIN?
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Certainly meant a ton last year.

200.gif


I guess I'm failing to grasp your overall point here. This exchange has all stemmed from a discussion about Powell's ability to defend the 3. So, what are you trying to say? I know you're not in favor of a CJ for Simmons deal (you've said so this morning in another thread). That this season is pointless? That the Blazers can't contend if they don't trade for a wing defender? That they shouldn't have re-signed Powell? Just that Olshey sucks?
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Certainly meant a ton last year.

200.gif


I guess I'm failing to grasp your overall point here. This exchange has all stemmed from a discussion about Powell's ability to defend the 3. So, what are you trying to say? I know you're not in favor of a CJ for Simmons deal (you've said so this morning in another thread). That this season is pointless? That the Blazers can't contend if they don't trade for a wing defender? That they shouldn't have re-signed Powell? Just that Olshey sucks?
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Yes.
 
Fairly-Hard said:
Western Conference
Gobert?
Ayton?
Wiseman?
Zubac?
Jokic?
Towns?
Thompson?
Porzingas

Eastern Conference
Lopez
Drummond
Embiid
Valanciunas
Vucevic
Adebayo
Capela

There is no shortage of quality centers in the league and they all have decent length next to them.

Pretty much every team in the league will go big against the Blazers because they can. And SHOULD.

Is this damning? Probably not The Blazers do have Nurk and Zeller unless they both get injured as has been the case most of the time. The problem i see is that the Blazers are not prepared for injuries and just a few completely shut this season down. Just like Stotts had to deal with for years, Billups will be at the mercy of the injury bug. How long are people around here gonna give Neil a pass for not filling that last spot with another quality backup Center? The Blazers need length and it's painfully obvious.
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You are worried about facing Wiseman and Zubac?

Nance often played small ball center succesfully and Roco can do it for a couple games. Center is the easiest position in the league to fill, the Blazers could sign one during the season or flip a crappy 2nd round pick for one if Nurk or Zeller has a significant injury. I'm glad Neil is prioritizing other positions, those others spots are nearly impossible to fill during the season.
 
Fairly-Hard said:
Western Conference
Gobert?
Ayton?
Wiseman?
Zubac?
Jokic?
Towns?
Thompson?
Porzingas

Eastern Conference
Lopez
Drummond
Embiid
Valanciunas
Vucevic
Adebayo
Capela

There is no shortage of quality centers in the league and they all have decent length next to them.

Pretty much every team in the league will go big against the Blazers because they can. And SHOULD.

Is this damning? Probably not The Blazers do have Nurk and Zeller unless they both get injured as has been the case most of the time. The problem i see is that the Blazers are not prepared for injuries and just a few completely shut this season down. Just like Stotts had to deal with for years, Billups will be at the mercy of the injury bug. How long are people around here gonna give Neil a pass for not filling that last spot with another quality backup Center? The Blazers need length and it's painfully obvious.
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Nance has and will lock at least half that list of yours down. Defense isn’t just about size.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Yeah, it's too bad the Blazers aren't built like the other teams in the league that can have multiple significant injuries to starters and still win championships.
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Even if the Blazers had some scrub center as the 15th man it wouldn't really help. If there is a significant injury the team can get one during the year that will fill in about just as well. There are 2 guys on the roster who can only play center, and two others that can back it up. Center is the most irrelevant position with the most plentiful replacements in 2021. I swear some fans act like its 1997 and Adonal Foyle is earning $63 million.
 
Fairly-Hard said:
This is all fine and dandy until you are playing a healthy Lakers or Nets team. Blazers have no answer for either of those teams if they the starting units are healthy.
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Remember when the Lakers signed both Gary Payton & Karl Malone? Championship seemed a forgone conclusion.

They didn’t. Have high hopes for Lakers failure this year.
 
Coach said the 14th man wont play unless someone twist their ankle.
Who will be the 14th man?
 
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