Game Thread 2022-23 Game #62 - TRAIL BLAZERS VS PELICANS - MARCH 1, 2023 - WEDNESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ESPN (1 Viewer)

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riverman said:
Chauncey is 56-88 as Blazers coach
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Funny they never put that stat up to begin games. They post the opposing coaches record but usually just say Billups second year as a head coach of the Blazers.
 
Samuel said:
he must be looking for the backlash—I don’t see hardly anyone pointing the finger at Jerami.
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Read this thread. Couple people beating the drum.
One of them doesn't like newbies i guess so you should be fine questioning him.
 
I don't get the Nerlens Noel love, as if he'd make a big difference on the team. He's not a difference maker and one could argue he's not much more than a 13-15 mpg player.

Or is he the latest shiny object people fall in love with?
 
Samuel said:
who’s your target and what’s the thesis for the deal?
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I dunno yet. Need to figure out the landscape after playoffs are done to see who might be available. I meant more as a generality than anything. Grant is fine. A maybe slightly above average starter. He has size but he plays short and doesn't really contribute anything other than 20 ppg with OK efficiency. These kind of players aren't exactly difficult to find these days.

I don't want to let him walk because we have no avenues of adding other 30 mil players given our cap situation, but I also want nothing to do with paying JG 150 mil for 5 yrs of uninspired play.
 
illmatic99 said:
bam is pretty much the most ideal fit next to dame in the league and has been an all star.

dame/sharpe/MT/bam is a pretty decent start.

trade nurk for a PF who can somewhat shoot and defend and we will be better.
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Not seeing it. Not saying you're wrong. Just saying I don't think that moves the needle. Basically it's lateral moves ... it's exchanging good players for other types of good players. We've done that before.
 
julius said:
I don't get the Nerlens Noel love, as if he'd make a big difference on the team. He's not a difference maker and one could argue he's not much more than a 13-15 mpg player.

Or is he the latest shiny object people fall in love with?
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He isn't a difference maker. He would add a little depth but I'm not certain that is what they want at this point?
Right now I'm incredibly curious as to find out what they will do here in the next couple days? That loss last night was a big one.
 
julius said:
I don't get the Nerlens Noel love, as if he'd make a big difference on the team. He's not a difference maker and one could argue he's not much more than a 13-15 mpg player.

Or is he the latest shiny object people fall in love with?
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I don't think it is 'love'. He is just a tall, over 6'9", mobile defender who can dunk a lob pass.....something the Blazers don't have and need desperately. Sadly, the Blazers need one or two of those, and examples that would be much more impactful that Noel.
 
Samuel said:
I still think the path to a championship parade in Portland is through nailing a series of draft picks. Unpopular opinion maybe, but it’s true. It’s the most efficient way to create value for your team.
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You have to get exceptionally lucky like the Warriors.
 
blazerkor said:
I think that he is not a second best player on a good or great team, he's a best player on the worst team in the league, a second best player on a late lotto team and a solid third or forth best player on a contender. I think you pay a guy like that 30M per season on a long deal if you want to be a contender and if he wants more he won't find it. I don't mind Grant on a CJ like contract at this point because it's years later, the cap jump from the TV deal is coming up and we have Ant and Nurk to match a better salary and Shae on his rookie deal. We also have guys like Thybulle and Reddish who we have control over this off season. If Jerami is your first or second best guy his stats seem empty but you put those two way skills in as your third or forth best player and those contributions are meaningful.

The worst thing that could happen to us if we're trying to build a contender around Dame is that Jerami walks for nothing.
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He's a 4th or 5th guy on a contender.
His play warrants ~$18-22M (even with the expanding cap), not the $30+ that he is likely to get.
 
Chris Craig said:
You have to get exceptionally lucky like the Warriors.
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That’s how it has to be, though. People want the Durant haul—they drafted Bridges and Cam Johnson—both draftees.

Giannis and Middleton* both effectively developed through the team. Yea, they got Jrue through an all-in trade but those two forwards are the bedrock of their success. Smart, Tatum, Brown—Boston draftees.

trying to skip a step or two because of where O****y left the team requires even more luck. Even if you do an all-in trade you need wise drafting.
 
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Samuel said:
That’s how it has to be, though. People want the Durant haul—they drafted Bridges and Cam Johnson—both draftees.

Giannis and Middleton* both effectively developed through the team. Yea, they got Jrue through an all-in trade but those two forwards are the bedrock of their success. Smart, Tatum, Brown—Boston draftees.

trying to skip a step or two because of where O****y left the team requires even more luck. Even if you do an all-in trade you need wise drafting.
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yeah, I agree. A small market team especially needs to have incredible good fortune in the draft to be a contender. Great lottery luck generated the Spurs 5 championships, and that was helped along by getting Parker with a 28th pick and Manu with a 57th pick . The Nuggets are a contender because they managed to land Jokic with a 41st pick. The Warriors aren't small-market but they got Curry with a 7th pick, Klay with an 11th pick, Draymond with a 35th pick, & Poole with a 28th pick. Those hits meant that their miss on Wiseman was not a significant loss

Meanwhile, the Blazers have been leading the league in missed opportunities in the draft. They took Meyers Leonard when Jae Crowder, Draymond, and Middleton were available. They took CJ when Giannis was available, and yes, teams miss on those kinds of opportunities all the time but that was one of the biggest missed opportunities in recent Blazer history. Dame + Giannis would have yielded how many championships by now?

but more that that was Portland simply not valuing 1st round picks like they should have. In the 6 drafts from 2016-2021, Portland 'spent' six 1st round draft picks on Afflalo, Zach, Swanigan, & RoCo; and they still have to pay the ridiculous price for Nance. And that really points out the missed opportunities because when those 6 picks rolled around these players were available: Malik Beasely, Caris LeVert, Pascal Siakam, Dejounte Murray, Ivaca Zubac, Maclom Brogdon, Georges Niang, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, John Collins, Jarrett Allen, OG Aunoby, Kyel Kuzma, Derrik White, Josh Hart, Thomas Bryant, Isaiah Hartenstein, Dillon Brooks, Isaiah Stewart, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley, Jaden McDaniels, Desmond Bane, & Herbert Jones

as I said, every team misses opportunities in the draft, but the missed opportunities in the Olshey era are truly disgusting. And that 6 year run in successive drafts is made even more glaringly nauseating by realizing that Portland has not one damn thing to show for those six 1st's on the current team. Nada, Zilch, Zippity-fuckin-doo-dah

so yeah, the Blazers have to place a lot higher value on their first's, and when they use any, they need to hit some home runs. They appear to already be stealth tanking right now. They probably need to dump the stealth
 
The issue with the blazers draft is they keep drafting projects that have high potential but who don’t contribute for a year or two. Need to start drafting the ready to play players rather then always shooting for the stars.
 
twobullz said:
The issue with the blazers draft is they keep drafting projects that have high potential but who don’t contribute for a year or two. Need to start drafting the ready to play players rather then always shooting for the stars.
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Yeah Jalen Duren would be nice right now.
 
Well I haven't watch many blazers games but they got a lot of problems on both side of the ball. One thing after the 1st quarter know one except 2 players look for there shot Dame and Grant and reddish at the start. The second half was even worst. Players was getting the ball a and as quick as possible to get it back to Dame. Everyone has to be threat to score or you really don't have to hardly to guard them. Yes Dame going score points and kind remarkable how he kept getting to the basket. With continue getting doubt team. Defense will that's another story of course especially when they don't have no rim protector. Yes early they had 8 blocks that's nice but I rather have someone actually make people miss on continue basis and occasionally get a block here and there. Billups I was one those wasn't a real fan of his hiring I will be right up front with that I and will leave that alone. There's very view players should remain on this roster and yes I believe there going have to tear it down start all over. Yes some of you guys going what about Dame but I hate tell Dame not going to win a championship in Portland by patch work every year.
 
wizenheimer said:
so yeah, the Blazers have to place a lot higher value on their first's, and when they use any, they need to hit some home runs. They appear to already be stealth tanking right now. They probably need to dump the stealth
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YMMV on Cronin, mine certainly does, but he's at least heading back in the positive pick accumulation direction. The Mike Schmitz hire indicates he wants to squeeze as much value out of 2nd rounders and undrafted free agents as possible.

I am guessing they will prioritize the draft over the next few years even if they have to trade picks away as part of a bigger trade.
 
You guys think I'll hit my 39 win prediction?
 
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