After benching Vonleh Portland became a 53 win team.

[mook]

Counting the post-season so far, we're 13-7 without starting Vonleh, winning 65%. That was the pace of a 53 win team. When you consider we almost certainly will make a big splash in free agency, Portland should be nicely positioned next season to compete for a top 4 seed.

 

[BonesJones]

Counting the post-season so far, we're 13-7 without starting Vonleh, winning 65%. That was the pace of a 53 win team. When you consider we almost certainly will make a big splash in free agency, Portland should be nicely positioned next season to compete for a top 2 seed.

FTFY

For real though, I think that a 53 win team plus a big splash plus extra development results with a near 60 win team. That combined with Duncan and Manu possibly retiring, Durant possibly leaving OKC, and who knows wtf in Clipper land, I think that we should be competing for the 2nd seed next year. We're great on our home floor...

For next year it's WCF or bust.

 

[BonesJones]

OMG I just turned into Kingspeed....

 

[Sarni]

Seriously, with a proper power forward you'd probably be looking at two wins instead of two losses in close Warriors games. Aminu has been good at 4 but if you move him to 3 and put a 4 in you're looking even better.

 

[mook]

Yeah, and it's the league's third youngest team. It's exciting to get so many young guys getting deep playoff experience and the sense of what a winning culture is.

And then there's the publicity of this playoff run. Think back about how Greg Monroe chose the Bucks over our team. There's no way he walks away from the opportunity here if he were in the same position this summer.

You have to sell good free agents on success, not rebuilding. Lillard's 26/6/4 in the playoffs over 10 games screams to FA's that if you come to Portland, you are going to have some fun when the real games count.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Seriously, with a proper power forward you'd probably be looking at two wins instead of two losses in close Warriors games. Aminu has been good at 4 but if you move him to 3 and put a 4 in you're looking even better.

Welcome.

I am not so sure I agree with this, unless your PF can guard the perimeter. Who did you have in mind? Not saying we don't need to upgrade the PF position, but against the Warriors when they make you go small I think Aminu was fine. Green is a nightmare match up for almost every team. Not sure another PF plays that many minutes against this team

 

[B-Roy]

I actually like Aminu at the 4. He's the perfect spacer because he's a good but not great shooter. He's got the length and rebounding ability to play here, and he's got the versatility to switch and defend multiple positions.

 

[Sarni]

Welcome.

I am not so sure I agree with this, unless your PF can guard the perimeter. Who did you have in mind? Not saying we don't need to upgrade the PF position, but against the Warriors when they make you go small I think Aminu was fine. Green is a nightmare match up for almost every team. Not sure another PF plays that many minutes against this team

Hello, nice to be here.

Millsap is my PF pipedream perfection. He's good defensively, can rebound, scores a lot. In a perfect scenario we's reunite him with Horford from FA here but it's not doable.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I actually like Aminu at the 4. He's the perfect spacer because he's a good but not great shooter. He's got the length and rebounding ability to play here, and he's got the versatility to switch and defend multiple positions.

Agree. That's why I like the idea of bringing in a Starting 3 capable of scoring and deft as a perimeter defender.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like Noah's defense, but until he can hit a shot consistently, he's basically Mason Plumlee without the passing.

 

[Sinobas]

Noah Vonleh was disappointing this season, we should have been starting Aminu/Harkless the whole year. I think they showed early on that they were the best forward tandem.

The only thing I saw from Vonleh is flashes of being a good defender. We also know that he has a decent jumper in the gym, but he didn't hit them in games.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Hello, nice to be here.

Millsap is my PF pipedream perfection. He's good defensively, can rebound, scores a lot. In a perfect scenario we's reunite him with Horford from FA here but it's not doable.

It's much more doable (3%) than many of the other scenarios floated in this board (PG). If Horford is not interested in re-signing, then PDX is possible. In that case, they start over, and no need to keep Millsap.

 

[B-Roy]

I like Noah's defense, but until he can hit a shot consistently, he's basically Mason Plumlee without the passing.

Vonleh, like Plumlee, also has an issue of getting his shot rejected. As athletic as he is I find it hard to figure out why.

 

[Sarni]

It's much more doable (3%) than many of the other scenarios floated in this board (PG). If Horford is not interested in re-signing, then PDX is possible. In that case, they start over, and no need to keep Millsap.

If Horford decides to move then it's Boston or Portland. Boston would be a sideways move at the moment, they don't have the team to challenge yet, he'd be much better off with Lillard and CJ.

 

[Natebishop3]

Vonleh, like Plumlee, also has an issue of getting his shot rejected. As athletic as he is I find it hard to figure out why.

Confidence?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It's not benching Vonleh; since Christmas (including playoffs), we've played at a 53-win clip (34-19), but all of January we had Vonleh starting at PF.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Watch out for Orlando when it comes to Horford. He went to school in Florida and loves the State (a lot of players do due to the tax advantages).

I would rank it as:
1. Back to ATL (big leader)
2. No one, still ATL
3. ORL
4. BOS
5. POR (only because he has never in his whole life lived west of the Mississippi)
6. Who cares. No one. He isn't getting this far. But DAL would be next.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Watch out for Orlando when it comes to Horford. He went to school in Florida and loves the State (a lot of players do due to the tax advantages).

I would rank it as:
1. Back to ATL (big leader)
2. No one, still ATL
3. ORL
4. BOS
5. POR (only because he has never in his whole life lived west of the Mississippi)
6. Who cares. No one. He isn't getting this far. But DAL would be next.

He was born in the Dominican Republic where it's hot.
He went to college in Florida where it's hot.
He has spent his entire pro career in nearby Georgia where it's hot.
So, he's going to sign in Portland where it rains, oh wait!

Honestly, I think we have a shot, but it's a small one. The big question is... how important are basketball reasons for him?

 

[THE HCP]

Seriously, with a proper power forward you'd probably be looking at two wins instead of two losses in close Warriors games.

Curry was out in those games.....that changes things a bit.

 

[Minstrel]

Vonleh, like Plumlee, also has an issue of getting his shot rejected. As athletic as he is I find it hard to figure out why.

It's not just having athleticism, it's knowing how to use it. Timing is a big deal...Draymond Green blocks the shots of people taller and more athletic than he is by timing his block attempts perfectly, often getting his hand on the ball before his opponent has reached the apex of their leap. Anticipation, timing, coordination...all of these are a big deal in leveraging athletic ability and Vonleh needs to develop more of those.

 

[KingSpeed]

Actually, after 15-24 start, we were 29-14. With and without Vonleh, we played like a 55 win team for more than half the season.

 

[0-Our!]

Hello, nice to be here.

Millsap is my PF pipedream perfection. He's good defensively, can rebound, scores a lot. In a perfect scenario we's reunite him with Horford from FA here but it's not doable.

Let the "perfect scenario..." happen! Let's become... Hawks (the 1 that ACTUALLY wins!) West! I'd love that too; don't think it can happen either BUT... Neil is Neil...

 

[0-Our!]

I actually like Aminu at the 4. He's the perfect spacer because he's a good but not great shooter. He's got the length and rebounding ability to play here, and he's got the versatility to switch and defend multiple positions.

I like/have liked Aminu, he's perfect to have around especially next season; whichever sf or pf we majorly upgrade, Aminu will simply shift to the other & can backup either when needed. I really want him to hone that 3pt shot to become a guy that you wouldn't even think about leaving open (IMO very doable ); other than this, he really doesn't have to improve/do anything more & I'm happy (improvements should/will come from others)

 

[mook]

Let the "perfect scenario..." happen! Let's become... Hawks (the 1 that ACTUALLY wins!) West! I'd love that too; don't think it can happen either BUT... Neil is Neil...

Ideal pipedream scenario: Durant
Still a pipedream, but a little less so: Horford and Milsap
High side of optimism: Horford or Milsap
Realistic get: Dwight Howard (if he promises to pick and roll)
Near certainty: Current roster improves with playoff experience and the natural progress that comes with having the 3rd youngest team