Are we any better than we were three years ago?

[KingSpeed]

Three years ago, we started the season 5-12 before winning 17 of the next 18 games. Is our current team capable of going on run like that? Are we any better than that team? Or are we just older with less depth? I'm starting to miss Blake, Frye, Sergio, Jack, Jones, Webster, and Outlaw. Outlaw beat us last night. Completely shut down Roy at the end and then iced the game with free throws. Outlaw was so good for us in 4th quarters. Our team misses that in the worst way. Unfortunately, we had to trade him for Camby, I know, but it's still sad. Wouldn't have had to do that if Oden or Joel didn't get hurt.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The only guy out of that bunch I really miss is Travis. Jack wasn't as bad as some people claimed, but Nate used him wrong. Webster was a just a journeyman, and Blake was over-rated. Those other guys were nada.

If I were to sum it up, I would say this is a "smarter" team - with Miller, Camby, and a veteran Roy - but less athletic.

 

[KingSpeed]

The only guy out of that bunch I really miss is Travis. Jack wasn't as bad as some people claimed, but Nate used him wrong. Webster was a just a journeyman, and Blake was over-rated. Those other guys were nada.

If I were to sum it up, I would say this is a "smarter" team - with Miller, Camby, and a veteran Roy - but less athletic.

I agree with you, but the thing about a player like Webster was that he was able to blow up now and then, like those two great games against the Jazz. We don't have anybody on our bench who can do that now. I wish Rudy was capable but he just hasn't come through yet.

 

[Entity]

This team would be better if they weren't demoralized. They're having health issues, of course, but a lot of their problems are in their heads.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

We're basically the same, a mediocre fringe playoff team.

 

[KingSpeed]

We're basically the same, a mediocre fringe playoff team.

How sad is that?

 

[RoyToy]

I liked Outlaw off the bench but...

5 years, $35M

He'd be gone right now either way.

 

[alex42083]

Wouldn't have had to do that if Oden or Joel didn't get hurt.

This team would look drastically different IMO if Greg stayed healthy. His constant injuries seemed to have triggered a lot of other moves.. oh well.

 

[BGrantFan]

I agree with you, but the thing about a player like Webster was that he was able to blow up now and then, like those two great games against the Jazz. We don't have anybody on our bench who can do that now. I wish Rudy was capable but he just hasn't come through yet.

It's sad that I can count Webster's "great" games in 5 years as a Blazer on one hand. Rudy has already been more valuable to the team.

 

[BGrantFan]

I liked Outlaw off the bench but...

5 years, $35M

He'd be gone right now either way.

Yep. Travis is a MLE player at best. Webster's contract would have been fair value for him, except that Outlaw actually had an acceptable PER.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Shouldn't have gotten rid of ZBO for less than zero.

 

[BGrantFan]

Shouldn't have gotten rid of ZBO for less than zero.

Randolph was toxic at that stage. The Knicks and Clippers gave him away as well. He has finally settled in as an "All-Star" who has never led a team to the playoffs.

Dude is a dud in terms of actually winning in the NBA.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

No he wasn't. What we got was worse. You mean he wasn't able to lead the Knicks, Clippers or Grizzlies to the playoffs? well shoot, they usually make it without him, so it must have been ZBO.

Carrying bad contracts for 2 years to get us to this point was bad. They weren't continously improving the team, they were holding out all hope for a cap situation which did not present itself. Its like saving all your money for sales at the end of the year only to find out that they don't have any clothes in your size so you get tight fitting shirts instead.

 

[MARIS61]

That was a scrappy team with no lack of energy.

This one is dishevelled, disgruntled, and disappointingly distant.

They look old, slow and in pain.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think we're worse.

 

[maxiep]

If both teams are healthy, the one today kicks the shit out of the one three years ago. Unfortunately, today's team isn't healthy, so we're probably a little worse.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Much worse in terms of health and longterm prospects (and cap situation), but top to bottom this team probably has more talent, unfortunately it's very guard heavy with not enough depth in the front-court and for a team that relies on offensive rebounds and Roy dominating when healthy to generate its "high efficiency" offense, that spells doom.

 

[Minstrel]

A much better team in talent, but similar in results due to health. And I'm feeling rather pessimistic about the health issue turning around, for the two guys that really, really matter--Roy and Oden.

 

[Drttimmy]

Three years ago, we started the season 5-12 before winning 17 of the next 18 games. Is our current team capable of going on run like that? Are we any better than that team? Or are we just older with less depth? I'm starting to miss Blake, Frye, Sergio, Jack, Jones, Webster, and Outlaw. Outlaw beat us last night. Completely shut down Roy at the end and then iced the game with free throws. Outlaw was so good for us in 4th quarters. Our team misses that in the worst way. Unfortunately, we had to trade him for Camby, I know, but it's still sad. Wouldn't have had to do that if Oden or Joel didn't get hurt.

I agree with others, and that our current roster probably has more individual talent. But the 07 team is probably better. Those guys knew their roles and played within it. They worked in synergy and the sum was greater than the parts--similar to Utah's teams. I don't think that's possible with this current edition. Too many overlapping skills and too deficient in other key areas. Plus, as others have said, you couldn't out-work that 07 team. That's half the battle right there.

 

[BlayZa]

today's is better on paper but can barely even get on the court, 3yrs ago wins purely by attrition.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

In short, no.

Batum, LA, and Rudy have not progressed much. Oden is providing nothing at this point.

The minutes at PF that Outlaw provided have not been replaced. If Joel ever makes it back, it is possible we improve our PF/C rotation just slightly with the addition of Camby but a less effective Joel.

The PG position was upgraded with Miller taking over for Blake.

The SF position was upgraded with Mathews.

All of this gets cancelled out though by the injuries to Roy.

 

[Ed O]

Much worse in terms of health and longterm prospects (and cap situation), but top to bottom this team probably has more talent, unfortunately it's very guard heavy with not enough depth in the front-court and for a team that relies on offensive rebounds and Roy dominating when healthy to generate its "high efficiency" offense, that spells doom.

I agree with this.

Ed O.

 

[LittleAlex]

The team three years ago played with fire and joy.

This years team is on a Bataan Death March to a joyless end of a bleak season.

Unless/until they find a way to enjoy the game again, they are going to be mediocre at best.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The team three years ago played with fire and joy.

This years team is on a Bataan Death March to a joyless end of a bleak season.

Unless/until they find a way to enjoy the game again, they are going to be mediocre at best.

It's hard to quantify how much of factor that really is, but that certainly does appear to be part of what is going on.

 

[RoyToy]

Much better than three years ago. Don't let the .500 record fool you. Easily could (and probably should) have 4 more wins right now. Just in a funk that started at the beginning of the season instead of in the middle. The 4th Q scoring issues won't be a problem all year long. Not long ago the team was 3-0 after owning the 4th Q in all 3 games.

 

[Wheels]

without trying to rewrite what has already been said I agree with what Maxiep, Nik, and Minstrel wrote.

 

[RedHotRollin]

I don't think we're any better but I do think as long as Nate has not lost the team they can get this turned around. What they really are missing is effort. Something they played with last year. And as long as these guys fight and go to war for him, they can win games and turn it around. I agree with you, Joel will help here because he brings fire and he legitimately wants to win.