Are we the WORST team in the Northwest Division?

[Rastapopoulos]

A lot more people are calling him a bust - yet a another PG that can't shoot drafted by MIN. Seems to be their specialty.

Wow, that was fast. It does seem a little premature, especially as a lot of PGs are slow starters (not Lillard, obviously, but certainly Deron Williams, and notoriously Chauncey Billups) and Thibs is not known to be fond of rookies. But one thing sets Dunn apart and that is his reputation as an excellent defender.

If you're looking for a 3rd "star" in MIN, Zach LaVine is younger, and far better, than Dunn, but he's not a PG.

Again, have to disagree with you. LaVine strikes me as all flash-no substance. But that said, he's certainly put up very good numbers so far and is actually shooting way better from 3 than I would've guessed (46.7%). So okay, they have KAT, Wiggins, LaVine, Dunn (who, at the very least still has pretty great trade value on potential alone right now) as well as Dieng, whom I would trade any of our big men for. And my fondness for Rubio (still top 3 most talented passer in the NBA and an excellent defender who is currently shooting 40% from 3) and the newly impressive Bjelica is well-known.

Until MIN can find a PG that can shoot, they will continue to lose close games, like they did last year and are doing this year.

Not a huge task. Thibs has made useful players out of such scrapheap guards as Aaron Brooks and DJ Augustin. And they have a very similar guy sitting on their bench in Tyus Jones. I would KILL to have Tyus Jones on our bench:



So. They need a PG who can shoot? But they HAVE a possible future MVP at power forward and better players at C and SF than we have and Zach Lavine and Shabazz Muhammad at SG? Ooh, they're hurting.

Umm, no. Just no.

I'm going to assume the "no" is to the comparison between Gobert and Mutombo rather than the comparison between Mutombo and Lillard

His third season in the NBA. Mutombo blocked 336 shots. Through 3 seasons, Gobert's career high is 189 BLKs.

So you're saying that blocked shots are the only measure here? That's not exactly an "advanced stat". By that stat Mark Eaton is a fucking hall-of-famer. Care to compare some more advanced defensive stats?

Dame absolutely abused Gobert in the first game of the season by taking the ball right at him. I don't ever recall seeing a 6'3" PG consistently abuse Mutombo at the rim the way Lillard abused Gobert in that game.

Good for Dame. And if every player was able to do that with Gobert he wouldn't be as valuable as he is. Michael Jordan dunked on Mutombo and wagged his finger in his face - so much for Mutombo!

Comparing Gobert to Mutombo is a massive dose of wishful thinking.

It would only be wishful thinking if we had Gobert. I don't wish for the Jazz to have a good player.

Um, no he's not. It's true he was and is still very young, but he had one of the statistically worst rookie seasons in the history of the NBA (for anyone who played significant minutes). And his advanced stats are even worse this year.

Oh so NOW advanced stats matter. But how are his blocks?

Yes, Mudiay is a bit of a reach. However, he is a big solid PG who defends well and can bully a lot of guards. He may turn out only to be a journeyman PG, for sure, but he never played college ball so has a lot of growing to do. I will certainly concede that Denver is the worst of the rest of the NW, and we may be better than them. But we fucking well better be given the gulf in salaries.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Have you seen the rosters they've "built" around Anthony Davis.

Yes, absolutely. My point is simply this: having a star, even a player like Anthony Davis who as been touted as a "lock" for league MVP for a couple of years now, is not sufficient to have a winning team. You have to do a good job building round him.
Davis is far better than Lillard in everything except possibly durability (which is a pretty major factor, admittedly). MOST (non-Blazer-fans) would probably put Dame as a top 5 PG, which is pretty damn good but not "superstar". So we're starting behind New Orleans in "foundation stones".

Last year everyone was willing to crown Olshey Lord God Almighty because we overachieved. Well, that is less so this year with a team that was supposed to be better and certainly costs a shitload more. Suddenly it looks a lot more like a slightly better New Orleans than a slightly worse Golden State. I would probably agree that our second best player is better than their second best player, but he remains an undersized and underathletic SG who can't defend and is forced to play out of position at PG a fair bunch. God bless 'im.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Id also like to add that we are 3-0 in our division....

 

[PDXFonz]

The one thing that pisses me off is rebound differential. We've been such a good rebounding team in previous years that it's frustrating to see us bottom in the league right now.

 

[Orion Bailey]

The one thing that pisses me off is rebound differential. We've been such a good rebounding team in previous years that it's frustrating to see us bottom in the league right now.

You would think its ALL about lack of effort, but I don't think that's the case. It looks like they are trying for the most part. We just don't look as fast or fleet of foot, or as quick to make decisions. We look so confused at times compared to last year where everyone just keyed in on the ball it seems.

 

[Strenuus]

You would think its ALL about lack of effort, but I don't think that's the case. It looks like they are trying for the most part. We just don't look as fast or fleet of foot, or as quick to make decisions. We look so confused at times compared to last year where everyone just keyed in on the ball it seems.

There's been so many times where they just didn't jump, even when being in good rebounding positioning.

 

[illmatic99]

I would probably agree that our second best player is better than their second best player

Did you just say that you "probably agree" that CJ is better than E'twawn Moore?

Smh.

 

[Natebishop3]

Did you just say that you "probably agree" that CJ is better than E'twawn Moore?

Smh.

I don't think Rasta is actually a Blazer fan. He loved the team when we had Rudy and Sergio and Nic, but now that those players are all gone, he has no reason to actually like the team anymore. Maybe if we pick up a few international players, he'll start to leave the Blazers again.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Did you just say that you "probably agree" that CJ is better than E'twawn Moore?

1. At least spell his name right.
2. I was thinking of Jrue Holiday, I guess. (Yeah, he hasn't played yet, I know.)

 

[riverman]

Still to small a sample size but Stotts teams usually get better as the season goes on.....I don't think we're the worst team in our division...we're ahead of the curve...after the trade deadline, we might be really improved

 

[Chris Craig]

I'm sure New Orleans fans tell themselves this all the time.

Difference is ours is here to stay and is a damn good leader. The first chance Anthony Davis gets he's out of there. Hell, he will probably get traded this year.

 

[Chris Craig]

Minnesota is 3-7 and Denver is 4-7, not so good. We are tied with Utah and OKC for the top spot in our division, plus we are 3-0 against Our division rivals. Utah is overplaying and will fizzle, OKC has only done so well because they have been piggy backing Westbrook, who can't keep it up all season, he'll burn out...Blazers are clearly the best in the division, clearly!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Minnesota is 3-7 and Denver is 4-7, not so good. We are tied with Utah and OKC for the top spot in our division, plus we are 3-0 against Our division rivals. Utah is overplaying and will fizzle, OKC has only done so well because they have been piggy backing Westbrook, who can't keep it up all season, he'll burn out...Blazers are clearly the best in the division, clearly!

OKC also had a ridiculously easy first week. I predicted they would start to suck once they started playing real teams. They have. After losing 4 in a row, they just beat HOU by 2 at home, so our game against HOU tonight will be a good measuring stick.

BNM

 

[Chris Craig]

OKC also had a ridiculously easy first week. I predicted they would start to suck once they started playing real teams. They have. After lsoiing 4 in a row, they just beat HOU by 2 at home, so our game against HOU tonight will be a good measuring stick.

BNM

I'm not to worried

 

[KeepOnRollin]

1. At least spell his name right.
2. I was thinking of Jrue Holiday, I guess. (Yeah, he hasn't played yet, I know.)

Says the guy who spelled Kris Dunn as Chris Dunn?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Says the guy who spelled Kris Dunn as Chris Dunn?

For some, its much easier to spell Kryskovsky Kalipernaicolou, than it is Kris Dunn

 

[Sarni]

Difference is ours is here to stay and is a damn good leader. The first chance Anthony Davis gets he's out of there. Hell, he will probably get traded this year.

Not a chance in hell. Davis will be there for at least three more seasons, he has FIVE years on his deal.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Says the guy who spelled Kris Dunn as Chris Dunn?

Ouch.

But at least I was saying nice things about him.

 

[dviss1]

For some, its much easier to spell Kryskovsky Kalipernaicolou, than it is Kris Dunn

Repped.

 

[dviss1]

Ouch.

But at least I was saying nice things about him.

 

[Natebishop3]

Says the guy who spelled Kris Dunn as Chris Dunn?

 

[Chris Craig]

For some, its much easier to spell Kryskovsky Kalipernaicolou, than it is Kris Dunn

Well Krysovsky Kalipernaicou is easier to pronounce too

 

[Nate]

No

 

[handiman]

OKC also had a ridiculously easy first week. I predicted they would start to suck once they started playing real teams. They have. After losing 4 in a row, they just beat HOU by 2 at home, so our game against HOU tonight will be a good measuring stick.

BNM

The measuring stick turned out to be a paddling.

 

[stampedehero]

So far we have a winning record 11/18. That stat should be centered on a 10 game record and evaluted each cycle. Every team can falter out of the gate and the time to determine "worst" is when you qualify for the playoffs. At this point from what I have seen our interior D rebounding performance limits our success. Our day may come (again).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

So far we have a winning record 11/18.

But we also have terrible underlying numbers, like point and rebound differential. I mean REALLY bad. Here they are for the last ten games.

 

[BBert]

The one thing that pisses me off is rebound differential. We've been such a good rebounding team in previous years that it's frustrating to see us bottom in the league right now.

I'm with you. My favorite Blazers teams have always been good rebounding teams. I'd venture a guess that all of the most successful teams the Blazers have had have been top rebounding teams in the league: The Walton/Lucas teams; the Drexler/Buck teams; the Sheed/Sabonis teams. It's something I sometimes take for granted. Getting out rebounded by big numbers is worse than frustrating, it's disheartening and disastrous.

 

[BBert]

Difference is ours is here to stay and is a damn good leader. The first chance Anthony Davis gets he's out of there. Hell, he will probably get traded this year.

...to Portland...

 

[Orion Bailey]

I'm with you. My favorite Blazers teams have always been good rebounding teams. I'd venture a guess that all of the most successful teams the Blazers have had have been top rebounding teams in the league: The Walton/Lucas teams; the Drexler/Buck teams; the Sheed/Sabonis teams. It's something I sometimes take for granted. Getting out rebounded by big numbers is worse than frustrating, it's disheartening and disastrous.

Not sure, but I betthatgoes for almost all good/great/championship teams. I cant honestly remember a poor rebounding team winning. Dallas? I think they rebounded pretty well in 2011?

It really is central to alot of basketball. Think about it.
The best of shooters shoot 45-55% right? That means half the shots need to be rebounded....
That's half the game right there. rebounding. Absolutely huge.

I've been trying to maintain my positive homer attitude you all have come to know and love (snicker), but man. It is very frustrating to watch the ball bounce into the opponents hands ALL THE F'ing time@!!!

 

[riverman]

I think we've now succeeded in losing the target on our back...teams will start to play down to us....rest their starters....etc...then when it clicks we'll kick some serious ass!! Go Blazers!