Bench Made

[GrandpaBlaze]

No, you defending olshey is a joke, he sucks in free agency, and fucked up completely in 2016

Disagree. Now that ET is surrounded by more capable players, he is doing well. Overpaid somewhat but a very productive player. Leonard, on the other hand was a definite mistake but all GMs have those on occasion.

 

[Labinot41]

And which GM has been successful in acquiring big name free agents to Portland? Is it really a GM issue?

Of course it is, Sam Presti for example was able to Keep PG when everybody thought he would Go to LA. That's what a very good GM is

 

[Strenuus]

Of course it is, Sam Presti for example was able to Keep PG when everybody thought he would Go to LA. That's what a very good GM is

I'm pretty sure PG stayed because of the players, not because Presti had anything to do with it. lol.

 

[CupWizier]

Of course it is, Sam Presti for example was able to Keep PG when everybody thought he would Go to LA. That's what a very good GM is

uh, I was referring to Portland's history and it's much easier to retain a free agent than sign a free agent. Let's see, Presti rebuilt the Indiana Pacers as well as Chicago in the last 2 years and has one win to show for it this year.

 

[CupWizier]

I'm pretty sure PG stayed because of the players, not because Presti had anything to do with it. lol.

exactly.

 

[Labinot41]

I'm pretty sure PG stayed because of the players, not because Presti had anything to do with it. lol.

I'm not sure about that, PG said many Times that he spoke openly with Presti. Presti gambled in the culture he created, and he won with Paul George, i wish we had a GM like him, and not the used car salesman who get's mediocre Players in free agency at best

 

[Gronk Brady]

I'm pretty sure PG stayed because of the players, not because Presti had anything to do with it. lol.

So then Neil has no faith that Dame can get Jimmy to resign here... pretty sure Dame is a better teammate than anyone on OKC

 

[HailBlazers]

Lol i've said Curry and Stauskas were good signings, but that doesn't change my oppionion about him, and both Players said they came to Portland because of Stotts' Offense. But
the fact is he has never been able to get a star player or at least a very good Player in free agency, even when we had a ton of Cap Space. And you can not say those Players don't want to come to Portland, PG chose Oklahoma instead of Los Angeles for example, a good GM can do it, Neil can not

We're not getting a better GM. May as well accept it. Save yourself a lot of heartache. Look - Portland is not a free agent destination, our best chance is to build through the draft and swing for the fences via Trade when we're on the cusp (a la Afflalo before Wes went down). The smart bet is to continue to develop internally this season and look for a big trade right before Dame's contract is up.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Of course it is, Sam Presti for example was able to Keep PG when everybody thought he would Go to LA. That's what a very good GM is

Yeah, the same Sam Presti that lost Keven Durant for NOTHING and traded James Harden for a bag of chips. He had the makings of a young dynasty and let it slip between his fingers. His team is 1-4, finished behind us in the standings last year and currently has the highest payroll in the league. That's right OKC has a higher payroll than GSW. It would be worth it if they were seriously challenging GSW, or even HOU, but they aren't. Not even close.

BNM

 

[oldmangrouch]

I'm still concerned about Harkless though. Something is wrong with his knee and it doesn't seem like it's healing right.[/QUOTE

Does every team in the NBA keep fans in the dark over this kind of thing?

 

[BonesJones]

I've said probably the worst GM in free agency and signing Players contracts, if you already quote me then quote me correctly! Evan Turner is still overpaid af, that signing was and is stil terrible, but at least he has a role now as leader of the 2nd Unit. Stauskas and Curry are good signings, but they have chosen us because of the guard friendly Offense Stotts runs, not because of Olshey

What difference does probably make? That's an irrelevant word when you make such a bold statement.

So now Olshey gets penalized for good signings because "he's not why they came here"? Lmao.

 

[BonesJones]

So then Neil has no faith that Dame can get Jimmy to resign here... pretty sure Dame is a better teammate than anyone on OKC

Jimmy is different than Paul though.

 

[BBert]

Biggie was, well big. Nice to see that. As for Curry, keep in mind he missed all of last year so it will take some time.

Aside from a couple of rookie mistakes early, Biggie played great. We really needed him off the bench last night and I'm not sure if we win without his contribution. A few more games like that and I'll eat my previous pessimistic prognostication.

 

[BBert]

I agree, the bench is the big story so far, albeit early, this season. It’s surprising because of the collection of basically unhearalded and/or unproven players. So it seems to be a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Is their chemistry THAT great? Are they just executing THAT well? Is it a fluke? Whatever it is, it’s fun to watch the ball movement and selfless play. It appears they’ve really bought into whatever Terry orchestrated and what Olshey built so enjoy it. I’m sometimes as critical of those two as many posters on here, but this has been a thing of beauty- they got it right.

You nailed it. I'm literally happy when I see the second unit on the floor. Sure they make some mistakes. Sure they have some cold spells. But for a bench mob, it's beautiful basketball. That Stauskus/Zach combo is lethal.

 

[Reep]

That's kind of funny given the grief Olshey was given around here over the summer for letting Ed walk and only making the seemingly minimal acquisitions of Curry and Stauskas. The pundits were less than impressed with the Blazers' bench unit prior to the start of the season, with CBS Sports rating them the 4th worst in the league:

When Olshey mentioned what he was trying to do with the signings, and using ET, my take was "well, I can see how it could work, but it is a somewhat risky proposition". As it turns out, it has worked exactly like he thought it would, with some added upside from things like Sauce connecting with Collins. And yes, I think Olshey should get lots of credit for this.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Yeah, the same Sam Presti that lost Keven Durant for NOTHING and traded James Harden for a bag of chips. He had the makings of a young dynasty and let it slip between his fingers. His team is 1-4, finished behind us in the standings last year and currently has the highest payroll in the league. That's right OKC has a higher payroll than GSW. It would be worth it if they were seriously challenging GSW, or even HOU, but they aren't. Not even close.

BNM

God damn BNM your posts are always so on point

 

[SIeepwalker]

@Labinot41

If Presti is so good would you trade his team for our ? because I sure wouldn't in a million year

 

[rotary111]

Yeah, the same Sam Presti that lost Keven Durant for NOTHING and traded James Harden for a bag of chips. He had the makings of a young dynasty and let it slip between his fingers. His team is 1-4, finished behind us in the standings last year and currently has the highest payroll in the league. That's right OKC has a higher payroll than GSW. It would be worth it if they were seriously challenging GSW, or even HOU, but they aren't. Not even close.

BNM

How do people not see this! I would much rather have our team and financial situation.

 

[Strenuus]

So then Neil has no faith that Dame can get Jimmy to resign here... pretty sure Dame is a better teammate than anyone on OKC

You're basing on conjecture that he even has the pieces to get him over here. People -think- CJ for Butler can happen, but can it? What other factors play in it? Picks? We don't know.

 

[Labinot41]

@Labinot41

If Presti is so good would you trade his team for our ? because I sure wouldn't in a million year

What exactly do you mean sleep? I don't unterstand this question

 

[SIeepwalker]

What exactly do you mean sleep? I don't unterstand this question

Since you say Presti is better than Olshey, would you trade our roster (built by NO) for the OKC's roster (built by Presti)

 

[Labinot41]

Since you say Presti is better than Olshey, would you trade our roster (built by NO) for the OKC's roster (built by Presti)

No, because i would Never trade Lillard. If Lillard wasn't on the Blazers Team, yes i would do without hesitation

 

[Strenuus]

No, because i would Never trade Lillard. If Lillard wasn't on the Blazers Team, yes i would do without hesitation

I would really miss @Boob-No-More as a fan.

 

[dviss1]

So, no comments? It seems to me like so far the bench improvement is the BIG story with this team.

MFs (me included) were HATING on SAUCE...

Now he has a nickname and whenever he does something great I yell:

"GIT EM' SAUCY!!"

 

[hoopsjock]

Either @Labinot41 has @Boob-No-More on ignore or is pretending not to see his post.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I would really miss @Boob-No-More as a fan.

If Neil Olshey EVER made a trade that cost us Damian Lillard and brought us Russell Westbrook, I wouldn't just hate Olshey with every fiber of my being, I would cease being a fan of the Portland Trail Blazer, cease being a fan of basketball and cease being a fan of life. No greater cruelty could ever be visited upon me.

BNM

 

[Orion Bailey]

Aminu, Harkless, kaman, Napier Yeah those are great signings, really those are great signings... if you want to stay mediocre. Fact is Neil sucks in free agency, if you come with those Players, all i can do is laugh

Then I laugh right back. You noted Turner as way over paid, Not that he isn't a great player.l Your post was about overpaying, so I listed guys I don't think we overpaid for. Are they stars? No, but that wasn't the basis of your post.

We have already been down the road of why cant we sign star free agents. If you think that's all on NO, then you I don't think you have been around this team long.

 

[Orion Bailey]

If Zach moves to the starting lineup as PF, that moves Aminu to the bench along with ET, Stauskas, Curry & Meyers(?). Still a pretty darned good bench.

Not bad, but Collins is already way more consistant than AMinu on offence and is a better defender, so I think our bench still takes a hit.

 

[hoopsjock]

Then I laugh right back. You noted Turner as way over paid, Not that he isn't a great player.l Your post was about overpaying, so I listed guys I don't think we overpaid for. Are they stars? No, but that wasn't the basis of your post.

We have already been down the road of why cant we sign star free agents. If you think that's all on NO, then you I don't think you have been around this team long.

Yup, he's moving the goalposts.

 

[joeBlazers]

Great win tonight, Bench did great again.