Blazers In WC "Second Tier"

[ABM]

According to this guy:

(PS: I don't have the subscription. If anyone who does wouldn't mind posting just the portion regarding the Blazers, that would be great.)

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/stor...clippers-new-western-conference-favorites-nba

 

[ABM]

This from Golliver:

http://www.blazersedge.com/2011/12/20/2649478/pelton-blazers-in-western-conferences-second-tier

Kevin Pelton writes on ESPN.com (Insider) that his SCHOENE system projects the Portland Trail Blazers will join the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference's second tier behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, his clear favorite.
---------------------------------
Last in this group is Portland. Once on the same track as Oklahoma City, the Blazers' young core was derailed by injuries to Greg Oden and Brandon Roy. That shouldn't overshadow the quality talent Portland still has available. The Blazers' top seven of guards Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews and Jamal Crawford, forwards LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Gerald Wallace and center Marcus Camby goes as deep as any in the league. Nate McMillan got more support in the frontcourt with the additions of Craig Smith and Kurt Thomas, and will have tremendous lineup flexibility.

 

[ironcrotch]

Here you go:

The contenders: Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs
Within the next tier, rising West powers meet the conference's aging dynasties. The Clippers are most obviously on the ascent after adding Paul and Chauncey Billups to a promising young core. The roster still has major holes with little talent of note behind frontcourt starters Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and any free agents the Clippers might sign to add depth would be stopgap solutions.

Paul and Billups have to figure out how to coexist in the backcourt after both dominated the ball in the past, and Vinny Del Negro is in charge of making this mix work. Still, the Clippers have so much dynamic talent that they likely will find their way into the battle for home-court advantage. In fact, SCHOENE pegs them as the conference's second-best team after Oklahoma City.

Even as defending champions, the Mavericks will undergo a season of transition, biding their time until they can get under the cap next summer. In the meantime, adding Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West was a terrific save after Tyson Chandler decided to leave for a lucrative, long-term offer from the New York Knicks.

Dallas might be as good in the 2011-12 regular season as in 2010-11, but the kind of unexpected postseason dominance the Mavericks enjoyed last season is unlikely because they are short on quality size in the middle. The Spurs have one title run left in them. Should veterans Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker hold up during the compact season, San Antonio could play with anyone in the conference. A key injury might take the Spurs out of the running, however.

Last in this group is Portland. Once on the same track as Oklahoma City, the Blazers' young core was derailed by injuries to Greg Oden and Brandon Roy. That shouldn't overshadow the quality talent Portland still has available. The Blazers' top seven of guards Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews and Jamal Crawford, forwards LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Gerald Wallace and center Marcus Camby goes as deep as any other in the league. Nate McMillan got more support in the frontcourt with the additions of Craig Smith and Kurt Thomas and will have tremendous lineup flexibility.

 

[ABM]

Here you go:

Thanks for that.

 

[ABM]

I liked this tweet

Jazz coach Ty Corbin: "Portland guys came out with a purpose ... wanted to demonstrate that they’re going to want to compete for the West."

 

[Natebishop3]

You know, in the past I would have said there was a clear "tier 1" and "tier 2" in the west, but not this year. I'm really not that impressed with OKC or Dallas, and the Lakers really aren't that great anymore. I think there will be parity in the west this season, and just like last time I think the Blazers will take advantage of the lockout shortened season. I'm not sure if that means WCF, but I do think it means we have a much better shot this season than we did last season.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I disagree that there isn't a clear cut favorite. OKC's eight man rotation of Westbrook, Sefalosha, Durant, Ibaka, Perkins, Harden, Maynor, and Collison (or Cook if you prefer) is just straight up nasty. Head-to-head the Blazers look like they could be competitive, but they're still overmatched at almost every position except power forward and the gap between Aldridge and Ibaka isn't all that great (different roles of course).

 

[ABM]

I disagree that there isn't a clear cut favorite. OKC's eight man rotation of Westbrook, Sefalosha, Durant, Ibaka, Perkins, Harden, Maynor, and Collison (or Cook if you prefer) is just straight up nasty. Head-to-head the Blazers look like they could be competitive, but they're still overmatched at almost every position except power forward and the gap between Aldridge and Ibaka isn't all that great (different roles of course).

This year's Thunder may very well become an iteration of the 1998-'99 San Antonio Spurs...who won their first NBA title that season......under the shroud of an asterisk.

 

[Brock]

I agree they kill us at every position except at SG and PF. I will take wes and jamal anyday over sefalosa and its not close. ibaka is not even a top 15 pf imo

also never loved maynors game either. however hes better than anyone we have behind felton.

 

[Brock]

Dirk
LA
Amare
Boozer
Milsap
Garnett
Cousins
Favors
West
Dunacn
Bosh
Love

All those guys im taking over ibaka

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I disagree that there isn't a clear cut favorite. OKC's eight man rotation of Westbrook, Sefalosha, Durant, Ibaka, Perkins, Harden, Maynor, and Collison (or Cook if you prefer) is just straight up nasty. Head-to-head the Blazers look like they could be competitive, but they're still overmatched at almost every position except power forward and the gap between Aldridge and Ibaka isn't all that great (different roles of course).

Plus, out of that nasty eight, one of them is Kevin Durant, the leading scorer in the NBA.

OKC looks tough and are making their way to the NBA finals as each year they seem to progress in the playoffs. The continued progress (or maybe lack of it) between Westbrook and Durant will be a factor this year in determining how far they go, IMO.

 

[KingSpeed]

Dallas gets no respect. Ridiculous. Why is OKC a favorite again? What did they do their roster in the offseason to improve it? And I don't understand why there would be an asterisk this year or in 1999. The playoffs are still the same.

 

[Natebishop3]

I disagree that there isn't a clear cut favorite. OKC's eight man rotation of Westbrook, Sefalosha, Durant, Ibaka, Perkins, Harden, Maynor, and Collison (or Cook if you prefer) is just straight up nasty. Head-to-head the Blazers look like they could be competitive, but they're still overmatched at almost every position except power forward and the gap between Aldridge and Ibaka isn't all that great (different roles of course).

See, that team doesn't impress me that much. It's not Lakers scary (from two years ago). Sure, Durant is a god and Westbrook is an All-Star, but the rest of the lineup doesn't scare me. Collison, Maynor, and Harden are all okay, but I don't see those guys dominating us. Perkins and Ibaka are both solid, no doubt, but I don't see much coming off the bench. I don't know. I guess I just feel that the Thunder have been overhyped for the past two or three years.

 

[Brock]

everyone is gaga over okc. I agree with speed. I realize durant/westy is great. However ibaka. maynor, sabosha, collison, harden are very very average players. also can perkins stay healthy?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Dallas gets no respect. Ridiculous. Why is OKC a favorite again? What did they do their roster in the offseason to improve it? And I don't understand why there would be an asterisk this year or in 1999. The playoffs are still the same.

Dallas gets noticably older each year and lost a key piece of their championship team in Chandler.

OKC should continue to improve each year as their players are arguably still improving or just hitting their peak career wise.

 

[ABM]

And I don't understand why there would be an asterisk this year or in 1999. The playoffs are still the same.

The wrong teams are playing, though. Everybody knows only the best teams come along late and hard.....over the course of the full 82 games.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

everyone is gaga over okc. I agree with speed. I realize durant/westy is great. However ibaka. maynor, sabosha, collison, harden are very very average players. also can perkins stay healthy?

So OKC is one star away from a championship because isn't the reciepe, three stars and role players. In fact when the Lakers won it was two stars and role players.

Those stars have to be great and I don't know if Westbrook is there . . . but if Westbrook takes his game up another level (perfects his passing/shooting decsions), then OKC has the right balance of role players to support Durant and Westbrook all the way to the finals.

 

[Natebishop3]

So OKC is one star away from a championship because isn't the reciepe, three stars and role players. In fact when the Lakers won it was two stars and role players.

Those stars have to be great and I don't know if Westbrook is there . . . but if Westbrook takes his game up another level (perfects his passing/shooting decsions), then OKC has the right balance of role players to support Durant and Westbrook all the way to the finals.

I think they will need more than Westbrook. If someone like CP3 or Dwight Howard ended up in OKC with Durant, I could see that team dominating.

 

[ABM]

I think they will need more than Westbrook. If someone like CP3 or Dwight Howard ended up in OKC with Durant, I could see that team dominating.

I hear ya on Westbrook. Is he, like, Tony Parker light?

 

[KingSpeed]

Dallas gets noticably older each year and lost a key piece of their championship team in Chandler.

OKC should continue to improve each year as their players are arguably still improving or just hitting their peak career wise.

Dallas still has the best player
in the league. They have a solid center in Haywood and they added Carter and Odom.

The wrong teams are playing, though. Everybody knows only the best teams come along late and hard.....over the course of the full 82 games.

Not always true and Dallas still would've made the playoffs last year if the season was 66 games.

 

[KingSpeed]

So OKC is one star away from a championship because isn't the reciepe, three stars and role players. In fact when the Lakers won it was two stars and role players.

Those stars have to be great and I don't know if Westbrook is there . . . but if Westbrook takes his game up another level (perfects his passing/shooting decsions), then OKC has the right balance of role players to support Durant and Westbrook all the way to the finals.

Dallas did it with one 2011 All Star.

 

[Natebishop3]

I hear ya on Westbrook. Is he, like, Tony Parker light?

Actually I'd say those two are a pretty good comparison. Streaky shooters, good slashers, solid defenders. I just don't think Westbrook OR Parker (in his prime) are a good second star on a championship team. Maybe I'm wrong. Does San Antonio win without Ginobili? Who is the Ginobili in OKC? Harden?

Imagine if OKC had taken Tyreke Evans instead of Harden...

 

[Pinwheel1]

everyone is gaga over okc. I agree with speed. I realize durant/westy is great. However ibaka. maynor, sabosha, collison, harden are very very average players. also can perkins stay healthy?

I hope you are right, but I am afraid Harden may be on the verge of jumping up a level. Maybe even more valuable than Westbrook. He showed signs last year.

 

[Natebishop3]

Dallas still has the best player
in the league. They have a solid center in Haywood and they added Carter and Odom.


Not always true and Dallas still would've made the playoffs last year if the season was 66 games.

Vince Carter is terrible. He is a nonfactor. Odom is solid, but who do they have to back up Haywood?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Actually I'd say those two are a pretty good comparison. Streaky shooters, good slashers, solid defenders. I just don't think Westbrook OR Parker (in his prime) are a good second star on a championship team. Maybe I'm wrong. Does San Antonio win without Ginobili? Who is the Ginobili in OKC? Harden?

Imagine if OKC had taken Tyreke Evans instead of Harden...

Actually I think Harden is a lot better player than Evans. he actually passes and has a better outside shot. When OKC traded Jeff Green last year Harden absolutely blew up and that development should continue.

 

[KingSpeed]

Actually I'd say those two are a pretty good comparison. Streaky shooters, good slashers, solid defenders. I just don't think Westbrook OR Parker (in his prime) are a good second star on a championship team. Maybe I'm wrong. Does San Antonio win without Ginobili? Who is the Ginobili in OKC? Harden?

Imagine if OKC had taken Tyreke Evans instead of Harden...

Tony Parker was NBA Finals MVP. Please give respect where respect is due.

 

[KingSpeed]

Vince Carter is terrible. He is a nonfactor. Odom is solid, but who do they have to back up Haywood?

Mahinimi and Brian Cardinal both of whom played some key minutes in the Finals.

 

[Natebishop3]

Mahinimi and Brian Cardinal both of whom played some key minutes in the Finals.

Brian Cardinal *insert laugh track*

 

[Masbee]

I disagree that there isn't a clear cut favorite. OKC's eight man rotation of Westbrook, Sefalosha, Durant, Ibaka, Perkins, Harden, Maynor, and Collison (or Cook if you prefer) is just straight up nasty. Head-to-head the Blazers look like they could be competitive, but they're still overmatched at almost every position except power forward and the gap between Aldridge and Ibaka isn't all that great (different roles of course).

Yep.

Awesome rotation.

Fuck them.

It should have been the Blazers and Thunder as teams (plural) of the future.

I despise teams of good fortune since ours has had so little.

"If I can't have it, then you can't either."

I hope they suffer as many injuries as we have recently (minus the career ending stuff).

I hope Westbrook continues to freeze out Durant and the others, and this causes a major rift in the team.

I hope the owner runs into financial troubles and starts squeezing the team.

I hope rumors start trickling out that Durant "should be in a bigger market where more fans can enjoy his brilliance."

How about a tornado ripping through the stadium? (empty of course)

But, don't think I am bitter......

cause I'm not.

 

[Masbee]

I agree they kill us at every position except at SG and PF. I will take wes and jamal anyday over sefalosa and its not close. ibaka is not even a top 15 pf imo

also never loved maynors game either. however hes better than anyone we have behind felton.

Harden dude. Harden.