Blazers Media Day

[HailBlazers]

no it wasn't. Nas simply said people should do as they please.

Dame said he doesn't research. Do as you please is a negative dismissal of what Nas actually said.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Norm: "Off-the-bench, we filled a lot of voids on defense."

 

[Driew]

I really like how Larry Nance Jr articulates his experience.

 

[HailBlazers]

I really like how Larry Nance Jr articulates his experience.

He's going to fit into Portland very well.

 

[BonesJones]

On RipCityRadio, Damian Lillard just said that part of his struggle on defense has been having so much responsibility offensively and how much energy he's had to expend on that end of the court. Says that with what Chauncey Billups wants to do offensively he shouldn't have to expend so much energy attacking an already set defense. Dame says he's comfortable averaging 22ppg if it helps the team win more. Having more ball movement offensively might not improve the offensive rating. But if it results in the Blazers having to rely less on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to create offense and saving more of those guys energy for the defensive end, then changing the offense will help the defense.

It's surreal hearing the players say what a lot of people here have been saying.

 

[illmatic99]

On RipCityRadio, Damian Lillard just said that part of his struggle on defense has been having so much responsibility offensively and how much energy he's had to expend on that end of the court. Says that with what Chauncey Billups wants to do offensively he shouldn't have to expend so much energy attacking an already set defense. Dame says he's comfortable averaging 22ppg if it helps the team win more. Having more ball movement offensively might not improve the offensive rating. But if it results in the Blazers having to rely less on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to create offense and saving more of those guys energy for the defensive end, then changing the offense will help the defense.

It's surreal hearing the players say what a lot of people here have been saying.

Got a link to this? Wish we heard stuff like this at the media day interview

 

[Mr. Robot]

Got a link to this? Wish we heard stuff like this at the media day interview

nurk said dame & cj will average few shots less, but other players will benefit from it

 

[James lamphear]

...did he just confirm the team is for sale?! I thought this was only speculation up until this point.

He said not for sale.

 

[Chris Craig]

Watching Dame again, here is the quote.

"We'll be competitive again. At the end of last season, I wanted to see our roster improve and us to have a better chance to win. And we had our conversations throughout the summer about what that looked like and how we could steps in that direction. I come into this season with faith that that's going to happen and that we're going to do that. Larry Nance is a good pickup for our team.... we got some guys with experience in Snell and McLemore. We got some good guys in camp like Chriss, Smith and Pat. We got some decent guys around that we can form into a really good team and be competitive."

"The conversations that we've had, what we've sat down and talked about, it's genuine that we're trying to move in the right direction and give our team a chance to go get it done. That's what I feel. I have faith in the fact that we've had real conversations and that's what everyone's intentions are."

Tell me I'm reading too much into this.

He's not talking about a trade. He's saying he is confident this roster is going to take the necessary steps this year to improve by getting better defensively and such.

 

[blazedanugz]

Got a link to this? Wish we heard stuff like this at the media day interview

he also was a little bit more candid about how he felt this summer. Just wants everyone to be on the same page about winning a championship. I’m starting to feel like this whole thing is also a message to player like nurk and CJ. Get better in the off season…come ready and in shape…get a killer mentality

 

[B-Roy]

The 9 players that gave interviews are presumably our top 9. We may play a 9.5 or 10 man rotation based on matchup but I expect these guys to be our playoff rotation (assuming we get there):

Dame
CJ
Norm
RoCo
Nurk
Larry
Cody
Nas
Ant

 

[craigehlo]

Nas' was better.

Nas just tried to get out of the question without taking any sort of stand.

Dame essentially said we all grow up and get our vaccinations and nobody bats an eye, and didn't see this one as any different. He mentioned looking out for his loved ones as big reason for getting vaccinated. Nas seemed to say those who have strong anti-vax feeling should stand by their principles. There seems to be a big difference between the two messages.

 

[James lamphear]

What no Elleby interview??

In all seriousness, guy should get cut anyway. I don’t see what his purpose is. I’d take any of the training camp invites over him.

The 4 non guarantee guys are better then Elleby but makes the team because he's already guarantee contract

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

This seems to confirm my impression that Billups has had more input on player personnel acquisition; Olshey talked about Billups' recruiting and selection. Never heard him say that about Stotts.

 

[tiredhunter]

The 4 non guarantee guys are better then Elleby but makes the team because he's already guarantee contract

Don't they all also have too many years in the league to qualify for a 2 way contract?

 

[riverman]

Don't they all also have too many years in the league to qualify for a 2 way contract?

yes

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I like that he seems so relaxed and comfortable already. Also like that he doesn't express any false optimism.

 

[riverman]

I think this was Olshey's best media day presser since he's been here...

 

[blazerkor]

I think this was Olshey's best media day presser since he's been here...

Yeah, he didn't come off as a complete dick for the first time that I can remember.

 

[Scalma]

no it wasn't. Nas simply said people should do as they please.

yeah which is the wrong way to look at it tbh. People against vaccinations need to be educated and then bullied, period.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

"Individually we should never get beat!" I like that attitude.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The 9 players that gave interviews are presumably our top 9. We may play a 9.5 or 10 man rotation based on matchup but I expect these guys to be our playoff rotation (assuming we get there):

Dame
CJ
Norm
RoCo
Nurk
Larry
Cody
Nas
Ant

Nas might be behind Snell.
Ant could go behind McLemore but that is more unlikely.
Now if one or two guys miss games we have the positional flexibility to play almost any 9 of those 11 players. Elleby, Brown and roster spot 14 won't play.

 

[THE HCP]

seeing nurk pissing all over terry stotts coaching was a sight to behold

He did the same EXACT thing when he joined us from Denver. KILLING Malone and praising Stotts. Not sure I'd put too much stock in that.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Interesting that Billups referred to Nurk's bad percentages on the block - and his belief that the issue is that he is rushing because he thinks that if the ball goes away from him he is not getting it back.

He may feel that Nurk's big problem is confidence and is trying to build it up.

 

[illmatic99]

Nas might be behind Snell.
Ant could go behind McLemore but that is more unlikely.
Now if one or two guys miss games we have the positional flexibility to play almost any 9 of those 11 players. Elleby, Brown and roster spot 14 won't play.

Nas and Ant will be part of any 9 man rotation. We're in trouble if they arent better than Snell/McLemore

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[illmatic99]

yeah which is the wrong way to look at it tbh. People against vaccinations need to be educated and then bullied, period.

Nba can dance around mandates all they want but they're effectively bullying the players with all the hurdles they're making them go thru to play.