Can we get in playoff postion?

[julius]

I think he means that the Blazers were entitled to the Nets pick, so even tho it sucked that they lost, there was a good chance they were getting 2 lotto picks anyways.

We're just lucky that the Nets went 6, and no one else wanted to pick Damian that early (including a LOT of us fans)

 

[Draco]

However the season finishes its unlikely we get a top3 pick. Even the team with the worst record has the most likely draft slot of picking #4. There is no chance we can be as bad as the worst few teams in the league. We won't be able to get that many ping pong balls so our odds are lower. So its very unlikely we pick in the top3.

Picks 6-14 most likely won't give us a quality starting level player. Its possible; but there's far more cases of draft selections falling short of that tier than meeting it.

The times I think its stupid to win games is when you have an older mediocre roster with little upside. Then adding overpaid veterans for a few wins makes no sense. Better to trade those best veterans and rebuild. Our team isn't in that scenario at all though. Our team is full of players who haven't entered their prime, we have $20 million in salary room for the current season, so there is lots of built in upside.

Sure I'd be interested in having a draft pick, but I think this roster will likely have more value if they can make the playoffs. Yes its a bit of a gamble either way; and all strategies are unlikely to win a championship; but I think thats the best long term sustainable team building mindset. It will help in recruiting for free agents. Players always prefer to go to teams that won. Thats how the Bucks got Monroe, the Raptors Demare Carroll.

Now do I think we should trade for an aging veteran to make a playoff push? No! Thats would be a shortsided move. But all the players here can contribute with Dame long term. Dame and CJ have become one of the most elite scoring backcourts in the league. If this team is lucky enough to make a playoff push they should go for it. If things don't work out and we lose a ton of games a lottery pick is a consolation prize. But the pick shouldn't be the goal. The team will be in a better position to win down the road if we make the playoffs this year than if we add a lottery pick in the 6-14 range.

 

[THE HCP]

I swore we traded Wallace to NJ for their pick that got us Dame.


Sent from my Baller-Ass 5.5" iPhone 6+......... FAMS

 

[BigGameDamian]

Better question is, can the Blazers hold a playoff position?

 

[Draco]

I swore we traded Wallace to NJ for their pick that got us Dame.


Sent from my Baller-Ass 5.5" iPhone 6+......... FAMS

Yeah; thats why I was rooting for the NETS to lose every game that year.

Or when you say "we" are you a Nets fan?

 

[Chris Craig]

The Blazers are getting better, playing some exciting basketball, and with Leonard back we are going to be in every game, and win more of them. The playoffs are a possibility.

 

[Draco]

If we make the playoffs don't we lose our draft pick to Denver?

We would gain two second round picks though.

Sure I'd rather have a middle of the first round pick but there is a small future benefit.

 

[oldmangrouch]

So you'd rather have a shitty group of players to add a potentially good one than a good group of players with a good enough rep to add a good one in free agency?

There are very few impact players available in FA next summer, and with the increase in the salary cap half the teams in the league will be all over them.

In a word, FA is a delusion. Trading or drafting are exponentially more realistic.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Nice post.

Except its wrong. The losing had nothing to do with us acquiring Dame. It got us Meyers Leonard.

That is true - IF you believe trading away vets for the Nets pick had nothing to do with the losing.

You can't separate the two. The trade that netted Dame also caused more short-term losing.

 

[Draco]

That is true - IF you believe trading away vets for the Nets pick had nothing to do with the losing.

You can't separate the two. The trade that netted Dame also caused more short-term losing.

Acquiring the Nets pick that we used to draft Lillard had nothing to do with how much we won or lost that year. It was simple asset accumulation. Brooklyn was foolish to accept that trade.

 

[tlongII]

The Blazers are getting better, playing some exciting basketball, and with Leonard back we are going to be in every game, and win more of them. The playoffs are a possibility.

Uh, no.

 

[Denny Crane]

I say we should try to win every game until we are forced to go home.

A pick that gets you a Lillard is something you can trade for.

There's no substitute for playing to win, the f you want a winning culture.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Acquiring the Nets pick that we used to draft Lillard had nothing to do with how much we won or lost that year. It was simple asset accumulation. Brooklyn was foolish to accept that trade.

The Nets were foolish - and the Blazers were smart to sacrifice the short-term for the long-term.

Actually, I'm not sure what you are arguing here. You've said yourself that capspace has never been worth less. Winning a few extra games isn't going to change that or make FA any more of a realistic option.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I say we should try to win every game until we are forced to go home.

A pick that gets you a Lillard is something you can trade for.

There's no substitute for playing to win, the f you want a winning culture.

Explain to me how the Blazers are going to trade for a lotto pick without giving up worthwhile players and winning fewer games in the short-term? A team that is "trying to win every game" will neither make trades like the one that landed Dame, nor develop the young players they already have. "Win now" is the antithesis of what the team should be doing!

 

[Denny Crane]

Explain to me how the Blazers are going to trade for a lotto pick without giving up worthwhile players and winning fewer games in the short-term? A team that is "trying to win every game" will neither make trades like the one that landed Dame, nor develop the young players they already have. "Win now" is the antithesis of what the team should be doing!

There are too many scenarios to list. One will suffice.

Blazers use their cap space and trade a player to a team way over the tax level. For a lotto pick.

The Nets did trade a top 10 pick for Gerald Wallace. Irrefutable evidence. Wallace was a worthwhile player? Or just overrated!

 

[PCmor7]

We can and are trying to win every game.

The important thing is that we just don't win many games.

 

[KingSpeed]

We're only 3 games out of the 4 seed. We've played a road heavy schedule with games against all West playoff teams from last year except Dallas and we play them tomorrow. We've played Lakers twice yes, but have yet to play the crappy Kings, Sixers, Nets, or Bucks. We also had to play the home openers of two of the most improved teams in the West this year.

 

[KingSpeed]

The Nets were foolish - and the Blazers were smart to sacrifice the short-term for the long-term.

Actually, I'm not sure what you are arguing here. You've said yourself that capspace has never been worth less. Winning a few extra games isn't going to change that or make FA any more of a realistic option.

Sacrifice the short term? We had just lost by 40+ points! The team sucked. I had already declared Season Over. There was nothing to sacrifice.

 

[riverman]

I'm of the opinion that playoff experience is what makes young players better.

 

[KingSpeed]

Acquiring the Nets pick that we used to draft Lillard had nothing to do with how much we won or lost that year. It was simple asset accumulation. Brooklyn was foolish to accept that trade.

Not true at all. We started that season 7-2 and some people had us going to the NBA Finals. If great play had continued, I don't think we would've traded Crash. But we completely imploded and started trailing by 40 in like three straight games and the team was done. We got crushed at MSG and then Nate got fired, Camby and Crash got traded, and a new era began.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm of the opinion that playoff experience is what makes young players better.

Yep. Take Warriors. Two seasons ago, they were 6th seed and lost in first round. One season later, with no significant roster move or draft pick, they win the championship. It's called growing from within.

 

[Blazinaway]

Yep. Take Warriors. Two seasons ago, they were 6th seed and lost in first round. One season later, with no significant roster move or draft pick, they win the championship. It's called growing from within.

well to "grow from within" like that you need the right "talent" to grow to a championship caliber team - this team is FAR away from that

 

[Orion Bailey]

well to "grow from within" like that you need the right "talent" to grow to a championship caliber team - this team is FAR away from that

Can you back this up with some numbers or stats? Who on GS was considered a star other than Curry two years ago? How can you say we are far from having talent when most of the roster has not had a full NBA season to even see what they can do? The bulk of our players have star potential upside history. Meaning, They were all at one time highly regarded and/or high lotto picks.
Please bring something to reference rather than just saying we aren't talented. You can have all the talent in the world and lose until you learn to play together. Until you learn each other.

 

[Blazinaway]

Can you back this up with some numbers or stats? Who on GS was considered a star other than Curry two years ago? How can you say we are far from having talent when most of the roster has not had a full NBA season to even see what they can do? The bulk of our players have star potential upside history. Meaning, They were all at one time highly regarded and/or high lotto picks.
Please bring something to reference rather than just saying we aren't talented. You can have all the talent in the world and lose until you learn to play together. Until you learn each other.

take the rose colored glasses off

 

[Orion Bailey]

take the rose colored glasses off

so basically you have no grounds to stand on. Thanks for clarifying.

For the record, no I don't think we have enough talent yet, but to say that we are far away I think is a stretch... but I provided reasons to my thinking...unlike you....
Step up to the plate or head back to the dugout.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

That's what Mrs. HCP said!

 

[Strenuus]

Can you back this up with some numbers or stats? Who on GS was considered a star other than Curry two years ago? How can you say we are far from having talent when most of the roster has not had a full NBA season to even see what they can do? The bulk of our players have star potential upside history. Meaning, They were all at one time highly regarded and/or high lotto picks.
Please bring something to reference rather than just saying we aren't talented. You can have all the talent in the world and lose until you learn to play together. Until you learn each other.

Thompson had a damn good year 2 years ago. 41% from 3 and 46% from 2, with a 53% eFG in 81 games. Also shot 80% from the line. I consider that to be a damn good "2nd fiddle" to Curry that year.

And next year his numbers all went up.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompkl01.html

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Thompson had a damn good year 2 years ago. 41% from 3 and 46% from 2, with a 53% eFG in 81 games. Also shot 80% from the line. I consider that to be a damn good "2nd fiddle" to Curry that year.

And next year his numbers all went up.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompkl01.html

And CJ is playing better than Thompson two years ago..

http://www.basketball-reference.com...ccolcj01&y2=2014&p2=thompkl01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

 

[Strenuus]

And CJ is arguably playing better than Thompson two years ago..

http://www.basketball-reference.com...ccolcj01&y2=2014&p2=thompkl01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

18 games.

81 games.

Lets let CJ play a bit longer. lol.

 

[riverman]

Thompson had a damn good year 2 years ago. 41% from 3 and 46% from 2, with a 53% eFG in 81 games. Also shot 80% from the line. I consider that to be a damn good "2nd fiddle" to Curry that year.

And next year his numbers all went up.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompkl01.html

A few things changed that boosted GS to a championship.....Curry and Bogut stayed pretty much out of injury trouble..they signed Iggy and talked him into becoming a 6th man and they hired Steve Kerr...letting Monte Ellis go gets honorable mention as well...Iggy was a difference maker.