Exclusive Dear Joe

[Bingo Bango]

A “National Embarrassment” what does this even mean? Nobody looked twice at our game let alone once and thought about it.

The Warriors scored 55 points in the first quarter, an NBA record. They beat Portland by 56 points, a winning margin that is unheard of, and which was the direct result of Portland putting scrubs on the floor instead of their best players, who were sitting on the bench watching. It was a hideous game that made posters on this board feel ill. The fact that the game didn’t bother you at all speaks volumes about you. NBA fans know exactly what happened because this is what Portland does now when they’re desperate. We’re no longer Rip City. We’re Tank City.

 

[crandc]

Would it be possible to discuss the Blazers without psychoanalyzing other posters?
Telling people what they REALLY think or are REALLY like.

 

[Mediocre Man]

The Warriors scored 55 points in the first quarter, an NBA record. They beat Portland by 56 points, a winning margin that is unheard of, and which was the direct result of Portland putting scrubs on the floor instead of their best players, who were sitting on the bench watching. It was a hideous game that made posters on this board feel ill. The fact that the game didn’t bother you at all speaks volumes about you. NBA fans know exactly what happened because this is what Portland does now when they’re desperate. We’re no longer Rip City. We’re Tank City.

I hated being embarrassed, but this seems like an overreaction. Living in a different NBA city now, no one gives two fucks about Portland, so we are nothing close to an embarrassment

 

[Mediocre Man]

Dear Joe,

Jason Quick claimed in his recent article on The Athletic that, "Lillard is part of the three-headed braintrust that makes the top basketball-related decisions for the Blazers, and Cronin and Billups on Sunday were aligned with the thinking of their franchise player."

Is this true? If so, why? When has a first-time GM, first-time coach, and ESPECIALLY a player been able to put together a team that can compete? If so, when did Dame ascend to that role? Did it correspond with the Blazers' inability to make the playoffs?

This team is no closer to winning now than it was when you took over, and you have spent big money on retaining Nurk, Simons, and Dame. You have given up future assets to get a guy that Dame thought would be a difference maker. Billups claims that, “We’ve done the tweak thing. A few times. We’ve got to be more aggressive than that. If we want to actually do right by the best player in the history of the organization, we have to be aggressive.” Why is "doing right" by Dame a priority for the organization when it hasn't, to date, resulted in teams that can even finish the season without tanking to escape mediocrity?

What has to happen for the team to finally stop grasping at straws, giving up future picks, and re-signing our own free agents? How many years do we have to suck? Is two enough? Three? Five? Until Dame retires? Until you get fired?

This was an uninspired season filled with injuries and very few promising things moving forward. Dame was awesome but the only other bright spots were (a) the addition of Sharpe, and (b) the potential of adding another quality lottery pick... but now Dame is saying he's, "I’m just not interested in that [drafting another young player]. That’s not a secret." Why should the Blazers fans be interested in a franchise that would be content with doing more of the same when it's so painfully obvious it will end with the same sad results?

Ed O.

This

 

[Hoopguru]

Dear Joe:

hey there, just wanted to let you know I'm as big a Dame fan as anybody. I really don't want him traded. But if Dame is pushing you into making bets you don't have the cards for, and threatening to demand a trade if you don't make those bets, then the only bluff you should call is Dame's. You're the GM; he isn't. You've already executed a trade that Dame obviously wanted when you landed Grant. And it looks like you'll probably over-pay to keep him. But I'd suggest you'd look at Portland's record when Dame & Grant played, especially when they played with Ant & Nurk. It wasn't that good was it?

hey look, I know you probably feel a little guilty about the Blazers wasting Dame's prime years with dysfunctional rosters plodding along on a jerky treadmill. You were the assistant GM for all that time...right? But don't let that guilt drive you into desperation moves that don't accomplish any more than adding Grant did

and yeah, I know you were dealt really shitty cards when you sat down in the GM's chair. And I'm pretty sure you've had the Vulcans looking over your shoulder with calculators in their hands. So I don't blame you, at all, for last season's trade deadline. You had to dismantle that crappy team and the movable players didn't have a lot of value. I don't believe you could have done much better than you did

but Joe, sorry man....you fucked up last off-season. You significantly overpaid last summer's market when you re-signed Ant & Nurk. And after explicitly saying the Blazers needed to get a lot bigger & longer, you hard-capped the team to sign an injured-and-headed-for-surgery 6'2 guard. WTF man? Was that the best you could do?

so yeah, it sure looks like it's shit-or-vacate-the-pot time. No more excuses after wasting last summer. You don't have to build a contender. You can even go for a rebuild no matter what Dame says or wants, if that's the best alternative. But for fucksakes it's sure the time to end the decade of idiotic fence-straddling that happened under Olshey. Pick a fucking lane and drive smart when you do. If Dame is unhappy and asks to be traded, let him know that you have to look for the best deal possible and won't be doing him any more favors after trading for Grant and giving him that extension. He might be traded from a non-contender to a non-contender. And before you commit to trading this year's first, think about Sharpe and what his upside means to a whole lot of Blazer fans. Sure looks like the Blazers can add another guy with massive upside, like Sharpe, and that would quite possibly be better than adding another player like Grant, at the expense of the pick

so good luck Joe, and the main thing is: don't fuck things up worse than they are

your friend, wizenheimer

Wiz, thanks for your insight and being a faithful fan over the many years. Just so you know, my plan is being executed and please know Dame & I have our own priorities which is fine. Ive promised Bert that it's always what best for the organization and the bottom line. Everything has a shelve life including players, coaches and fans, but what we know, from years of experience is once the rejuvenation process starts there really is, no looking back only forward, and once that happens, a new synergy and excitement happens which refuels everyones desire to compete, and you never know when lightening in a bottle will happen. Hang in there Mr. Fanman, as you have held on this long. Be assured we are working our plan and I think it will be a fun ride, whatever happens with wins, or loses. If you ever get near the Moda give me a shout and I'll give you the nickel tour.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

The Warriors scored 55 points in the first quarter, an NBA record. They beat Portland by 56 points, a winning margin that is unheard of, and which was the direct result of Portland putting scrubs on the floor instead of their best players, who were sitting on the bench watching. It was a hideous game that made posters on this board feel ill. The fact that the game didn’t bother you at all speaks volumes about you. NBA fans know exactly what happened because this is what Portland does now when they’re desperate. We’re no longer Rip City. We’re Tank City.

Is the sky falling around you?

 

[tlongII]

Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand?
Hey Joe, I said, where you goin' with that gun in your hand? Oh
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man, yeah
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Huh, and that ain't too cool

Hey Joe, I heard you shot your mama down
You shot her down now
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
Shot her down in the ground, yeah
Yeah

Yes, I did, I shot her
You know I caught her messin' round, messin' round town
Yes, I did, I shot her
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
And I gave her the gun
I shot her

Alright
Shoot her one more time again, baby
Yeah
Oh, dig it
Ah, alright

Hey, Joe
Where you gonna run to now? Where you gonna run to?
Hey Joe, I said
Where you gonna run to now? Where you, where you gonna go?

Well, dig
I'm goin' way down south
Way down to Mexico way
Alright
I'm goin' way down south
Way down where I can be free
Ain't no one gonna find me
Ain't no hangman gonna
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
You better believe right now
I gotta go now

Hey, Joe
You better run on down
Goodbye, everybody, ow
Hey, hey, Joe

 

[STOMP]

The Warriors scored 55 points in the first quarter, an NBA record. They beat Portland by 56 points, a winning margin that is unheard of, and which was the direct result of Portland putting scrubs on the floor instead of their best players, who were sitting on the bench watching. It was a hideous game that made posters on this board feel ill. The fact that the game didn’t bother you at all speaks volumes about you. NBA fans know exactly what happened because this is what Portland does now when they’re desperate. We’re no longer Rip City. We’re Tank City.

This ridiculous post speaks volumes about you. Hyperbolic, unhinged, zero perspective... congradulations!

The Warriors had good reason to empty their tanks, they had real motivation as they try for their 5th title in the past decade. Conversely with one terrible roster decision after another over the past decade, Portland made their bed and now you're finally upset? They had no chance going into the season. If reality is just now coming into view for you, welcome to the pity party... we suck. Have a good cry to get it out but try not to lash out at those who've been right all along and aren't pretending that Cronin is going to pull some magic trick turning water into wine this offseason. Short of winning the lotto, thats not happening.

STOMP

 

[Fairly-Hard]

A “National Embarrassment” what does this even mean? Nobody looked twice at our game let alone once and thought about it.

Which is also kind of embarrassing don't ya think?

 

[Bingo Bango]

The Warriors had good reason to empty their tanks, they had real motivation as they try for their 5th title in the past decade. Conversely with one terrible roster decision after another over the past decade, Portland made their bed and now you're finally upset? They had no chance going into the season. If reality is just now coming into view for you, welcome to the pity party... we suck. Have a good cry to get it out but try not to lash out at those who've been right all along and aren't pretending that Cronin is going to pull some magic trick turning water into wine this offseason. Short of winning the lotto, thats not happening.

You seem clueless about my post. I know the Blazers suck. I know Cronin has been a bust so far. I know Portland has made their own bed. I agree with all of that. And I had no expectations that the Blazers were going anywhere this year. What I disagree with is rolling over like a lamb led to the slaughter. What I disagree with is sitting all your best players on the bench and letting a team humiliate you on the off chance you might get lucky and win the lottery. I repeat: we’re not Rip City anymore. We’re Tank City.

 

[Bingo Bango]

Is the sky falling around you?

“When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here; it has fallen.”

—Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman

 

[STOMP]

You seem clueless about my post. I know the Blazers suck. I know Cronin has been a bust so far. I know Portland has made their own bed. I agree with all of that. And I had no expectations that the Blazers were going anywhere this year. What I disagree with is rolling over like a lamb led to the slaughter. What I disagree with is sitting all your best players on the bench and letting a team humiliate you on the off chance you might get lucky and win the lottery. I repeat: we’re not Rip City anymore. We’re Tank City.

You are free to be ridiculous a panicy mess just don't expect others to join you. So sorry, the season was over well prior to the Warriors game & it didn't matter who they rolled out. Some get reality and clearly some don't. Mocking those who do have a clue is pretty funny really... please carry on with your tantrum

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

Which is also kind of embarrassing don't ya think?

As a Blazer fan wearing that shame for many years now, I've gotten used to it. Now with a couple promising young players finally in the fold there is a little flicker of hope for the future and relevance again... and some posters can't wait to trade it away.

STOMP

 

[Bingo Bango]

The season was over well prior to the Warriors game & it didn't matter who they rolled out.

So if Lillard, Grant, Simons, Nurkic, Eubanks, Thybulle and Reddish had played, the Blazers still would have lost by 57? You really are clueless. Go back to that fairy tale land where you get all your keen insights.

 

[blazerkor]

So if Lillard, Grant, Simons, Nurkic, Eubanks, Thybulle and Reddish had played, the Blazers still would have lost by 57? You really are clueless. Go back to that fairy tale land where you get all your keen insights.

You accusing someone of living in fairy tale land is rich. It doesn't matter how many points we lost by. We secured the best draft position we could and we didn't risk any injuries to our most important players. First of all I hope you don't ever have to actually wrap your head around the concept that you are obviously having a very hard time with. Second can you finally stop whining about it since it's over?

 

[THE HCP]

The Warriors scored 55 points in the first quarter, an NBA record. They beat Portland by 56 points, a winning margin that is unheard of, and which was the direct result of Portland putting scrubs on the floor instead of their best players, who were sitting on the bench watching. It was a hideous game that made posters on this board feel ill. The fact that the game didn’t bother you at all speaks volumes about you. NBA fans know exactly what happened because this is what Portland does now when they’re desperate. We’re no longer Rip City. We’re Tank City.

So you are upset that we got THUMPED by the defending champs because we rolled out five G-leaguers? What exactly did you expect to happen?
You’re a newby here, so I’ll let you in on a little secret. Us making the playoffs makes people on this board feel ill. Getting the 5th pick and not the 4th make people on this board feel ill. 75 degrees and partly cloudy makes people on this board feel ill.
And at one point did you feel this didn’t bother me? Why would you type this. Brother I watch EVERY minute of EVERY game of EVERY season. With that experience, I could have told you with us rolling those players out there it was going to be an ass whooping. So why freak out like you? The fact that it bugs you so much tells us all we need to know about you homie. It cracks me up you are so worried what “NBA fans” think of our team. Who gives a fuck what some hillbilly in Arkansas thinks. You know what, I take that back….after reading your fantastically well thought out and educated takes on the OT page, they might just be your neighbors. #BAM

 

[illmatic99]

I mean... "Tank City" is not a misnomer.

 

[THE HCP]

I don’t think we’re supposed to post those cartoon tweets here.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Who gives a fuck what some hillbilly in Arkansas thinks

I kind of liked it when the hillbillies in Oklahoma were watching and Lillard was waving goodbye. Didn't mind game 7 in when the hillbillies in Colorado were watching either.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

“When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here; it has fallen.”

—Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman

I never understood that.
Who puts a baby cradle on a bough?

Shouldn't it have been, when the branch breaks?

as in rockaby baby on a tree top?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I kind of liked it when the hillbillies in Oklahoma were watching and Lillard was waving goodbye. Didn't mind game 7 in when the hillbillies in Colorado were watching either.

Don't dis CO like that. Thems mountain billies. No hills there.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

So if Lillard, Grant, Simons, Nurkic, Eubanks, Thybulle and Reddish had played, the Blazers still would have lost by 57? You really are clueless. Go back to that fairy tale land where you get all your keen insights.

You want to risk injuries to our core players, all to still lose the game or possibly gain one more meaningless win, as well as possibly drop in the lottery?
And you call others clueless?
Im at a loss for words to explain the lack of rationale there…

 

[blazerkor]

You want to risk injuries to our core players, all to still lose the game or possibly gain one more meaningless win, as well as possibly drop in the lottery?
And you call others clueless?
Im at a loss for words to explain the lack of rationale there…

But we're all in fairy tale land... we do things like look at the bigger picture and want future success for our team when immediate success has been ruled out. So you and I need to pull our heads out of our asses and root for our team to play every game of the season and pre-season like it's an elimination game in the playoffs... shit, you really need to start asking yourself if there is any integrity in Summer League because if there was we would see the best rosters teams could play in every summer league. You really need to get some perspective.

 

[Bingo Bango]

You want to risk injuries to our core players, all to still lose the game or possibly gain one more meaningless win, as well as possibly drop in the lottery?…

I couldn’t care less about the lottery. That’s a fool’s paradise. We’re just as likely to get a good player at #8 as we are at #5. Every year players taken later in the first round outshine players taken earlier in the first round. If GMs knew what they were doing, the NBA wouldn’t be littered with one bungled pick after another, and Portland wouldn’t have passed on Jordan and Durant. What I care about are real basketball games, not charades where we pretend to put an NBA team on the floor and the other team pretends not to notice it’s a summer league team.

 

[RR7]

I never understood that.
Who puts a baby cradle on a bough?

Shouldn't it have been, when the branch breaks?

as in rockaby baby on a tree top?

A bough is the main branch of a tree.
I dunno what a baby is doing up in a tree regardless.

 

[Whyachi]

I couldn’t care less about the lottery. That’s a fool’s paradise. We’re just as likely to get a good player at #8 as we are at #5. Every year players taken later in the first round outshine players taken earlier in the first round. If GMs knew what they were doing, the NBA wouldn’t be littered with one bungled pick after another, and Portland wouldn’t have passed on Jordan and Durant. What I care about are real basketball games, not charades where we pretend to put an NBA team on the floor and the other team pretends not to notice it’s a summer league team.

Think of it like this :
Lillard gets all his buddies to come play for Portland. The owner is very rich and she hands out fat contracts. One if the best stipulations is, the GM tanks the team shortly after the trade deadline, and all of Lillard's friends get an early vacation.

While it's obviouly not what fans were expecting to see, the good news is the Blazers are gathering up exciting rookies. Someday the Lillard frat pack will be gone, and the Blazers will be loaded with young talent thanks to lazy NBA basketball from those who came before.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Rumor mill says 2 needle movers who want to play with Dame are gettable, 3 others who want to play in Portland aren't gettable...and yes....that rumor mill is Dan Marang's (I know a guy who knows a guy and I"ve talked to 17 NBA GMs so far) so ...grain of salt...Dame hinted at 2 stars who want to play here...we'll see. I'm cheering for Joe to build a 10 player competitive roster with guys like Mays, Watford and Eubanks as insurance on the bench. This team hasn't had a core identity for at least 4 seasons and I hope Nas, Ant, Keon and Butler are gone...Hayes is way better than Keon and Knox is better than Nas in my view.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Zach Lavine is trash on defense, so he’s one of them

 

[Mediocre Man]

Zach Lavine is trash on defense, so he’s one of them

Also, not a needle mover

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I couldn’t care less about the lottery. That’s a fool’s paradise. We’re just as likely to get a good player at #8 as we are at #5. Every year players taken later in the first round outshine players taken earlier in the first round. If GMs knew what they were doing, the NBA wouldn’t be littered with one bungled pick after another, and Portland wouldn’t have passed on Jordan and Durant. What I care about are real basketball games, not charades where we pretend to put an NBA team on the floor and the other team pretends not to notice it’s a summer league team.

Sorry man, but you are preaching to the choir and it still wont add up to me. Im a season ticket holder and didn't go to alot of games this season. But i still get the big picture is more important than a handful of games missing the star power of the team.
Fair weather fans may only care about the team if the stars are on the court, but true fans understand the need for business savvy, combined with the long term goal setting that has to be in place to have a chance at anything.
Odds are odds. Going from 8th to 5th allowed us better odds at the number one Wemby prize.
But more importantly, if provided zero chance of any of our key guys getting injured.

As a season ticket holder, I do not like tanking at all. You wont see me predict a loss. But I understand what is more important in the long run.
The product on the court is the least of my concerns if i wanted to critique the team as a ticket holder fan.

You are totally entitled to your opinion. Im just curious how long you will keep pushing back in every thread or just accept what is? Its hard pushing against the ocean.
It is what it is and no amount of frustration or vociferous anger will change what has happened the last two years. So why not turn the corner, hope for the best in the lottery and lets all be united that we dont want to do this a third year?