Free Agent Dennis Smith Jr. to Training Camp

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riverman said:
I think the idea that the Blazers are running it back is out there...we dropped Kanter, Hood, Trent Jr, Blevins, Giles, DJJ and Melo and the whole coaching staff.....4 of those players were rotation players for us. I forgot RHJ...he played the short time he was here as well also TJ Leaf
That's nine players gone and half a dozen coaches
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I'm sorry but using the same lineup like last year is running it back. It has been presented as run it back by Powell, CJ and Nurkic. Actually this is 100% running it back. Those players that define our ceiling are all here.
 
GDiama said:
I'm sorry but using the same lineup like last year is running it back. It has been presented as run it back by Powell, CJ and Nurkic. Actually this is 100% running it back. Those players that define our ceiling are all here.
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not if you have 5 new rotation players it's not or a completely new coaching staff.....running it back you'd have Melo and Hood and Trent Collins and Kanter ...as it is Norm gets his first training camp with the starters, Roco gets to actually train next to Nurk, Nance takes Melo's minutes, Zeller takes Kanters spot...there's really nothing remotely similar to recent Blazer teams and Nurk hasn't played much in two years...he's a difference maker if you get him for a season.....we had 19 different starting lineups looking for chemistry under Stotts and this season we may actually have a staring core that plays a season together..I don't think we'll look anything like we did last year
 
riverman said:
I think the idea that the Blazers are running it back is out there...we dropped Kanter, Hood, Trent Jr, Blevins, Giles, DJJ and Melo and the whole coaching staff.....4 of those players were rotation players for us. I forgot RHJ...he played the short time he was here as well also TJ Leaf
That's nine players gone and half a dozen coaches
Click to expand...

Do you really feel that switching out bench players is enough to make them a contender?

Maybe the term "running it back" isn't the best term and should be replaced with "moving deck chairs on the titantic"?
 
Of their playoff production, the Blazers are returning:

79% - Minutes
83% - Scoring
81% - Defensive Rebounds
94% - Assists
82% - Steals
86% - Blocks

In a vacuum I have no major issues with any of the individual moves made this summer, but I'm struggling to think of the last time a healthy, vet team got bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs, returned all their starters, and became a contender the next year. Maybe it's happened once or twice?
 
Tince said:
Do you really feel that switching out bench players is enough to make them a contender?

Maybe the term "running it back" isn't the best term and should be replaced with "moving deck chairs on the titantic"?
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Idk, but I definitely know who the #1 Stotts fan is on here. Bookmarked for future use.
 
Tince said:
Of their playoff production, the Blazers are returning:

79% - Minutes
83% - Scoring
81% - Defensive Rebounds
94% - Assists
82% - Steals
86% - Blocks

In a vacuum I have no major issues with any of the individual moves made this summer, but I'm struggling to think of the last time a healthy, vet team got bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs, returned all their starters, and became a contender the next year. Maybe it's happened once or twice?
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I dont know if it's fair to base it off of playoff production when stotts basically went to a 7 man rotation
 
I just watched a few of his dunking highlights and he kind of reminds me of a young Steve Francis, what do you guys think? Small but very quick off the floor, catches some bigger players by surprise
 
Scalma said:
Idk, but I definitely know who the #1 Stotts fan is on here. Bookmarked for future use.
Click to expand...

Why bookmark or change the subject? Let's put a fun wager on it!

@THE HCP is the #1 Stotts fan... I'm the #1 Billups fan now baby!

I hope you bookmarked my preseason predictions for the team last season as well, I believe they were pretty close!
 
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We keep throwing stats out noting our core is the same and so, by extension nothing has changed.

I feel like we have a good core and am excited to see what Billups can do with them.

Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do a CJ for Simmons deal in a heartbeat but am more positive about the same core than I have been in a long time-especially if Billups follows through on the accountability statement.
 
RR7 said:
I dont know if it's fair to base it off of playoff production when stotts basically went to a 7 man rotation
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I used playoff production because I thought we were past regular season wins as our margin of success. Short rotations in the playoffs are the norm. I suspect the top 5 minute earners in last years playoffs will be top 5 next year as well (assuming health).
 
GrandpaBlaze said:
We keep throwing stats out noting our core is the same and so, by extension nothing has changed.

I feel like we have a good core and am excited to see what Billups can do with them.

Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do a CJ for Simmons deal in a heartbeat but am more positive about the same core than I have been in a long time-especially if Billups follows through on the accountability statement.
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I think our bench has changed a lot. I think our offseason moves have improved our defensive makeup. I think there's a chance Billups gives the team a shot in the arm.

I don't think any of this is enough to get this team back to the WCF. So, I wouldn't say nothing has changed, but I'd say that my expectations are very similar. This is a 1st-2nd round team at it's core.
 
riverman said:
not if you have 5 new rotation players it's not or a completely new coaching staff.....running it back you'd have Melo and Hood and Trent Collins and Kanter ...as it is Norm gets his first training camp with the starters, Roco gets to actually train next to Nurk, Nance takes Melo's minutes, Zeller takes Kanters spot...there's really nothing remotely similar to recent Blazer teams and Nurk hasn't played much in two years...he's a difference maker if you get him for a season.....we had 19 different starting lineups looking for chemistry under Stotts and this season we may actually have a staring core that plays a season together..I don't think we'll look anything like we did last year
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I'm pretty sure if it was some other team doing that we would say they changed almost nothing and ask why they would expect a different outcome. We probably raised our floor with those moves, but the ceiling is pretty much the same.

i mean c;mon

 
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GDiama said:
I'm pretty sure if it was some other team doing that we would say they changed almost nothing and ask why they would expect a different outcome. We probably raised our floor with those moves, but the ceiling is pretty much the same.

i mean c;mon

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floor is damned important...our best players weren't our big problem
 
Tince said:
Do you really feel that switching out bench players is enough to make them a contender?

Maybe the term "running it back" isn't the best term and should be replaced with "moving deck chairs on the titantic"?
Click to expand...
I have never once claimed our roster was a serious contender this season...I won't say that until we've played at least 20 games..Even then I think most of the league is playing for the bronze this year...there are a couple really stacked franchises that if they stay healthy will be a tough out but if you think we're moving the same furniture on a sinking ship, we're not on the same page about this team...I'm not at all with you on any of that...I think we'll surprise a lot of people
 
netrtg:

Lillard +7
Covington +1
CJ +2
Powell -4 (didn't have training camp)
Nurk +4

Ant -2 (+19 in playoffs)
Kanter +20 (-16 in playoffs)
Melo -5

It is slightly odd to say "keeping the players who consistently outplayed the opponent and getting rid of players who were consistently outplayed" as "running it back". I'd probably call it "good GMing".
 
Tince said:
Of their playoff production, the Blazers are returning:

79% - Minutes
83% - Scoring
81% - Defensive Rebounds
94% - Assists
82% - Steals
86% - Blocks

In a vacuum I have no major issues with any of the individual moves made this summer, but I'm struggling to think of the last time a healthy, vet team got bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs, returned all their starters, and became a contender the next year. Maybe it's happened once or twice?
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I can think of one offhand. The Warriors were bounced in first round in 2014, replaced their coach and won it all in 2015 with same core.
 
riverman said:
I have never once claimed our roster was a serious contender this season...I won't say that until we've played at least 20 games..Even then I think most of the league is playing for the bronze this year...there are a couple really stacked franchises that if they stay healthy will be a tough out but if you think we're moving the same furniture on a sinking ship, we're not on the same page about this team...I'm not at all with you on any of that...I think we'll surprise a lot of people
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All fair points. In general, I think you are far more optimistic about the direction of this team this season and a few seasons in the future.

I think Dame has hinted at wanting to see us become a contender or there is a real chance he'll ask out. We both agree this isn't a contender. Therefore, my concern is we'll look back at only moving bench players summer as a contributor of a rebuild down the road.

My projections might be 100% wrong and yours might be right; frankly, I hope that's the case. I have ZERO issue with people who are high on direction of this roster or low on it. I appreciate the respectful debate w/out any personal jabs... I know we both want this team to win! :cheers:
 
KSF-ERIC said:
I can think of one offhand. The Warriors were bounced in first round in 2014, replaced their coach and won it all in 2015 with same core.
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You might have missed the part where I said veteran team.

Steph was 26
Klay 24
Green 24
Barnes 22

Not one of our starters were younger than Steph in 2014.

The reason I included the condition that a veteran team as a condtion is that it's normal to see growth from players in the first 5 seasons, like the Golden State team.
 
KSF-ERIC said:
Our starters had a +14 net rating in regular season, top 5 in NBA. They had a +20 net rating in the playoffs. The bench cost us the Denver series. So yes. Absolutely.
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You think this is a WCF caliber team? How many of the recent years have you also felt very confidenct the roster would contend?
 
Tince said:
You think this is a WCF caliber team? How many of the recent years have you also felt very confidenct the roster would contend?
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none, but it had little to do with the roster.
 
OK so how much will Smith make? If he plays well and we want to keep him is he ours, or can he take a better offer?
 
Pinwheel1 said:
OK so how much will Smith make? If he plays well and we want to keep him is he ours, or can he take a better offer?
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Guessing if he makes the team his contract converts to a standard minimum.
 
Scalma said:
Guessing if he makes the team his contract converts to a standard minimum.
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So he is ours if we want him. Another team can only sign him if we choose not to. Until then he is under contract with the Blazers.
In other words, this is not like summer league.
 
Scalma said:
none, but it had little to do with the roster.
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Looking forward to that massive bump we get this year due to a new coach. I really really really hope that was the main thing holding us back from getting to the finals.

I wish I was as confident as you that the roster has always been and is still elite.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
netrtg:

Lillard +7
Covington +1
CJ +2
Powell -4 (didn't have training camp)
Nurk +4

Ant -2 (+19 in playoffs)
Kanter +20 (-16 in playoffs)
Melo -5

It is slightly odd to say "keeping the players who consistently outplayed the opponent and getting rid of players who were consistently outplayed" as "running it back". I'd probably call it "good GMing".
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Do you think this a WCF contending team now with the bench upgrades? Or another team likely to get bounced in the 1st-2nd round?
 
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