Do The Blazers Tank?

[LittleAlex]

Now is when we see if the much vaunted character of the team is as strong as we have all heard.

I still want the team to gut it's way to every victory they can.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The last time we discussed Joel Freeland....... What was the verdict on the earliest we could get him?

Next year.

 

[Idog1976]

and the answer is tank. After JP goes down you have to as my wife said "Shoot the moon" John Wall here we come we will only have a 2% chance and we will nail it.

 

[hasoos]

You know whats really fucking funny? Even if we tanked for the rest of the year we won't have the worst record in the NBA when its over. Possibly not even the 2nd worst.

 

[RR7]

and the answer is tank. After JP goes down you have to as my wife said "Shoot the moon" John Wall here we come we will only have a 2% chance and we will nail it.

might as well. You quit on them a long time ago.

 

[MrJayremmie]

WTB John Wall!

 

[craigehlo]

Losers make excuses. Tanking isn't an option. We need to take a page from Houston's book. The Rockets lost Yao/T-Mac and are 17-11 in the SW Division. They play hard and role players have stepped up to take advantage of the opportunity for more playing time.

We are getting some key scorers back soon and have the flexibility to make a deal or two before the deadline. We might not make the 2nd round, but I'd be disappointed if we didn't make the playoffs and put up a strong fight.

 

[maxiep]

So, then....night in, and night out, this team can compete with Howard and Aldridge as our Centers?

I think we'll compete against all but the best teams. Against the elite ones, we may win one out of every three or four. Basically, if we can just play a little above .500 ball, we should still be able to scrape into the playoffs.

We don't suck enough to tank. The only way this team loses consistently is if we bench both Roy and Aldridge, and we don't have the bodies to do that right now.

 

[maxiep]

Let me reiterate......


By tank, I'm effectively saying KP makes no moves.

OTOH, assuming Batum, Rudy, and Travis can come back by the playoffs, might KP try and swing a deal involving Bayless or Miller and, say, Cunningham or Pendergraph, plus a 1st Rounder for a (expiring?) Center?

I respectfully disagree with your premise. I think that this team could make no moves and still play plus .500 ball for the rest of the season. We're going to start getting players back and that's going to be a HUGE lift to this team.

In other words, we're to talented to tank.

As for what I would do? I wouldn't make a move that didn't hugely benefit us in the long term. The short term be damned.

 

[MIXUM]

if roy misses an extended period....


its over

 

[MrJayremmie]

OTOH, assuming Batum, Rudy, and Travis can come back by the playoffs, might KP try and swing a deal involving Bayless or Miller and, say, Cunningham or Pendergraph, plus a 1st Rounder for a (expiring?) Center?

Unless you are getting a young PG, I wouldn't trade Bayless at all.

 

[Minstrel]

if roy misses an extended period....


its over

I don't know about that. The team keeps suffering injuries and keeps winning. One more injury and they might just win the championship.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I don't know about that. The team keeps suffering injuries and keeps winning. One more injury and they might just win the championship.

Yeah, the NBA 3-on-3 championships.

 

[hasoos]

I don't know about that. The team keeps suffering injuries and keeps winning. One more injury and they might just win the championship.

Many times I have seen teams think the same thing, and then somebody steps up. Sometimes not. There are plenty of players in the NBA just waiting for their opportunity. While my hopes that they can replace a Brandon Roy are low, sometimes a combined increased effort of the team, and a player stepping up can be nearly the same.

 

[MIXUM]

if we lose roy ....... forget about it.

i thInk we can find a trade to fill joels void.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Many times I have seen teams think the same thing, and then somebody steps up. Sometimes not. There are plenty of players in the NBA just waiting for their opportunity. While my hopes that they can replace a Brandon Roy are low, sometimes a combined increased effort of the team, and a player stepping up can be nearly the same.

Our worst-case lineup would be:

Miller / Mills
Bayless / Blake
Webster / Cunningham
Aldridge / Tolliver
Howard / Pendergraph

Not world beaters, for sure... but they could scrap out another 15 wins this season, even without Batum and Rudy, who will return and hopefully improve the team.

 

[hasoos]

Our worst-case lineup would be:

Miller / Mills
Bayless / Blake
Webster / Cunningham
Aldridge / Tolliver
Howard / Pendergraph

Not world beaters, for sure... but they could scrap out another 15 wins this season, even without Batum and Rudy, who will return and hopefully improve the team.

It would take some games with some players getting hot to get wins, but it could be done. You are always going to have some situations where teams let down too thinking they got an easy one with a banged up team coming in. Let's hope Roy is not out.

 

[Denny Crane]

I changed my mind.

Tank!

 

[BrianFromWA]

worst tank job in history. Nate can't even lose right. :fro:

 

[LameR]

worst tank job in history. Nate can't even lose right. :fro:

Yeah, that guy's bad. Come on now.