Does anyone seriously think we had a better roster than New Orleans?

[Kaydow]

Before the series 22/22 ESPN “Experts” picked the Blazers (majority expected 6 games or less) presumably because they liked Portland’s roster better than the other guys. NO played a phenomenal series, and committed to the “don’t let Lillard beat us” strategy in a way no one else ever has. We may end up thanking them for exposing our flaws. Last year James Harden played like an MVP, but having to create all the offense wore him out, & SA shut him down in the post season. Even if CP3 hadn’t been available they would have gotten another PG to initiate the offense because it was obvious they needed to. We’ve always known there’s a vulnerability when Dame is being repeatedly trapped & our opponent has a rim protector in the paint. But the way this flaw was exposed can’t be ignored. Something has to change & everyone knows it or else this will be THE blueprint for how to beat the Blazers. If having to stare this truth in the eye forces the organization on a solution than it will be worth it in the long run. If we had lost a 6 or 7 game series in which we were competitive but just ran into a hot team, the search for a fix probably doesn’t happen.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We have the better roster.

Let's see you go down the rosters comparing the players.

 

[tlongII]

Let's see you go down the rosters comparing the players.

No.

 

[HailBlazers]

Seriously?
Davis > Lillard
Holiday > CJ (certainly on defense)
Mirotic > anyone else on the Blazers' roster (and for the series you can probably remove the "else")

I think the Pelicans were (even) better than their record. I think the Boogie/Davis pairing is stupid (maybe it would work in the '90s) and they had a double piece of fortune mid-season when Boogie went down and they got Mirotic (who was Chicago's best player by a mile) for a song. Mirotic PERFECTLY complements Davis, and Davis is best playing the 5. Without Boogie there was no friction to doing that.

Also: everybody forgot how good Holiday was because he'd been injured all this time. FINALLY we can say it clearly: New Orleans won the Holiday/Nerlens Noel trade!

Now, it's also true that the Blazers were slumping just as the season came to an end. I don't think you can necessarily pin that on Stotts - he wrung everything he could out of this roster. We are just talent-poor (with no clear route to improvement - unless we take advantage of things like the Mirotic fire-sale). But this season we won lots of games we shouldn't've - probably a good deal more than the games we lost that we should've won.

I expect New Orleans to be a real handful for Golden State. And if Curry is out for the series, they've got a real shot to beat them.

I envision Collins being the PFOTF playing a similar role to Mirotic and Nurkic becoming an All-Star center. Add an elite defending guard and we're contenders.

 

[OneSport3]

Basically what the Playoff Pelicans did to a better Blazers team?

No, it would Playoff Pelicans vs. a Focused Playoff Warriors team that is light years better than what we offered.

 

[OneSport3]

Mainly because he won't be guarding him?

Outside of AD, who can guard Durant on that roster. You put AD on him and you either get him into foul trouble or you tire him out and render him less effective on offense. You put AD on Durant, that just pulls AD out on the perimeter and you now lose your interior defensive presence that the Warriors would slice up.

 

[OneSport3]

I would put Davis on Durant as he has the length, the strength and the quickness to make it more difficult. Without Curry their shooting ability goes way down as Green is very inconsistent and Livingstone is Turneresque in that he has an extremely limited outside game. The key will be if the Pelicans can continue their hot shooting. If they can, then I think this will be a good series, but GS has looked vulnerable at times this year, especially without Curry.

Outside of AD, who can guard Durant on that roster. You put AD on him and you either get him into foul trouble or you tire him out and render him less effective on offense. You put AD on Durant, that just pulls AD out on the perimeter and you now lose your interior defensive presence that the Warriors would slice up.

 

[CupWizier]

So who would you put on Durant then?

 

[Pinwheel1]

No way we had a better roster than N.O. I said all year that we over achieved during the regular season. They had 3 all stars on the floor. We had one. The fact that 2 were former all stars makes no difference. They still play like one when healthy.

We need more shooters. Even suggested that we trade for Mirotic but was shot down because.... Mirotc plays no defense. His D was not an issue.

I do think that Zach will get a lot better, but as a rookie he was just not ready. But more importantly we need a SF who can shoot, dribble and pass. We have to have 3 shooters and 3 ball handlers on the floor at all times....plus Nurk and Collins.

You guys can pretend that a Dame/CJ back court is the issue, but until you get them a 3rd legitimate threat, you will not know for sure.

Would I trade CJ for Kawhi if I thought he would re-sign? Sure. But more than likely he is going home to LA where he would re-sign. He is much better than Paul George. The Lakers have cap space to absorb the contract and not have to send back a big contract.

 

[OneSport3]

So who would you put on Durant then?

Figuring that out is above my pay grade. My best bet is to hope that Durant reverts to his OKC iso ball days so the ball sticks and doesn’t move around.

I feel like EVERYONE is forgetting just how good this Warriors team is (even without Curry) because of Houston’s success this season. They had 4 All-Stars this season. Without Curry, that’s still 3 All-Stars. Against New Orleans, they would have 3 of the best 4 players on the court. Add to that, they had the 3rd ranked defense in the league.

 

[Chris Craig]

Pels are bettee than the Blazers. Blazers arent a deep team. The Blazers have a very unreliable if non existent bench.

 

[PeliCAN]

Seriously?
Davis > Lillard
Holiday > CJ (certainly on defense)
Mirotic > anyone else on the Blazers' roster (and for the series you can probably remove the "else")

I think the Pelicans were (even) better than their record. I think the Boogie/Davis pairing is stupid (maybe it would work in the '90s) and they had a double piece of fortune mid-season when Boogie went down and they got Mirotic (who was Chicago's best player by a mile) for a song. Mirotic PERFECTLY complements Davis, and Davis is best playing the 5. Without Boogie there was no friction to doing that.

Also: everybody forgot how good Holiday was because he'd been injured all this time. FINALLY we can say it clearly: New Orleans won the Holiday/Nerlens Noel trade!

Now, it's also true that the Blazers were slumping just as the season came to an end. I don't think you can necessarily pin that on Stotts - he wrung everything he could out of this roster. We are just talent-poor (with no clear route to improvement - unless we take advantage of things like the Mirotic fire-sale). But this season we won lots of games we shouldn't've - probably a good deal more than the games we lost that we should've won.

I expect New Orleans to be a real handful for Golden State. And if Curry is out for the series, they've got a real shot to beat them.

Yes the Pelicans roster is better than many give it credit. Small market team.

However, you are completely wrong to think the Davis/Cousins pairing is stupid. Neither Davis nor Cousins are slow plodding big men that live in the paint. As a matter of fact, Cousins is more of a satellite player than Davis is. He shoots MORE 3s and passes the ball better than Davis does. Davis is just more above the rim and faster.

Demarcus Cousins is the best NEW AGE center in the league and they were just starting to win in bunches when he went down. Had just beat Boston in Boston and beat the Rockets when he got hurt. Matter of fact they were spanking the Rockets good before they made a crazy late push.

Thats all I had to say.

 

[CupWizier]

Figuring that out is above my pay grade. My best bet is to hope that Durant reverts to his OKC iso ball days so the ball sticks and doesn’t move around.

I feel like EVERYONE is forgetting just how good this Warriors team is (even without Curry) because of Houston’s success this season. They had 4 All-Stars this season. Without Curry, that’s still 3 All-Stars. Against New Orleans, they would have 3 of the best 4 players on the court. Add to that, they had the 3rd ranked defense in the league.

I agree GS is good, but it appears they are more vulnerable this year than in the past and the Pelicans if they play like they did against us, it will be a good match up.

 

[KingSpeed]

Seriously?
Davis > Lillard
Holiday > CJ (certainly on defense)
Mirotic > anyone else on the Blazers' roster (and for the series you can probably remove the "else")

I think the Pelicans were (even) better than their record. I think the Boogie/Davis pairing is stupid (maybe it would work in the '90s) and they had a double piece of fortune mid-season when Boogie went down and they got Mirotic (who was Chicago's best player by a mile) for a song. Mirotic PERFECTLY complements Davis, and Davis is best playing the 5. Without Boogie there was no friction to doing that.

Also: everybody forgot how good Holiday was because he'd been injured all this time. FINALLY we can say it clearly: New Orleans won the Holiday/Nerlens Noel trade!

Now, it's also true that the Blazers were slumping just as the season came to an end. I don't think you can necessarily pin that on Stotts - he wrung everything he could out of this roster. We are just talent-poor (with no clear route to improvement - unless we take advantage of things like the Mirotic fire-sale). But this season we won lots of games we shouldn't've - probably a good deal more than the games we lost that we should've won.

I expect New Orleans to be a real handful for Golden State. And if Curry is out for the series, they've got a real shot to beat them.

Aminu was better than Mirotic. Aminu was the third best player in the series.

 

[Strenuus]

Aminu was better than Mirotic. Aminu was the third best player in the series.

LOL!!!!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Aminu was better than Mirotic. Aminu was the third best player in the series.

Aminu was certainly one of the few Blazers who can hold his head high after this series.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Yes the Pelicans roster is better than many give it credit. Small market team.

However, you are completely wrong to think the Davis/Cousins pairing is stupid. Neither Davis nor Cousins are slow plodding big men that live in the paint. As a matter of fact, Cousins is more of a satellite player than Davis is. He shoots MORE 3s and passes the ball better than Davis does. Davis is just more above the rim and faster.

Demarcus Cousins is the best NEW AGE center in the league and they were just starting to win in bunches when he went down. Had just beat Boston in Boston and beat the Rockets when he got hurt. Matter of fact they were spanking the Rockets good before they made a crazy late push.

"New Age" = can't jump and shoots a crazy low percentage?
Cousins is definitely very talented - almost half as talented as he thinks he is. Glad you like him because your front office is about to throw a ton of money at him.

 

[BBert]

I did.

Now I don't.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Would I trade CJ for Kawhi if I thought he would re-sign? Sure. But more than likely he is going home to LA where he would re-sign. He is much better than Paul George. The Lakers have cap space to absorb the contract and not have to send back a big contract.

When is Leonard a FA? If he isn't one already, then he'll go to the team that offers the Spurs the best deal. I doubt that's the Lakers. And it's definitely not the Clippers, unless they have an irrational desire to trade for Jordan.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I feel like EVERYONE is forgetting just how good this Warriors team is (even without Curry) because of Houston’s success this season. They had 4 All-Stars this season. Without Curry, that’s still 3 All-Stars. Against New Orleans, they would have 3 of the best 4 players on the court. Add to that, they had the 3rd ranked defense in the league.

Yes, they should beat New Orleans. BUT: they've looked pretty shaky this season. And number of All-Stars is a bogus stat - the Lakers had more All-Stars when they had Van Exel than when they were winning championships.
Right now I think Holiday is looking better than Klay Thompson.

 

[Pinwheel1]

When is Leonard a FA? If he isn't one already, then he'll go to the team that offers the Spurs the best deal. I doubt that's the Lakers. And it's definitely not the Clippers, unless they have an irrational desire to trade for Jordan.

He has a player option after next season. Why do you doubt it will be the Lakers. they are allover it here in LA. If SA wants cap space the Lakers are a good trading partner. Plus they have SA type of young players in Ingram, Hart, and Kuzma to dangle.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I envision Collins being the PFOTF playing a similar role to Mirotic and Nurkic becoming an All-Star center. Add an elite defending guard and we're contenders.

You must be a big fan of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm?

 

[Phatguysrule]

A player that would have helped a lot this year and a suggestion I made early in the season would have been picking up Gerald Green, especially once Crabbe was dealt and we needed a replacement. He has been huge for the Rockets and was dirt cheap.

Excellent point. We have options going forward.