Dysfunction in Rip City

[Nikolokolus]

A phrase that exactly infer a hopeful future.

You mean "imply." And then you wrongly inferred that I meant to imply that they have a hopeful future as currently constructed.

 

[ripcityboy]

You mean "imply." And then you wrongly inferred that I meant to imply that they have a hopeful future as currently constructed.

I'll check my Elements Of Style handbook when I get home. But in all seriousness, the team's future.... Yeah, I am not hopeful about it.

 

[Optimistic Bob]

I'm hopeful about it. I think a couple attitudes just need to sync and we are going to find that sweet spot. Dame, CJ, Nurk, Aminu, and Vonleh as starters.

 

[PDXFonz]

It's because I haven't been able to watch. I'm actually a good luck charm, they always win when I go to the games. I suggest everyone email the Blazers and beg them to give me a job with the team so that we can win a ring... perhaps on the broadcast team.

 

[fumanchu]

They should have 2 or 3 more wins, but otherwise they're doing ok. Way better than last year at this time.

 

[Driew]

Crabbe can't hold a stick to CJ.

Never said he could--just said we could afford to trade CJ last year when Crabbe can start in his place (not at his level but starter capable especially with Dame).

 

[SIeepwalker]

No likes yet? You on everyone's ignore list?

No one understands my genius

 

[BonesJones]

You forgot to put the (two) in the title.

 

[TBpup]

Nurk becoming more perimeter oriented and softer under Stotts? Not really a surprise. Even Meyers shot 50-40-90 out of college and spent most of his time down low. The longer he was under Stotts, the softer he became and the farther from the basket he went. I don't think that is a coincidence. It's just the coach's philosophy and 'niceness'.

Extreme lack of attitude or toughness on this team as a whole.

 

[Blazer4ever]

While I am glad the Blazers got the win over the Nets, it was ugly and dependable upon luck and hero ball. Portland got some stops, but I'm not sure if that was more because of defense or because the Nets just simply missed. Dinwiddie had a great shot to take the lead from the three point line. It was a line drive that luckily missed.

The Blazers went on to win by 2. The truth is the Blazers should have destroyed this team without its best player, without a center, a team that is lottery level even with those guys.

The Blazers are 11-8, they should be 15-4 if not better. There is a disfunction here on this team, a disscord that is hurting the Blazers. I know we have discussed the parts if it in several threads. I wanted to bring it all together to form a full picture. We have talked about how Dame and CJ two offensive centric players, though one of the most exciting backcourts in the NBA, cannot thrive together. So what can we get in a trade for CJ? Because he's the obvious one between the rwo out the door. Right?

We talked about how Evan Turner has been a wash, a very expensive wash.

How Maurice Harkless has yet to show up this year.

How Nurkic has transformed from the beast he was last year to a flopping, unbalanced freight train, who is becoming more and more content to shoot jumpers. (Though I was certainly glad to see him play well this morning, the nets had no center to stop him, so I will take it with a grain of salt)

We have talked about the holes at PF and back up 2 guard left vacant by the exodus of Allen Crabbe. Stotts is still trying to mold Pat Connaughton and is reluctant to keep with a three guard lineup that includes napier. He finally resorted to starting Pat at the 3, giving Layman some PT. He didn't have much a choice.
For as much crap as many of us give Stotts, myself included( and I will give him dome later in this post) his job right now is not an easy one. Besides Dame, CJ, and Nurk...there isn't a whole lot to work with.

Evan Turner: A wash, and an expensive one. He is still struggling to find a place in Stotts system. He strives backing down players in the post and hitting impossible shots over them. He has been pushed outside, and unlike in Boston where he was used to touching the ball a whole lot and running the offense from the bench, his attempts to do so here have not panned out so far, and have hurt the Blazers more than helped. He has worked on bettering his three point shot which is still very inconsistent. I don't completely blame him for that. Stotts isn't taking the strengths of Turners game and using them constructively. He is trying to force Turner what does not come natural.

Maurice Harkless: Ever since the summer, when it seemed he would be traded to New York, and then wasn't, he has not showed up to play, and has had a miserable season to say the least. Is he pouting? Is his worse than lackluster play a protest? Did he decide not to care about the game, now that he got paid. It seems to beca repeat of last years Crabbe delimna. Whatever it is, Harkless needs to realize he is here in Portland till he's not and he needs to play with some care. He used to be a huge energy source for the Blazers, igniting the fast break. He has since puttered out. He leaves a big hole in the Blazers offense.
I think he will get traded before the seasons over.

Al Farouq Aminu: The Blazer's best defensive player is sitting on the injured list. Though he has shot better from the 3 this year, he still can't dribble without tripping over himself. He is a liability on the offensive end.

Shabazz Napier: Bazz is a light for the Blazers. A steal from Orlando, he brings instant offense off the bench and is the closest thing to a third shooter. But, he is undersized and Stotts doesn't like to play him as much because he values matchups over viable offense.

Noah Vonleh: Vonleh has shown some spark this season, continuing off what he showed last year next to Nurk. He eorks hard on the boards and isn't afraid to throw doen some dunks. Though he gets hesitant when he is surrounded in the paint. A little more confidence and this guy will shine. Some people were considering him a bust, I disagree.

Ed Davis: The Blazers back up center who is actually a PF, but hey. Gotta love a guy that gets phsyical in the paint. That said dude is a little to wild sometimes and is stuck playing undersized against bigger centers and mismamages the ball on the offensive end quite often losing it. I think he will be traded by the end of the season.

Pat Connaughton: Pat has stepped up to try and fill the whole at the the backup wing, but is indubitably inconsistent. When he is on he can hit threes from deep and catapult us ibto the lead and lemd energy to the game. But, when he is off he is ice cold and its contagious. I only wish he had a bit more gall, a bit more confidence. He doesn't attack the rim enough and works best off the pass. Still too one dimensional, but he is young.

Jake "The Snake" Layman: Jake doesn't get a lot of playing time, but when he does you can see the desire is there. Layman is an energetic player who plays well off the pass. He is still learning how to play at the NBA level. He definately has potential.

Caleb Swanigan: Caleb has shown some metal in his first season so far. His minutes are far and few between, but he has the makings of something special. He even got to start, with Vonleh out, and Stotts trying to find workable lineups. Caleb is a hungry, energetic guy with an emphasis on going for every board and put back he can manage. His footwork and hands get the better of him, but this guy has what it takes.

Zach Collins: The least played player this year. Collins is still very young and likely needs a few years to mold and colesce, but you got to like a defensive minded big man. I'd like to see him play more, but he has become victim to a clogged frontcourt.

There are alot of issues with player performance, and I think most it has to do with Stotts System. There are coaches who build an plan around the players, their capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses, and then there are coaches who have a system and stuff players into it, regardless of ill fit. Stotts unfortunately is the ladder.
I'm not saying he is a terrible coach. I know his job to find a workable scheme for this rag tag roster is perhaps not easy, but he is making it harder on himself. Instead of stuffing players into his scheme, he needs to figure out a system that implements all of their strengths and guards against their weakness. That flexability could mean a whole spate of difference. Instead its shoot a bunch of threes and give it to Nurk sometimes in the paint. Give it to Dame amd CJ and screen for more threes. As we have seen its not working great for us.

Conclusions:

Stotts needs to have some flexabilty in his system and be willing to change it, make it better.

The Blazers need some help. Harkless, Davis and another player ot two will likely be gone this year before the deadline...

Olshey needs to use the exception to bring in a wing who take pressure off of Dame and CJ and add some scoring power.

Consider trading McCollum for the right deal.

The team needs a player only retreat where they can work their shit out

Players should form a fight club

I disagree with many of this. and I actually watched the Brooklyn game (thank you thanksgiving).

The chemistry between Dame and CJ: Yes. it can be better, but they're the team, both of them. They're both untradable, period. And now they need to be able to thrive. The 3 guard lineup with Napier is also a tool we should use more often.

Turner is not a wash. Overpaid? maybe. but in the new CBA, he would become less and less overpaid. He doesn't have the natural talent Dame or CJ have but his basketball IQ makes him, IMO, who should be our starting SF.

Harkless was excellent and specifically on defense. He's one of our best, smartest defenders, if you wanna learn how to play good defense within a team concept, follow Harkless on defense.

Meyers. I have issues with Meyers as well, but you have to also respect the amount of heat he's getting from the fans, he maybe annoying but he's also only human and even if some of these burns are funny and some aspects of his game needed basic work (team defense specifically), he's also our best, most versatile offensive player at PF, and should at least be given a fair chance to earn more playing time and hopefully (I hope so at least) earn the starting spot.

Noah. Noah I think should come off the bench, that's his best position. We're not doing him a favour by playing him as starter if he can be more effective as backup, the contrary.

Pat. Pat should get more playing time, he worked his way to earning real minutes, which is incredible really and he's now a very good backup guard. Giving him minutes would help relieve the burden of Dame and CJ and give us much more flexibility and options in the backcourt.

Ed, I like Ed a lot as a backup Center but the one area he needs to work on is be more of a rim protector and less of a one-on-one defender, learn to play the Center role of protecting the rim and anchoring the defense.

Nurkic. No complaints, had an amazing game, really, on both sides of the floor, really an inspiring game. Needs to work on free throws, take a deep breath, etc.

Aminu. Aminu can be valuable as a combo forward, maybe moreso as a small-ball 4 but he needs to earn his minutes. If in any point you get a feeling another player on the floor would give us a better chance he should be benched. He should earn his minutes just as much as any other player, no special priveiliges.

Shabazz. Doing a very good job, should get better as he gets more experience with the other players and in different lineups.

The rookies/youngsters. Should earn their minutes. Caleb I think is good enough to get a chance not just in garbage time. Leyman and Collins should earn a chance in practice and in sporadic minutes and should continue to evolve.

 

[Sinobas]

The Blazers are 11-8 with their best defensive player injured. Yep, definitely dysfunctional.

Does anyone in this forum enjoy the team?

Yeah, it's all about Al Forque Aminu. Any Blazer fan who's been following this team over the last 2 years, knows that our success totally hinges on Aminu. He's basically the heart and soul of this team. He should be getting the max.

 

[THE HCP]

They should have 2 or 3 more wins, but otherwise they're doing ok. Way better than last year at this time.

Our schedule has been a hell of a lot easier than last seasons for sure.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yeah, it's all about Al Forque Aminu. Any Blazer fan who's been following this team over the last 2 years, knows that our success totally hinges on Aminu. He's basically the heart and soul of this team. He should be getting the max.

Sure he's the best defender in the league, but it's that butter smooth jumper and sublime crossover of his that really makes him a potential MVP candidate someday.

 

[riverman]

I don't see dysfunction in Portland...I see more parity in the NBA...the top teams from last season are losing games they should win as well....and teams that were lottery teams last season are winning more....the west is a jumble of just over 500 ball teams....our defense has made a big leap...to me it's an interesting season....Chief is important to the success of our team in my view...being a 500 road team is not bad at all

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Yeah, it's all about Al Forque Aminu. Any Blazer fan who's been following this team over the last 2 years, knows that our success totally hinges on Aminu. He's basically the heart and soul of this team. He should be getting the max.

This post is trying so hard to be dismissive but here are the facts:

This year Aminu has a 123 ORtg and 99 DRtg. He’s shooting 43.3% from three. He still leads the team in rebounds per game and blocks per game.

Joke all you want, but those are the facts.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Sure he's the best defender in the league, but it's that butter smooth jumper and sublime crossover of his that really makes him a potential MVP candidate someday.

Ha ha ha. I really don’t understand how “I think we’re missing the team’s best defender” became “I obviously think Aminu is the greatest player ever and that means I need to be made fun of” but whatever brings you guys joy I guess.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Ha ha ha. I really don’t understand how “I think we’re missing the team’s best defender” became “I obviously think Aminu is the greatest player ever and that means I need to be made fun of” but whatever brings you guys joy I guess.

Butthurt detected.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Butthurt detected.

I’m mostly just confused. Why react the way you did?

 

[HailBlazers]

I’m mostly just confused. Why react the way you did?

Dysfunction in Rip City Two, guess as the team goes so goes the forum.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Dysfunction in Rip City Two, as the team goes so goes the forum. fact

FIFY my man.