Emotions Settling Down/LaMarcus Aldridge Syndrom

[OddEnormous]

On the contrary - I am optimistic enough to think this team can be really good. The defeatists are the people saying that we might as well just stand pat and not even try to improve.

Yeah, lot's of people are saying that on here.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Where are you responses you old grouch man? lol

See above. Not being on the board to respond instantly is not the same as being cowed into silence.

 

[Ed O]

Yeah, lot's of people are saying that on here.

You haven't seen the "Let it Bake!" crowd?

Ed O.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Yeah, lot's of people are saying that on here.

You, for one. All you do is attack people who advocate making changes.

 

[rocketeer]

Not just signing a Free Agent, but if he also fails to make a lopsided trade.
We actually have cap space in a poor economy and have one of the richest owners, this should be easy as pie to acquire some talent by using our cap space. I'll be pissed off if we sit on our hands. We need to consolidate on top of that.

what if the only "talent" available in free agency or trade with the cap space portland has is worse than the talent the blazers already have?

 

[rocketeer]

On the contrary - I am optimistic enough to think this team can be really good. The defeatists are the people saying that we might as well just stand pat and not even try to improve.

other than maris, who has said that the blazers should do nothing?

 

[oldmangrouch]

what if the only "talent" available in free agency or trade with the cap space portland has is worse than the talent the blazers already have?

Sorry, but that is an absurd argument. You may believe that Hedo/Miller/Hinrich/whoever is *too expensive*, but there is no way in hell you can argue that they are worse players than all 12 guys currently on our roster.

Talent upgrades are ALWAYS available - it is just a matter of the cost!

 

[OddEnormous]

You haven't seen the "Let it Bake!" crowd?

Ed O.

"crowd"

?

If there's a "crowd," they've been over run by about 150 ladies swinging their handbags and Kevin Pritchard for not taking a 2nd round pick from Pittsburgh with 2 bad knees in the worst draft in recent history.

The let it bake crowd are in far less numbers and are far less embarrassing than the "FIRE KP" "I wanted a fire works show" crowd.

Most of whom are backtracking like fuck today.

 

[rocketeer]

Sorry, but that is an absurd argument. You may believe that Hedo/Miller/Hinrich/whoever is *too expensive*, but there is no way in hell you can argue that they are worse players than all 12 guys currently on our roster.

Talent upgrades are ALWAYS available - it is just a matter of the cost!

talent upgrades are not always available.

and i'd say that cost is pretty important. the costs may outweigh the benefits.

 

[andalusian]

If there's a "crowd," they've been over run by about 150 ladies swinging their handbags and Kevin Pritchard for not taking a 2nd round pick from Pittsburgh with 2 bad knees in the worst draft in recent history.

Thanks for the mental picture. That was funny.

 

[Ed O]

"crowd"

?

If there's a "crowd," they've been over run by about 150 ladies swinging their handbags and Kevin Pritchard for not taking a 2nd round pick from Pittsburgh with 2 bad knees in the worst draft in recent history.

The let it bake crowd are in far less numbers and are far less embarrassing than the "FIRE KP" "I wanted a fire works show" crowd.

Most of whom are backtracking like fuck today.

I think that you're mislabeling many of us who didn't really care for the way the draft happened. I don't want KP fired, and I don't need fireworks. I actually liked the Claver pick, but my night was ruined when he took a pair of senior power forwards.

If one of them is moved in a trade and/or it's part of a larger plan? I will definitely change my opinion on how things went. As it stands now? I don't like how we used 31 and 33.

It's not about being less smart than KP or being four years old--incidentally I find it amusing that you would insult people after starting your identity here posting like Ali G and claiming you shared your computer with your uncle, or something--it's about our observations and experience as fans. We don't get paid to make those decisions, clearly, but 14 franchises a year pay a lot of money to GMs who fail to get into the playoffs. A paycheck doesn't indicate competence, and it sure doesn't guarantee omniscience.

Ed O.

 

[oldmangrouch]

talent upgrades are not always available.

and i'd say that cost is pretty important. the costs may outweigh the benefits.

I agree about the cost/benefit issue. I don't agree that there is nobdy out there who would be an upgrade. (which appeared to be the point of your initial post)

 

[OddEnormous]

I don't want KP fired, and I don't need fireworks. I actually liked the Claver pick, but my night was ruined when he took a pair of senior power forwards.

If one of them is moved in a trade and/or it's part of a larger plan? I will definitely change my opinion on how things went. As it stands now? I don't like how we used 31 and 33.

It's not about being less smart than KP or being four years old--incidentally I find it amusing that you would insult people after starting your identity here posting like Ali G and claiming you shared your computer with your uncle, or something--it's about our observations and experience as fans. We don't get paid to make those decisions, clearly, but 14 franchises a year pay a lot of money to GMs who fail to get into the playoffs. A paycheck doesn't indicate competence, and it sure doesn't guarantee omniscience.

Ed O.

Sorry. Unless you can stick to things I've actually said I'm just not bothered.

Pay checks? 14 Other GM's?

When did I say collecting a pay check indicates competence?

I usually like and respect your posts but now you're going all old lady on me.

Try again.

 

[STOMP]

On the contrary - I am optimistic enough to think this team can be really good. The defeatists are the people saying that we might as well just stand pat and not even try to improve.

You claimed they couldn't make the playoffs with the club that they stood pat with. They vastly surpassed your wins expectations, had home court advantage in the 1st round and yet you still claim that they still need to make changes to become good... and the people who disagree with that are defeatist

Personally I'm for making moves when the opportunity to improve is available... yesterday Portland was the owners of a late pick in a piss poor draft. They have no pressing needs to become good as they already are. To become great the team does need to become better, but of course at least some of that is a trackable natural progression for talented young players. If the opportunity to add other established stud player exists in Free Agency or via trade, I'd support it... and KP has been openly targeting the 2009 offseason for years now. Those doors swing wide in July.

Talented young players usually improve as do and young players recovering from serious surgery. For whatever reason, you reject these normal trends when it comes to the Blazer players and have actually predicted that you think the club will likely regress next year. 21 32 41 54... those are the team's win totals the last 4 years. Are you really trying to sell that you're a Blazer optimist? I seem to be reading a glass half full view regardless of the news.

STOMP

 

[ehizzy3]

actually not all 30 teams had a pick to pass on blair...heat and magic didn't....thats all i can think of though...just being particular lol

 

[oldmangrouch]

You claimed they couldn't make the playoffs with the club that they stood pat with. They vastly surpassed your wins expectations, had home court advantage in the 1st round and yet you still claim that they still need to make changes to become good... and the people who disagree with that are defeatist

Personally I'm for making moves when the opportunity to improve is available... yesterday Portland was the owners of a late pick in a piss poor draft. They have no pressing needs to become good as they already are. To become great the team does need to become better, but of course at least some of that is a trackable natural progression for talented young players. If the opportunity to add other established stud player exists in Free Agency or via trade, I'd support it... and KP has been openly targeting the 2009 offseason for years now. Those doors swing wide in July.

Talented young players usually improve as do and young players recovering from serious surgery. For whatever reason, you reject these normal trends when it comes to the Blazer players and have actually predicted that you think the club will likely regress next year. 21 32 41 54... those are the team's win totals the last 4 years. Are you really trying to sell that you're a Blazer optimist? I seem to be reading a glass half full view regardless of the news.

STOMP

I cheerfully admit the team exceeded my expectations, and is a year ahead of the time-table I expected. That just means we should be taking some steps now, instead of 12 months from now.

As for the organic improvement argument - it has two serious problems. Our biggest need is an upgrade at PG. Bayless is no where close to being even a league average starting PG, and it is an open question if he ever will be. Yes, I am impatient...I am not willing to wait 2 or 3 seasons to sort out the PG issue, when the rest of the team is approaching contender status.

You also have to keep in mind that while our young players may improve, we have 3 vets in our rotation who have (at best) peaked. In fact, Blake and Joel had career years and might well regress. (Blake because he isn't very good, Joel because he has a scarey injury history)

If we go into next season still depending on Blake and Outlaw, I am not optimistic we can win 54 games again. If Joel is out for an extended period, and all we have to fall back on is Pendergraph, we are in for some very rough sledding indeed. You may disagree, but those are hardly outrageous concerns.

 

[STOMP]

I cheerfully admit the team exceeded my expectations, and is a year ahead of the time-table I expected. That just means we should be taking some steps now, instead of 12 months from now.

the players exceeded your expectations of them, for the most part are very young/improving, yet the only way to improve is to trade them? Being proven as flat wrong as you were, you're sticking with the same thinking?

As for the organic improvement argument - it has two serious problems. Our biggest need is an upgrade at PG. Bayless is no where close to being even a league average starting PG, and it is an open question if he ever will be. Yes, I am impatient...I am not willing to wait 2 or 3 seasons to sort out the PG issue, when the rest of the team is approaching contender status.

but the PGs in this last draft are no way close to being league average starting PGs... even Rubio will need 2 or 3 seasons.

You also have to keep in mind that while our young players may improve, we have 3 vets in our rotation who have (at best) peaked. In fact, Blake and Joel career years and might well regress. (Blake because he isn't very good, Joel because he has a scarey injury history)

Joel has been getting better every year for some time now and he's been playing more and more games each season. His physical conditioning seems much better now then early on. Was he in a contract year? Pessimist or Optimist?

3 vets in the rotation who have peaked? Blake Joel... and... and... 24 year old Travis Outlaw is the other vet who has peaked? I like having vets on the club. I don't want all rooks. But those three played just under 1/3rd of the total minutes logged by the whole club. The are all about the same level of rotation player. Guys with their talent levels who are also focused team players on reasonable salaries are assets in my opinion. Of course I'd love an upgrade, but complaining about them not making a move before their most obvious opportunity to do so seems... something other then optimistic

If we go into next season still depending on Blake and Outlaw, I am not optimistic we can win 54 games again. If Joel is out for an extended period, and all we have to fall back on is Pendergraph, we are in for some very rough sledding indeed. You may disagree, but those are hardly outrageous concerns.

Injuries are a gauntlet that every team runs, it's a rough game. As a Blazer fan, I appreciate having one of the deeper teams in the league but of course any team could fall victim to bad luck

Maybe this will be the year you are right, but right now I'm guessing they win at least 58... here's to July

STOMP

 

[oldmangrouch]

the players exceeded your expectations of them, for the most part are very young/improving, yet the only way to improve is to trade them? Being proven as flat wrong as you were, you're sticking with the same thinking?

but the PGs in this last draft are no way close to being league average starting PGs... even Rubio will need 2 or 3 seasons.

Joel has been getting better every year for some time now and he's been playing more and more games each season. His physical conditioning seems much better now then early on. Was he in a contract year? Pessimist or Optimist?

3 vets in the rotation who have peaked? Blake Joel... and... and... 24 year old Travis Outlaw is the other vet who has peaked? I like having vets on the club. I don't want all rooks. But those three played just under 1/3rd of the total minutes logged by the whole club. The are all about the same level of rotation player. Guys with their talent levels who are also focused team players on reasonable salaries are assets in my opinion. Of course I'd love an upgrade, but complaining about them not making a move before their most obvious opportunity to do so seems... something other then optimistic

Injuries are a gauntlet that every team runs, it's a rough game. As a Blazer fan, I appreciate having one of the deeper teams in the league but of course any team could fall victim to bad luck

Maybe this will be the year you are right, but right now I'm guessing they win at least 58... here's to July

STOMP

I disagree with your assesment of the available PGs. IMHO, Flynn and Lawson are going to be at least league average. They have lower ceilings than Rubio - but are much closer to getting there.

Lawson in particular is badly undervalued by some fans. DX did a study refuting the notion that he was dependent on the up-tempo style to be successful. I guess only time will prove which view is correct....but I firmly believe he was a steal at 18.

Hey, I HOPE you are correct, and that we win the division next season and (at least) make it to the second round.

 

[RR7]

You claimed they couldn't make the playoffs with the club that they stood pat with. They vastly surpassed your wins expectations, had home court advantage in the 1st round and yet you still claim that they still need to make changes to become good... and the people who disagree with that are defeatist

Personally I'm for making moves when the opportunity to improve is available... yesterday Portland was the owners of a late pick in a piss poor draft. They have no pressing needs to become good as they already are. To become great the team does need to become better, but of course at least some of that is a trackable natural progression for talented young players. If the opportunity to add other established stud player exists in Free Agency or via trade, I'd support it... and KP has been openly targeting the 2009 offseason for years now. Those doors swing wide in July.

Talented young players usually improve as do and young players recovering from serious surgery. For whatever reason, you reject these normal trends when it comes to the Blazer players and have actually predicted that you think the club will likely regress next year. 21 32 41 54... those are the team's win totals the last 4 years. Are you really trying to sell that you're a Blazer optimist? I seem to be reading a glass half full view regardless of the news.

STOMP

repped. Good post.

Great post, couldn't agree more with these few paragrapahs, and the sentiment they convey. I was slightly bummed initially at the draft, but then quickly realized it sort of signified we are no longer part of the Minnesota's and Clippers of the league.

 

[STOMP]

btw, I was pretty thrilled when they drafted LaMarcus Aldridge... I had him as the #1 guy in the draft with Roy #2

STOMP

 

[oldmangrouch]

btw, I was pretty thrilled when they drafted LaMarcus Aldridge... I had him as the #1 guy in the draft with Roy #2

STOMP

Actually, if you went back through the BBF archives, you would find I was one of the first people on the "draft LaMarcus" bandwagon. I don't *always* disagree with KP!

 

[MAS RipCity]

And finally, yes, KP should still be on the hot seat if he does nothing this summer with our cap space. This is the last time we'll have any serious money to play with and we can't let it go to waste. I don't want to here this same junk about liking our team and going to war with them. I hear enough of it from MB and it's obvious, we need a vet upgrade at the point to mentor Bayless, a proven 3rd scorer, and toughness along the way.

He should not be on the hot seat. He did everything he could to get his #1 target and for reasons he could not in his control, he lost that person, but KP tried to do something with it.
I really hope we don't panic and waste our cap space. I'd rather just start Bayless and let him get his feet wet, because honestly, with every team loading up for one push, we have a slim shot at the title. We win a lot of games based on chemistry alone and if we can continue to develop Oden, Batum, and Bayless..we will be the team already loaded in 2 years. Just do not panic KP!

 

[LameR]

He should not be on the hot seat. He did everything he could to get his #1 target and for reasons he could not in his control, he lost that person, but KP tried to do something with it.
I really hope we don't panic and waste our cap space. I'd rather just start Bayless and let him get his feet wet, because honestly, with every team loading up for one push, we have a slim shot at the title. We win a lot of games based on chemistry alone and if we can continue to develop Oden, Batum, and Bayless..we will be the team already loaded in 2 years. Just do not panic KP!

Interesting quoting yourself there. Props I guess. I don't think Bayless starting is best for the team. He needs to earn his minutes, not have a starting spot handed to him (although he isn't someone I'd expect to become complacent). I would like him to get 15-20 mpg first half of the season, and get that up to around 25 mpg for the second half.