ESPN (Kevin Pelton) - Biggest Offseason Improvements, Declines

[PtldPlatypus]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11280288/biggest-team-improvements-declines-offseason-nba

Apparently I read it on my phone before they made it an insider article, but they have the Blazers fifth in biggest improvements, after Cleveland, Dallas, Chicago, and Utah (?)...I'm not exactly sure who was fourth. Maybe someone with insider can fill in the blanks.

The upshot is that according to the advanced stats, Mo Williams was actually a below-replacement-level player, whereas Blake and Kaman were each worth more than one win each last year.

 

[PDXFonz]

You were right, it's Cavs, Mavs, Bulls, Jazz, Blazers

5. Portland Trail Blazers | plus-3.0 WARP


Key additions: Steve Blake, Chris Kaman
Key loss: Mo Williams

Surprisingly, both WARP and real plus-minus rated Williams (minus-0.2 WARP) at or below replacement level last season. So the Blazers may have upgraded at backup point guard with Blake (1.1) while also adding Kaman (1.3) to their thin bench.

 

[Natebishop3]

You were right, it's Cavs, Mavs, Bulls, Jazz, Blazers

5. Portland Trail Blazers | plus-3.0 WARP


Key additions: Steve Blake, Chris Kaman
Key loss: Mo Williams

Surprisingly, both WARP and real plus-minus rated Williams (minus-0.2 WARP) at or below replacement level last season. So the Blazers may have upgraded at backup point guard with Blake (1.1) while also adding Kaman (1.3) to their thin bench.

Clearly he forgot to factor in Earl Watson!

 

[BBert]

The upshot is that according to the advanced stats, Mo Williams was actually a below-replacement-level player, whereas Blake and Kaman were each worth more than one win each last year.

I'm so not surprised by this. In our stat nerds I trust.

 

[jlprk]

The Lakers will suck without their stars Blake and Kaman.

 

[Minstrel]

The Cavs? Really? What did they do?

I can't even remember what moves they made, so I'll take Blake and Kaman over whatever it was they did.

 

[B-Roy]

Yeah, the Blazers are actually one of the most thorough in the league when it comes to advanced stats tracking/application. It's also not surprising the advanced stats don't love Mo.

 

[magnifier661]

The Cavs? Really? What did they do?

I can't even remember what moves they made, so I'll take Blake and Kaman over whatever it was they did.

Sign LBJ?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Sign LBJ?

True sarcasm doesn't need green font.

 

[Eastoff]

Sign LBJ?

Lyndon Johnson can't play if he's dead!

 

[NewsSource]

The Cavs? Really? What did they do?

I can't even remember what moves they made, so I'll take Blake and Kaman over whatever it was they did.

The Cavs signed a soon-to-be 30 year-old player to build their franchise around. It's foolish to build a team around a 30ish player. Don't they know that once James signs his new max, he'll be 36 by the end of that contract with a ton of miles on his legs?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The Cavs signed a soon-to-be 30 year-old player to build their franchise around. It's foolish to build a team around a 30ish player. Don't they know that once James signs his new max, he'll be 36 by the end of that contract with a ton of miles on his legs?

It's ok though, as long as you have a young all-star point guard, a hard-nosed Latin center with a fro, another young starting forward that still hasn't quite reached his potential, and a couple recent lotto picks coming off the bench at SG and PF.

The parallels are kind of eerie.

 

[Minstrel]

The Cavs signed a soon-to-be 30 year-old player to build their franchise around. It's foolish to build a team around a 30ish player.

Sounds like BLANKEY, except the Blazers aren't building around him.

Advantage, Portland.

 

[NewsSource]

Sounds like BLANKEY, except the Blazers aren't building around him.

Advantage, Portland.

I'm so excited to have BLANKEY back. I'm wondering the over/under in terms of games played before he starts to get criticized for not being able to create his own shot when the bench offense is stagnant? 5 games?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It's ok though, as long as you have a young all-star point guard, a hard-nosed Latin center with a fro, another young starting forward that still hasn't quite reached his potential, and a couple recent lotto picks coming off the bench at SG and PF.

The parallels are kind of eerie.

Crap, they really are!

 

[NewsSource]

It's ok though, as long as you have a young all-star point guard, a hard-nosed Latin center with a fro, another young starting forward that still hasn't quite reached his potential, and a couple recent lotto picks coming off the bench at SG and PF.

The parallels are kind of eerie.

You're on fire. Repped.