ESPN Ranks Portland's Young Core One of NBA's Best

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Second tier team with no apparent resources to reach the top = frustrating and disappointing.

Young athletic team with unknown potential = interesting, entertaining, and hope giving.

I will enjoy this season. Especially since the fair weather fans will be vacating their seats.

:cheers:
 
I am looking forward to the season - in the same sense that I want to see a guy chug a 5th of tequila and ride a Vincent Black Shadow down a railroad tunnel full of napalm.
 
oldmangrouch said:
I am looking forward to the season - in the same sense that I want to see a guy chug a 5th of tequila and ride a Vincent Black Shadow down a railroad tunnel full of napalm.
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Vincent Black Shadows are a valuable, scarce resource. This seems like a bad use of a Vincent Black Shadow. Throw said guy on a Suzuki Hayabusa, he will be faster and we will not lose something that valuable for the outcome.
 
When it comes to sports, hope and potential tend to wear off once you're .300 after 20 games. I hope they exceed expectations or it's going to be a long, long year.
 
andalusian said:
Vincent Black Shadows are a valuable, scarce resource. This seems like a bad use of a Vincent Black Shadow. Throw said guy on a Suzuki Hayabusa, he will be faster and we will not lose something that valuable for the outcome.
Click to expand...

But you have to do something to make it poignant and meaningful.

Edit: something that doesn't involve puppies. I like puppies!
 
This won't be a long year for me. I am happy to see the team grow. I don't have a lot of expectations in the win department, and it's fine for me if they don't win 20 games so they can add more talent to the mix through the draft lottery.

If they do well, great. If they don't do well, fine, too.
 
Rastapopoulos said:
I have a hard time with this. We are young, yes, but so are Utah, Minnesota, Orlando, Milwaukee - all of whom are easily better than us right now, and also have more potential.

Maybe people are super-excited about CJ and Leonard because of the Memphis series. But one series against a rather unusual (for the modern NBA) team is not a good indicator.
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Did you read the article?

We came in sixth, not first.
 
PG: Lillard
SG:
SF: Aminu(?)
PF: Vonleh
C: Leonard(?)

Most of the young guys are backup players right now.

I see Lillard/Vonleh as the clear future at their positions but beyond that it's up in the air.

Will Harkless blossom and look more like the player he did his rookie year and build off that? If so, I can see him becomimg a future long-term starter at SF.

CJ McCollum is best suited as the go-to guy off the bench.

Meyers could breakout but his post defense will be a huge factor in deciding if he's your full time starting center. Also, does his skillset mesh with Vonleh?
 
This is what I struggle with - just how delusional have I been as a fan of this team the last two seasons? Did I HOPE we were good enough to make a run? Or did I truly BELIEVE we were (especially after the Afflalo trade)? What was real? Do I ever recall having doubts that we were a contender? Absolutely. Did I, at the same time, try and squash those doubts with any type of legitimate logic? Other than "anything is possible?" I can't say I did. Do I feel like a dick loser for looking back on the last two seasons with a doubtful eye even though I was balls deep in their "potential" to win it all at the time? Kind of. Yet, this is the plight of a fan. And I am a fan. Fanatic. Can't see clearly all the time. With that being said, am I putting the rose colored glasses on for our future? And at the same time am I now really saying that the LMA team wasn't good enough to win it all so this tear down was necessary? Fuck. I am. So now I'm excited. What a dick. Get me a pair of flip flops, I'm running for office.
 
Fez Hammersticks said:
PG: Lillard
SG:
SF: Aminu(?)
PF: Vonleh
C: Leonard(?)

Most of the young guys are backup players right now.

I see Lillard/Vonleh as the clear future at their positions but beyond that it's up in the air.

Will Harkless blossom and look more like the player he did his rookie year and build off that? If so, I can see him becomimg a future long-term starter at SF.

CJ McCollum is best suited as the go-to guy off the bench.

Meyers could breakout but his post defense will be a huge factor in deciding if he's your full time starting center. Also, does his skillset mesh with Vonleh?
Click to expand...

Neither meyers or Vonleh really have a post game. That said, the middle should always be WIDE open to attack with them in the game. They can both shoot.
 
You guys made me do some research.

Stats show:
CJ started a total of 4 games, 3 regular season and 1 playoff game, all last season.

Meyers has started a total of 16 games, 9 in his rookie season, 0 in the 2013/14 season, and 7 last season. All regular season games, no playoff starts.
 
One thing that gives me hope (since hope is all we got) is that Olshey has proven himself to be a fine evaluator of under-the-radar talent. RoLo and Dame for instance. We are going to suck, but I have no doubt a couple of his new rolls of the dice are going to pan out nicely.
 
I think things are set up for the future nicely. My hope is that as Meyers matures, he does develop a bit more post game and he and Vonleh can play opposite sides. I'm not sure either one really needs to be an iso-postup guy as much as both can already hit the three and move to the basket.

PG is obviously covered so all you need is one of either Aminu or Harkless to step up as your defensive SF and get someone eventually for the 2 (CJ, Crabbe). Mix in one or two good lottery picks or an unbalanced trade and that looks like a team that could be good down the road.
 
BrianFromWA said:
wait, I'm confused. Bleacher Report said we're the worst...?
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The Yugo was one of the worst cars ever made but is now sought after by collectors.

Blazers aren't bad, we're hipster best!
 
It would be ok to have the sixth best future roster now but unfortunately players will be added. I sincerely hope we do not become the over achieving Suns of the past couple of seasons.
 
The Professional Fan said:
This is what I struggle with - just how delusional have I been as a fan of this team the last two seasons? Did I HOPE we were good enough to make a run? Or did I truly BELIEVE we were (especially after the Afflalo trade)? What was real? Do I ever recall having doubts that we were a contender? Absolutely. Did I, at the same time, try and squash those doubts with any type of legitimate logic? Other than "anything is possible?" I can't say I did. Do I feel like a dick loser for looking back on the last two seasons with a doubtful eye even though I was balls deep in their "potential" to win it all at the time? Kind of. Yet, this is the plight of a fan. And I am a fan. Fanatic. Can't see clearly all the time. With that being said, am I putting the rose colored glasses on for our future? And at the same time am I now really saying that the LMA team wasn't good enough to win it all so this tear down was necessary? Fuck. I am. So now I'm excited. What a dick. Get me a pair of flip flops, I'm running for office.
Click to expand...


I love this post. So much of it expresses the emotions I go through as a Blazer fan.

And now . . I've been pretty strong opponent on the idea that you have to go from mediocre to contender you have to tear it all down first . . . yet here I am on the verge of buying in. Blazers could decide to join the D-league and in enough time I would believe that is the path to a championship.
 
didn't see any mention of Henderson here or there . iam hopeful that many are sleeping on him as a contributor next season and moving forward. seems very solid defensively and athletic.
 
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