ESPN2: Avery Johnson says Blazers are legit

[KingSpeed]

And he says we have a legit Big 3: Aldridge, Lillard, and MATTHEWS.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

And he says we have a legit Big 3: Aldridge, Lillard, and MATTHEWS.

Aldridge, Lillard, and pic your poison. Do you want to get lit up by Batum, or by Matthews? lol

Portland has a legit Big 4. Or as Olshey called them, "our core."

 

[jlprk]

To become a starter, McCollum has a bigger mountain to climb than most of his fans think. As I've said since the first Summer League game ended--he is no Lillard.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

We have a big 4! :MARIS61: :MARIS61:

 

[Boob-No-More]

We have a big 4! :MARIS61: :MARIS61:

We have a TEAM!

BNM

 

[Eastoff]

Aldridge, Lillard, and pic your poison. Do you want to get lit up by Batum, or by Matthews? lol

Portland has a legit Big 4. Or as Olshey called them, "our core."

Tone was talking about this on the radio pre-game show yesterday. We don't have a legit Big 3, but we have big 2 and then Mo Williams, Nicolas Batum, and Wesley Matthews. At least two of those last three will be hitting in any given night.

 

[magnifier661]

We have a TEAM!

BNM

Post of the day!

 

[Elton]

I get tired of the "Big 3" cliché. If you really want to be a stickler, it's more like one Big and some nice modular pieces.

I'm simply enjoying the way they move the ball and play with a little joy. It's very Spurs-esque TEAM play. Can't really say I've seen anything quite like this since the early '90s, and those were dumb but gifted teams. As good as that 2008-2009 squad was, it was all Roy ISO ball.

Sure, they're likely to come crashing back to earth once they've been thoroughly scouted and schemed against, but the demeanor of the squad is great and they have a chance to be resilient if they stay unselfish.

 

[Shooter]

I get tired of the "Big 3" cliché. If you really want to be a stickler, it's more like one Big and some nice modular pieces.

I'm simply enjoying the way they move the ball and play with a little joy. It's very Spurs-esque TEAM play. Can't really say I've seen anything quite like this since the early '90s, and those were dumb but gifted teams. As good as that 2008-2009 squad was, it was all Roy ISO ball.

Sure, they're likely to come crashing back to earth once they've been thoroughly scouted and schemed against, but the demeanor of the squad is great and they have a chance to be resilient if they stay unselfish.

Nice post. The ball movement on this winning streak has been great. These guys really seem to believe in each other, and it's paying off.

 

[donkiez]

We are legit! How legit is still the question though, but Im feeling pretty good about the TEAM right now. Chi and GS games will be a big test though.

 

[Elton]

We are legit! How legit is still the question though

Too legit to quit, boi!!

 

[Strenuus]

These next 9 games tell the tale. If we have a solid record after it, I'll fully jump in... right now I'm just wading, getting acclimated to the temperature.

 

[donkiez]

Too legit to quit, boi!!

please don't hurt 'em hammer!

(that would be even better if one of our guys nickname was hammer, I vote TRob)

 

[Strenuus]

please don't hurt 'em hammer!

(that would be even better if one of our guys nickname was hammer, I vote TRob)

Lopez! He'll be the Afro Hammer!

 

[donkiez]

Lopez! He'll be the Afro Hammer!

Oh snap! Thats a good one also. I was thinking TRob cause he comes down like mutha fukin hammer with those put backs but Afro hammer with those power blocks could work also.

 

[Strenuus]

Either or!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Since when did anybody care what the Little General thinks?

 

[magnifier661]

Since when did anybody care what the Little General thinks?

I know Rodman didn't

 

[Natebishop3]

Since when did anybody care what the Little General thinks?

Well, let's be honest here, some fans want so badly for this to be real and not an aberration. They're willing to point to any "expert" as validation that this team is actually a contender. I don't blame them because I want this to be real, but at the same time I'm just enjoying the ride. After having my hopes and dreams about the Ducks squashed for the second straight year, I'm trying to just relax and have fun with it. If they win, they win, and if they don't... so be it.

 

[Strenuus]

Since when did anybody care what the Little General thinks?

I wonder if it's a little smack to the face to the nets from Avery? A little revenge? I dunno, just TMZ'ing it a bit.

 

[Natebishop3]

I wonder if it's a little smack to the face to the nets from Avery? A little revenge? I dunno, just TMZ'ing it a bit.

Jason Kidd is already a huge egg on the Nets' face.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

You want to go Blazer Homer on me? I'll go super-Blazer Homer on you!

Their record ALMOST doesn't matter. They're playing the type unselfish team ball that makes us "soccer moms" proud. I'm not really a soccer mom but I am very proud of how their representing us.

Go Blazers!

Well, let's be honest here, some fans want so badly for this to be real and not an aberration. They're willing to point to any "expert" as validation that this team is actually a contender. I don't blame them because I want this to be real, but at the same time I'm just enjoying the ride. After having my hopes and dreams about the Ducks squashed for the second straight year, I'm trying to just relax and have fun with it. If they win, they win, and if they don't... so be it.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Jason Kidd is already a huge egg on the Nets' face.

Jason Kidd is an egg he laid himself.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well, let's be honest here, some fans want so badly for this to be real and not an aberration. They're willing to point to any "expert" as validation that this team is actually a contender. I don't blame them because I want this to be real, but at the same time I'm just enjoying the ride. After having my hopes and dreams about the Ducks squashed for the second straight year, I'm trying to just relax and have fun with it. If they win, they win, and if they don't... so be it.

I guess that's why I asked.

If you need Avery Johnson to validate your hopes and dreams for this team then it just smacks of desperation - clinging to anything that confirms your own biases.

Word to the wise people, pick better "experts" and be wary of hacks even if they are saying nice things about the team.

 

[Elton]

please don't hurt 'em hammer!

(that would be even better if one of our guys nickname was hammer, I vote TRob)

Get TRob some genie parachute warm up pants. U can't touch this!

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess that's why I asked.

If you need Avery Johnson to validate your hopes and dreams for this team then it just smacks of desperation - clinging to anything that confirms your own biases.

Word to the wise people, pick better "experts" and be wary of hacks even if they are saying nice things about the team.

Well, come on Nik, who the hell would have predicted this kind of start? It's not uncalled for to look for any evidence that this is actually because the team is good and not because we're lucky. Personally, I thought this team was going to be a 5th seed since last summer. I saw the writing on the wall. Olshey didn't get nearly the credit for the moves that he made, and I'm willing to bet he still doesn't. Paul really needs to be commended for bringing in Neil. He's easily the best GM we've had since Trader Bob.

 

[Nikolokolus]

All I'm saying is that if the stupidest guy in the office comes over to your desk and gives your latest project a ringing endorsement, it might be worth getting a second opinion.

 

[Natebishop3]

All I'm saying is that if the stupidest guy in the office comes over to your desk and gives your latest project a ringing endorsement, it might be worth getting a second opinion.

Aha, but what if the stupidest guy in the office is actually your boss' boss?

 

[Elton]

I get the whole confirmation bias thing too. Yet there are some on this board that would rather be right than be lucky. Like Nate, I'm just enjoying the high right now. In reality, I think this is a 50 win team. Probably 5-7 seed.

 

[Natebishop3]

I get the whole confirmation bias thing too. Yet there are some on this board that would rather be right than be lucky. Like Nate, I'm just enjoying the high right now. In reality, I think this is a 50 win team. Probably 5-7 seed.

The team is playing better than I expected at this point in the season, and without CJ. If the team continues to play this well, I think 4th or 5th seed could be attained. Lillard needs to play better though. His FG% right now is just a hair under 40%, which is HORRIBLE, but his three point percentage is right around 40% as well, which is very good. His assists are down though, which I really didn't expect. I thought he would be able to up his assists with all this new talent.