Expectations for next year

[KingSpeed]

This season, just about everyone expected us to win 55-60 games and get out of the first round. Is that he expectation next year? More? Less?

I personally think we should be talking championship next year and making the moves needed to take that step.

Let's look at the 2007 Lakers. They also lost to the Suns in the first round and then Kobe said he wanted out unless deals were made. They added Gasol and reached the Finals. The following year, they won the title.

That is what we need to do now. There is talent on this roster but it needs to be molded and coached. Anything less than the WCF will be a big disappointment for me and I really think we should be talking Finals/Championship and doing what it takes to get there.

Thoughts?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Too many variables between now and training camp to even start thinking about this question.

-Will Oden be fully healthy
-Will this team make the right moves to fill holes or otherwise bolster the roster
-Will this team be reasonably healthy
-Is Nate coming back or is he going to be let go
-Is KP still GM (for better or worse)

If nothing significant happens and just Oden come back and stays modestly healthy and productive next year then I think this should probably be a 55 win team with WCF aspirations, but saying they should immediately jump from back to back 1st round exits to elite title contender status doesn't seem particularly realistic.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

This season, just about everyone expected us to win 55-60 games and get out of the first round. Is that he expectation next year? More? Less?

I personally think we should be talking championship next year and making the moves needed to take that step.

Let's look at the 2007 Lakers. They also lost to the Suns in the first round and then Kobe said he wanted out unless deals were made. They added Gasol and reached the Finals. The following year, they won the title.

That is what we need to do now. There is talent on this roster but it needs to be molded and coached. Anything less than the WCF will be a big disappointment for me and I really think we should be talking Finals/Championship and doing what it takes to get there.

Thoughts?

Agreed. I'm not sure that we will take the neccessary steps to get there but if we can stay healthy like the suns and the thunder we might not have to make (m)any moves . I've got my eyes set on draft day now, then summer league, then training camp. It's a long offseason but we'll all get through it.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

This season, just about everyone expected us to win 55-60 games and get out of the first round. Is that he expectation next year? More? Less?

I personally think we should be talking championship next year and making the moves needed to take that step.

Let's look at the 2007 Lakers. They also lost to the Suns in the first round and then Kobe said he wanted out unless deals were made. They added Gasol and reached the Finals. The following year, they won the title.

That is what we need to do now. There is talent on this roster but it needs to be molded and coached. Anything less than the WCF will be a big disappointment for me and I really think we should be talking Finals/Championship and doing what it takes to get there.

Thoughts?

I'd really like to see us active in the free-agent market this summer. We need to fix the bench, add a PF that is mean and nasty under the boards - - and if we hope to get out of the first round, we'll need to bring in a key free-agent; Rudy Gay? Chris Bosh (my dream addition) etc.

I'm very glad we extended Camby. Imagine going into the summer with this not in place? What a mess. So with that accomplished, I think this changes what happens over the summer. I can envision Joel being packaged in a trade - most likely in a Sign & Trade to land one of the key free-agents on the market? As much as I loved Miller this year - I also think we could see Andre moved in a trade as well.

The real question going into the summer is "who's untouchable?" At this stage, I can only add Roy to the list. He's the current face of the franchise and he won't be moved anytime soon.

I think we'll be a playoff team next year. Anything beyond 50 wins depends on this Summer's acquisitions and next year's injuries.

 

[Kaydow]

Who knows what we can expect? Obviously, the progress of Oden is critical if we want to hit that 60 win plateau. Camby is really, really solid. But Greg could be dominant and we sorely need a post presence. We need a makeover on offense if you ask me. I watched Utah last night and (I know they lost) they get good shots almost every time down the floor. They're running Korver off a double wheel screen on one possession, then Wiliams and Boozer pick'n'roll the next, then Williams brings the ball up & tosses it to the wing, fakes a down screen and pops back out but now (because of the switch) he's got a big on him and he dumps it to Millsap who scored an easy bucket with Lawson defending him in the post. That play took about 4 seconds. We need more motion.

 

[alex42083]

Our next step all depends on big G.O. as long as he's on this team.

 

[THE HCP]

To stay healthy!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If we can stay healthy and land a low post threat we'll be a top-5 team in the West.

 

[BlazerBeav]

If we can develop an offense, we'll immediately be a contender. Even without one we can be one with a healthy Oden - but developing an actual offense could get us there regardless. We have too much talent to struggle as badly as we do on offense. We can't set screens, our ball movement is awful, etc.

 

[ehizzy3]

if we can't get out of the first round ill be very disappointed

 

[oldmangrouch]

Honestly, my expectations are lower now then they were a year ago. As bad as the Houston series was, there were at least a few positive signs.

 

[rocketeer]

60 wins and WCF. so that same as this year. those should be the expectations every year until the current core changes. hopefully injuries don't derail things this time. i just wish bayless was starting next to roy instead of miller(who can come off the bench).

 

[blue32]

Expectations for next year are this.

1. Learn how to fucking get out of a double team
2. Learn how to create an offense that has motion to avoid the double team
3. Learn how to pass out of the double team
4. Learn how to shoot perimeter shots quickly when star player is double teamed and you have open shot
5. Learn how to get Alridge and Roy shots without always doing ISO's.

I could go on and on.... most of it lies with our coaching staff.

 

[julius]

To soon. Gotta let go of this season first before I care about next season.

 

[craigehlo]

- More jumpshots.
- More offensive breakdowns when the opposition takes away our first option
- More bad switches on defense.
- More not closing out on 3-point shooters.

It's basically the same checklist I've expected the last 3 seasons or so.

 

[Mediocre Man]

For Nate to get outcoached.........AGAIN, and listen to all the excuses as to why

 

[craigehlo]

For Nate to get outcoached.........AGAIN, and listen to all the excuses as to why

Alvin Gentry in the post game press conference pretty much summed up how they killed the Blazers. He said Nate runs a play called "twist" that is play where two screens are set to ultimately get the ball to an open player at the end of the play. Gentry said they just double teamed the first screen to take away the 2nd screen. That adjustment was in game 2 and Nate kept going back that well for some insane reason.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Alvin Gentry in the post game press conference pretty much summed up how they killed the Blazers. He said Nate runs a play called "twist" that is play where two screens are set to ultimately get the ball to an open player at the end of the play. Gentry said they just double teamed the first screen to take away the 2nd screen. That adjustment was in game 2 and Nate kept going back that well for some insane reason.

I think I have shared this before, but if not here you go. I have a friend who is a scout for the Dallas Mavericks, and he has told me on several occasions that the Blazers are the easiest team in the league to defend. He said the reason they are so successful is because of Brandon Roy and incredible offensive rebounding.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I think I have shared this before, but if not here you go. I have a friend who is a scout for the Dallas Mavericks, and he has told me on several occasions that the Blazers are the easiest team in the league to defend. He said the reason they are so successful is because of Brandon Roy and incredible offensive rebounding.

Your friend who is a scout simply must be an idiot because sir, I must inform you, he is not a tried and true coach! WHAT AN IDIOT.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Your friend who is a scout simply must be an idiot because sir, I must inform you, he is not a tried and true coach! WHAT AN IDIOT.

True. Afterall, HE wasn't an assistant coach on the olympic team. And HE doesn't have a nickname of an entire franchise. And HE can't see the value in starting Steve Blake over Andre Miller. Heck HE doesn't even stand with his arms folded.

 

[tlongII]

Championship or bust. It's time.

 

[hasoos]

To be honest, I am not sure what my expectations are. Where some posters said they saw no positives to take from this season, I see many. I also see many negatives.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think I have shared this before, but if not here you go. I have a friend who is a scout for the Dallas Mavericks, and he has told me on several occasions that the Blazers are the easiest team in the league to defend. He said the reason they are so successful is because of Brandon Roy and incredible offensive rebounding.

Say it isn't so ... we had such an efficient offense though?! Oh what's that you say? An offensive rebound doesn't reset the possession 'clock'? Hmmm, weird.

 

[hasoos]

There is one middle ground that not a lot of folks have discussed. What if you augmented the current coaching staff with an offensive guru type? Then you keep some continuity, but yet shake the tree a little bit.

 

[RR7]

To be honest, I am not sure what my expectations are. Where some posters said they saw no positives to take from this season, I see many. I also see many negatives.

I'm feeling the same. Lots of great things to build on and build with, but also a fear of either doing the same thing and hoping for different results(the sign of insanity, I believe), or experiencing mroe of the same shit(injuries).

We NEED a healthy Oden. Whether he's 200 pounds or 400 pounds, we need him healthy. I wish he was somewhat healthy now, so we can work on a new offseason routine, but that doesn't look like it's happening. More than likely, it'll be December before he's "in shape". We need to use the pre-season to actually work on our lineups and rotations, not just a fun time for guys to play. If we bring in someone new, let's see how he fits.

I've finally slid to the fire Nate side. It's likely not going to happen. But it might be time. I'd be very interested to see what Monty can do as a coach of the team. I don't like many of the other options out there. I think Monty would give us something new, while also keeping some familiarity. This is a huugely important offseason, for us, and the rest of the NBA. There are a lot of free agents looking for money, and lots of teams with the space to give it to them. And when teams can't sign somene, they'll still have that space available in trade. We could see wholesale changes all around. Teams we didn't expect to rebuild could find it easier to go for a quick rebuild, by shedding all of their salaries this year. Teams could bring in two top free agents, and go from afterthought to real threat next season. The west is getting tougher, and we can not sit back and hope for internal growth, IMO, being the only thing to get us further. Decisions need to be made on Aldridge. On Rudy. On Bayless. On Webster. I can see 2 of those 4 being moved.

 

[Nikolokolus]

There is one middle ground that not a lot of folks have discussed. What if you augmented the current coaching staff with an offensive guru type? Then you keep some continuity, but yet shake the tree a little bit.

I'd be fine with that and when Dwight Jaynes mentioned it this morning on the MSP I had a bit of an 'aha' moment. There's no way Nate gets fired after what this team went through this past year, and he does seem to be good at drawing blood from a stone and getting his guys to battle for him, but his limitations as an offensive mind make Mike Brown and Mike Woodson look like John 'Fucking' Wooden by comparison.

 

[craigehlo]

Championship or bust. It's time.

Joel and Andre are $14 million in expiring deals next season. I think we need to swing for the fences like the Celtics did when they traded fro KG although it will probably have to wait until the deadline.

 

[mook]

60 wins and a championship.

 

[illmatic99]

Biggest question/caveat/deterrant = health.

If we're healthy, I see us as a top 2 team in the WC.
If not, we're fucked. More mediocrity.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'd be somewhat loathe to part with Andre, but if there were a very good point guard out there who could be had for that package who was maybe in that sweet spot of 25-28 years old then I'd be all over it -- the question of course is who? Parker, Rondo, Harris ... they all seem like impossibilities or long shots at best.