Game Thread GAME# 54: CELTICS @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 9, 2017 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

[LuckyShot]

Vonleh had the most rebounds for us and played only one more minute than Pat, who played the fewest minutes for us. Our starting lineup did so well, it kind of seems like maybe we should have played that combo a little more.

 

[Scalma]

Let's win the next 2 going into the All Star break.

Which btw could/should be the last two games this team plays together.

 

[KingSpeed]

Vonleh had the most rebounds for us and played only one more minute than Pat, who played the fewest minutes for us. Our starting lineup did so well, it kind of seems like maybe we should have played that combo a little more.

I agree

 

[KingSpeed]

Those teams aren't hamstrung by awful contracts however.

What would you have done last summer? Let everyone go?

 

[craigehlo]

They better be shopping those two 1st round picks hard for Noel or Vucevic. This team is a lost cause this season and you don't develop rookies with the 2nd highest payroll in the NBA.

 

[DUB]

That's been a battle all year. And that's why our defense sucks. Because good defense requires being mentally switched on all the time.

I wonder if hiring an awesome sports psychologist may be even more valuable to this team than a (realistic) trade.

 

[craigehlo]

What would you have done last summer? Let everyone go?

I'll be 100% honest, I would have resigned Harkless, CJ and Meyers (I was totally wrong obviously on the last one). I wasn't comfortable with Crabbe or Turner due to their massive contracts. They should have walked.

 

[riverman]

I wonder if hiring an awesome sports psychologist may be even more valuable to this team than a (realistic) trade.

I wondered what Kaman was doing myself!

 

[craigehlo]

I wonder if hiring an awesome sports psychologist may be even more valuable to this team than a (realistic) trade.

I doubt it's mental. The same guys were pretty bad last year on D too. We don't have two-way players.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'll be 100% honest, I would have resigned Harkless, CJ and Meyers (I was totally wrong obviously on the last one). I wasn't comfortable with Crabbe or Turner due to their massive contracts. They should have walked.

Ok. So we let Crabbe go to Brooklyn. Who do we sign to replace him? And if we don't give our cap space to Turner, who do we give it to? It was a use it or use it situation.

 

[riverman]

I'll be 100% honest, I would have resigned Harkless, CJ and Meyers (I was totally wrong obviously on the last one). I wasn't comfortable with Crabbe or Turner due to their massive contracts. They should have walked.

I wanted Turner over Parsons but would've let the Nets pay Crabbe myself...didn't see matching his offer

 

[KingSpeed]

I doubt it's mental. The same guys were pretty bad last year on D too. We don't have two-way players.

Turner is a two way player. That's why we signed him. And Aminu is a two way player.

 

[riverman]

Who do we sign to replace him

I think we'd have Gerald Henderson and Evan Turner if Crabbe was with the Nets

 

[KingSpeed]

Is Crabbe really a problem? He is shooting 46/42/87.

 

[Gronk Brady]

Ok. So we let Crabbe go to Brooklyn. Who do we sign to replace him? And if we don't give our cap space to Turner, who do we give it to? It was a use it or use it situation.

Crabbe and Turner are two of the worst contracts in the NBA... Yes, you let Crabbe walk at that price. And as for Turner, was a waste of potential cap room in the future. I highly doubt Blazers would have less than 23 wins without Crabbe and Turner.

 

[Scalma]

They better be shopping those two 1st round picks hard for Noel or Vucevic. This team is a lost cause this season and you don't develop rookies with the 2nd highest payroll in the NBA.

I'll be honest, I was down for Noel, but ever since watching him play all year (for obvious reasons), I'm not so hot on him. He gets pushed around easily against bigger centers (pretty much all of them) and his defense isn't as good as advertised.

Vucevic would be awesome though, gives us a legit third scorer and a great rebounder. But it would require trading Plumlee and I can't see Olshey doing that.

We need to find a PF. I might risk losing that Cleveland pick for a rental (Ibaka), and bank on him falling in love with the team/fans and that extra money we'd be able to offer him.

 

[LuckyShot]

Turner is a two way player. That's why we signed him. And Aminu is a two way player.

Ehhhhh kind of pushing the definition of a "two way player" by including Aminu. Yeah he played great tonight, but he's been pretty bad on offense most of his career. I do think Harkless has been making strides this year though.

 

[KingSpeed]

Crabbe and Turner are two of the worst contracts in the NBA... Yes, you let Crabbe walk at that price. And as for Turner, was a waste of potential cap room in the future. I highly doubt Blazers would have less than 23 wins without Crabbe and Turner.

Dude. If we don't sign Turner, there is no cap room in the future. Signing CJ and the other RFAs would've put us over the cap with or without Turner. Also, we have to sign Plumlee.

 

[craigehlo]

Turner is a two way player. That's why we signed him. And Aminu is a two way player.

They aren't offensive players. Those are streaky shooters at best that play pretty solid D only in comparison to the rest of the Blazer squad.

 

[Gronk Brady]

Is Crabbe really a problem? He is shooting 46/42/87.

He is a great shooter... the problem is paying 18 mil per for a one dimensional player, at a position that is not a big need

 

[LuckyShot]

Is Crabbe really a problem? He is shooting 46/42/87.

I don't have a problem with those numbers. It's the numbers in his contract that I am uncomfortable with. I mean, if we pay a guy that much, I kind of want him to do more than catch and shoot. His shooting has been huge for us on many occasions though.

 

[riverman]

Is Crabbe really a problem? He is shooting 46/42/87.

he's avg 10/2.6/1.3 at his price tag that's pretty meh....

 

[Scalma]

Oh great another hate on Crabbe thread.

He

Is

Not

The

Problem

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't have a problem with those numbers. It's the numbers in his contract that I am uncomfortable with. I mean, if we pay a guy that much, I kind of want him to do more than catch and shoot. His shooting has been huge for us on many occasions though.

Not sure why you expect him to somehow be a different player because we pay him more. That's not how it works.

 

[craigehlo]

Crabbe can't create his own shot. That's a huge problem against competent teams.

 

[riverman]

Oh great another hate on Crabbe thread.

He

Is

Not

The

Problem

I don't think hate is the right word

 

[KingSpeed]

he's avg 10/2.6/1.3 at his price tag that's pretty meh....

Why should we have expected more? We knew who he was when we matched Brooklyn's offer. He hasn't underachieved.

 

[craigehlo]

Oh great another hate on Crabbe thread.

He

Is

Not

The

Problem

if you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem

 

[Five Second Violation]

They better be shopping those two 1st round picks hard for Noel or Vucevic. This team is a lost cause this season and you don't develop rookies with the 2nd highest payroll in the NBA.

If Olshey trades our first round pick this year then he needs to be fired on the spot. And punched in the dick.

 

[Gronk Brady]

The only way to keep fans interested at this point is for Neil to make a trade... get some new young talent fans can get excited about like Okafor or Noel. Other than that, this season is a lost cause and it's getting boring watching the same script every night.