Here's the best "KingSpeed" spin I can put on where we're at.

[KSF-ERIC]

I posted this at RealGM.

In the playoff run last year, as we advanced, Aminu and Mo became unplayable because they couldn't shoot. We played better when Collins and Hood played at those positions. We lost Collins right at the start of the season and had no one else who could shoot and defend like him at this position. Plus he was an effective back up center so this was a big loss. Nevermind, we picked up Melo. Hood got hot and things were coming together but then Hood gets hurt.

Meanwhile, Skal is filling in well for PF and C off the bench and keeping us afloat and then he gets hurt. So not only don't we have Aminu and Harkless, we don't have their replacements and we don't have a back up PF or C because Skal is out. Yes, Dame, CJ, and Whiteside are putting up numbers, but they need either Aminu/Mo or Collins/Hood at the forward spots to win and they have none of them.

Nurkic is traveling with the team and has been going through some drills lately. If he can come back this month, then the season is salvageable since Whiteside's contract can then be traded for more help at the forward spots and/or off the bench. The Blazers also have an injury exception to sign someone with or trade. Bazemore's contract is also tradeable. Players like Iggy, Noah, and Love are out there. A team like this has a shot:

Dame/CJ/Melo/Love/Nurkic
Simons/Trent/Iggy/Collins/Noah

Good balance of experience, youth, offense, and defense.

Or we'll just let the season play out (I think Dame is hurt and we might be able to start resting him) and get a good draft pick which could be traded for immediate help going into a hopefully healthy training camp in October.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I know you probably think I give you too much crap, but I do appreciate the positivity you try to have with the Blazers and life.
I've got so many things going on outside of basketball that apathy has been pretty easy to come by this year. It really, really looks bad.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I know you probably think I give you too much crap, but I do appreciate the positivity you try to have with the Blazers and life.
I've got so many things going on outside of basketball that apathy has been pretty easy to come by this year. It really, really looks bad.

Thanks. I mean the way we feel now is similar to how we felt after being swept by Pelicans and Neil/Dame/Stotts figured out a way to bounce back from that without tearing down the house. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here that they can do it again. We'll see. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot going on outside of basketball, lol.

 

[Strenuus]

Past years dont matter.

 

[TBpup]

Thanks. I mean the way we feel now is similar to how we felt after being swept by Pelicans and Neil/Dame/Stotts figured out a way to bounce back from that without tearing down the house. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here that they can do it again. We'll see. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot going on outside of basketball, lol.

They did bounce back....but did they bounce back enough? They were still swept out of the Playoffs, they just beat the disfunctional Thunder who hadn't won a 1st round series since Durant left, and then 7 games to beat the super young Nuggets. But when they ran into a legit team, even without Durant and with Thompson hobbling before finally going out completely, they couldn't win a single game.

Sadly, the bounce back needs to be more of a rebuild-on-the-fly which I think they are in position to be able to accomplish. But I do not believe that happens if Stotts and CJ are still here.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

They did bounce back....but did they bounce back enough? They were still swept out of the Playoffs, they just beat the disfunctional Thunder who hadn't won a 1st round series since Durant left, and then 7 games to beat the super young Nuggets. But when they ran into a legit team, even without Durant and with Thompson hobbling before finally going out completely, they couldn't win a single game.

Sadly, the bounce back needs to be more of a rebuild-on-the-fly which I think they are in position to be able to accomplish. But I do not believe that happens if Stotts and CJ are still here.

That OKC team had two Superstars on it and Denver was a legit team. I dont believe the Blazers just lucked out last year, I do believe they let that little bit of success go to their heads though.

 

[BlayZa]

this was just a woeful night at the office. In the 70% of games where we play pretty good we have a 70% chance of winning them.
in the 30% where we dont, we lose 70% of them

fyi that's a rough 47 wins per

 

[GDiama]

It is good to be positive, but we still have our two best players available. Even the third one according to some people in here(Hassan). This should be enough to get way more wins and to not be embarrassed like we did today. This is a team that supposedly was built to win a title. Here is where we laugh unfortunately for those initial thoughts. It's hilarious to even think we were hoping for the title.

 

[jlprk]

Here's some positive about what's coming up.

Every April's headline: Lillard wakes up for last month of season, saves Stotts' job!

This April: Nurkic returns and Lillard wakes up for last month of season, saves Stotts' job!

Remember, the purpose of each season is to make us forget the first 2/3 of the season.

 

[TBpup]

Here's some positive about what's coming up.

Every April's headline: Lillard wakes up for last month of season, saves Stotts' job!

This April: Nurkic returns and Lillard wakes up for last month of season, saves Stotts' job!

Remember, the purpose of each season is to make us forget the first 2/3 of the season.

That's a positive? I feel a headache coming on...

 

[KSF-ERIC]

It is good to be positive, but we still have our two best players available. Even the third one according to some people in here(Hassan). This should be enough to get way more wins and to not be embarrassed like we did today. This is a team that supposedly was built to win a title. Here is where we laugh unfortunately for those initial thoughts. It's hilarious to even think we were hoping for the title.

This team without Hood, Collins, and Skal was and is not built to win a title.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

They did bounce back....but did they bounce back enough? They were still swept out of the Playoffs, they just beat the disfunctional Thunder who hadn't won a 1st round series since Durant left, and then 7 games to beat the super young Nuggets. But when they ran into a legit team, even without Durant and with Thompson hobbling before finally going out completely, they couldn't win a single game.

Sadly, the bounce back needs to be more of a rebuild-on-the-fly which I think they are in position to be able to accomplish. But I do not believe that happens if Stotts and CJ are still here.

Don’t write off our success last season. The Thunder beat us 4-0 in regular season and were considered favorites against us and we beat them in 5 games. And then we beat Denver in a Game 7 in the hardest building to win a road game in. Yes we got swept by Warriors though we led most of the series, but that doesn’t erase all we accomplished before that. It was the first time we played that late in the year and Dame was playing with a separated rib. Never mind that we were playing without Nurkic and Kanter, his back up, was hampered by a separated shoulder. Never mind that we secured a top 4 seed despite CJ missing the last month with a knee injury. What we did last season was outstanding. But Olshey didn’t stand pat. It was clear in playoffs that we were better when Hood/Collins played so he made some moves (some that haven’t worked out) and got us a center to keep us alive with Nurkic our and Kanter non commital. He did all this while keeping the roster flexible for in-season moves.

 

[Dougnsalem]

Ok Eric, this is a good thread. I mean, you are our undisputed King Homer. If you start getting down about how the team is playing..... Well.... We. Are. Screwed.

Like many others, I had high hopes for this year. After making it to the WCF, I honestly thought the player changes made us better. Much better. My favorite new player that we picked up??? Tolliver. Yeah, him. I thought he would bring the vet experience, and be that 3 point sharpshooter that we needed. Whoops....

Still, we aren't out of this yet. Not by any means.

(You replied to me in another thread. I think it's best to put my reply here)

I'm at a loss, Doug. Yes, we've had injuries. Losing Skal hurts because he was our only other center and he was actually scoring well off the bench. Before Hood went down, he was shooting 50% from three and there was real cohesion in the starting lineup. Now they're both gone and it turns out Dame is mortal. He can't do it by himself. And CJ and Melo don't pass. Whiteside puts up number but they are pretty empty. There's no question we'd be better with a full roster. But we shouldn't be this bad. We just shouldn't. There is a leadership problem. Dame and Stotts have to answer for this.

Here's my thoughts on that..... The guys are playing scared. They aren't playing to smear the other team, they are playing not to lose. Meyers Leonard syndrom. The team needs to get 10 shrinks in there, and get their confidence built back up. Proof? How many games now have we seen them come out, pass the ball; and trust each other. We get the lead, and then the other team adjusts. We lose our lead, and then everyone gets desperate and reverts to ISO hero ball. Game over. Over and over. The guys are flat out playing scared. And yes, coaching is probably partly (or mostly) to blame there....

Just IMHO. Sorry I rambled so much guys.

 

[GDiama]

This team without Hood, Collins, and Skal was and is not built to win a title.

Yeah but it is also ridiculous to think that missing these guys that would not have a good enough role in many teams makes as a team that is 7 games below .500. We are just not good enough, not talented enough.

 

[Binx]

I posted this at RealGM.

In the playoff run last year, as we advanced, Aminu and Mo became unplayable because they couldn't shoot. We played better when Collins and Hood played at those positions. We lost Collins right at the start of the season and had no one else who could shoot and defend like him at this position. Plus he was an effective back up center so this was a big loss. Nevermind, we picked up Melo. Hood got hot and things were coming together but then Hood gets hurt.

Meanwhile, Skal is filling in well for PF and C off the bench and keeping us afloat and then he gets hurt. So not only don't we have Aminu and Harkless, we don't have their replacements and we don't have a back up PF or C because Skal is out. Yes, Dame, CJ, and Whiteside are putting up numbers, but they need either Aminu/Mo or Collins/Hood at the forward spots to win and they have none of them.

Nurkic is traveling with the team and has been going through some drills lately. If he can come back this month, then the season is salvageable since Whiteside's contract can then be traded for more help at the forward spots and/or off the bench. The Blazers also have an injury exception to sign someone with or trade. Bazemore's contract is also tradeable. Players like Iggy, Noah, and Love are out there. A team like this has a shot:

Dame/CJ/Melo/Love/Nurkic
Simons/Trent/Iggy/Collins/Noah

Good balance of experience, youth, offense, and defense.

Or we'll just let the season play out (I think Dame is hurt and we might be able to start resting him) and get a good draft pick which could be traded for immediate help going into a hopefully healthy training camp in October.

 

[Dougnsalem]

Yeah but it is also ridiculous to think that missing these guys that would not have a good enough role in many teams makes as a team that is 7 games below .500. We are just not good enough, not talented enough.

Sorry, but I disagree.

Dame/CJ/Melo/Collins/Nurk
Simons/Baze/Hood/Skal/Whiteside

With no injuries, I would put that bench up against any other bench in the league. Toss in Trent anywhere you want. I don't care for him, but I know some of you guys do.

 

[stampedehero]

This explains our season and especially our last 6 games. Trade soon to salvage or tank now to get another draft project under way.

 

[GDiama]

Sorry, but I disagree.

Dame/CJ/Melo/Collins/Nurk
Simons/Baze/Hood/Skal/Whiteside

With no injuries, I would put that bench up against any other bench in the league. Toss in Trent anywhere you want. I don't care for him, but I know some of you guys do.

Well i i disagree as well. If we focus only on injuries we see the tree but we miss the forest (as we say in Greece maybe US as well).

Stotts would still be the coach and this means iso ball forever and ever and we knew we would not have Nurk anyway. And everybody thought Simons would be so much better than he currently is. Whoever thinks Simons is good right now even for a 20 min role for a team that aims for the title i believe is fooling himself. Many holes in his game in both sides of the floor and the biggest issue is we didn't get a competent guard in order to give him minutes at the point. Baze has been bad, Skal below average. I just don't see it.

To me it is clear we overestimated the talent available and by talent i include the coach, GM etc as they play a huge role as well.

 

[BonesJones]

This team without Hood, Collins, and Skal was and is not built to win a title.

But they're also not built to lose to the Knicks by 24.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Valiant Effort.

 

[Dougnsalem]

Well i i disagree as well. If we focus only on injuries we see the tree but we miss the forest (as we say in Greece maybe US as well).

Stotts would still be the coach and this means iso ball forever and ever and we knew we would not have Nurk anyway. And everybody thought Simons would be so much better than he currently is. Whoever thinks Simons is good right now even for a 20 min role for a team that aims for the title i believe is fooling himself. Many holes in his game in both sides of the floor and the biggest issue is we didn't get a competent guard in order to give him minutes at the point. Baze has been bad, Skal below average. I just don't see it.

To me it is clear we overestimated the talent available and by talent i include the coach, GM etc as they play a huge role as well.

Ok, you are changing the subject. We were not talking about coaching. We were not talking about the GM. We were discussing the players. Sure, we are fucked with our current coaching and allowing the ISO ball to be played. I have said that myself. Ok, you don't like Simons. So move him to be a starter. Then Dame can make sure he doesn't jack up a ton of crap shots. Move CJ to the second unit. CJ instantly wins 6th man of the year award. Hood off the bench??? He's a starter on most teams. Same with Whiteside.

Baze has been bad? Skal below average??? You must be getting some different games over there, from the ones I've been seeing..... That's ludicrous

 

[GDiama]

Ok, you are changing the subject. We were not talking about coaching. We were not talking about the GM. We were discussing the players. Sure, we are fucked with our current coaching and allowing the ISO ball to be played. I have said that myself. Ok, you don't like Simons. So move him to be a starter. Then Dame can make sure he doesn't jack up a ton of crap shots. Move CJ to the second unit. CJ instantly wins 6th man of the year award. Hood off the bench??? He's a starter on most teams. Same with Whiteside.

Baze has been bad? Skal below average??? You must be getting some different games over there, from the ones I've been seeing..... That's ludicrous

So your TV or your eyes whatever are showing Baze and Skal playing good basketball? Interesting!

Hood is not a starter in most teams btw, not ones contending for a title at least. He is an ok starter, nothing special. I didn't see the teams lining up when he was a free agent. Here was his only secure spot to get a starting role in a playoff team.

And why would we move CJ to the bench to start Simons? The point is not to make the bench stronger, but to make the team in general stronger. If Simons is playing a 20 mins role he is a liability. He is just not good right now. He is not even Aaron Holiday for example that gets in there and can contribute to wins. Simons is just a project, high ceiling but currently not good.

We must be the only team that is missing players like Zach, Hood and Skal and makes a big deal of this. If you tell this to fans of other teams will literally laugh at you for saying missing these guys is the Blazers' biggest issue. I guess the other topic is right, injury excuse propaganda has worked.

 

[James lamphear]

My take is that is our offense and defense is very easy to figure out. Every night the opponent main goal is make hard on Dame they wants someone else to beat them. They also pay attention to CJ some what. The other 3 are easy to guard because they just standing there looking on. Defense they want the other team to shoot mid range shots but this year been little difference it like everyone collapse in the lane and leaving the 3 point line wide open and the opponents are taking full advantage of it too. When we got ball movement and player movement are offense been effective. I just pass performance with Nurk at center you see more cuts and movement by the players and Nurk would deliver majority of the time. Now we have seen Whiteside make some good passes for assist but they still don't trust him with more opportunities. I believe without trust by Dame you see him going more iso because he not trusting the system. Now CJ he going to do what CJ does he not going to change his game and Melo not going change his game much either. Maybe you see things change when Nurk comes back with the players movement we will see. But right now you got 4 guys that just iso type players in CJ Dame Melo and Bazemore tries even he not good at it. The defense right now they are not mentally into playing that side of the ball. Plus they are totally not focus out there you tell with all the misses at the free throw line especially Dame when has he miss 3 free throw in a game.

 

[Wade Garrett]

This team without Hood, Collins, and Skal was and is not built to win a title.

Problem is...they weren't built to be embarrassed by the worst teams in the league, either at home or on the rood, either.