How did we get so bad?

[gatorpops]

e-blazer,s discription answers the origional question very well and was the "Quality Post FAMs"

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

I'm not sure if it's already been brought up, but I blame the Blazers woes on the retirement of Free Throw Guy.

 

[TBpup]

With Denver beating the Clippers, Portland now falls to 10th place in the WC. They are only 2 losses from being tied for the most losses in the entire league.

 

[Nikolokolus]

With Denver beating the Clippers, Portland now falls to 10th place in the WC. They are only 2 losses from being tied for the most losses in the entire league.

Is that bad? Asking for a friend.

 

[BBert]

Olshey is an average drafter? He got top 2 on their draft class players at 6 and 10. He got Crabbe at 31. Will Barton was a good pick at 40. I think Layman will be a good pick at 47.

I'm not arguing this, or advocating this interpretation, but just to play Devil's Advocate: Maybe two top 2 players in their draft class fell to Olshey at No. 6 and No. 10, and Crabbe at No. 31, and they were no-brainer picks? Maybe he's more lucky than good?

Discuss....

 

[Haakzilla]

...too many players got paid! Too much complacency now. Human nature is sad this way sometimes

 

[Boob-No-More]

...too many players got paid! Too much complacency now. Human nature is sad this way sometimes

I didn't want to believe this, especially about this team, but earlier today it dawned on me that the only player that is busting his ass on every play, at both ends of the court (in spite of his limitations), is Mason Plumlee - the one guy in our rotation who hasn't gotten paid.

He's the only player that has been absolutely balling every night through this recent losing spell. In the last four games, he's set a new career high in points (27) and a new season high in rebounds (15). He is currently averaging career highs in pts/g, ast/g, stl/g, blk/g and PER. With the way he's been rebounding lately, he will soon be averaging a career high in reb/g.

Coincidence?

BNM

 

[Haakzilla]

I didn't want to believe this, especially about this team, but earlier today it dawned on me that the only player that is busting his ass on every play, at both ends of the court (in spite of his limitations), is Mason Plumlee - the one guy in our rotation who hasn't gotten paid.

He's the only player that has been absolutely balling every night through this recent losing spell. In the last four games, he's set a new career high in points (27) and a new season high in rebounds (15). He is currently averaging career highs in pts/g, ast/g, stl/g, blk/g and PER. With the way he's been rebounding lately, he will soon be averaging a career high in reb/g.

Coincidence?

BNM

...nope, not a coincidence! Like I said, sad but true.

 

[handiman]

I'm not arguing this, or advocating this interpretation, but just to play Devil's Advocate: Maybe two top 2 players in their draft class fell to Olshey at No. 6 and No. 10, and Crabbe at No. 31, and they were no-brainer picks? Maybe he's more lucky than good?

I could buy that with CJ and Crabbe, but Lillard was considered a reach by many at #6. Those of us who considered him the second best player in the draft were most definitely in the minority.

I didn't want to believe this, especially about this team, but earlier today it dawned on me that the only player that is busting his ass on every play, at both ends of the court (in spite of his limitations), is Mason Plumlee - the one guy in our rotation who hasn't gotten paid.

What about Davis and Aminu? They got paid last year and didn't suffer from the pay day malaise until this year when the whole team got sick.

 

[Boob-No-More]

...nope, not a coincidence! Like I said, sad but true.

So, why does Ed Davis suck so bad this year? I'm not seeing nearly the same energy and effort I saw from Ed last year. Perhaps jealous that he signed a year too soon and missed out on the really big bucks? That he's now the 8th highest paid player on the team (9th highest if you count C.J.'s extension) and that his salary actually goes DOWN nest season when the cap goes up again and even more players will get ridiculous contracts that make his look like pocket change.

Everybody talks about how cheap we got Ezeli, because of his injury history, that it was a low risk signing. Yet, he's getting paid more to not play than Ed is getting paid to play.

BNM

 

[Haakzilla]

So, why does Ed Davis suck so bad this year? I'm not seeing nearly the same energy and effort I saw from Ed last year. Perhaps jealous that he signed a year too soon and missed out on the really big bucks? That he's now the 8th highest paid player on the team (9th highest if you count C.J.'s extension) and that his salary actually goes DOWN nest season when the cap goes up again and even more players will get ridiculous contracts that make his look like pocket change.

Everybody talks about how cheap we got Ezeli, because of his injury history, that it was a low risk signing. Yet, he's getting paid more to not play than Ed is getting paid to play.

BNM

...probably I suppose there could be some behind the scenes discontent that we as fans don't know about, but I seriously doubt it with how well the team's overall chemistry and camaraderie seems to be.

 

[Boob-No-More]

What about Davis and Aminu? They got paid last year and didn't suffer from the pay day malaise until this year when the whole team got sick.

Was typing my response about Davis while you were posting your question. His play has certainly been uninspired this season.

While their contracts were relatively small, they both got big raises last year (Davis went from $981,000 to $7,000,000). We were willing to give them more than they'd ever made, or more than anyone else was offering. Both seemed thrilled to be hear and happy with their contracts.

And, while their contracts look ridiculously cheap compared to what Turner, Crabbe and even Mo and Meyers got, they weren't out of line with their role's on the team. Last year they were the 2nd and 3rd highest paid players on the team. This year, they are 6th and 8th and see bench players like Crabbe and Turner making 2x to nearly 3x what they are being paid. That seems to have demotivated them.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

...probably I suppose there could be some behind the scenes discontent that we as fans don't know about, but I seriously doubt it with how well the team's overall chemistry and camaraderie seems to be.

I think it may be a subconscious response to seeing guys who play lesser roles getting much larger contracts.

BNM

 

[riverman]

So, why does Ed Davis suck so bad this year?

Meyers makes more than him..nuff said

 

[Denny Crane]

Ed Davis became the starter for a while, no?

Ed's DRtg took a huge drop this year. So did the guy playing for his next contract (Plums).

Maybe it's not enough sharing the ball and stressing scoring over defense. Defense starts at the perimeter and ends at the rim. We play like it starts at the rim.

 

[handiman]

Was typing my response about Davis while you were posting your question. His play has certainly been uninspired this season.

Along the same lines, but on opposite side of the equation, I thought Crabbe came out with a lot of fire this year, looking to take the next step as a legit third option. Whatever this downward spiral is due to, I think it's something within the team and not about the $$$. My hunch is the widespread notion that the summer moves were all about asset collection. No one's playing with heart because they don't see a future.

 

[HailBlazers]

Pretty obvious answer nobody has concluded, the rest of the NBA has got so good.

 

[Sinobas]

I think blaming the schedule is pathetic. We were getting our asses handed to us by DALLAS at home, before mounting a comeback that came up short, and allowed fans to say we "almost won". Every team in the league plays the same number of games. And yes, we've played 3 more road games than home, but that doesn't explain why we're 7 games below .500. We're only 8-7 at home this year.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Wow, it took me a long time to find this thread. Well, Dwight James got some NBA guys to give their opinions:

• "They all got paid. Too many of their players either got new deals for this season or guaranteed extensions that kick in next season. I've seen it before -- when you get that big contract, you can't help but relax a little. You don't think you're doing it, but you are. And you get a whole team full of guys like that you can lose your edge."
• "They may have overestimated how good they were in the first place. Last season was a crazy one in the West. The games they won (44) got them a lot better seed in the playoffs than it usually would. And then they got past the Clippers because of those injuries (to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin). That wasn't a second-round team but that's where they ended up. It probably gave their front office, their players, their fans and the media a false impression of how good they really were."
• "The way they play may lend itself to unpredictable outcomes. They are 'equal-opportunity shooters.' They encourage anyone who is open to shoot the ball. It works out well sometimes. But on our team, we have people who shoot and others who don't. They are giving a lot of three-point shots to players who have not proved themselves as three-point shooters. That could lead to inconsistencies, especially with the number of threes they take. And honestly, I don't understand that philosophy. Yes, some guys get better as shooters when given an opportunity. Most don't, though."
• "Trying to play defense with starting guards who can't keep people in front of them is very difficult. It puts too much pressure on their interior defenders -- and let's face it, (Mason) Plumlee isn't exactly a premier shot blocker. Their defense is horrible."
• "Teams have caught on to what they're doing. We just try to take their guards away from them and they have nobody left to score. And then we attack their guards at the other end. By the end of the game, they're worn out."
• "Their roster doesn't make a lot of sense. They've spent a lot of money on their backcourt but up front they are starting players who have never before been starters -- and may never again. They do a great job of milking all they can from those guys up front, but I'm not sure there's much more upside there."
• http://www.csnnw.com/portland-trail...ons-about-whats-wrong-enigmatic-trail-blazers

 

[Strenuus]

Wow, it took me a long time to find this thread. Well, Dwight James got some NBA guys to give their opinions:

• "They all got paid. Too many of their players either got new deals for this season or guaranteed extensions that kick in next season. I've seen it before -- when you get that big contract, you can't help but relax a little. You don't think you're doing it, but you are. And you get a whole team full of guys like that you can lose your edge."
• "They may have overestimated how good they were in the first place. Last season was a crazy one in the West. The games they won (44) got them a lot better seed in the playoffs than it usually would. And then they got past the Clippers because of those injuries (to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin). That wasn't a second-round team but that's where they ended up. It probably gave their front office, their players, their fans and the media a false impression of how good they really were."
• "The way they play may lend itself to unpredictable outcomes. They are 'equal-opportunity shooters.' They encourage anyone who is open to shoot the ball. It works out well sometimes. But on our team, we have people who shoot and others who don't. They are giving a lot of three-point shots to players who have not proved themselves as three-point shooters. That could lead to inconsistencies, especially with the number of threes they take. And honestly, I don't understand that philosophy. Yes, some guys get better as shooters when given an opportunity. Most don't, though."
• "Trying to play defense with starting guards who can't keep people in front of them is very difficult. It puts too much pressure on their interior defenders -- and let's face it, (Mason) Plumlee isn't exactly a premier shot blocker. Their defense is horrible."
• "Teams have caught on to what they're doing. We just try to take their guards away from them and they have nobody left to score. And then we attack their guards at the other end. By the end of the game, they're worn out."
• "Their roster doesn't make a lot of sense. They've spent a lot of money on their backcourt but up front they are starting players who have never before been starters -- and may never again. They do a great job of milking all they can from those guys up front, but I'm not sure there's much more upside there."
• http://www.csnnw.com/portland-trail...ons-about-whats-wrong-enigmatic-trail-blazers

Truth.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

• "Teams have caught on to what they're doing. We just try to take their guards away from them and they have nobody left to score. And then we attack their guards at the other end. By the end of the game, they're worn out."

I said at the beginning of the season that Stotts needed to limit minutes of Lillard and McCollum. I understand why he feels he must play them so much, but he is really enabling the strategies of other coaches to work.

 

[blue9]

• "They may have overestimated how good they were in the first place... It probably gave their front office, their players, their fans and the media a false impression of how good they really were."

I can forgive the fans for getting ahead of themselves and thinking the team was better than they were (haha - no I can't! dummies!), but for management to be hoodwinked by such an ill-gained advance to the 2nd round is inexcusable.

 

[Sinobas]

Wow, it took me a long time to find this thread. Well, Dwight James got some NBA guys to give their opinions:

• "They all got paid. Too many of their players either got new deals for this season or guaranteed extensions that kick in next season. I've seen it before -- when you get that big contract, you can't help but relax a little. You don't think you're doing it, but you are. And you get a whole team full of guys like that you can lose your edge."
• "They may have overestimated how good they were in the first place. Last season was a crazy one in the West. The games they won (44) got them a lot better seed in the playoffs than it usually would. And then they got past the Clippers because of those injuries (to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin). That wasn't a second-round team but that's where they ended up. It probably gave their front office, their players, their fans and the media a false impression of how good they really were."
• "The way they play may lend itself to unpredictable outcomes. They are 'equal-opportunity shooters.' They encourage anyone who is open to shoot the ball. It works out well sometimes. But on our team, we have people who shoot and others who don't. They are giving a lot of three-point shots to players who have not proved themselves as three-point shooters. That could lead to inconsistencies, especially with the number of threes they take. And honestly, I don't understand that philosophy. Yes, some guys get better as shooters when given an opportunity. Most don't, though."
• "Trying to play defense with starting guards who can't keep people in front of them is very difficult. It puts too much pressure on their interior defenders -- and let's face it, (Mason) Plumlee isn't exactly a premier shot blocker. Their defense is horrible."
• "Teams have caught on to what they're doing. We just try to take their guards away from them and they have nobody left to score. And then we attack their guards at the other end. By the end of the game, they're worn out."
• "Their roster doesn't make a lot of sense. They've spent a lot of money on their backcourt but up front they are starting players who have never before been starters -- and may never again. They do a great job of milking all they can from those guys up front, but I'm not sure there's much more upside there."
• http://www.csnnw.com/portland-trail...ons-about-whats-wrong-enigmatic-trail-blazers

[i/QUOTE]

Great post. I agree with most of it. Though I don't agree with the "getting paid" part. The guys from last year that got paid aren't that worse from last year.

But yeah...why do we have Aminu jacking up so many 3s? Also, I thin part of it is how the d scheme doesn't give player guards much help off screens.

 

[Minstrel]

But yeah...why do we have Aminu jacking up so many 3s?

Because of this:

2015-16 3P%: .361

Last year, Aminu was a Portland sensation because he played solid defense at the 4 and added an extra three-point shooter to the floor. Great!

Problem is--last year was the first year of his career that he shot even halfway competently from range, and this year he's gone back to his sub-.300 three-point shooting ways. The Blazers have been slow to adjust to this new/old reality.

 

[PCmor7]

I think we overachieved last year, maybe some guys got complacent in the offseason, and opposing teams are taking us more seriously and have figured us out.

I wouldn't discount how losing Kaman and Henderson might have affected things, either. I think Kaman was a good locker room presence and someone the bigs on the team could look to for help. Henderson had an edge to him that I am not sure Turner has, even if Turner might be a better all-around player.

Confidence is clearly shaken, and I don't think it's just with the players. I think even the coaches don't really have an idea what they want to do. The unstable playing rotation just smells to me like there is no process being followed.