Exclusive How do you fix this team?

[Natebishop3]

The team has a lot of talent. They are not playing up to their potential.

What do you do to fix this team? Is it something simple like cutting Melo? Is it something more complicated like a trade?

Fire Stotts? Who do you replace him with?

What would be your moves to turn around this season and not waste another year of Dame's prime?

 

[perkinsfor3]

Trade Zach Collins and Ant Simons to OKC for George Hill if we're serious about a playoff campaign. Hill allows Dame and CJ to play offf the ball, his size is a good match with either of them and he can defend well. It solves a lot of the Dame trapping issues we see.

 

[tester551]

The team has a lot of talent. They are not playing up to their potential.

What do you do to fix this team? Is it something simple like cutting Melo? Is it something more complicated like a trade?

Fire Stotts? Who do you replace him with?

What would be your moves to turn around this season and not waste another year of Dame's prime?

Not sure I agree with your initial premise here.

The team has talent. I'm not sure that it's "a lot" of talent. Definitely not anywhere near being title contenders.

Stotts is A problem, but not THE problem. IMO, it starts higher up at the Owner / President / GM level. I'm not sure Allen/McGowen care enough to rock the boat. The Blazers are generally competitive (~0.500 winning) and they are fine with that. I think Olshey has a lot of autonomy and likes his freedom, with very little pressure. However, when he is pushed by the media - he bristles and becomes very condescending. Basically, this comes down to everyone being a bit too comfortable with where the team is at.

 

[B-Roy]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2021/on-off/

Look at these on/off numbers and tell me what stands out.

Fucking cut Melo first. I want the Terry/CJ/Dame/Olshey core broken up in some way but the low hanging fruit is to send Melo to a fucking retirement home.

 

[wizenheimer]

step 1: fire Olshey AND Stotts
step 2: waive Melo
step 3: shop CJ hard

and, I agree with Tester...not only does the team not have lots of talent, some of the important talent is wasted in the systems

 

[Natebishop3]

Here is my swing for the fences, no holds barred, feelings be damned redemption tour.

Trade CJ/Collins/Ant for Harden.

Cut Melo.

Fire Stotts. I don't care who they use in the interim. Hire Becky Hammon in the offseason (fuck it, let's do this.)

Although another guy that I would sure love to get would be Siakam. The Raptors look worse than us, and Siakam isn't earning his paycheck up there. He and CJ have the same contract basically.

Dame
GTJ
Siakam
RoCo
Nurk

That's a really damn good team.

 

[B-Roy]

step 1: fire Olshey AND Stotts
step 2: waive Melo
step 3: shop CJ hard

and, I agree with Tester...not only does the team not have lots of talent, some of the important talent is wasted in the systems

Sending Melo to China should be priority number one.

Is it any co-incidence that the best game we've played all season was the ONE game where Carmelo didn't play? I just want to see 10 games with this team without Melo on it. Just give me 10 games. I'll even be okay with Terry staying for those 10 games.

 

[Minstrel]

I don't think this team is that talented. Dame is great, a true superstar. Trent is a really good supporting player. McCollum is high-variance supporting player--sometimes he gets incredibly hot and can carry, other times his offense isn't worth his defense. After that...I mean, Nurkic has his moments. Covington can be a high-level supporting player even if he hasn't been yet for Portland. Everyone else is filler or projection.

My "big swing" would be to find a replacement for Olshey and let the new GM figure out what to do at head coach. I don't know who I'd replace Olshey with, though. I'm not paid to know.

I'm also on the Cut Melo Express.

 

[kjironman1]

I thought all of this was being talked about in the "Fire Stotts" "Trade CJ" "Trade for Harden" "Nurk Sucks" "This is the worst Team..." " Play Giles" and every game thread? As well as the "Trade" Thread and the Around the NBA thread.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

A lot of it hinges on Nurk. He has to be that 20/10 force that he’s always been.

Play Trent 25+ minutes every game.

And FFS — BENCH Simons for the foreseeable future

 

[Minstrel]

Play Trent 25+ minutes ever game.

IMO, Trent needs starter minutes every night, 35 or so. Across guard and small forward.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[BonesJones]

I love how this team went from having a ton of talent to not that much talent.

 

[wizenheimer]

I love how this team went from having a ton of talent to not that much talent.

the people that were saying the team had a ton of talent are really quiet right now

that silence has been filled in by those who not only questioned the level of talent but questioned if the additions fit with the coach, the systems, and the roster

 

[blazedanugz]

Last nights game hit different.
I’m tired of seeing the team look content with a bullshit loss like last night. SOMEBODY disagree on the floor, show some life, clap your hands, DO SOMETHING.
We loaf everywhere. We smile like nothings wrong. Stotts finally called the team out(in a nice way). I honestly think it’s time for a head coaching change. I can’t explain what we’re seeing. It’s the same no matter the personnel. We made a great playoff run two years ago but other than that, the last 4-5 years have looks exactly the same.
I’m growing really tired of it.
SOMEONE IN A BLAZER JERSEY GET FUCKING MAD

 

[blazedanugz]

Last nights game hit different.
I’m tired of seeing the team look content with a bullshit loss like last night. SOMEBODY disagree on the floor, show some life, clap your hands, DO SOMETHING.
We loaf everywhere. We smile like nothings wrong. Stotts finally called the team out(in a nice way). I honestly think it’s time for a head coaching change. I can’t explain what we’re seeing. It’s the same no matter the personnel. We made a great playoff run two years ago but other than that, the last 4-5 years have looks exactly the same.
I’m growing really tired of it.
SOMEONE IN A BLAZER JERSEY GET FUCKING MAD

We are VERY lucky we are 3-4. It should be worse

 

[Hoopguru]

the people that were saying the team had a ton of talent are really quiet right now

that silence has been filled in by those who not only questioned the level of talent but questioned if the additions fit with the coach, the systems, and the roster

Could you please identify who those people were? Thanks in adavnce.

 

[BonesJones]

the people that were saying the team had a ton of talent are really quiet right now

that silence has been filled in by those who not only questioned the level of talent but questioned if the additions fit with the coach, the systems, and the roster

I'm not quiet. This team has a ton of talent and a terrible coach. I'm guessing you're only basing that off of here

 

[tlongII]

I'm not quiet. This team has a ton of talent and a terrible coach. I'm guessing you're only basing that off of here

I agree. We have plenty of talent.

 

[blazerkor]

I agree. We have plenty of talent.

The problem is the coaching and the fact that the two most talented players don't work well together but still have huge man crushes on each other.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm not quiet. This team has a ton of talent and a terrible coach. I'm guessing you're only basing that off of here

sure...I was talking about posters here, and I have no clue what you consider "tons of talent", but:

Lakers...Clippers...Utah

Bucks...Celtics...Pacers...Miami...76ers

are all teams I'd say are more talented, and yes, I grade heavy in favor of elite talent

Last year, the Nuggets were more talented, easily, but they lost a lot. I'd still probably rate them above Portland, or at least equal, in terms of talent, but their bench is weak. Of course, so is Portland's when the 6th man is Melo

And I'd say Brooklyn probably has more talent. I'm also not sure if the Blazers clearly have more talent than Phoenix, Dallas, or New Orleans

then, I think you need to factor in chemistry. Prior to the season, I questioned how well Portland's talent was going to fit with each other and the systems in place. I haven't seen anything yet that makes me think otherwise

 

[tester551]

I'm not quiet.

Correct

 

[Tince]

I love how this team went from having a ton of talent to not that much talent.

I certainly took a little heat for not being over the moon with this roster. Having said that, they're underachieving even my lower expectations to this point.

 

[Tince]

I will continue to say this is what we need to be an NBA champion based off of past championship rosters:

A 6'7"+ two-way all-star player to pair with Dame. Doesn't matter how many minutes our 10th man plays, if we have a great backup PG, or if Red Auerbach is sitting on the bench.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Need Nurk to get the fever again... He's not playing well enough. With Nurk fever this team would be far better.

Need easier buckets. Need to run teams off of the 3pt line far better. Need to make better passes...

Stotts needs to get this figured out.

And yeah, if we can get long and tall wing who can do it all we should do it.

 

[BonesJones]

sure...I was talking about posters here, and I have no clue what you consider "tons of talent", but:

Lakers...Clippers...Utah

Bucks...Celtics...Pacers...Miami...76ers

are all teams I'd say are more talented, and yes, I grade heavy in favor of elite talent

Last year, the Nuggets were more talented, easily, but they lost a lot. I'd still probably rate them above Portland, or at least equal, in terms of talent, but their bench is weak. Of course, so is Portland's when the 6th man is Melo

And I'd say Brooklyn probably has more talent. I'm also not sure if the Blazers clearly have more talent than Phoenix, Dallas, or New Orleans

then, I think you need to factor in chemistry. Prior to the season, I questioned how well Portland's talent was going to fit with each other and the systems in place. I haven't seen anything yet that makes me think otherwise

Utah more talented? Lmao. Yeah, you've always trended towards having negative bias towards this team. That's kinda your MO. So I don't doubt that you think New Orleans (lol) has more talent.

 

[MickZagger]

Looking around the West and there’s a lot of teams not playing to their potential. The season is young. No training camp really

 

[BlazerWookee]

The team has a lot of talent. They are not playing up to their potential.

What do you do to fix this team? Is it something simple like cutting Melo? Is it something more complicated like a trade?

Fire Stotts? Who do you replace him with?

What would be your moves to turn around this season and not waste another year of Dame's prime?

Hire a new barber. Too many silly hairstyles.

Reeeeeee!

 

[Drttimmy]

Pretty sure the Olshey/Stotts/Dame/CJ nucleus is a package deal until the bitter end, so going to abstain from trading CJ or firing Stotts. Since we're not getting an All Star wing player, I think the next best option is to surround Dame/CJ with better shooters and find a backup poor man version of them to replicate what they do while they're out of the game. The entire offense is Dame/CJ creating either for themselves or kicking out for open threes. If we want to add Nurk into the equation, pretty much his game is similar by scoring for himself or kicking out for open threes. If that's the system then make it as efficient as possible.

*Pick one of Jones or ROCO to start and send the other to the bench. Neither is a swish3er, so I'd probably start ROCO with the better shot
*If we can't trade for one of those 6'8" white dude Joe Ingles/Joe Harris types who shoot 40% from the 3 point line and play passable D, which seemingly every other team in the league has, then start Trent since he's the closest guy we have to a swish3er
*The bench needs poor man version of Dame/CJ to play their role when they're out of the game. A scoring ball handler who can create, hopefully shoot, see the court for those three point kick outs. I don't follow the rest of the league to identify exactly who, but there seem to be quite a few of wide ranging quality. George Hill sounds good. DJ Augustin still playing? Erik Bledsoe? Avery Bradley has improved his shot. It's more about filling a role than being a major contributor since Dame/CJ won't rest for long. It doesn't appear Ant is it.
*The bench will need a swish3er as well, preferably two, if Trent is starting. Melo isn't ideal, but he's probably the best option we have as a camp at the three point line and await the kick out guy for the bench. If Hood comes around later, then he can replace Melo in that role.

I'd trade any of Collins, Jones, Little, Hood, Ant to get a swish3er and backup playmaker. I'd consider Nurk as well if needed. I think with this particular team, a swish3er is more important complement to Dame and CJ than Nurk. I see Nurk more as an X factor or nice luxury; therefore, expendable if needed. Dame and CJ can penetrate and create no matter who is playing the post. The defense and rebounding probably won't improve, but I think Stotts would be okay with that provided the offense is more efficient. Ride that out for the remaining 2-3 years of Dame/CJs prime and hopefully be entertained, then start over everywhere.

 

[wizenheimer]

Utah more talented? Lmao. Yeah, you've always trended towards having negative bias towards this team. That's kinda your MO. So I don't doubt that you think New Orleans (lol) has more talent.

I thought I was pretty clear, but maybe if you're prone to isolate on only part of a post, you'll miss the full argument

I was talking about two things: individual talent (on paper), and how that talent actually fits together on the floor. Great talent doesn't mean jack shit if the roster can't develop any cohesiveness or chemistry because pieces don't fit together. And yes, a primary "piece" is coaching and systems. Utah has a big advantage there

I think Utah's 1-8 is arguably every bit as talented as Portland's 1-8, especially with Melo as Portland's 6th man. I think he's toxic at this point in his career



but they also fit together better and have developed better chemistry. They may be more prone to being derailed by injury than Portland, but it's not like the Blazers have a real healthy recent history either. The only factor, in my view, that can elevate Portland above Utah is Dame playing like the elite player he can be and has been in the past

now, the Pels may have been a bit of hyperbole on my part, but they also have a real talented 1-8



especially with Adams playing the best BB of his career. They are really young though and often experience trumps talent