How much better will we be at the end of the season?

[Further]

There are a lot of reasons why I think we will continue to get better. Webster will return, Oden, Rudy and the other rooks will have more experience. Hopefully Bayless will get a few chances to earn some minutes.

 

[azsun67]

Odens knee will be stronger and Webster will be back. Oh yeah there will be that trade for King James that should put us over the top.

 

[Kaydow]

Why does everyone point to Webster's return as some landmark we need to look forward to?

What has he shown that he is anything more than a role player? I honestly don't think his return means squat for the Blazers. Just adds to the Rudy/Travis (and others) log jamb at SF.

Martell is a tease. He'll have one or two games a month where he plays out his mind, then lays an egg for about a week straight.

 

[craigehlo]

Same w/o an upgrade at SF or PG. We either need a legit passing point or a forward that can get to the free throw line. Easy buckets are hard to come by with this current lineup.

 

[craigehlo]

What has he shown that he is anything more than a role player? I honestly don't think his return means squat for the Blazers. Just adds to the Rudy/Travis (and others) log jamb at SF.

His return is going to cause more problems then it addresses. He';s yet another jumpshooter that can't get to the rim for the Blazers. He's going to kick Batum out of the rotation and cause another sulking player on Nate's bench.

 

[Kaydow]

His return is going to cause more problems then it addresses. He';s yet another jumpshooter that can't get to the rim for the Blazers. He's going to kick Batum out of the rotation and cause another sulking player on Nate's bench.

Totally agree. If Martell could get to the basket I'd feel much differently. That WOULD be the answer.

I get a little negative after losses, I'll admit that - but nights like tonight make me think the team is destined for mediocrity. Brandon Roy's body can't take the abuse of having to log 40 minutes/night and carry the burden offensively. Yet, that seems to be the only way we can win close games.

What's going to happen when he turns an ankle and misses a couple of weeks? You have to to think with all the punishment he takes that he's not likely to play all 82. Take Roy away and who else can get to the basket? Just a bunch of jump shooters that need somebody to break a defense down and kick it out to them. What happens when there's nobody to break the defense down? Or, if the jumpers aren't falling? There is no plan B.

I hope that there's a trade out there - we need another athletic playmaker to go with Roy. I guess I just need to be patient.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't agree. I would love to see a second unit of Martel (And yes Martel said he would have no problem coming off the bench) Rudy, Travis, Sergio and Joel.

But I do agree that we need either a PG or a SF that can attack the basket. One or the other but not necessarily both. Eventually that guy is Bayless.

 

[alex42083]

I think I still want to see how Martell fares with playing with Rudy. Those two had a special chemistry in their one game together against Sacto in the preseason. It seemed to elevate Martell's game. It'll be interesting to see when we get fully healthy.

 

[bodyman5001]

I voted for a lot worse. I don't see any identity with this team. They are up and down and have no real mission when they play other than to try and win.

I just want Oden to keep getting better and stop fouling and none of that should matter but who knows?

 

[craigehlo]

I voted for a lot worse. I don't see any identity with this team.

I see an identity, it's one that plays too much one-on-one and doesn't run the fast break at all. Same as the last few seasons unfortunately.

 

[bodyman5001]

I see an identity, it's one that plays too much one-on-one and doesn't run the fast break at all. Same as the last few seasons unfortunately.

I forgot to add the part that made me vote that way the most, the coaching staff. I sense a revolt coming.

I sure miss fast breaks too.

 

[oldmangrouch]

On the plus side, if Penknife stays healthy he should eventually round into shape. Rudy should also become more consistent.

On the negative side, once Blake cools off the PG situation will really become a headache. Webster's return creates even more of a minutes crunch, even though he brings nothing to the table that this team currently needs.

Net effect - a slight over-all improvement.

Barring a trade, that is the optimistic view. If Penknife doesn't show significant improvement, we could actually go down. Obviously, one good trade could make a huge difference.

 

[craigehlo]

Barring a trade, that is the optimistic view. If Penknife doesn't show significant improvement, we could actually go down. Obviously, one good trade could make a huge difference.

That really is the frustrating part. We are just a trade or two from taking this team to the next level. Getting one or two vets with consistent production would pretty much guarantee the playoffs.

As it is, you never have any idea which Blazer team is going to show. The hot shooting one or the disorganized, poor-defending one.

 

[oldmangrouch]

BTW, here is a harsh little reality check.

Oden to date: 22.7 MPG, 8 PPG, .522 FG%, 7.7 RPG, .6 APG, 1.4 BPG

Sam Bowie as a rookie: 29.2 MPG, 10 PPG, .537 FG%, 8.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.7 BPG


Oden needs to pick it up. I know all the excuses/reasons - but he just flat has to get better! The difference in scoring isn't a big deal. You can even write off the difference in rebounds due to minutes. The difference in assists and blocks is shocking.

 

[Kaydow]

That really is the frustrating part. We are just a trade or two from taking this team to the next level. Getting one or two vets with consistent production would pretty much guarantee the playoffs.

As it is, you never have any idea which Blazer team is going to show. The hot shooting one or the disorganized, poor-defending one.

I know, I know. But unless KP can pull off a Pau Gasol/Laker type deal . . . I bet we just stand pat. Roy, LA, Oden and most likely Rudy are untoutchable - Who would we move that would land us a stud playmaker? Outlaw? Webster? Frye? Sergio?

There might be some interest around the league for Batum. But I have a feeling he might turn into a Pippen Light type. I guess if it lands us a good player . . . and not someone over 30 years old.

Sometimes, desperation leads to bad trades. Don't you think the Mavs would like to have the Devon Harris for J. Jidd trade back?

 

[shamelessblazer]

...Steve Nash...

what our team lacks the most is easy buckets when we're having a hard time. Brandon and him are mature enough to work out "sharing the ball" and they're both good shooters. Nash is aging and doesn't want to drive the lane all the time (and is every bit the shooter Blake is in the long term), and Roy needs to learn to play off the ball more for easy buckets/make his teammates more dangerous with the ball as Lebron/Wade and others have already worked to do, plus they're both good shooters...

an end of game lineup of Nash/Rudy/Roy/Aldridge/Oden

With that said, it's difficult to guage his value to Phoenix at the moment. And the real question is Steve Kerr, he's designing the offense, through personel, to make Nash more of a jumpshooter there (even more than he would be here), and how Nash feels about being there at the moment, along with their owners cheapness. I feel like if things aren't working out there's a small chance Blake/Bayless/Frye could get the job done, but I'm not counting on it. It still would make us a ton more dangerous in the short term, and get our guys more experience playing tough games in the long-term while helping Oden and Aldridge develop faster.

 

[craigehlo]

I know, I know. But unless KP can pull off a Pau Gasol/Laker type deal . . .

I doubt the NBA will ever see such a lopsided deal like that.

I have a feeling KP is still waiting for one of the East Coast teams like the Wiz to get desperate. It's a gamble for sure, but I hope it's not too late by the time we make a move. I'd rather do a trade while we are in the playoff picture rather than having to claw our way back in.

 

[Denny Crane]

On the plus side, if Penknife stays healthy he should eventually round into shape. Rudy should also become more consistent.

On the negative side, once Blake cools off the PG situation will really become a headache. Webster's return creates even more of a minutes crunch, even though he brings nothing to the table that this team currently needs.

Net effect - a slight over-all improvement.

Barring a trade, that is the optimistic view. If Penknife doesn't show significant improvement, we could actually go down. Obviously, one good trade could make a huge difference.

What he said.

 

[bluefrog]

BTW, here is a harsh little reality check.

Oden to date: 22.7 MPG, 8 PPG, .522 FG%, 7.7 RPG, .6 APG, 1.4 BPG

Sam Bowie as a rookie: 29.2 MPG, 10 PPG, .537 FG%, 8.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.7 BPG

I wonder how their per minute stats would compare...

I voted for a lot better. I think Webster's return will be good because Travis will play more PF where he is more effective on offense.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Curiously, why do you refer to Oden as "Penknife"? I've never heard that from anyone else. What's the reasoning behind it?

"Penknife" as in "less impressive than a Bowie(knife)"

My not so subtle comment on the kid having a long way to go.