How to handle this team?

[Cippy91]

 

[EGame]

Losing close games isn't any better. Are you telling me if we choked away all these games in the final seconds, you would be happier? Really?

Throwing words in my mouth? Where did I say I'd be happier? I said it would be tolerable because it shows we can compete with the top dogs, even if we didn't quite finish. Right now we look like a borderline playoff team that anyone would love to play. Doesn't it get tired being an extreme homer?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Lol Lopez or Monroe? How will they stop us from giving up 120 points a game?

I think Lopez can play better defense than Plumlee and Monroe can rebound better.

 

[Strenuus]

When has he been more frustrated... and why isn't it now?! Dame!

 

[illmatic99]

When has he been more frustrated... and why isn't it now?! Dame!

His rookie season, he ended the year 0-13.

His sophomore year, we started out with a ridiculous record and then cratered after the midway point before finding our groove again after Aldridge came back from injury.

Still early.

But definitely worried. This is unacceptable defense.

 

[H.C.]

Going into the first real road trip of the season if someone would have told you before the trip they'd be 3-2 at the end of it.
Would you be happy about it? I would. Regardless who the wins were over.
Portland is still on pace to get the 3 wins on the trip I thought they would get.

 

[Strenuus]

His rookie season, he ended the year 0-13.

His sophomore year, we started out with a ridiculous record and then cratered after the midway point before finding our groove again after Aldridge came back from injury.

Still early.

But definitely worried. This is unacceptable defense.

I just don't remember him being "frustrated" more than what this is... It almost feels like he should be... I'll trust him on it, though. I dont know him, so I can't assume.

 

[illmatic99]

I just don't remember him being "frustrated" more than what this is... It almost feels like he should be... I'll trust him on it, though. I dont know him, so I can't assume.

Maybe it's because a lot of the defensive lapses are his fault? I saw a guy in his season debut who has 0 offensive game in Beverley take Dame to the hoop twice without even a screen and score with ease.

Dame is smart and he watches film. He can't be blind that his defense is part of the problem. Hard to call out teammates or be frustrated when he contributes to it.

 

[Strenuus]

Maybe it's because a lot of the defensive lapses are his fault? I saw a guy in his season debut who has 0 offensive game in Beverley take Dame to the hoop twice without even a screen and score with ease.

Dame is smart and he watches film. He can't be blind that his defense is part of the problem. Hard to call out teammates or be frustrated when he contributes to it.

I do think Dame holds himself accountable... so he probably does get frustrated at himself... But if he's the leader and does that, and teammates see it, then he can get on others as well... I think he has to regardless.

 

[Tunchi]

We are the next Phoenix suns that everyone said we could not become. I think this is proof of everyone saying we overachieved last year.

 

[TBpup]

We are the next Phoenix suns that everyone said we could not become. I think this is proof of everyone saying we overachieved last year.

They did overachieve and it was such a fun ride. Now everyone has got paid and it looks like most of the team is just not playing that hard. There is so little defense or rebounding and both of those are 'effort' things.

Not looking good. I suppose beating the bad teams and losing to the good ones keeps you at around .500 but boy are they not a good team.

 

[Denny Crane]

Mo at PF tonight, but no Aminu.

Winning starts with defense. The offense seems good enough.

Our lineup might be too small.

 

[TBpup]

Going into the first real road trip of the season if someone would have told you before the trip they'd be 3-2 at the end of it.
Would you be happy about it? I would. Regardless who the wins were over.
Portland is still on pace to get the 3 wins on the trip I thought they would get.

But if all you can beat is the bad teams and get smoked by the good ones, what have you really accomplished? They were much more competitive last season with the contenders. This year they are getting blown out.

 

[KingSpeed]

The problem with this is that we were blown out maybe 5 times all of last season. We've been blown out 4 times just in the past 10 games.

That's very concerning.

Warriors and Cavs got destroyed at Moda Center last year. Didn't stop them from reaching the Finals.

I just don't remember him being "frustrated" more than what this is... It almost feels like he should be... I'll trust him on it, though. I dont know him, so I can't assume.

We went on a 7 game losing streak after a 4-2 start last year. Maybe that was frustrating? Or how about when we were 15-24? This year, we are 7-6 and we've had a very tough schedule. And we have a .500 record on the road which is better than last year.

They did overachieve and it was such a fun ride. Now everyone has got paid and it looks like most of the team is just not playing that hard. There is so little defense or rebounding and both of those are 'effort' things.

Not looking good. I suppose beating the bad teams and losing to the good ones keeps you at around .500 but boy are they not a good team.

No. If you beat all the bad teams and lose to the good ones, you can win 55-60 games. The Spurs have a history of great seasons in which they lose to all the great teams but win every single one of their games against bad teams. They're are a lot of bad teams in the league each year.

 

[KingSpeed]

And yes, back to earlier topic, the Blazers' collapses of 2014 and 2015 were very frustrating. We played like a 62-66 win team for a few months before falling apart. Remember when we were 30-8 in 2015? We finished that season with 31 losses and only won a single playoff game!

 

[Jade Falcon]

Warriors and Cavs got destroyed at Moda Center last year. Didn't stop them from reaching the Finals.



We went on a 7 game losing streak after a 4-2 start last year. Maybe that was frustrating? Or how about when we were 15-24? This year, we are 7-6 and we've had a very tough schedule. And we have a .500 record on the road which is better than last year.



No. If you beat all the bad teams and lose to the good ones, you can win 55-60 games. The Spurs have a history of great seasons in which they lose to all the great teams but win every single one of their games against bad teams. They're are a lot of bad teams in the league each year.

Aw, come on King. Come on man. You did not just play that card.

The Cavs and Warriors are a world apart from us right now. Yes, we beat them, but even Championship teams get blown out occasionally.

The Warriors got off to a rough start this year, and nobody believes for a moment that they aren't still a Championship contending team.

Both of those teams are Championship Contenders. We're not. We weren't last year, and we aren't this year. Not even close.

You've got to be realistic about this team. I'll be VERY surprised if we make it out of the first round this year; if we make it there at all. There are GLARING issues on this team that have not been addressed, and good teams (not even "elite" teams) are exploiting those weaknesses.

 

[TBpup]

No. If you beat all the bad teams and lose to the good ones, you can win 55-60 games. The Spurs have a history of great seasons in which they lose to all the great teams but win every single one of their games against bad teams. They're are a lot of bad teams in the league each year.

I'm not sure comparing the Blazers to the Spurs who have won multiple title is exactly the right comparison to make.

 

[Chris Craig]

The Blazers are just getting started #noroomfordoubters

 

[Strenuus]

The Blazers are just getting started #noroomfordoubters

But the rest of the horses left hours ago.

 

[Tunchi]

Mo at PF tonight, but no Aminu.

Winning starts with defense. The offense seems good enough.

Our lineup might be too small.

Naw this is just a broken team. It's Dame and Cj that's it

Plumlee is not very good. Nice passer tho. Aminu is a good 20 min guy off the bench for energy and defense but that's it. Vonleh is meh. Ed Davis is transitioning into a journeyman. Meyers is a Matt Boner situational set shooter and he can't even do that this year. Turner is weak as fuck.

Harkless drives me crazy but he plays hard and you can tell he takes the game serious. Layman is a bright spot.

Other than that this team is weak. I feel bad for Dame bc he made me eat crow but I'll give it to him he's a lot better this year and I wish he had a better team.

 

[craigehlo]

Naw this is just a broken team. It's Dame and Cj that's it

This is the real issue. We have only two starting quality players even though we broke the friggin' bank this summer.

Stotts needs to go ASAP. Since you can't fire players and we need change, he's gotta go. Put Vanderpool in charge and see if that can light a fire.

 

[Blazinaway]

Someone help me. This team is such a disappointment. I watch games and continuously get pissed off because of their lack of effort on the defensive and and a lack of fire overall. Think of this as a therapeutic thread. How can one handle the disappoint and blowouts game in and game out? In what other ways can one get enjoyment out of this team? I need answers cause right now this is just a wreck.

mass quantities of drugs/alcohol seems to be necessary

 

[BigGameDamian]

Right now the Utah Jazz are set up better than the Blazers. So are the Lakers.

 

[Rhal]

We have to fix our D which is just abysmal. Two things that go hand and hand if we can fix would be a huge step towards fixing the D and thats our effort level and our rebounding. Guys are coasting through the majority of the game on the Defensive side which is causing blown covereages, offensive reobounds and second chance points. Its up to Stotts to figure out why we aren't giving 100% effort and fix it, hell i'd even bench Dame is he wasn't going hard just to make an example fo things.

 

[Rhal]

Right now the Utah Jazz are set up better than the Blazers. So are the Lakers.

Half of this post is good, half of this post is asinine. I'll let you figure out which part is which.

 

[KingSpeed]

This is the real issue. We have only two starting quality players even though we broke the friggin' bank this summer.

Stotts needs to go ASAP. Since you can't fire players and we need change, he's gotta go. Put Vanderpool in charge and see if that can light a fire.

Harkless is a starter quality player and he's becoming one of the best shooters in the NBA.

 

[BonesJones]

Right now the Utah Jazz are set up better than the Blazers. So are the Lakers.

I was asking for help on dealing with this team. That's the exact opposite.

 

[PCmor7]

Harkless is a starter quality player and he's becoming one of the best shooters in the NBA.

I'll wait until he does it a whole year before I go that far. Right now, he's not the kind of guy I feel confident the ball is going to go in when it leaves his hand, and it seems to be a pretty slow release from out there. If he keeps making near 40 percent, he's not going to get such easy looks; teams have been fine letting him shoot.

 

[PCmor7]

Naw this is just a broken team. It's Dame and Cj that's it

Plumlee is not very good. Nice passer tho. Aminu is a good 20 min guy off the bench for energy and defense but that's it. Vonleh is meh. Ed Davis is transitioning into a journeyman. Meyers is a Matt Boner situational set shooter and he can't even do that this year. Turner is weak as fuck.

Harkless drives me crazy but he plays hard and you can tell he takes the game serious. Layman is a bright spot.

Other than that this team is weak. I feel bad for Dame bc he made me eat crow but I'll give it to him he's a lot better this year and I wish he had a better team.

I never thought of Ed Davis as anything more than that. He's a 6-9 center. He hustles and plays hard, and that will keep him around for a while. But he kind of is what he is.

Vonleh ... smh ... I know he hasn't gotten much run since looking good that first game, but man, he's looked bad even playing garbage time.

 

[PCmor7]

So, anyway, Bones, I don't know if I can be of any help. I am kind of in the same place with you. I'm looking for bright spots and not really finding any.

I can deal with losses. We had them last year and then turned things around. It was like "The Team That Would Not Die." But, like so many sequels, this is looking like drek. It's the fact that we aren't competitive that alarms me. These players look like they did two years ago. They don't look like they've improved individually and are even worse from a team standpoint. Some of them (Plumlee comes to mind first, and he's one of the players that can least afford this) appear disinterested or just doing their own thing outside the team concept.

I like to ride my stationary bike and watch the games. Good way to burn calories and not realize how the time is flying. Except these games are more painful than riding the bike for two hours. I can't do it. I can't watch average players continually get to the rim against us.

I am hoping Olshey has something up his sleeve here. For the life of me I don't know what it could be. We need a real spark and could use a third really decent player in the starting lineup. But who the heck could you trade from this bunch that would get anything back to make us measurably better?