I like this team

[Natebishop3]

I know it's one game. I know they haven't developed together yet, but I like the vibe of this team. It's very workman like. Tough defense, tough offense..... tough. This is probably one of the best defensive rosters we've had in years. Gerald Wallace, Wesley Matthews, Nic Batum, Marcus Camby, Jamal Crawford. Lots of steals, lots of hustle.

I also really like how we're pushing the ball. Making the extra pass. Good ball movement, good player movement. There was a lot to like tonight. I think this is a team that could surprise a few people. I'm kinda hoping we don't make any more moves so we can see what these guys can accomplish together.

GO BLAZERS!

 

[The Professional Fan]

I'm in.

 

[Nikolokolus]

They'll be good ... probably not great, but definitely good. If nothing else I can watch this brand of basketball and be entertained.

 

[tlongII]

They play a style similar to what the Beavs are playing in Corvallis.

 

[RoyToy]

Nolan > Patty
Elliott > Rudy
Crawford > Roy
Thomas > Oberto/Marks

The list could go on with Craig Smith and Chris Johnson

This team has the chance to be much better this season

 

[magnifier661]

And with the decline of some of the favorites; we maybe able to get ahead of them.

 

[illmatic99]

Felton was making great decisions on the P&R. I hated bringing him in here after watching him chuck for years in Charlotte, but he seems to have embraced the true PG role.

 

[alex42083]

It's like that Sacramento preseason game a few years back all over again. It's got me pumped, especially since we didn't play Aldridge. I like the feeling around the team too. They all seem to get along, and it's a good mix of vets and young guys. We're not gonna win the title, but it should be an exciting season and we could surprise a lot of teams. There's a lot to like..

 

[TripTango]

Are we witnessing the rebirth of the Rip City fastbreak? Do we dare believe?

 

[illmatic99]

It's like that Sacramento preseason game a few years back all over again. It's got me pumped, especially since we didn't play Aldridge. I like the feeling around the team too. They all seem to get along, and it's a good mix of vets and young guys. We're not gonna win the title, but it should be an exciting season and we could surprise a lot of teams. There's a lot to like..

lol I was thinking the same thing. That was Rudy/GO/Nic's first game ever and they all amazed us.

 

[Natebishop3]

lol I was thinking the same thing. That was Rudy/GO/Nic's first game ever and they all amazed us.

Don't forget Webster, but it was injuries that ruined that team, and so much youth. We've got vets now. Crawford, Camby, Thomas, Wallace, Felton... these guys aren't young. They've been around. We've got a nice group of guys that want to hustle and play hard. I think we could have something special if they mesh and continue to buy into the up-tempo, high-energy offense/defense.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Love it.

The addition of Felton is adding another level of aggression to the starting unit.

We may have a team of real nasty competitive players here. Could get very interesting.

 

[Mediocre Man]

They will be better, I think. Not near good enough to win anything, but oh well.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

They will be better, I think. Not near good enough to win anything, but oh well.

They'll win some games... maybe even 4+ after the regular season ends.

 

[Mediocre Man]

They'll win some games... maybe even 4+ after the regular season ends.

Maybe?

 

[mook]

PER's of our 8 top players last year:
Batum: 14.8
Matthews: 15.5
Aldridge: 21.5
Wallace: 18.9
Felton: 16.6
Crawford: 14.2
Camby: 14.8

Last year 6 of our 8 top players had a PER over 14. This year all 8 project to. It's just a deeper team than we had, and when you look at the rest of the lineup it's easy to see how even the end of the bench looks better.

Especially with an intense, shortened schedule, the Blazers seem pretty well positioned to get home court in the first round.

 

[Mediocre Man]

PER of 15 is an average NBA player, according to Hollinger

 

[Nikolokolus]

PER of 15 is an average NBA player, according to Hollinger

It's weighted by minutes, so it (mostly) reflects the average NBA starter.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It's weighted by minutes, so it (mostly) reflects the average NBA starter.

Ah.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

It was fun to watch last night!

 

[jwhoops11]

They play a style similar to what the Beavs are playing in Corvallis.

Losing? Hope not!

 

[Natebishop3]

I think it all hinges on Aldridge. Can he build on what he did last year? Can he take the step into stardom? If LMA can be THE MAN, with the roster we have around him I think we can make some serious noise. I would still like to see an upgrade at the center position, but right now I'm not as worried as I was. I like Thomas, Camby, and Johnson.

 

[Denny Crane]

Why not have a front court of Batum, Wallace, and LMA?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why not have a front court of Batum, Wallace, and LMA?

I think on most nights that front line would get abused on the boards and down in the low block. It would be good in stretches though

 

[mook]

Yeah, if you were to try to give our team a cumulative PER (is that ever even done? If so it seems like it'd be pretty interesting to see), I'd expect it to be around 16. Plus, other than Gerald Wallace and Camby, everybody else who gets major minutes should see their PER either stay level or increase.

By way of comparison:
Dallas had 5 rotation guys last year with PER's over 14.
Last year Miami: 3
Last year Lakers: 4
2004 Championship Pistons: 6
72 win Championship Bulls: 5

So I guess on one hand you could look at this team as unusually deep in talent, at least according to PER. On the other hand, you could point out that depth doesn't really seem to matter in terms of contending. As we all know, at the very elite level it's all about the top 2-5 guys.

Also, it may not even be possible to have 8 players have high PER's. I haven't really looked into it. It's somewhat based on efficiency, so Batum shooting well doesn't harm Matthews shooting well. But it also factors in raw numbers, so rebounds Wallace nabs will necessarily be rebounds Aldridge doesn't.

Anyway, I'm excited to see these guys play. But I'd also be pretty excited to see a consolidation trade happen where we swap out some of these decent-but-not-spectacular guys for a single major upgrade. As my simplistic little analysis shows, it's quality not quantity that gets you to the prize. Even on notoriously diversified teams like the 2004 Pistons.

 

[Natebishop3]

Why not have a front court of Batum, Wallace, and LMA?

I think we will see that lineup from time to time, absolutely, but I'm worried Wallace and Aldridge would get abused by bigger teams.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Maybe?

I don't make guarantees.

 

[magnifier661]

The Batum Wallace front court will get abused off the glass. Teams with a defined starting center and power forward William handle us on the boards. I can't stomached watching us have a great defensive effort, only to see the other team get an offensive board. I see that lineup playing limited minutes, but not starting.

 

[BlazerBeav]

The Batum Wallace front court will get abused off the glass. Teams with a defined starting center and power forward Will handle us on the boards. I can't stomached watching us have a great defensive effort, only to see the other team get an offensive board. I see that lineup playing limited minutes, but not starting.

Good thing there are only 3-4 of those in the league.

 

[Natebishop3]

Good thing there are only 3-4 of those in the league.

Yeah, that's why I was thinking we might see a lineup with Batum, Wallace, and Aldridge in certain situations this year. Obviously they probably wouldn't run it against the Lakers, but against the Heat we might able to get away with it. Have the most defensive players on the floor to guard their lineup.