If I'm Roy and Aldridge, I'm pissed

[B-Roy]

The two players who have shown up this series. Roy more so than Aldridge, but still. This is ridiculous. No one else has stepped up. Get them help....

 

[bluefrog]

I think Chicago has shown how you can effectively add veteran talent mid-season.
I wish would have gone after Hinrich...

 

[Freshtown]

wonder where all the people were that were so 'happy we kept the team together' are now.

you have to think the outcome would be different if we had a 3rd scorer (vince carter makes me salivate)

 

[Nate Dogg]

Yeah I agree. Those guys should be pissed. The season is over against the Rockets. Down over double digits beginning in the 4th. Its almost a 20 point difference again. Time to get a third scorer in our squad.

 

[B-Roy]

Lol.

Roy and Aldridge are the core. That much is certain. No matter how many times in the season we have been impressed with the other Blazers, Roy and Aldridge are the core. Anyone else, except MAYBE Oden, can be had for the right price.

The one good thing about this series is that it has shown us who is REALLY the most valuable players on our team. I expect a lot of moves to be made in the off-season, because honestly, Roy and Aldridge need help....

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

I agree. Blazers went down like shit.

 

[Tince]

Roy and Aldridge are great teammates so they'll push their teammates while improving their own game this off season.

 

[Trailblazed&Confused]

I think Oden just needs a summer to actually work on basketball skills instead of rehab. As long as there is some improvement in him next year, I'll be happy with him. I'm not happy with the rest of the team though. This series really exposed that, while the team is good to make it to the playoffs, the current roster needs a definite third man if we're going to move anywhere in the playoffs next year.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Get them Tony Parker in the offseason! The Spurs are going to be rebuilt and Parker along with Roy, LA and Oden would be all we need, until Pop is ready to take over as coach!!!!!

 

[Tince]

Get them Tony Parker in the offseason! The Spurs are going to be rebuilt and Parker along with Roy, LA and Oden would be all we need, until Pop is ready to take over as coach!!!!!

The Spurs are not going to trade Parker.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Roy/Aldridge: 48 pts (20-38)

The rest: 28 pts (10-33 FG)

Fucking embarrassing.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Why not? He may want out. Their championship window is over and I'd go out on a limb and say Tim might call it good like Sheed.

 

[oldmangrouch]

wonder where all the people were that were so 'happy we kept the team together' are now.

Thinking up excuses!

 

[MARIS61]

I think Chicago has shown how you can effectively add veteran talent mid-season.
I wish would have gone after Hinrich...

Yeah, try it every year for 6-7 years and you're bound to get a hit eventually.

Give the Hinrich overvaluing a rest finally, he'll never be a Blazer thank goodness.

 

[BlazerBeav]

And while people are loving Chicago - please remember they're battling with a wound Celtics squad that struggled tremendously down the stretch without Garnett. The Bulls are still the team that got crushed twice by the Blazers.

 

[MARIS61]

Lol.

Roy and Aldridge are the core. That much is certain. No matter how many times in the season we have been impressed with the other Blazers, Roy and Aldridge are the core. Anyone else, except MAYBE Oden, can be had for the right price.

The one good thing about this series is that it has shown us who is REALLY the most valuable players on our team. I expect a lot of moves to be made in the off-season, because honestly, Roy and Aldridge need help....

I expect no trades of any importance, nor do I expect KP to let anyone go who is currently under contract.

With the exception of Channing I'd say every player showed KP very good reason to keep them.

The conundrum seems to be does the coach still fit the plan? I think he does, at least for next year.

We have an awesome team that we could stand pat with for 5-8 years and pretty much be ruling the league in another year or 2.

Bake it!

 

[Uther TheGardener]

outlaw has been exposed

 

[craigehlo]

outlaw has been exposed

Only to those who weren't paying attention. He's constantly inconsistent. Easily the worst player in series for the Blazers. I really worry that his value has dropped too much to get any good deals in the summer.

 

[BlazersBlood]

Only to those who weren't paying attention. He's constantly inconsistent. Easily the worst player in series for the Blazers. I really worry that his value has dropped too much to get any good deals in the summer.

Let's hope not.

The thing is Outlaw didn't have much trade value at midseason, and Sergio has very little trade value as well. Fans expecting us to turn those 2 guys into a good player need a reality check.

 

[craigehlo]

On the plus side, not playing Bayless has probably not killed his trade value.

 

[Shooter]

outlaw has been exposed

Ain't it the truth. When teams buckle down and play a tight halfcourt defense, he is practically useless.

 

[Blazer4ever]

There was definitely a message sent by Roy and Aldridge to the rest of the team - we are good but we can't do it without you. You can ride either of us for about one 3rd of the game but that leaves something for you as well. Who is this "rest of the team"? Well, mostly our rookies and Outlaw. Joel does and will do his job defensively and on the boards but IMO, Greg Oden has showed us a somewhat frustrating "If I were playing for more than 15 minutes per, I'd be one of the best centers in the L".
Rudy needs to be able to spell Roy but also play with him and learn to strive as the 2nd option in the backcourt. My dream lineup includes Rudy/Roy playing well together at the guard positions. can we implement this lineup for big parts of next year's games? time will tell.
Travis is also a keeper. He's a great scorer that can create for himself and be relied upon to rescue us in certain times when the offense isn't working. His 3-pointer from the corner is money and he knows how to sometimes make a 3 from other places and they are always big momentum builders.
Batum is a versatile defender, probably the best one-on-one and team defender we have. His hustle and intensity makes him a tremendous asset that can not be moved. Even if Martell comes back strong, there will be room for Batum, even if it's on the bench, providing inspiration.
Now, to Steve Blake. If there's anyone that more times than not, lets me down, it's Steve Blake, but who'll be our starter if not Steve Blake. Would you start with no traditional PG and instead use Rudy right from the start? would you go with Sergio as starter and lose his wonderful understanding with Rudy when they both play together? Do you go with Bayless and play a starting lineup with two guards going to the basket and very little outside firepower (Batum hits a couple 3's and Roy hits a couple 3's but that's like per game)?

IMO, no changes should be made. the cake is baking/ the team is growing, etc. we won 13 more than last year with four rookies. remember how much better Roy and LA were their 2nd year? We almost didn't have anyone new and won like 10 more than the year before. For now, the only thing I see in the horizon is Joel Freeland as backup PF and maybe draft a rookie for the end the bench. And by rookie deep on the bench, I don't mean because KP lost his draft-touch, simply because we're stacked. Then continue to grow as a team, play together, some more playing together.

 

[Денг Гордон]

And while people are loving Chicago - please remember they're battling with a wound Celtics squad that struggled tremendously down the stretch without Garnett. The Bulls are still the team that got crushed twice by the Blazers.

To be fair, Boston was on a 59 win pace without Garnett.

The difference between Boston with and without Garnett, is that they were no longer blowing teams out to get most of their wins, they were just surviving games.