Isaac Ropp speaks THE TRUTH

[Hoopguru]

Did no one listen to Olshey's presser at the end of last season? "Eat your shit sandwich and thank us for it!" was exactly the message he sent. Olshey is perfectly happy with being first round cannon fodder. I challenge you to point to one thing he has done since the end of last season that shows otherwise.

Since the end of last season what has Houston, OKC,Utah,LAC,SA,Minn really done other than bring in some fill. You make it sound like all he has to do is speak it and a block Buster is done that the Blazers get the best of and end up in the WCF's. There are only a few teams maybe (4) that can contend and only 1 of those will win it all.

 

[Propagandist]

If your point is that that guy Durant is pretty good, then yes, point proven. Let's get him.

You are classically not playing by the rules. He said after James Harden was traded and so that's what I worked with.

Still, post-Durant they have still won more playoff games than we have.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Got "lucky"?!! Wtf. They took a calculated risk and it paid off. Looks like "luck" from Portland, but it is really just a GM doing his job.

Luck is always a factor - but you have to first put yourself in a position to *get* lucky!

 

[Hoopguru]

Isaac Ropp @iropp
For years, the Blazers have been trying to sell you it’s actually possible that togetherness can trump talent. It cannot. Ever. It’s about players and it’s good Lillard is admitting this publicly.
However, it seems we’re now being sold this roster is the best we can do in Portland because we’re little ol’ Portland. Simply not true. This is also preying upon classic PDX inferiority loathing.
This franchise has built three different iterations of championship caliber teams here. While there is no doubt it’s harder in PDX, this feels like an excuse for a GM who has failed.
Olshey hasn’t put enough talent around his star. Good players want to play with other good players and the Blazers have one of the best PG’s in the league. So how is this roster the best they can do? He’s had draft picks. He’s had chances.
Olshey is a glorified scout whose best attribute is finding cheap diamonds in the rough, none of whom have meant much to playoff success in the Lillard era. The Nurkic trade was good but it’s a one-off. This is not to mention the many FA targets he thankfully DIDN’T sign.
This Blazers team is no different than any other Lillard-led team since Aldridge left. Same thing, different year. A dangerous 8-seed disguised as a 3 or 4-seed because of all that chemistry that allows them to gobble up wins vs. bad or dysfunctional teams in the regular season.
Here are the #’s vs. teams over .500 last 4 seasons since Aldridge left (including playoffs)...

2018-19: 14-14 (??)
2017-18: 24-30 (Rd1 sweep)
2016-17: 17-30 (Rd1 sweep)
2015-16: 23-34 (Rd 2 lost 4-1)

Against “talent” they are a combined 78-108.
Short of good fortune and your first round opponent losing their top two players to injury mid-series (Paul/Griffin going down sort of proves the point), togetherness doesn’t trump talent. Ever. And this year is no different. The same fate awaits. So what to do?
Whoever is now calling the shots needs to honor a passionate owner who wanted to win more than anything by hiring a big swinger GM with balls who isn’t just biding his time for a better gig. A GM who will take risks to capitalize on a star in his prime.
It’s not easy to acquire enough impact talent to be in the conference finals convo. Yet we sit back and watch as franchises in varying market sizes continue to at least try by taking big swings: Boston, Houston, Minny, Lakers, Indy, Philly, Toronto, OKC, Denver, etc.
No guarantee it works out because more talent brings more potential problems. But wouldn’t you rather be OKC trying to make it work with all that talent vs. this cute little chemistry game that ends the same way every year?
This isn’t the best Portland can do and I feel like fans may be starting to buy this BS that it is. Hold your franchise accountable. You are the ones paying to watch. This isn’t good enough and everyone knows it including Damian Lillard.
Don’t you trust your franchise player and leader to make it work with better players? Isn’t he why they have such good chemistry now with lesser talent? He deserves a shot and despite what he says now, don’t think he won’t leave to eventually get it.
This is a talent-driven league. Blazer fans must be so bored of this “growing together” line. It’s getting them nowhere. What’s worse? It seems they may be trying to sell you this is the best they can do. It is not. You deserve better and should demand it.

Isuck Ropp is an idiot that knows nothing about basketball and is still butthurt over being fired by Comcast/NBC SportsNW

When I first heard him many years back his basketball knowledge was suspect at best.
He wings it half the time on his show especially when comes to the NBA.

 

[CupWizier]

We are talking about decisions humans make, not coins flips. They obviously researched and calculated their risks. Luck isn't even a real thing.

Also, "would be" is silly. There is only now and now they are pretty good. Imagine if we had somehow turned LA leaving into a similar player! Olshey would be lauded up and down the state. But we didn't and so he isn't.

Now you are comparing apples and oranges. and yes, there was some luck involved. Even with George, they are still about even with us.

 

[e_blazer]

You are classically not playing by the rules. He said after James Harden was traded and so that's what I worked with.

Still, post-Durant they have still won more playoff games than we have.

There are rules applicable to this topic? I dispute such rules' existence or applicability.

I'd also note that the Thunder have played the Warriors in the playoffs two less times post-Durant than the Blazers.

 

[wizenheimer]

The only time the Blazers have had any appreciable cap space in the Lillard era was the summer of 2016.

that's not true...not even close to true

* Portland had around 15-16M in cap-space in 2012, which would have been about the same as 25-28M last summer. That's when Olshey made a max offer to Hibbert. When Indiana matched, Olshey went dumpster diving and signed the worst bench in Blazer history

* the following, summer, he had around 12-13M in cap-space. He used it on Robin Lopez, TRob & Dorrell Wright

* in 2014, he had no space, but made a max-MLE offer to Spenser Hawes. When Hawes said no, Olshey pivoted to Chris Kaman and offered the BAE to Steve Blake

* in 2015, Olshey had somewhere around 35-38M in space when the cap was 70M. That was the year he signed Aminu and Davis. He then used the space before the trade deadline to take on Varejao and Mike Miller because Portland was below the salary floor. The payoff was the 26th pick he used on Swanigan when Kuzma was available. Even with the savings from the floor calculations, because the Blazers are over the tax this season and there are still 2 seasons more of Varejao's stretch, That 26th pick may end up the most expensive 1st round pick in trade history....for Swanigan

* and of course there was the 2016 cap-space summer when Olshey had the mother of all stupid off-seasons. From Whiteside --> Chandler Parsons --> Turner; then the cherry on top of the cap-space spending was Ezeli who scored 0 points and grabbed 0 rebounds for his 10M. And then CJ + Meyers + Crabbe + Harkless all got massive extensions and. Olshey gave out over 340M dollars that summer...about 85M/year and not an all-star in sight.

yeah....Olshey is just a victim of Portland's geography

 

[Propagandist]

Now you are comparing apples and oranges. and yes, there was some luck involved. Even with George, they are still about even with us.

I'm not comparing apples to oranges. We both lost franchise players. That is what I'm referencing.

And again, humans aren't coins. Intentions can be communicated with words. It seems more likely they got reassurance from PG, rather than some magical element influencing the talks. Or are they "lucky" he didn't change his mind; PG is so easily influenced and untrustworthy that Lady Luck saved the day? The luck stuff is silly. They made a badass move (and a failed move, to be fair, in Melo). BUT they make bigtime moves. We don't...maybe we just have bad luck....? No.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Since the end of last season what has Houston, OKC,Utah,LAC,SA,Minn really done other than bring in some fill. You make it sound like all he has to do is speak it and a block Buster is done that the Blazers get the best of and end up in the WCF's. There are only a few teams maybe (4) that can contend and only 1 of those will win it all.

But if other teams are being complacent, wouldn't that be an astute time to go the other way and make a daring move? I'm a believer that when the enemy zigs, you need to zag.

 

[Propagandist]

There are rules applicable to this topic? I dispute such rules' existence or applicability.

I'd also note that the Thunder have played the Warriors in the playoffs two less times post-Durant than the Blazers.

Again, the rules. Since Durant left, you said. We were swept by GS and NO.

And it's the rules of fucking logical debate. If you just say whatever you want at anytime, you prove nothing. I proved my point, and you change the parameters. That's bullshit. And then you did it again. Also bullshit.

 

[Hoopguru]

But if other teams are being complacent, wouldn't that be an astute time to go the other way and make a daring move? I'm a believer that when the enemy zigs, you need to zag.

My hunch is if that daring move that improved the team was he'll pull the trigger. The thing is it may work and may not.

 

[CupWizier]

I'm not comparing apples to oranges. We both lost franchise players. That is what I'm referencing.

And again, humans aren't coins. Intentions can be communicated with words. It seems more likely they got reassurance from PG, rather than some magical element influencing the talks. Or are they "lucky" he didn't change his mind; PG is so easily influenced and untrustworthy that Lady Luck saved the day? The luck stuff is silly. They made a badass move (and a failed move, to be fair, in Melo). BUT they make bigtime moves. We don't...maybe we just have bad luck....? No.

Now you are projecting an unknown. There was never any articles suggesting that there were assurances by George and likely could have made his decision based on the rumor of LeBron going to the lakers. And like I pointed out for all that they have a very similar record to what we have since George has been in OKC.

 

[Pinwheel1]

That was 2012, dude. The year they went to the NBA Finals. When's the last time we went to the NBA Finals? But post James Harden?

Point proven? Yes.

I am not sure if you or agreeing with me or disagreeing with me. All I know is they could have been one of the greatest teams of their generation with Harden, Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka.....and they fucked it up. Its not like there were many injuries to any of them either. No they screwed it up by making changes....one by one.

 

[e_blazer]

Again, the rules. Since Durant left, you said. We were swept by GS and NO.

And it's the rules of fucking logical debate. If you just say whatever you want at anytime, you prove nothing. I proved my point, and you change the parameters. That's bullshit. And then you did it again. Also bullshit.

I only did it once. The second time I just screwed up. I do that.

 

[TBpup]

aren't we ahead of those teams this year and finished ahead of them last year?

Sure....as long as no one counts Playoff wins.

 

[CupWizier]

Sure....as long as no one counts Playoff wins.

They lost in the first round just like we did. Is 2 wins really that much of a factor? Not to me as losing in the first round is losing in the first round no matter how it is spun.

 

[tester551]

I don't see anyone here saying that the Blazers currently have the talent to compete for a championship. The question is how do you go about getting that talent to come to a cash-strapped small market team. Ropp is using a strawman argument that many here seem to have fallen for. It goes something like Olshey hasn't brought in the talent needed so he must be satisfied with it and is trying to get us gullible fans to accept that this nice bunch of guys is the best we can do. I don't buy that BS for a minute. Olshey screwed up in 2016 and overcommitted salary space on guys who weren't good enough to deserve the money they got. There were reasons that he made those moves, not the least of which was the fact that the money had to be spent that summer or it would go poof when Dame and CJ got their new contracts. In any event, it's effectively tied Olshey's hands. He's tried to use uneven trades and trade exceptions as a means to improve the team, but found the market for those assets to be nearly nonexistent. You can say that he deserves to be fired for those mistakes and I'd at least acknowledge that there's a good case for that. Personally, I think it's more important at this point, now that those contracts are nearing their end and may be more moveable, to see what he can do to make deals that would improve the team.

This is also a strawman argument. Dame's extension was already in place. CJ got his a season earlier than needed. The cap space could have been pushed to the following year with minimal effects.

I just don't buy that anyone on the team or in management is complacent with where the team is at. Ropp is full of BS on that point.

Actions speak louder than words. When a clear upgrade in talent*** has been available, we have heard that CJ and Zach are 'untouchable'. Neither one is good enough to be in that category. You have to give to get... At least put everything but Dame out there to see what you can do to improve the team.

Maybe you don't find a deal you like, but at least there is a chance instead of a 'I'll trade my crap for your star' approach.
***Just to be clear, Melo was never going to be an upgrade in talent - so he doesn't apply here.

 

[TBpup]

They lost in the first round just like we did. Is 2 wins really that much of a factor? Not to me as losing in the first round is losing in the first round no matter how it is spun.

2 wins shows a glimmer of hope and at least some competitiveness...especially since they were the 'road' teams. Portland had HCA and was winless.

 

[brooklynballer]

that's pretty funny...you responded to me 6 times already, but when I just asked for a little wit, you fled the scene. At least I know what makes you panic

Don’t sweat it, man. Cup represents everything that’s wrong with this delusional fanbase. In his world, Olshey and Stotts are geniuses and the roster is perfectly constructed for long term success.

And Cup, don’t give me any of that shit about “where did I say that?” ... it’s implied in everything you write.

 

[e_blazer]

This is also a strawman argument. Dame's extension was already in place. CJ got his a season earlier than needed. The cap space could have been pushed to the following year with minimal effects.


Actions speak louder than words. When a clear upgrade in talent*** has been available, we have heard that CJ and Zach are 'untouchable'. Neither one is good enough to be in that category. You have to give to get... At least put everything but Dame out there to see what you can do to improve the team.

Maybe you don't find a deal you like, but at least there is a chance instead of a 'I'll trade my crap for your star' approach.
***Just to be clear, Melo was never going to be an upgrade in talent - so he doesn't apply here.

Sometimes things aren't a strawman. Sometimes they're just wrong. You are correct that Dame's extension was already in place. I don't know if you are correct that the Blazers could have pushed CJ to the following year. Wouldn't that have exposed him to becoming an RFA? I'll just say that it wasn't Paul Allen's style to do that to a player who had had the breakout season that CJ had the year before.

I think that Olshey needs to find a move that upgrades the Blazers or he's likely history next summer. I don't think he wants to trade CJ, but I seriously doubt it's the absolute no-go that people always hang on him. For the right trade, I think he would move him, just not for the crap that so often gets proposed around here. I think Aminu is the most likely trade chip before the deadline simply because he's an ending contract. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if anything happens.

 

[CupWizier]

.

2 wins shows a glimmer of hope and at least some competitiveness...especially since they were the 'road' teams. Portland had HCA and was winless.

Actually it only means they won 2 games and has zero relevancy to what the future might hold as each season is it's own separate season. I can cite several examples if you like, but you're a sharp enough guy to understand what I am saying.

 

[James lamphear]

One thing about Olshey he always say he going be aggressive year in year out. Or should use my draft choice to get upgraded. My advice to don't say those things because your lying to us and your lying to yourself. To me there only one team our star studded team and that Golden State. The rest of the teams has one or two in that category. The way we are playing now as a team and not two individuals trying to do everything there self to win. The way we playing now about sharing the work load in the scoring will have better rate has being successful. This is why the Spurs been so successful bcause Pop demand you play has a team. We are getting there and nice to see too.

 

[TBpup]

Actually it only means they won 2 games and has zero relevancy to what the future might hold as each season is it's own separate season. I can cite several examples if you like, but you're a sharp enough guy to understand what I am saying.

Likewise.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Isaac Ropps admits to not watching basketball (much), he has an ax to grind with the Blazers thats pretty public. Even when he’s “right”, his opinion on the Blazers should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[CupWizier]

Isaac Ropps admits to not watching basketball (much), he has an ax to grind with the Blazers thats pretty public. Even when he’s “right”, his opinion on the Blazers should be taken with a grain of salt.

Is he on the radio anymore? It appears their TV show hasn't been on the air for awhile but have no idea when that ended. I don't listen to talk radio when I am in the car as I didn't invest $3k for a sound system in my SUV to listen to am radio, lol.

 

[hoopsjock]

I just hate how Neil's small market narrative has seeped into Dame's psyche. It's nothing more than an excuse.

Outside of GS, these are the other five top winning teams: Milwaukee, Toronto, Indiana, Denver, OKC

Which of those teams is a free agent destination or big market? Toronto is massive, but when have they ever landed a big FA?

If we're looking big picture after the Sonics won the title two years after we did and none of those teams have won a title in the 40 years since. The Bucks, Raptors, and Nuggets haven't even made a Finals in that time frame. Indiana made it to one (ughhhhhhhhh the year we should've won). OKC made it twice, once with the Sonics and once when they had Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. The Blazers made it to two as well.

I'm not trying to say those teams aren't better than us this year or setup better for future success, that is a different debate, but it's not like those teams have accomplished anything yet either.

 

[TBpup]

Isaac Ropps admits to not watching basketball (much), he has an ax to grind with the Blazers thats pretty public. Even when he’s “right”, his opinion on the Blazers should be taken with a grain of salt.

This fascinates me. Even if someone is right, their opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. I'm going to ponder that for a while....

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

This fascinates me. Even if someone is right, their opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. I'm going to ponder that for a while....

I'm not saying discard his opinion entirely just that you should know he is always negative towards the Blazers, I literally don't remember a time he said something "good" about them. So his motives are important here too. Every time the Blazers have any sort of good "streak" he jumps up to tell everyone how "bad" things are. It's about pushing his agenda more than anything in my opinion. That's why I take everything he says that's Blazer related with a grain of salt.

 

[BlazerWookee]

<facepalm>

 

[Propagandist]

Now you are projecting an unknown. There was never any articles suggesting that there were assurances by George and likely could have made his decision based on the rumor of LeBron going to the lakers. And like I pointed out for all that they have a very similar record to what we have since George has been in OKC.

For the love of fuck. The "lucky" is the unknown. No one operates on "lucky." The known is that OKC traded for PG and then resigned him....as if they knew something no one else did. Must be luck! Or they did their job.

And why are we talking about their record? That's not the point. At all.