It's clear what we're missing

[B-Roy]

Rudy Gay will be traded by the deadline.

That's fine, so long as it's not to the Blazers.

 

[MARIS61]

That legit third option is Andre Miller. Too bad Nate is a fucking idiot.

Hardly.

3rd option requires range.

 

[barfo]

Rudy Gay will be traded by the deadline.

But is Portland Gay-friendly? I think not.

barfo

 

[Mediocre Man]

Orlando plays the same way they did last year. Pound the ball to D12 and shoot long-range shots. Not too much new there. Sure, they have a new guy to run the pick and roll instead of the old one - but it's the same system - and the primary ball handler is the same one (Nelson) and the focus is the same (D12).

On the other hand, the Cavs are 2-2 after the big adjustment to a new system incorporating Shaq, Dallas were pounded at home by the Wizards, Chicago does not find a system without Ben Gordon as easy as it was, NOH are 1-2 after swapping Chandler for Emeka...

Do I need to go on?

You mean pounded by the Wizards that added Arenas?
Boston added Sheed, and has to adjust for the return of KG
Philly lost their starting PG
Phoenix is incorperating new starters
SA has new starters
Denver lost key players that they replaced with others
LA has Artest
Dallas, by the way, is 2-1 also.



There are a ton of teams that have gone through changes this offseason


STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR NATE

 

[BrianFromWA]

WTH does YBPPSDLD mean?

 

[Minstrel]

WTH does YBPPSDLD mean?

You're blatantly post-padding. Signed, Dale L. Davis.

 

[andalusian]

STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR NATE

THE MOMENT YOU STOP COUNTING THE BLAZERS, CAVS, NOH AND CHICAGO AS 1 TEAM...

Hey, I can type in uppercase too. Woohoo!

 

[Minstrel]

There are a ton of teams that have gone through changes this offseason

And changes mean some added chaos. Sometimes things go well during the transition, sometimes they don't. The point wasn't that every team with new personnel would struggle, just that whenever you retool, you run a greater risk of a transition period where you struggle.

It's entirely possible that is happening with Portland.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR NATE

McMillan is probably not a major impact-maker, positively or negatively. I'm sure he's part of the process in the team figuring out how to play, but I think most of it is the players getting time to learn to play with and off each other.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Kevin Martin with 48 pts (14/27 fg) tonight in Sacramento's overtime win.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

For the G.Wallace fans:

Matt Steinmetz: Sorry to obsess but looks like Gerald Wallace went another 44 minutes tonight without an assist. That's 171 minutes without one this year.

Also, Chris Paul knows his team has to cut another $3m to avoid the luxury tax; knows this team isn't constructed as is to go far in the playoffs. This from Alan Hahn's Twitter:

Basically, Chris Paul sounds so much like KG did toward the end in Minny. Being a pro, but clearly frustrated with the direction.

 

[Mediocre Man]

For the G.Wallace fans:

So he's a Travis Outlaw clone that can play defense. Sounds good to me.

 

[magnifier661]

So he's a Travis Outlaw clone that can play defense. Sounds good to me.

I have been advocating Gerald Wallace for the last 3 years. I was told he wasn't a good fit because he lacked outside shooting and had injury problems. Personally, I would rather have defense than an outside shot.

But there is a bright side. Look at Webster. The guy is working extremely hard on the defensive end, and he's slashing and shooting so much better than previous years. I know it's early, but the dude looks like he's turned a new leaf. He looks more confident and has a certain swagga in him I've never seen before.

Then add Batum in the mix and we will have such a dynamic duo at SF.

 

[maxiep]

For the G.Wallace fans:



Also, Chris Paul knows his team has to cut another $3m to avoid the luxury tax; knows this team isn't constructed as is to go far in the playoffs. This from Alan Hahn's Twitter:

I would be willing to gut our team for anyone not named Roy, Aldridge or Oden to go after Paul. Something tells me KP would be too.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I've been a notorious Deng basher but he's starting to look like his pre-injury self again.

He'd be perfect, if he can stay healthy, next to Roy. But, it looks like we missed the boat when he was attainable.

 

[PapaG]

So he's a Travis Outlaw clone that can play defense. Sounds good to me.

Except he can't shoot and he makes a hell of a lot more money.

Other than that, spot on!

 

[PapaG]

I would be willing to gut our team for anyone not named Roy, Aldridge or Oden to go after Paul. Something tells me KP would be too.

Somemthing tells me that every other team in the league would trade for Paul without giving up their top 3 young players as well.

While we're at it, how about going after LeBron James without giving up Roy, LMA, or Oden?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Yeah, Paul's going to require one of the big three in trade, but if they're so worried about the cap, we don't really have much to offer them... Rudy, Bayless, and Oden?