Just a little reminder about our SF and PF spots...

[MIXUM]

When im reading posts about Howard or Webster who are filling in for Batum and Outlaw... i keep getting the feeling that some posters think we will see them again this year. Thats not the case. Outlaw maybe if everything goes great could be back in April. Batums out for season.
This isnt a case where its a 4-8 week injury where you get guys back at some point. Its a case where you can see we are clearly fucked if a move isnt made. I mean we are 1-2 since outlaw went out and howard looks like hes playing a pick up game at the YMCA on a monday night. This is a serious problem. We are going nowhere with this rotation as is. The scary thing is... we need a SF AND backup PF. Its not like we have just 1 hole but 2 major ones.

The only answer is a trade. You would think we had to make one anyway since we would lose outlaw for nothing next year. Also Joel will be gone along with BLake. I mean everyone says we will be contenders for years to come but i dont see it. Losing Joel will hurt and we already have shit depth except for Rudy. Cue the Bayless love fest.

OKC.... can you imagine if they get Joel? They would pass us. They prob will anyway. Harden looks nasty. Durant is elite. Westbrook is better then any PG we have and Green and LA are a push. We have Oden who cant even play 20 minutes a night. maybe we need a another trip to the lottery so we can draft a euro who wont play for 5 more years.

 

[Kaydow]

When im reading posts about Howard or Webster who are filling in for Batum and Outlaw... i keep getting the feeling that some posters think we will see them again this year. Thats not the case. Outlaw maybe if everything goes great could be back in April. Batums out for season.
This isnt a case where its a 4-8 week injury where you get guys back at some point. Its a case where you can see we are clearly fucked if a move isnt made. I mean we are 1-2 since outlaw went out and howard looks like hes playing a pick up game at the YMCA on a monday night. This is a serious problem. We are going nowhere with this rotation as is. The scary thing is... we need a SF AND backup PF. Its not like we have just 1 hole but 2 major ones.

The only answer is a trade. You would think we had to make one anyway since we would lose outlaw for nothing next year. Also Joel will be gone along with BLake. I mean everyone says we will be contenders for years to come but i dont see it. Losing Joel will hurt and we already have shit depth except for Rudy. Cue the Bayless love fest.

OKC.... can you imagine if they get Joel? They would pass us. They prob will anyway. Harden looks nasty. Durant is elite. Westbrook is better then any PG we have and Green and LA are a push. We have Oden who cant even play 20 minutes a night. maybe we need a another trip to the lottery so we can draft a euro who wont play for 5 more years.

Green and LA are not "a push" - not even close.

 

[MIXUM]

really? seems green does more them la. also can hit the 3. all la does is float 20 feet out and hit long jumpers.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Buried under the mountain of negativity I actually think you have a couple of valid points, but I don't think it's quite as dire as you make it out to be. Every good team faces adversity at some point and the Blazers are no different. That doesn't mean that I think KP should just stand pat, but I do think this rough patch is going to reveal the character and grit of a lot of these guys.

As ass backward as it sounds, sometimes a team needs a rough patch like this to see what they are made of, if they get through intact they're usually stronger for it, if they falter you get to find out who is a gamer and who isn't. It sucks right now, but this pain and awkwardness is probably necessary if this team is going to take another step forward ... it's probably doubly important for KP to learn a harsh lesson or two about not counting on natural growth from all of his players, that there are in fact times to go out and fill your holes with certified ballers and not just collect youngsters.

 

[Kaydow]

Buried under the mountain of negativity I actually think you have a couple of valid points, but I don't think it's quite as dire as you make it out to be. Every good team faces adversity at some point and the Blazers are no different. That doesn't mean that I think KP should just stand pat, but I do think this rough patch is going to reveal the character and grit of a lot of these guys.

As ass backward as it sounds, sometimes a team needs a rough patch like this to see what they are made of, if they get through intact they're usually stronger for it, if they falter you get to find out who is a gamer and who isn't. It sucks right now, but this pain and awkwardness is probably necessary if this team is going to take another step forward ... it's probably doubly important for KP to learn a harsh lesson or two about not counting on natural growth from all of his players, that there are in fact times to go out and fill your holes with certified ballers and not just collect youngsters.

Great Post. Forget playoff seeding and home court advantage - this team (as it is currently constructed) is NOT up for a deep playoff run. Let's find out what we have in Bayless. Let's give Rudy 30 minutes/game. Start Webster (gulp) We will see growing pains, but so help me lord if next season we are still looking at the log jambs at PG and SF and talking about the "potential" of Bayless, Webster, & Nic (I guess there's not much we can find out about Nic this year) I'd like to use this season to figure out what we need to be a title contender.

 

[SpanishFly]

Great Post. Forget playoff seeding and home court advantage - this team (as it is currently constructed) is NOT up for a deep playoff run. Let's find out what we have in Bayless. Let's give Rudy 30 minutes/game. Start Webster (gulp) We will see growing pains, but so help me lord if next season we are still looking at the log jambs at PG and SF and talking about the "potential" of Bayless, Webster, & Nic (I guess there's not much we can find out about Nic this year) I'd like to use this season to figure out what we need to be a title contender.

I agree with most of your post, Dante needs some significant minutes at Martel's expense IMO, gotta see what this kid can do, heck he played 4 yrs of college ball and Nate started Batum as a 19 yr old rook last year so WTF?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I agree with most of your post, Dante needs some significant minutes at Martel's expense IMO, gotta see what this kid can do, heck he played 4 yrs of college ball and Nate started Batum as a 19 yr old rook last year so WTF?

Exactly. I don't understand the posters who dogmatically assert "Cunningham is not ready to contribute" when we have absolutely no data off of which to base this claim. If he's a PF, then he needs to be backing up LA (especially if Nate continues to apply the 2-foul rule to him). If he's not a PF, then he needs to be playing some 3. If he's not capable of either, then we need to see that that's the case. We already know that Webster and Howard aren't getting it done--is Dante going to be any worse than either of them?

 

[B-Roy]

I agree with most of your post, Dante needs some significant minutes at Martel's expense IMO, gotta see what this kid can do, heck he played 4 yrs of college ball and Nate started Batum as a 19 yr old rook last year so WTF?

Dante needs to take the minutes from Juwan Howard.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Dante needs to take the minutes from Juwan Howard.

After last night's "performance" I agree. He's going to make mistakes and there are going to be tough games where he probably doesn't look so good, but he literally could not be any worse than Juwan's PER of 2.9

 

[SpanishFly]

Dante needs to take the minutes from Juwan Howard.

either one or both, actually based upon the "little" I have seen of Dante it seems he may have the makings of a "tweener" PF/SF, buy damn lets at least find out what he can do, if not now then when? Get a friggin clue Nate.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Buried under the mountain of negativity I actually think you have a couple of valid points, but I don't think it's quite as dire as you make it out to be. Every good team faces adversity at some point and the Blazers are no different. That doesn't mean that I think KP should just stand pat, but I do think this rough patch is going to reveal the character and grit of a lot of these guys.

As ass backward as it sounds, sometimes a team needs a rough patch like this to see what they are made of, if they get through intact they're usually stronger for it, if they falter you get to find out who is a gamer and who isn't. It sucks right now, but this pain and awkwardness is probably necessary if this team is going to take another step forward ... it's probably doubly important for KP to learn a harsh lesson or two about not counting on natural growth from all of his players, that there are in fact times to go out and fill your holes with certified ballers and not just collect youngsters.

Correct on all counts.

Being a naive idiot, I actually let myself believe that the team was going to be *good* this season. The hard reality, is that they are no where close to contender status.Their "character and grit", or lack thereof, has been exposed - as has the myth of their "great depth."

 

[MIXUM]

playoffs arent such a lock anymore.. which is simply shocking

 

[THE HCP]

playoffs arent such a lock anymore.. which is simply shocking

Get the fuck outta here with this shit!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He has tried in the past few years to land a high quality SF/PF

Danny Granger
David Lee

He also has/had interest in Rudy Gay.

But those efforts all failed. He's definitely lost his touch.

 

[MIXUM]

if we want gay... i dont think it will be that hard to do since im sure the grizz are gonna let him walk. problem is... it will be a 2 - 4 month rental for us

 

[MIXUM]

hcp... why are the playoffs a lock?

where do you see this? im almost certain okc is in. im also thinking houston gets in. which means 2 teams from last year are out. hornets and blazers?

 

[THE HCP]

Why are OKC and Houston a lock? I just think there is NO way the Blazers don't make the playoffs. I guess my reasoning is nothing more then a hunch.

 

[MIXUM]

the only locks are lakers, mavs, and nuggets.

 

[B-Roy]

He has tried in the past few years to land a high quality SF/PF

Danny Granger
David Lee

He also has/had interest in Rudy Gay.

But those efforts all failed. He's definitely lost his touch.

So let me get this straight. Because he hasn't been able to fleece other teams for their star players, he's a failure?

That's good to know.

 

[Natebishop3]

Chris Paul or bust!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Here's a couple of ideas from the Bull's forum:

A) Blake, Outlaw, and Rudy for Deng.

B) Rudy and Blake or Outlaw for Salmons.

I'd go for "A". Not so sure about "B". I am of the opinion that Rudy doesn't want to stay in Portland long term, so I am probably more willing to see him traded than others here.

 

[LOTBfan]

I mean we are 1-2 since outlaw went out and howard looks like hes playing a pick up game at the YMCA on a monday night.

love this!