Let's not overreact to this.

[Tunchi]

More efficient scorers. Dame scored a lot but in his last two games was 16-54. No, that is not Dame hate...just what he shot. Many of those shots were not good shots and he's got to trust his teammates that are hitting like Crabbe and Aminu more. Shaq, Barkley, all the Talkin' Ball guys, the nation broadcasters have all intimated the same thing. You can't doubt his heart...just become more efficient.

Tell me about it

 

[Tunchi]

The irony is that in this series, the Blazers supporting cast played really well. But Damian had some aweful shooting nights. If he had just hit his average we'd have won the last 2 games.

THANK YOU!!

Back to back games now our role players all did really well!! Lillard killed us in the 4th quarter there

 

[BonesJones]

Let's not underreact. Without any big additions to improve our defense and add consistent interior scoring, we have a better chance at becoming the next Denver Nuggets from the previous few years: A fun underdog 50-win team that will get to the second round occasionally, but thats the ceiling.

That team didn't have anyone like Dame or CJ

 

[Mediocre Man]

Erik telling people not to overreact is like Jack Ramsay telling people to wear something understated. Shaq said, and Kenny agreed. This team now has to show they can go out and add the pieces necessary to take the next step. Said we are probably 2 pieces away.

Don't mistake players scoring because defenses don't want Dame or McCollum to beat them with having a legit 3rd option, and defenses having trouble scheming for you

 

[Orion Bailey]

I keep hearing people saying "we need a third scorer" but that was not the problem tonight. Aminu had 16, Crabbe had 20. Those guys score and they will get better. Neither has reached their prime and every champion must get punked a few times before winning the whole thing. So we got punked because we couldn't guard a 73-9 team. Let's just grow naturally from this as opposed to throwing in some random players like Ryan Anderson or DeRozen. We don't need those guys. Obviously, you offer Durant a contract and maybe Horford but otherwise, give these guys another season and another chance to go further.

As much as I think the current players will improve, We have the money to spend and we should spend. We move Aminu and or Plums to the bench by bring ing in a better starter and we are a better team.
When I say let the cake bake, I mean I dont want to get rid of any of our top 8-9 guys, but I still think we need to add one or two impact players... one of which being a star.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I keep hearing people saying "we need a third scorer" but that was not the problem tonight. Aminu had 16, Crabbe had 20. Those guys score and they will get better. Neither has reached their prime and every champion must get punked a few times before winning the whole thing. So we got punked because we couldn't guard a 73-9 team. Let's just grow naturally from this as opposed to throwing in some random players like Ryan Anderson or DeRozen. We don't need those guys. Obviously, you offer Durant a contract and maybe Horford but otherwise, give these guys another season and another chance to go further.

I agree that Aminu and Crabbe will probably get better. But they'll never be "third scorers" - they rely on others to create for them. The reason they had 16 and 20 was because Lillard was being doubled. It's good that they scored, but they damn well better. They were like Iguodala in the finals last year - getting open shots because the Cavs loaded up on Curry.

Basically we're in agreement: make an offer to Horford (and why not Durant? We signed Olshey because he managed to bring Chris Paul to the sorry-ass Clippers) but don't (FOR GOD'S SAKE) go after DeRozan. But a player like Pau Gasol (altho' he's too old now) who you can dump the ball to and he'll score or get fouled, and then actually HIT HIS FREE THROWS, but who also is pretty good on defense, would be good. We also need rim protection, so another "stumpy" like Plumlee should be avoided.

Basically: get Anthony Davis or the offseason is a failure. Yes, that's the ticket.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

One BIG advantage the Warriors have is that they have bigger players that can create.

Hmm...

 

[B-Roy]

Exit interviews are today at 10 AM

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Crabbe will end up being Danny Green on steroids...keep him.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Of course, Crabbe and Aminu are role players that get their shots off the offense rather than creating their own, but Lillard is now doing some of what made LaMarcus annoying, in that he's putting up a volume of bad contested shots.

On Talking Ball, they mentioned how exhausted he was after the game. Maybe the Blazers need to find a way to help him save energy.

I'm wondering if his foot problem has affected his ability to stay in top condition?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Exit interviews are today at 10 AM

Don't let the door hit what the good Lord split, injured guy

 

[Mediocre Man]

Crabbe will end up being Danny Green on steroids...keep him.

Crabb Harkless and Aminu would all be great guys in the right role. Same with Plumlee

 

[Minstrel]

Al Horford would be perfect for this team. Paul Milsap, if he became available, would also be amazing for Portland.

I'm somewhat less excited by Whiteside--he's a nice rim protector, but he often gets himself out of position by chasing blocks. Not to mention, he provides no shooting and the team needs some shooting in their front court.

Marvin Williams also makes a lot of sense as a budget Milsap.

My dream (semi-realistic) off-season would be for the team to sign Al Horford and Marvin Williams as their new center and power forward. I think those two players would add jet fuel to the Blazers' offense while also improving them on defense. I'd also explore an Evan Fournier signing as a bigger wing who can shoot off the bench.

 

[illmatic99]

My dream (semi-realistic) off-season would be for the team to sign Al Horford and Marvin Williams as their new center and power forward. I think those two players would add jet fuel to the Blazers' offense while also improving them on defense. I'd also explore an Evan Fournier signing as a bigger wing who can shoot off the bench.

Agreed on both Horford and Marvin. Brought up that duo earlier as the two guys we need to target. A lineup of Dame/CJ/Chief/Williams/Horford is unstoppable on offense and better defensively than the current one.

We need to max our space, however, and that would require renouncing some of our RFAs. I'm ok letting go of Meyers if we can guarantee that we get the above mentioned lineup. But we can't let Crabbe and Moe go for nothing in return. We need the depth they provide.

 

[dviss1]

How about having guys that can create for Lillard, rather than the other way around? Lillard gets exhausted because he creates his own offense AND he creates everyone elses. Someone has to be able to take the pressure off him handling the ball all the time.

We need Nic Batum. Lol.

 

[Pinwheel1]

There's 3 different types of players that would drastically improve this team, starting with the most important:

1.) An interior defender and interior scorer (Horford, Whiteside, Gasol)
2.) A defensive stretch 4 (Marvin Williams, Millsap)
3.) A 3rd ball handler that can create for others (Vasquez, Lin, Batum)

We don't have the cap space to address all those things but if we could address one or two it'd definitely help us.

1) Not sold on Whiteside for that kind of money. My gut says he would take the money and regress. Horford would be my preference, especially down the stretch of games. Mentally he is more reliable. (and can pass) But both will be highly sought after. I just don't see us getting either, so I would rather set our sights on a cheaper interior defender like Mozgov and go the center by committee route. (Like the Warriors did)

2) I like both your suggestions while we continue to groom Vonleh, but since we would have to trade for Millsap, I think we go after Marvin Williams. Younger, Longer, and cheaper. does he want to come back to the NW?

3) I like the 3rd ball handler idea. But I think we need to find someone who is willing to be content with inconsistent minutes. One that might play big minutes in one game and very few in the next. That player needs to come cheap since he will not be our primary FA target. Vasquez does not shoot very well but he does have the size and can probably be had at a good price.

 

[Minstrel]

Agreed on both Horford and Marvin. Brought up that duo earlier as the two guys we need to target. A lineup of Dame/CJ/Chief/Williams/Horford is unstoppable on offense and better defensively than the current one.

We need to max our space, however, and that would require renouncing some of our RFAs. I'm ok letting go of Meyers if we can guarantee that we get the above mentioned lineup. But we can't let Crabbe and Moe go for nothing in return. We need the depth they provide.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to see the Blazers spend a lot on Meyers. Shooting bigs are valuable, but if they don't pair it with good or, at least, average defense, it's becoming harder and harder to play them in this pick-and-roll league. You can't hide players at all anymore.

As for Crabbe and Harkless, I'd be more interested in keeping Crabbe than Harkless. Around the core players, the rotational reserves will probably need to keep churning, as players will price themselves out. Crabbe is a high level shooter, so I think he's a more valuable role-player in this era. Harkless is a better defender, but not a great defender (and, by defensive rating, not even a good one) so he's lower priority to me.

 

[illmatic99]

Exit interviews are today at 10 AM

Was wondering when this was.

Will Neil be there? I thought he was at the combine in CHI. Who will conduct the exit interviews with the players?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Was wondering when this was.

Will Neil be there? I thought he was at the combine in CHI. Who will conduct the exit interviews with the players?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Crabbe will end up being Danny Green on steroids...keep him.

But do we want to be associated with a PED scandal?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We need Nic Batum. Lol.

But what would we have done without Henderson and Vonleh in these playoffs!!??

 

[illmatic99]

But what would we have done without Henderson and Vonleh in these playoffs!!??

I hated that trade at the time but Nico didn't do much in the playoffs either. Surprise surprise, guess who got hurt again?

Now, Charlotte is looking at possibly paying him 20+ mil /yr or losing him for nothing in return as a UFA. We could have been in the exact same predicament. We at least have Vonleh now under contract.

I don't see the potential in Noah, but he is at least something.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Now, Charlotte is looking at possibly paying him 20+ mil /yr or losing him for nothing in return as a UFA.

Let's wait until that happens before we complain about it.

We could have been in the exact same predicament. We at least have Vonleh now under contract.
I don't see the potential in Noah, but he is at least something.

That is the saddest reach for a silver lining that I've ever seen.

 

[illmatic99]

That is the saddest reach for a silver lining that I've ever seen.

Not as much of a reach as you think it is. A 21 yr old top 10 pick, who is three years removed from HS is not something to scoff at. I didn't see much in Noah this year, but he has the physical tools and the desire to work (unlike former busts like Tyrus Thomas, Thabeet, etc).

Give him a year.

 

[Pinwheel1]

But what would we have done without Henderson and Vonleh in these playoffs!!??

Ironically Henderson scored more against the Warriors than Nic did against the Heat. If he's not on the floor Nic is not helping anyone.

 

[Strenuus]

But what would we have done without Henderson and Vonleh in these playoffs!!??

Still made the second round.

I don't see the problem here.

 

[Sinobas]

I think the guards have to spend so much energy on defense running around screens. I liked it when we had Harkless out there doing that. Have Harkless guard the primary ball handler.

 

[Sinobas]

Al Horford would be perfect for this team. Paul Milsap, if he became available, would also be amazing for Portland.

I'm somewhat less excited by Whiteside--he's a nice rim protector, but he often gets himself out of position by chasing blocks. Not to mention, he provides no shooting and the team needs some shooting in their front court.

Marvin Williams also makes a lot of sense as a budget Milsap.

My dream (semi-realistic) off-season would be for the team to sign Al Horford and Marvin Williams as their new center and power forward. I think those two players would add jet fuel to the Blazers' offense while also improving them on defense. I'd also explore an Evan Fournier signing as a bigger wing who can shoot off the bench.

One nice thing about Whiteside, is how well he finishes inside. He'd have converted on a lot of the opportunities that that Plumlee can't. And Plumlee is very quick and agile, and could have been used to come out more on the pick and roll, but instead Stotts wants to leave him near the basket. So we may as well have a legit rim protector back there.

 

[BonesJones]

1) Not sold on Whiteside for that kind of money. My gut says he would take the money and regress. Horford would be my preference, especially down the stretch of games. Mentally he is more reliable. (and can pass) But both will be highly sought after. I just don't see us getting either, so I would rather set our sights on a cheaper interior defender like Mozgov and go the center by committee route. (Like the Warriors did)

2) I like both your suggestions while we continue to groom Vonleh, but since we would have to trade for Millsap, I think we go after Marvin Williams. Younger, Longer, and cheaper. does he want to come back to the NW?

3) I like the 3rd ball handler idea. But I think we need to find someone who is willing to be content with inconsistent minutes. One that might play big minutes in one game and very few in the next. That player needs to come cheap since he will not be our primary FA target. Vasquez does not shoot very well but he does have the size and can probably be had at a good price.

Ive warmed up to Whiteside. The dude is such a quick leaper. He'd be able to block some of those mid range shots that Stotts like to give up. Williams would be perfect next to him.

Vasquez was rated horribly by advanced stats. In gonna put a little weight on that