(Lowe) Continuity Errors--Why Blazers and Pacers Might Have to Start Over (1 Viewer)

[BrianFromWA]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/c...he-blazers-and-pacers-may-have-to-start-over/

Pretty decent 900 words about the Blazers post-Plumlee and -Batum trades. He compares how the Pacers and Blazers, two teams that very recently were riding their continuity to contender heights in the league, may be forced to rebuild on the fly. Some speculation, but pretty decent analysis of a couple of different of courses of action.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The two teams should just swap rosters. Big change is a good way to distract a fanbase from the shoddiness of one's product.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Note that, among the centers who have "vaulted above" Hibbert in value, Lowe includes "the Lopez twins".

On the plus side: "he's a skilled passer".

In general, Lowe likes Olshey's moves of the past week, but even with that:

If Aldridge leaves, the Blazers will have an interesting young group around Lillard: Plumlee, Meyers Leonard, Vonleh, and C.J. McCollum. That’s good enough to intrigue fans, and limited enough that Portland, without nailing free agency this summer, could fall almost to the bottom of the Western Conference.

Who would be worse, I wonder?

 

[BonesJones]

Itd funny how the national media thinks these are "rebuilding" moves and it only confirms LA is gone when it's exactly the opposite.
Its also funny how ESPN and it's minions are so quick to report him as "Telling Portland he's gone", but wont even mention that those reports were actually false.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Serious question: I know we traded our pick next year - is it gone for sure or was there any protection on it? It seems very likely it will be a high one.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Itd funny how the national media thinks these are "rebuilding" moves and it only confirms LA is gone when it's exactly the opposite.

Explain (a) what you mean, and (b) how you know this.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Serious question: I know we traded our pick next year - is it gone for sure or was there any protection on it? It seems very likely it will be a high one.

Lotto protected that eventually turns into a second rounder if we suck enough to end up in the lotto.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Money quote from Lowe about the Blazers: "it all went to hell so fast that it was jarring, and they may have levels of hell yet to reach."

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Money quote from Lowe about the Blazers: "it all went to hell so fast that it was jarring, and they may have levels of hell yet to reach."

Olshey is the devil!

:MARIS61:

 

[BonesJones]

Explain (a) what you mean, and (b) how you know this.

they wouldn't have traded RHJ if they were rebuilding. Getting a quality, underated center making only $1.5M and trading Batum for a solid vet making $6M less to clear up over $40M in cap space are moves to set up an even better team next year. These moves are to keep LA. Not moves that are "Confirming he's gone"

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

So this is purgatory.

 

[BonesJones]

The national media doesn't pay enough attention to the Blazers to realize what's happening.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

they wouldn't have traded RHJ if they were rebuilding.

That doesn't support your case. Plumlee is also young and cheap and has zero chance of being a total bust. It was just like a cautious (i.e., BORING) draft move.

Getting a quality, underated center making only $1.5M and trading Batum for a solid vet making $6M less to clear up over $40M in cap space are moves to set up an even better team next year.

No, they're moves to clear out cap space, and presumably pre-emptively move a player you don't think you can keep. That's rebuilding. You HOPE you can sign players that make the team better, and if you're the Lakers or (apparently) the Rockets, you probably can. But if you're Portland and your strategy to get better is "sign another team's free agent" - you're going to be disappointed.

These moves are to keep LA.

Sadly nothing you pointed to remotely proves that. It's true we have no reliable source saying LA's definitely gone, but Casey certainly didn't seem to think he would stay. Remember his line about "flying home alone is not a good look"? An employee of the Blazers saying that is very telling.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The national media doesn't pay enough attention to the Blazers to realize what's happening.

Spare us your small-town paranoia. Chad Lowe is a total basketball nerd AND a Blazers fan. (And his twin brother Zach quite likes them, too.)

 

[Schilly]

You know what is consistent... the glass is always half full or half empty and nobody changes their opinion on the matter.

 

[BonesJones]

That doesn't support your case. Plumlee is also young and cheap and has zero chance of being a total bust. It was just like a cautious (i.e., BORING) draft move.



No, they're moves to clear out cap space, and presumably pre-emptively move a player you don't think you can keep. That's rebuilding. You HOPE you can sign players that make the team better, and if you're the Lakers or (apparently) the Rockets, you probably can. But if you're Portland and your strategy to get better is "sign another team's free agent" - you're going to be disappointed.



Sadly nothing you pointed to remotely proves that. It's true we have no reliable source saying LA's definitely gone, but Casey certainly didn't seem to think he would stay. Remember his line about "flying home alone is not a good look"? An employee of the Blazers saying that is very telling.

if you rebuild you keep the 19 year old defensive stud with all star potential depending on his offensive development, not the 25 year old solid center who will likely not be much more than what he is now.
Olshey wouldn't have cleared this much cap space as part of a rebuild. There's a salary floor you have to hit and that means he'll at least have to sign some solid role players, but that means that we don't end up with a pick any higher than 10 because we wouldn't be bad enough.
Everyone has their opinion on the matter, and one guys opinion doesn't hint at anything

 

[Schilly]

I want to refresh my last statement and add t ha Canzanos cup is always 3/4 empty cracked and leaking fast! Panic fans panic you're getting jobbed!

 

[BonesJones]

I want to refresh my last statement and add t ha Canzanos cup is always 3/4 empty cracked and leaking fast! Panic fans panic you're getting jobbed!

And if we won a championship the glass would be too full to drink out of and therefore be worthless.

 

[Sinobas]

Steven A Smith can't believe it!

 

[Schilly]

And if we won a championship the glass would be too full to drink out of and therefore be worthless.

he would take credit for prompting change.

 

[Mediocre Man]

You know what is consistent... the glass is always half full or half empty and nobody changes their opinion on the matter.

My glass is half

 

[3RA1N1AC]

the dueling synchronized unraveling has an interesting common thread...KP

MIXUM WUZ RITE

 

[Schilly]

Even if mixum was right he was wrong.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

if lma leaves, i actually wouldnt mind a one year super tank, and then going after two max guys next year

lillard
cj
hendo
nards
plums

crabbz
that hairy spainish guy
vonleh
project pat

they would be fun to watch lose i suppose.

 

[MarAzul]

"Plumlee is a starting-caliber center who gives Portland the kind of explosive pick-and-roll dive man that Damian Lillard hasn’t had as a partner. Aldridge prefers to pop for buttery jumpers, and Lopez is a slow-mo-style roll guy"

WTF? Lowe is saying the same thing Freeman did. The reason Damian never runs a pick n roll is because of his partners? Even though Rudy and Andre did with the same the prime partner?
Seems to me these guys pull these ideas out of their backside and never noticed the bounce passes off the knees of Aldridge, Lopes, and Leonard. Plumlee isn't going to get those either. It would be nice if he could but dang, a low past to a seven foot guy on the move requires a lot of motion down and back up, way up, sort of screws the timing even if he can catch the pass. I can still recall get the ream job from both Mr. Gill and Mr. Newell for making bounce passes to the big guys. I might be slow, needing two, but it stuck and I still cringe when I see it on the court.

 

[Natebishop3]

Spare us your small-town paranoia. Chad Lowe is a total basketball nerd AND a Blazers fan.

Do you mean Zach Lowe?

Why do you get the impression that he's a Blazer fan? I've never heard him say that. Are you thinking of that creepy looking bald guy who does True Hoop?

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, the guy that wrote this article.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/c...he-blazers-and-pacers-may-have-to-start-over/

Well, A) his name is Zach Lowe, not Chad Lowe as Rasta mentioned.

And B) I have never seen him specifically call himself a Blazer fan. The guy who does True Hoop for ESPN, Henry Abbott, is a Blazer fan.

 

[BonesJones]

if lma leaves, i actually wouldnt mind a one year super tank, and then going after two max guys next year

lillard
cj
hendo
nards
plums

crabbz
that hairy spainish guy
vonleh
project pat

they would be fun to watch lose i suppose.

Resign Wes as a means to get Jimmy Butler next offseason. Draft a center or Jaylen Brown in the top 5, then sign Jimmy and another max guy.

 

[magnifier661]

Resign Wes as a means to get Jimmy Butler next offseason. Draft a center or Jaylen Brown in the top 5, then sign Jimmy and another max guy.

Why not go after Durant instead?

 

[BonesJones]

Why not go after Durant instead?

Well obviously you try to get Durant but Butler would be so much more realistic.