GrandpaBlaze
Predictions Game Master
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I had relatively high hopes for the team after seeing them early in the season. However, time and reality set in and thus, my hopes are, as usual, considerably tempered.
The key question in my mind is whether we are just missing an ingredient or two (i.e., replace Felton and Crawford with better alternatives) or are we chemically mismatched and that largely, needs to be overhauled?
Statement 1: Oden is not a factor in this discussion. He may come back and be a factor, but history suggests not to count on it (either coming back or if so, maybe not in a Blazer uni).
A couple of years ago we had Roy and the Roy-ettes. The offense was built around Roy and we had a modicum of success.
The offense has, to a degree, changed this year with Roy out of the picture. However, rather than having one dominating player, we have LaMarcus who can be dominating but is not so always and doesn't seem to have consistency in his domination either game-to-game or inter-game.
Frankly, LaMarcus reminds me of Chris Bosh. A very good player who can put up good stats and lead a lesser team to places they could not otherwise go, but not necessarily with the mindset to be the number one guy. He doesn't have a killer instinct. Put Aldridge with someone with a killer instinct (i.e., for example, Kobe), and you have a dastardly duo.
In the absence of a player with both a killer instinct and the ability to act upon that instinct (at this level), and you are left building around a guy who I just don't see taking us far enough to make anyone here happy.
That being the case, unless the missing ingredient is a full-on top-tier player, I think we are more chemically combustible rather than nearly there with just a tweak or two.
As is, we will always be dangerous (at least at home), to anyone in the league, but I don't think we have the mental ability to take most of the playoff quality teams in the west in a series. I see us making the playoffs this year but barring a major change in either how guys perform or the make up of the team, I see yet another one-and-done playoffs.
What are your thoughts?
Gramps...
The key question in my mind is whether we are just missing an ingredient or two (i.e., replace Felton and Crawford with better alternatives) or are we chemically mismatched and that largely, needs to be overhauled?
Statement 1: Oden is not a factor in this discussion. He may come back and be a factor, but history suggests not to count on it (either coming back or if so, maybe not in a Blazer uni).
A couple of years ago we had Roy and the Roy-ettes. The offense was built around Roy and we had a modicum of success.
The offense has, to a degree, changed this year with Roy out of the picture. However, rather than having one dominating player, we have LaMarcus who can be dominating but is not so always and doesn't seem to have consistency in his domination either game-to-game or inter-game.
Frankly, LaMarcus reminds me of Chris Bosh. A very good player who can put up good stats and lead a lesser team to places they could not otherwise go, but not necessarily with the mindset to be the number one guy. He doesn't have a killer instinct. Put Aldridge with someone with a killer instinct (i.e., for example, Kobe), and you have a dastardly duo.
In the absence of a player with both a killer instinct and the ability to act upon that instinct (at this level), and you are left building around a guy who I just don't see taking us far enough to make anyone here happy.
That being the case, unless the missing ingredient is a full-on top-tier player, I think we are more chemically combustible rather than nearly there with just a tweak or two.
As is, we will always be dangerous (at least at home), to anyone in the league, but I don't think we have the mental ability to take most of the playoff quality teams in the west in a series. I see us making the playoffs this year but barring a major change in either how guys perform or the make up of the team, I see yet another one-and-done playoffs.
What are your thoughts?
Gramps...
