NBA GM's Diss the Blazers

[wizenheimer]

the annual survey of 30 NBA GM's is out and Portland was pretty much dismissed (except for Dame):







I wonder which GM voted for Portland



landing Nance got some kudo's

speaking of defense:

















https://www.nba.com/news/2021-22-gmsurvey

 

[illmatic99]

outside the annual overrating of Dallas (seriously, they got worse this offseason and yet keep getting rated higher than us), i don't see anything egregious. What do you think is particularly disrespectful?

 

[wizenheimer]

outside the annual overrating of Dallas (seriously, they got worse this offseason and yet keep getting rated higher than us), i don't see anything egregious. What do you think is particularly disrespectful?

I was thinking that diss was more dismissal than disrespect

at first, I though Dame dropping way down as a leader was off, but he did make noise about demanding a trade

Portland was rated 5th in the West in last season's survey, but 8th this season. I guess other GM's didn't agree that the roster wasn't a problem

 

[illmatic99]

I was thinking that diss was more dismissal than disrespect

at first, I though Dame dropping way down as a leader was off, but he did make noise about demanding a trade

Portland was rated 5th in the West in last season's survey, but 8th this season. I guess other GM's didn't agree that the roster wasn't a problem

don't most GMs have interns fill this thing out?

 

[wizenheimer]

don't most GMs have interns fill this thing out?

I don't know

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Taking this at face value, it seems Udoka is the pick to be the best rookie HC. No disrespect to Billups, but I can't say I disagree. I wonder if he had no interest in Portland, or if Olshey had no interest in him?

 

[Predator]

How is this a diss?

Portland is pretty much mentioned everywhere.

Western Conference Rankings
Best Point Guard
Best overall moves
Most underrated off-season acquisition
Head coach most likely to make a difference
Best assistant
Best home court
Best leader
Who you want taking a shot.

we weren’t mentioned in:
Best defensive player
Best perimeter defensive player
Most versatile defender
Fun team to watch

The first list is much, much longer than the second. Not sure how that counts as a diss or even dismissal.

The highlighted aren’t Dame centric either.

 

[Predator]

Taking this at face value, it seems Udoka is the pick to be the best rookie HC. No disrespect to Billups, but I can't say I disagree. I wonder if he had no interest in Portland, or if Olshey had no interest in him?

I’m sure there was mutual interest. I bet Idoka didn’t want to wait for the hiring process to play out knowing Billups was the favorite.

Why wait when the Celtics are ready to hire ASAP.

kinda funny how ppl say the blazers had a fake hiring process when other teams hired a coach in like a day

 

[RonBrewer]

I thought we got a lot of shout outs there.

 

[wizenheimer]

I thought we got a lot of shout outs there.

Dame got a lot of shouts but the shouts weren't as loud as last year. For instance last season, Curry only won the PG debate 30-22; this season it was 57-17

but mainly I was looking at how they ranked the teams. Last season, Portland was picked to finish 5th. They got 4% of the votes for 2nd; 4% for 3rd; and 26% for 4th. This season it was just 7% for 4th. That's quite a drop for a team that supposedly has upgraded their bench as well as added Powell

 

[illmatic99]

Who is the best defensive player in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 47%
2. Rudy Gobert, Utah – 17%
3. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee – 10%
Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 10%
4. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Jimmy Butler, Miami; Anthony Davis, L.A. Lakers; Draymond Green, Golden State
> Last year: Giannis Antetokounmpo – 46%

Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?
1. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee – 50%
2. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 17%
3. Jimmy Butler, Miami – 10%
Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 10%
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Patrick Beverley, Minnesota; Marcus Smart, Boston

Who is the most versatile defender in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 40%
2. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 27%
3. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 10%
4. Draymond Green, Golden State – 7%
Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Bam Adebayo, Miami; Jimmy Butler, Miami; Paul George, LA Clippers
> Last year: N/A

Which player is the most athletic?
1. Zion Williamson, New Orleans – 27%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 20%
3. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota – 17%
4. Zach LaVine, Chicago – 13%
5. Ja Morant, Memphis – 10%
> Also receiving votes: Hamidou Diallo, Detroit; LeBron James, L.A. Lakers; Derrick Jones Jr., Chicago; Ben Simmons, Philadelphia
> Last year: N/A

 

[Idog1976]

Dame got a lot of shouts but the shouts weren't as loud as last year. For instance last season, Curry only won the PG debate 30-22; this season it was 57-17

but mainly I was looking at how they ranked the teams. Last season, Portland was picked to finish 5th. They got 4% of the votes for 2nd; 4% for 3rd; and 26% for 4th. This season it was just 7% for 4th. That's quite a drop for a team that supposedly has upgraded their bench as well as added Powell

Yep, because it wasn’t just the coach, Nor the bench. We need an upgrade at Forward. If only there was one available...although I’m coming around on the blame lies squarely on Morey’s shoulders.

 

[THE HCP]

Dame got a lot of shouts but the shouts weren't as loud as last year. For instance last season, Curry only won the PG debate 30-22; this season it was 57-17

but mainly I was looking at how they ranked the teams. Last season, Portland was picked to finish 5th. They got 4% of the votes for 2nd; 4% for 3rd; and 26% for 4th. This season it was just 7% for 4th. That's quite a drop for a team that supposedly has upgraded their bench as well as added Powell

Thats just it bro. Only people on HERE think we upgraded our bench. They didn’t, it got worse. And they have us right where this team should be. Battling it out for that last playoff spot.

 

[THE HCP]

The only thing I’m looking forward to this season is Nance. He intrigues me. Of course our backcourt as well.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Thats just it bro. Only people on HERE think we upgraded our bench. They didn’t, it got worse. And they have us right where this team should be. Battling it out for that last playoff spot.

If the Blazers are healthy and only battling it out for the last playoff spot at the trade deadline we should either make a huge trade addition such as an allstar, or consider trading Dame and rebuilding.

I'm all for first seeing how this roster looks healthy, see them with a full camp, and see how a new coaching performs. But if it clearly doesn't work, its time to move on.

 

[wizenheimer]

Yep, because it wasn’t just the coach, Nor the bench. We need an upgrade at Forward. If only there was one available...although I’m coming around on the blame lies squarely on Morey’s shoulders.

well, it might be that Morey believes CJ won't make Portland a contender any more than he made Portland a contender

or it might be that Olshey never really offered CJ

buy yeah, it's believable that Morey is a nutjob. Or maybe, that he's been so butthurt by Simmons he's determined to punish him

 

[THE HCP]

If the Blazers are healthy and only battling it out for the last playoff spot at the trade deadline we should either make a huge trade addition such as an allstar, or consider trading Dame and rebuilding.

I'm all for first seeing how this roster looks healthy, see them with a full camp, and see how a new coaching performs. But if it clearly doesn't work, its time to move on.

I’ve wanted Big Ben on this roster for awhile now!

 

[Phatguysrule]

Thats just it bro. Only people on HERE think we upgraded our bench. They didn’t, it got worse. And they have us right where this team should be. Battling it out for that last playoff spot.

I don't think the bench got worse. But I'm not sold on it being an upgrade, either. I think our bench is significantly better defensively.

 

[THE HCP]

I think our bench is significantly better defensively.

Why?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Why?

Melo/Kanter out, Nance/Zeller in. Seems pretty obvious.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Melo/Kanter out, Nance/Zeller in. Seems pretty obvious.

Only if Nance/Zeller have left their injury issues behind.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Why?

Because we no longer have either Melo or Kanter.

Not that I have a personal problem with either of them, but their defensive effort was typically not good. And they were well below average defensively even when they gave effort.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Only if Nance/Zeller have left their injury issues behind.

I think we're better defensively anyway. Certainly not offensively. But defensively... I think so.

 

[THE HCP]

Because we no longer have either Melo or Kanter.

Not that I have a personal problem with either of them, but their defensive effort was typically not good. And they were well below average defensively even when they gave effort.

How about the other end of the court. Kanter and Melo won us a handful of games my man. Who is going to replace that bench scoring?

 

[THE HCP]

Melo/Kanter out, Nance/Zeller in. Seems pretty obvious.

The only thing obvious I see is your new replacement of Kanter who has a history of missing games got hurt last night.

 

[THE HCP]

I think we're better defensively anyway. Certainly not offensively. But defensively... I think so.

DEFINITELY not better offensively.

 

[Predator]

Who gives a rat fuck about bench scoring. We have plenty of options offensively if we need buckets.

Bench scoring isn’t going to win championships. Having a bench that isn’t going to consistently blow leads is going to help much more. How? Well, harder to blow a lead if you actually stop the other team. Improved defense leads to improved shot opportunities and easy buckets, which is one way we can “replace” the scoring of Kanter/Melo. But you know what is impossible? For Kanter / Melo to “replace” the defense of a superior defensive player. As the saying goes, defense leads to offense. Offense doesn’t lead to defense. O and defense wins championships.

The idea that the #1 offense or whatever from last year is suddenly going to have scoring issues is not very well thought out imo.

 

[Phatguysrule]

DEFINITELY not better offensively.

A certainly can't argue with that. But we'll just have to see how the offense looks.

The prior bench didn't have good enough offense to make up for their ample defensive deficiency.

 

[wizenheimer]

A certainly can't argue with that. But we'll just have to see how the offense looks.

The prior bench didn't have good enough offense to make up for their ample defensive deficiency.

that wasn't because of Kanter though

he led the team in offensive rating and TS%, was 2nd in offensive win shares, and was 3rd in OffBPM

the problem...he was on the bench with Melo and Simons, two of the worst defenders on the team

 

[Phatguysrule]

that wasn't because of Kanter though

he led the team in offensive rating and TS%, was 2nd in offensive win shares, and was 3rd in OffBPM

the problem...he was on the bench with Melo and Simons, two of the worst defenders on the team

The best offense cannot make up for dismal defense. The argument can be made that Kanter was a part of that problem.