New Scoot Poll

[Rastapopoulos]

Simple question: is Scoot a foundation piece for a contending Blazers team of the future?

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

Yes. 3rd or 4th scorer on the team. The “it” factor loving hoops and leading the team. Time.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I think he has all the physical and mental tools to do so.

Will the Blazers have the experience and dedication to enable his development? Do they have the ability to build a team capable of reaching that level?

Those are the biggest questions in my opinion.

 

[kjironman1]

Simple question: is Scoot a foundation piece for a contending Blazers team of the future?

It’s not a simple question.
Way too many variables.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It’s not a simple question.
Way too many variables.

True. Honestly, I think whether or not the Blazers even have a "contending team" in the next decade is the more significant part of the equation.

 

[Haakzilla]

Sure, it's very simple. There is only one answer for a Blazers fan here. You have to believe! Nothing else matters

 

[Whyachi]

maybe Scoot is sandbagging because he wants to get the heck out of Portland?

 

[Kano John]

It’s not a simple question.
Way too many variables.

The poll should include the option of "Too soon to answer".

 

[Phatguysrule]

The poll should include the option of "Too soon to answer".

I'd just default to the 3rd option for that one...

 

[wizenheimer]

True. Honestly, I think whether or not the Blazers even have a "contending team" in the next decade is the more significant part of the equation.

yeah, I agree with that

I mean, Portland hasn't had a contender since the 4thQ collapse against the Lakers in the WCF 24 years ago; a quarter of a century without a contender

I have no confidence at all that Jody-->Vulcans-->Kolde-->Cronin can build a contender in the next several years. I don't even believe contending is on their radar; and I don't think Jody will sell anytime soon. I'm voting no but it's not because of Scoot, it's because of ownership & management

 

[e_blazer]

True. Honestly, I think whether or not the Blazers even have a "contending team" in the next decade is the more significant part of the equation.

How is being a “contending team” even measured? Number of All-Stars on the roster at the beginning of the season? Number of injury-free All-Stars at the end of the season? Lightning in a bottle young player, like a Wemby, who gets enough role guys around him and makes an unexpected push?

I think the Blazers have some talent on the roster now, including Scoot, that can be the core of a “contender” with the right player development and additions to the team. I don’t see any that are likely to be the core of the “best” team in the League. But then, I don’t know what moves Cronin could make that would negate Wemby and other top young guys.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

yeah, I agree with that

I mean, Portland hasn't had a contender since the 4thQ collapse against the Lakers in the WCF 24 years ago; a quarter of a century without a contender

I have no confidence at all that Jody-->Vulcans-->Kolde-->Cronin can build a contender in the next several years. I don't even believe contending is on their radar; and I don't think Jody will sell anytime soon

I’d like to think that we were contenders before Wes Matthews ruptured his Achilles.

 

[wizenheimer]

I’d like to think that we were contenders before Wes Matthews ruptured his Achilles.

sorry, I don't buy it

the year before, essentially the same team wilted against the Spurs in the 2nd round. Afflalo wasn't enough to change the dynamic. The Warriors were setting a high bar for contending and the Blazers couldn't leap that high, even when healthy. The real contenders that season were Warriors, Clippers, Hawks, Cavs, maybe Rockets, and Grizzlies

 

[THE HCP]

maybe Scoot is sandbagging because he wants to get the heck out of Portland?

You have officially convinced me that this is The Uber Driver's second account.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I’d like to think that we were contenders before Wes Matthews ruptured his Achilles.

I don't think so. Maybe we could have been if we made a deep run that season. I think we needed one more solid piece to get there, though.

And once Wes went down we were toast.

 

[Trailblazers76]

He's not the athlete he was supposed to be but his playmaking is nice. I see his tippy top ceiling as Chris Paul not Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose. My gut feeling being optimistic is a good starter. Maybe make an all-star game. I don't know about superstar.

 

[Blazinaway]

Simple question: is Scoot a foundation piece for a contending Blazers team of the future?

How bout an "it's too early to tell" option? I am disappointed with his performance this season but he deserves more time

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I don't think so. Maybe we could have been if we made a deep run that season. I think we needed one more solid piece to get there, though.

And once Wes went down we were toast.

That’s why I wrote “before Wes Matthews ruptured his Achilles”. We’ll never know what could have been, but we were near the top BEFORE he went down.

 

[THE HCP]

How bout an "it's too early to tell" option? I am disappointed with his performance this season but he deserves more time

What this lady said! DOn't understand the rush on this kid.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

What this lady said! DOn't understand the rush on this kid.

could be because we like talking about our team and spend too much time here?

 

[Trailblazers76]

could be because we like talking about our team and spend too much time here?

For real, that's what this forum is for. What else are we going to talk about the weather?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Yes. 3rd or 4th scorer on the team. The “it” factor loving hoops and leading the team. Time.

The Blazers' Derek Fisher? His shooting better improve. I can only dream that he'd be the Blazers' Rajon Rondo.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

He's not the athlete he was supposed to be but his playmaking is nice. I see his tippy top ceiling as Chris Paul not Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose.

Chris Paul is/was better than either of Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose! (Derrick Rose was the most undeserving MVP in the 21st century. Unless it's Russell Westbrook.)

Scoot should model himself on Gary Payton, IMO. That's in the overlap between faintly achievable and unquestionably great.

 

[blazerkor]

I am leaning towards Scoot being a starter in this league who contributes to wins but as many have pointed out it's too soon to know that. Then there is the issue of if the Blazers will contend during his time here. As many have pointed out it's been over 20 years since we were legit contenders. This franchise never put a contending roster/program around Dame and Dame is an 8 time all-star and 7 time all NBA player.

So we're not sure how good Scoot is going to be and our team wasn't able to build a contender around a top 10-15 guy in the league when we had him for more than a decade. Odds are that the answer is no but I'm hopeful that things come together for Scoot here and that the roster around him can feature guys that are good enough to contend. In other words this is a simply impossible question to answer.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I think we need another poll...

 

[BBert]

That's three questions, or one question with three variables: (1) Will the Blazers be a contender during Scoot's career? I hope so but I'm not going to bet money on it today. (2) Will Scoot still be on the team if/when the Blazers become a contender? If the Blazers become a contender during Scoot's career, I think he most likely will still be on the team. (3) If (1) and (2), Scoot will be the starter.

 

[BBert]

The Blazers' Derek Fisher? His shooting better improve. I can only dream that he'd be the Blazers' Rajon Rondo.

Damn you! You made me think about Derek Fisher!! Damn you to hell!!! (Shakes fist at clouds.)

 

[e_blazer]

I think we need another poll...

True. How about one like: "Is Rasta Just Being Annoying with These Scoot Polls, or Is He Deliberately Trying to Get Banned?"

 

[Rastapopoulos]

True. How about one like: "Is Rasta Just Being Annoying with These Scoot Polls, or Is He Deliberately Trying to Get Banned?"

Who's gonna ban me? For what? Surely nobody's THAT big of a snowflake?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That's three questions, or one question with three variables: (1) Will the Blazers be a contender during Scoot's career? I hope so but I'm not going to bet money on it today. (2) Will Scoot still be on the team if/when the Blazers become a contender? If the Blazers become a contender during Scoot's career, I think he most likely will still be on the team. (3) If (1) and (2), Scoot will be the starter.

I think if he's not starter quality we'll try to offload him. The only possibility of that not happening is if he's our Nate McMillan. Which would actually be a pretty good end result given his start.