Not feeling it

[Rastapopoulos]

I've got to say, I haven't felt great watching the preseason games. Literally only Lillard is looking good. Obviously we knew that we over-performed last season, presumably because of excellent chemistry, but the converse of that is that our success is very fragile, because chemistry can be disrupted easily. The huge scoring droughts haven't come when we're putting a bunch of scrubs out there: they've come when we've had key rotation players out there. Neither CJ nor Crabbe has looked good, and neither of them seems capable of drawing FTs to save their lives. Turner is on an almost 1 to 1 assists to turnovers ratio, Harkless and Aminu look hesitant, Plumlee still can't shoot, the difference is he now thinks he can and I can't even look at Meyers with that stupid hair.

I may just check in in 2017 to see if they've managed to work Turner in. Otherwise, we SERIOUSLY need a trade, and given the contracts we handed to Turner and Crabbe, I think it's very likely to involve CJ.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

And before the inevitable "it's pre-season" - yeah, I know. But it's very rare that teams have a totally meh pre-season and then just turn it around on a dime. And the teams that do are veteran teams who just rest their main guys totally, and we're not doing that. Plus, weren't we supposed to be ahead of the curve because everybody's been hanging out in San Diego?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

the blazers are probably not going to win the NBA title this year.

 

[Denny Crane]

Way too premature. Preseason isn't about winning the games so much - more about working on things to get ready for the season. The players, individually, get a chance in game situations to take contested 3pt shots or whatever, that they wouldn't normally do in regular games yet.

Stotts gets to try out assorted combinations of players with goals other than winning in mind. Like forcing a guy to play defense against bigger players.

I've seen enough of Stotts and the players to believe in them.

 

[illmatic99]

We looked damn good in the first quarter last night when Aminu and Harkless were hitting threes and all 5 guys were flying around on D.

What CJ have you been watching? After his initial hiccups, he's been dominating out there. He seems quicker to me. And AC has looked so much more comfortable with his 1 dribble pullups. And did you catch him execute a perfect P&R with Plums last night?

I suppose it's all a matter of expectations. If you figured CJ, AC, and even ET would transform themselves into superstars because of their new salaries, you'll be unhappy. But with incremental small improvements, and some more cohesion, this team looks crazy deep. Give it time.

 

[TBpup]

This team can score in bunches when they are hitting from the outside and will struggle when they are not hitting their shots. ... Pretty simple.

They don't play top-half defense and they get very few way baskets and have nothing of an inside game.

They are a pretty versatile group but there is at least one odd man out given the 9-man rotation that is the league norm.

 

[julius]

Check out the pre-season records (and how the teams played) in 2000, between the Blazers and Lakers.

No, I'm not saying that this years team is on par with the 2000 Lakers, but they looked horrible.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think it might be a month or so into the season before they hit their stride.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I've got to say, I haven't felt great watching the preseason games. Literally only Lillard is looking good. .

Lillard went off against the Lakers, but he has not played well either. Going to San Diego had nothing to do with on court chemistry. But it should help keep them on the same page until they improve it. Making a trade right now just makes things worse.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I hear rumors that CJ has been very vocal in practice about how the new guys are not learning the system. Doesn't sound like CJ at all. Anyone have any inside news on this?

 

[julius]

I hear rumors that CJ has been very vocal in practice about how the new guys are not learning the system. Doesn't sound like CJ at all. Anyone have any inside news on this?

Aren't the "new guys" basically just Evan Turner?

Festis hasn't practiced yet (I would assume).

 

[riverman]

I plan to thoroughly enjoy the season...I believe guys will gel and get on the same page. I don't get the need of some folks here to assign blame for summer league mistakes. I say if you don't like this roster or staff you can follow any of the other 29 other teams. Show some support and give the new guys some rope to acclimate.

 

[riverman]

Aren't the "new guys" basically just Evan Turner?

Festis hasn't practiced yet (I would assume).

Actually, Napier, Turner, Ezeli and Layman....and invites Steimsma, Jerrett and Quarterman

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I hear rumors that CJ has been very vocal in practice about how the new guys are not learning the system. Doesn't sound like CJ at all. Anyone have any inside news on this?

So if you're not hearing "inside news", where are your rumors coming from?

 

[julius]

Actually, Napier, Turner, Ezeli and Layman....and invites Steimsma, Jerrett and Quarterman

Of which, only Turner will see big minutes and is important. Ezeli has been hurt, so I doubt he's practiced much.

 

[Chris Craig]

It's preseason. The lineups are loose. Stotts has been playing everybody that's avalable, trying different lineups and matchups. Come regular season the rotation is going to tighten up, the third strings will go back to warming the bench, and the Blazers starters will play more minutes. I'm not worried a bit. I'm actually excited. It's shaping up to be a good season.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

This gives me hope:

 

[KingSpeed]

And before the inevitable "it's pre-season" - yeah, I know. But it's very rare that teams have a totally meh pre-season and then just turn it around on a dime. And the teams that do are veteran teams who just rest their main guys totally, and we're not doing that. Plus, weren't we supposed to be ahead of the curve because everybody's been hanging out in San Diego?

Huh? We've rested our starters in the 4th quarter of every preseason game.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The inevitable letdown....

I'm not feelin' it either. But, the reason is that we get all excited to see basketball again after many months off, and this feeling holds through the first or 2nd game. We then realize that it's just preseason, it doesn't matter, the team isn't even running all there plays. It's easy to lose interest, even a sense of boredom sets in. Here's what's even worse, I think the players feel the same way.

It's not too concerning, except for the fact that it'll happen again next year, and the year after.....

 

[noknobs]

This season is pretty much over at this point. Now we have to wait until late October 2017. The off season seems to get longer and longer.

 

[THE HCP]

So if you're not hearing "inside news", where are your rumors coming from?

STOP picking on him just because he's new around here. You know when his source gave him those inside rumors about whats happening in practice he wouldn't ask for more info!

 

[Orion Bailey]

Aren't the "new guys" basically just Evan Turner?

Festis hasn't practiced yet (I would assume).

I think its a way of naming names without naming names?
There is also Napier/Jaymen/Quarterman

 

[THE HCP]

#33Wins

 

[Boob-No-More]

But it's very rare that teams have a totally meh pre-season and then just turn it around on a dime. And the teams that do are veteran teams who just rest their main guys totally, and we're not doing that.

Dame played 18 minutes last night and sat out the entire second half. Plumlee has been playing 18 - 19 MPG, all in the first half. The Clippers had to bring in Jamal Crawford to finish off our 3rd string scrubs.

Stotts is currently playing 14 guys. Sounds to me like were doing EXACTLY what the veteran teams you describe are doing.

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

You'd think after all these years on here, I would have seen this dooms day end of the world thread coming. You can take the same thing from the win we had over the Suns in Game 2 as you can from last nights game......absolutley nothing. It's preseason......you didn't see the product on the floor you will see in the regular season......so how can you give an objective opinion when you didn't see the whole body of work FAMS!!!???

Rollercoasting motherfuckers.......

 

[Chris Craig]

#33Wins

Jumping 10 more wins @HCP wow

 

[THE HCP]

Jumping 10 more wins @HCP wow

I had us at #63Wins until last nights game.....hahahahaha

 

[Boob-No-More]

You'd think after all these years on here, I would have seen this dooms day end of the world thread coming. You can take the same thing from the win we had over the Suns in Game 2 as you can from last nights game......absolutley nothing. It's preseason......you didn't see the product on the floor you will see in the regular season......so how can you give an objective opinion when you didn't see the whole body of work FAMS!!!???

Rollercoasting motherfuckers.......

Simmons was right. Fucking soccer moms!

BNM

 

[Chris Craig]

Come on guys the preseason means nothing. Last season we went 3-4 in the preseason then had a great year and went to the second round of the playoffs where we gave the Warriors a run for their money.

 

[Orion Bailey]

So if you're not hearing "inside news", where are your rumors coming from?

Just my boss from work who has a membership at OAC.

STOP picking on him just because he's new around here. You know when his source gave him those inside rumors about whats happening in practice he wouldn't ask for more info!

Stop dude.. Is this what we are going to go through now?
I don't give a shit if anyone picks on me.

I will say this to sum up your personality on here though.

What possible good can come from giving new members a hard time?
What possible bad can come from giving new members a hard time?

I know the answers. Do you?

Obviously your still butt hurt that im right in stating what I stated or you wouldnt be continueing this crap... Way to go Prom King....