NW Division Report Card.....

[THE HCP]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...n/08/02/offseason.grades.northwest/index.html

 

[Rhal]

Is anyone besides me tired of hearing everyone clamor about how good the Thunder are and how they are going to be the team to really have a shot at stopping the Lakers? Man now I know how the rest of the league felt reading about the blazers for the last two years.

 

[jlprk]

WHAT WENT WRONG
The brain drain has begun
Presti and reigning Coach of the Year Scott Brooks lost their most valuable assistants this offseason. Just a few weeks ago, Rich Cho was hired to replace Kevin Pritchard as general manager of the Trail Blazers, his credentials as a salary-cap guru solidified by the Thunder's shrewd acquisition and subsequent contract extension for Thabo Sefolosha and the trade for Eric Maynor. And in June, the man many credit for the team's huge improvement on defense last year, assistant head coach Ron Adams, was hired away by Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls.

No more ambushes
Not really "wrong," but part of a tougher reality: The Thunder went from 23-win doormats to formidable playoff foes for the Lakers in just one season, taking the league by surprise in the process. Nobody is going to take Durant and his lightly this season.

I too was thinking the Thunder won't sneak up on teams this season. And I thought that Paul Allen owns Sports Illustrated. National writers still get their prejudices from local media.

BOTTOM LINE
Allen can afford the pricey upgrades Camby and Matthews provide. But getting rid of Pritchard -- who made the erstwhile "Jail Blazers" respectable -- is a bad omen, even if he did find a capable replacement in Cho.

 

[crandc]

Is anyone besides me tired of hearing everyone clamor about how good the Thunder are and how they are going to be the team to really have a shot at stopping the Lakers? Man now I know how the rest of the league felt reading about the blazers for the last two years.

Always seems to be a "flavor of the month". NBA has fads, just like silly clothing & bad music.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

Is anyone besides me tired of hearing everyone clamor about how good the Thunder are and how they are going to be the team to really have a shot at stopping the Lakers? Man now I know how the rest of the league felt reading about the blazers for the last two years.

Nice article.

As a note, I too am wondering what is in the national media Koolaid with the Thunder. Admittedly they took a big leap last year and have young, upcoming players (Westbrook may even be the best all-around player on that roster). But the Blazers took a leap like that a couple years back and it doesn't mean you're going to continue the upwards trend.

People tend to forget that those teams won't be able to fly under the radar of other good teams' schedules. They are also forgetting in the case of the Thunder, this team had a near "perfect" season. Their big-3 players played all 82 games each. They gained great chemistry and never had to deal with adversity and injuries. And when the big games rolled around, they simply couldn't compete. I think Durant only shot 30% in the playoffs. Their just not lined up to improve much on last year if at all. So I'd think they'd be lucky to beat out the new, upcoming teams like Golden State or the Clips for that 8th seed.

 

[Idog1976]

Always seems to be a "flavor of the month". NBA has fads, just like silly clothing & bad music.

Your avatar is fucking hilarious. O Z Iron E!

Anyways, aside from giving props to Crandc how can you have part of what went wrong for OKC in losing Cho not be part of what went right for Portland? Yes the local media does color national media due to...laziness!!! Quick/Canzano's tripe is just a lazy ass google search away.

 

[Idog1976]

Nice article.

As a note, I too am wondering what is in the national media Koolaid with the Thunder. Admittedly they took a big leap last year and have young, upcoming players (Westbrook may even be the best all-around player on that roster). But the Blazers took a leap like that a couple years back and it doesn't mean you're going to continue the upwards trend.

People tend to forget that those teams won't be able to fly under the radar of other good teams' schedules. They are also forgetting in the case of the Thunder, this team had a near "perfect" season. Their big-3 players played all 82 games each. They gained great chemistry and never had to deal with adversity and injuries. And when the big games rolled around, they simply couldn't compete. I think Durant only shot 30% in the playoffs. Their just not lined up to improve much on last year if at all. So I'd think they'd be lucky to beat out the new, upcoming teams like Golden State or the Clips for that 8th seed.

Yes but Durant was gifted about 40 FTA's per game! So that 30% doesn't matter much if he *cough*cough* draws *Cough*Cough* the foul so often.

I actually respect Durant for resigning with the Thunder and not even putting it out there that he might want to play somewhere else or wanted a short contract. That said, his FTA's leading the league and many of them on jumpers is fucking ridiculous, shades of Reggie Miller Season 9 in his 3rd year. A skill no doubt, but one of my gripes with the FTA's decides the game outcome NBA.

Also I hadn't paid a ton of attention to this years draft other then blazer trades and picks. Great pickup for GSW in Udoh potentially. Now they just need a sane coach to take advantage of Biedrins and Udoh along with Curry. Thats a decent core especially if they can trade Ellis for someone on a better contract. I find the pick of Udoh somewhat puzzling if you then go on to sign Lee. Crazy to think GSW has a potentially awesome front court rotation. Let me repeat a potentially awesome front court rotation on the Warriors. The Lee injury might be a blessing in disguise if it gives Udoh minutes.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think the top four in the West will be the Lakers in the first spot and the next three in no particular order will be the Rockets, Blazers and Thunder and the ordering will be driven mostly by the relative health of the three team's stars.

If Yao stays relatively healthy and returns to his former dominance the Rockets are going to be a very, very tough out, especially with a wing scorer like Martin who can kill people for doubling Yao. The Thunder still have room to improve and I think Durant could end up being the consensus MVP next season (I think Wade and Lebron will see their stats dip playing next to each other), and for us it's all going to come down to how productive and how dominant Oden can be and whether or not Brandon can add some wrinkles to his game (like playing off the ball or cutting off of screens) if Greg stays mostly healthy and resume playing the way he was right before his injury then I think the Blazers could be a 56-58 win team and could give the Lakers a real run for their money. The trouble is, I how much faith should we have in the durability of Oden (or Roy for that matter)?

If healthy I'd rank the top 4 teams in the West this way:
1. Lakers
2. Blazers
3. Houston
4. Thunder

If past patterns of injury recur:
1. Lakers
2. Thunder
3 ???
Blazers and Houston somewhere in the middle of the pack -- maybe in the playoffs, maybe not.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yes but Durant was gifted about 40 FTA's per game! So that 30% doesn't matter much if he *cough*cough* draws *Cough*Cough* the foul so often.

I actually respect Durant for resigning with the Thunder and not even putting it out there that he might want to play somewhere else or wanted a short contract. That said, his FTA's leading the league and many of them on jumpers is fucking ridiculous, shades of Reggie Miller Season 9 in his 3rd year. A skill no doubt, but one of my gripes with the FTA's decides the game outcome NBA.

Also I hadn't paid a ton of attention to this years draft other then blazer trades and picks. Great pickup for GSW in Udoh potentially. Now they just need a sane coach to take advantage of Biedrins and Udoh along with Curry. Thats a decent core especially if they can trade Ellis for someone on a better contract. I find the pick of Udoh somewhat puzzling if you then go on to sign Lee. Crazy to think GSW has a potentially awesome front court rotation. Let me repeat a potentially awesome front court rotation on the Warriors. The Lee injury might be a blessing in disguise if it gives Udoh minutes.

Udoh is out. He had surgery and is supposed to miss most of the first half of the season.

 

[andalusian]

I have my doubts about the Thunder making another huge upward swing, I think they will be 5th or 6th - and I have my doubts that the Nuggets will not be in the top-4, they get back George Karl, they have 'Melo in a potential career year. Also - Utah is going to be very interesting to see - the Al-Jeff experiment could go both ways - they could become a real handful - or they could tank pretty bad.

 

[gatorpops]

Nice article.

As a note, I too am wondering what is in the national media Koolaid with the Thunder. Admittedly they took a big leap last year and have young, upcoming players (Westbrook may even be the best all-around player on that roster). But the Blazers took a leap like that a couple years back and it doesn't mean you're going to continue the upwards trend.

People tend to forget that those teams won't be able to fly under the radar of other good teams' schedules. They are also forgetting in the case of the Thunder, this team had a near "perfect" season. Their big-3 players played all 82 games each. They gained great chemistry and never had to deal with adversity and injuries. And when the big games rolled around, they simply couldn't compete. I think Durant only shot 30% in the playoffs. Their just not lined up to improve much on last year if at all. So I'd think they'd be lucky to beat out the new, upcoming teams like Golden State or the Clips for that 8th seed.

I agree. The Thunder will likely be the New Orleans of this year.

 

[gatorpops]

I have my doubts about the Thunder making another huge upward swing, I think they will be 5th or 6th - and I have my doubts that the Nuggets will not be in the top-4, they get back George Karl, they have 'Melo in a potential career year. Also - Utah is going to be very interesting to see - the Al-Jeff experiment could go both ways - they could become a real handful - or they could tank pretty bad.

My guess is that GK will not be back healthy and will be a distraction and limitation on them.

 

[Idog1976]

Udoh is out. He had surgery and is supposed to miss most of the first half of the season.

Wow, GSW have had a rough couple of years ouch.

 

[mook]

I know this is about the NW, but I'm surprised at how many are sleeping on the Clippers. Blake Griffin was supposed to be a 20/10 guy when he was drafted. If he comes back and puts up those kind of numbers with a team that already has Kaman, Gordon and Baron Davis....watch out there.

I can see them getting back in the playoffs this year. Especially with the Suns, Spurs, Mavs and Jazz falling off due to age and attrition, and the Hornets going nowhere. We may go back to the good old days where 44 wins gets you in the post season. (Note--I still think those first four all win at least 45 games, but 50+ wins is going to be less common.)

 

[Pinwheel1]

I know this is about the NW, but I'm surprised at how many are sleeping on the Clippers. Blake Griffin was supposed to be a 20/10 guy when he was drafted. If he comes back and puts up those kind of numbers with a team that already has Kaman, Gordon and Baron Davis....watch out there.

I can see them getting back in the playoffs this year. Especially with the Suns, Spurs, Mavs and Jazz falling off due to age and attrition, and the Hornets going nowhere. We may go back to the good old days where 44 wins gets you in the post season. (Note--I still think those first four all win at least 45 games, but 50+ wins is going to be less common.)

I think you are right on all accounts. I know it's the clippers, but I do think they are a playoff team this year. I also agree that the trend of having to win 50 to make the playoffs is over for now. (Unless a few teams are devastated by injuries and fail to field a decent team there bye jacking up the win totals for the other teams) I think winning 50 this year will be a more significant accomplishment.

 

[THE HCP]

!5 posts and not 1 thing about Denver! They always seem to bring it and they didn't lose anybody right?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Whenever I read such optimistic reports about the Thunder, it makes me wonder just what these writers are thinking. Durant has already had his breakout year - and a healthy Thunder team still won fewer games than a Blazers team that was decimated by injuries.

It also ignores their biggest weakness - quality big men. Yes, they added Cole Aldrich, but that still doesn't give them nearly enough to match the size of the Lakers, or Blazers (when healthy). Rebounding and defense wins in the play-offs. Even if Durant continues to elevate his game, he'll need more quality big men supporting him for the Thunder to ever advance deep into the play-offs.

BNM

 

[oldmangrouch]

The Thunder don't need to make another huge leap forward this season - they just need to keep moving in the right direction. That's something the Blazers failed to do.....and before anybody knee-jerks and whines about injuries, keep in mind that the front office turmoil and distractions were *self-inflicted*.

 

[hasoos]

!5 posts and not 1 thing about Denver! They always seem to bring it and they didn't lose anybody right?

Sort of. They really kind of lost their front line by the end of last year when Martin went out with injury. He basically isn't healthy enough to pull it off again IMO. The injuries to him cascaded through their front line when all the rest of the guys minutes went up, and they all got hurt too. By the time the playoffs came up, their front line was so banged up they weren't relevant. I don't see that changing this year unless they bring in some help.

 

[maxiep]

The Thunder don't need to make another huge leap forward this season - they just need to keep moving in the right direction. That's something the Blazers failed to do.....and before anybody knee-jerks and whines about injuries, keep in mind that the front office turmoil and distractions were *self-inflicted*.

I've never seen anyone happier about being disgruntled. That Thunder team lost the series against us 3-1 and we had one hand tied behind our back while they had perfect health. Healthy, we kick the shit out of them.

 

[Idog1976]

I've never seen anyone happier about being disgruntled. That Thunder team lost the series against us 3-1 and we had one hand tied behind our back while they had perfect health. Healthy, we kick the shit out of them.

Maxie don't you remember Larry Miller jumping out to goal tend a B-Roy buzzer beater? Or how about when Bert Kolde tripped Batum on that baseline drive?

 

[Idog1976]

How did the Jazz who lost three rotation players without something in return like say Babbit, beat us out again?

Al Jefferson for Boozer is a wash at best IMO. They lost Boozer, Korver and Matthews and gained Jefferson and Bell...uh I see downgrade not upgrade.

 

[MickZagger]

How did the Jazz who lost three rotation players without something in return like say Babbit, beat us out again?

Al Jefferson for Boozer is a wash at best IMO. They lost Boozer, Korver and Matthews and gained Jefferson and Bell...uh I see downgrade not upgrade.

They did get something in return like Babbitt. They got Gordon Hayward.

 

[oldmangrouch]

How did the Jazz who lost three rotation players without something in return like say Babbit, beat us out again?

Al Jefferson for Boozer is a wash at best IMO. They lost Boozer, Korver and Matthews and gained Jefferson and Bell...uh I see downgrade not upgrade.

Bell is what we all hope Matthews will be, and at a lower price. As for Jefferson - this is a high risk/high reward situation. Under Sloan, he will either reach his full potential and be a monster, or he will be a permanent resident of the doghouse. There is a risk, but there is also a good chance that between Jefferson and Millsap, they don't miss Boozer at all.

 

[THE HCP]

I would love Matthews to become Raja Bell!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Bell is what we all hope Matthews will be, and at a lower price. As for Jefferson - this is a high risk/high reward situation. Under Sloan, he will either reach his full potential and be a monster, or he will be a permanent resident of the doghouse. There is a risk, but there is also a good chance that between Jefferson and Millsap, they don't miss Boozer at all.

Lower price or older price? Maybe it was the injuries, but last year he was not the same player as he was in 2007-08. It will be interesting to see how he looks by the end of the season next year.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Bell is what we all hope Matthews will be

What's that, old? Bell is over 10 years older than Matthews and will be 34 next month. He only played in 6 games last season and will turn 37 before the start of the final year of his 3-year contract.

Matthews, as a rookie, had a higher PER than Bell's career average. During the peak of his career, Bell was a very good three-point shooter and a decent defender - nothing more. Matthews, as a rookie, was already both of those. Matthews shot 0.382 from 3-point range as a rookie, a mark Bell only topped once in his first four seasons. Unless Matthews regresses, he will be as good as Bell was during his prime, which is long past for Bell and still approaching for Matthews.

I just don't see how you can possibly think the Jazz came out ahead replacing the young Matthews with the ancient Bell.

BNM

 

[oldmangrouch]

I just don't see how you can possibly think the Jazz came out ahead replacing the young Matthews with the ancient Bell.

BNM

In the long run, of course not. For next season? I'd say the Jazz disagree with you. The Blazers just made a significant financial investment in a guy whose role looks to be "valued reserve."

 

[crandc]

I think OKC will be a pretty good team. Yes, everything broke their way last year, especially with injuries. But just as we expect Roy to keep working on his game, I expect Durant to keep working on his. They wqn't take anyone by surprise but they should continue to develop together.

That being said I still don't understand the adulation. I see OKC as a highly probably playoff team. Not a top contender.

A Bay Area writer named Bruce Jenkins who is such a tool he makes Canzano look like Walter Cronkite "predicted" the West before even the start of the trade/FA season, itself questionable. A Laker fan who has loathed the Blazers since at least the Drexler days (every year in the 1990s and early 2000s he said the Blazers were not a "legitimate" playoff team as they made the playoffs year after year), he not surprisingly picked Lakers #1 and OKC #2. And said IF the Blazers are healthy they SHOULD get #8.

So how does one explain how an healthy Blazers team would do worse than last season's unhealthy one? And how a healthy Blazers team would be worse than 3 teams whom they beat out last year when unhealthy? Answer, don't try. Just state is. Hey, I said it, it must be true!

 

[Boob-No-More]

In the long run, of course not. For next season? I'd say the Jazz disagree with you. The Blazers just made a significant financial investment in a guy whose role looks to be "valued reserve."

Yep, and their "valued reserve" is as good, or better (and a decade younger) than Utah's potential starter, who they just committed to for three years.

So, the Blazers upgraded their bench and Utah's starting backcourt got 10 year's older and most likely worse. Please explain how that is a win for Utah.

BNM