One of the Best Blazer Teams I have Seen

[Tince]

Hello Forum,

I don't hang out here much for reasons of either disloyalty to the team or expecting a championship every single year. 29 teams every year go home without that ring and many a lot longer then us. People may not believe me but I have been a Blazer fan since year number one and my first games I attended was on January 9th, 1971 and the Blazers toasted the Knicks 114-96. Still have my first program from that game and I remember the Oregonian sports section the next day with a full page write up on the young expansions teams awesome victory!

Ok...enough of my history. I am not one of those that examines salary caps and trade values or bird rights or whatever....I am a fan and I know what I see and what I feel. With the release of Hood and Trent this year and the acquisition of Powell my whole mindset of the season changed and brought me back to 1977. Why you ask? We now have a team where contributions come from so many sources and that is the success of a championship team. When you have 6+ players who can score in double figures every night, you are going to win and compete in a lot of ball games. Very similar to 1977. I have always been a believer that you ALWAYS start your best scorers in the first quarter. Why? So you don't dig a hole...which has been a Blazer issue for years. You had starters where you may have 3 scorers and 2 defenders, and more often then not the Blazers found themselves in early holes they had to dig out of and ran out of gas. Back in the old days, you always started the most productive offensive players....and you either get a lead or sustain a push and then let your second team try to maintain a level playing field with the other teams second string. It is a good formula.

Proof? We now have Lillard (scorer) - McCollum (scorer) - Powell (Scorer/Defender) - Nurk (Defender/Scorer) and RoCo (Defender/Scorer) starting and guess what? The Blazers nearly score 30+ in the first quarter now and do not have to dig themselves out that hole nor spend the energy to fight back the whole game from 20 points down. When we had Jones and Kanter in the starting lineup, things were not so good...agreed? Not to mention when we do sub around the 5 minute mark, Carmelo has been on fire and Ant is coming into his own from 3 land...even better then Gary Trent. One of the best trades ever was letting Trent and Hood go for Powell as that dude can finish at the rim...and can bust the 3 from the corners pretty damn good. I like it ;-)

Then we have the ongoing Stott's issue that I am so sick of hearing. Yes, there has been a few times (and I mention few) that he has made bad decisions over the years in very rare situations. The Phoenix game being one of them by using a challenge and losing a timeout....not good. BUT...overall this guy has been a coaching stud and dealt with some of the most horrific situations anyone could throw a team and a coach. He has pieced together lineups for 8 years and made them work good enough to make the playoffs every year. That is something special and do not lose sight of that. He does not shoot the shots nor does he control when CJ or Dame decide to do what they do. All he can do is give them his best advice and hope that star quality players make the right choices. To play Melo or not at end of games is a crap shoot (if I was a coach) because some nights he is on fire and other nights not so much...you have to do what you have to do. I think he has done well and for those of you that want a championship every year...your idiots. Like I said, 29 other teams go home with their head down every year...but you don't see the Spurs firing Pop...right?

I look back to the Adelman years (88" - 94") and this coach had a 291-154 record and the Blazers fired him!!!!!!! He took them to TWO NBA FINALS!!!! How do you fire a coach like that??? It is all part of the Blazers "making bad decisions" history which has plagued this team for years. Think about it...instant gratification has been this teams downfall for years (at least since the Walton days).

Anyhow, my point of this thread is that I see something special with this HEALTHY Blazer team. It reminds me of 1977 when the wealth was spread around and you had 6 players every night scoring in double figures, sharing the ball and having chemistry between the players. I thank Mr. Lillard for that a he is the glue of this franchise...and his performance has been outstanding since his rookie year. Anybody that says otherwise has no eye for greatness. As for the CJ haters (or ones who want to trade him) yes, his defense is not what a Wes Mathews would bring, but this man has skills offensively way beyond what Wes could ever deliver and has taken this team to a level we have never had in years.

I have faith...this year more then any. The OKC and Denver series from a couple years ago was great...but I think this team actually has a chance at a conference finals and winning games. All the way? Maybe...but no sweep this year.

Just my thoughts...let the bashing begin...;-)

peace out,

daddylogan

If you're able to appreciate this team (or any years team), you're in a much better mental state than many. Keep enjoying the ride for all those who are unable to!

 

[BonesJones]

Your straw man crap ain’t working. The team is wining.
The season was 72 games and every team played the same teams. The overall is the overall. You can try to twist the facts with stats but it just isn’t working. Sorry. There is no more Strength of schedule argument.
The Blazers have one of the best offenses in the league and that was with two starters injured most of the season.
Time for some to admit they just might not be right about everything all the time and the professionals might have a clue about what they are doing.

Strawman crap? Do you want me to bring up where are offense ranks in the postseason compared to the regular season? Because there's a noticeable decline in the postseason. I don't do what a lot of people do and talk out their ass, I can actually back my stuff up.

You can't actually argue my "strawman argument", so instead you belittle it, mock it, and argue taking points that don't apply to it and things that were never said. For example:

But FiRe sTottS! WTF?

Oh there is that word again. SCHEME..... You can't sound smart if you don't use that word.

By the way every damn team in the league runs "Drop Schemes".

Nobody said that other teams didn't run drop scheme. I said criticisms of Stotts for continuously running drop are legitimate. Emphasis on continuously.

The season was 72 games and every team played the same teams. The overall is the overall.

Nobody is arguing that they didn't or couldn't have a highly ranked REGULAR SEASON offense.
​

There is no more Strength of schedule argument.

Nobody is making a strength of schedule argument right now.

The Blazers have one of the best offenses in the league and that was with two starters injured most of the season.

Again, nobody is arguing this. If you remember correctly, I was one of the few people saying they still had a good roster with those two starters injured.

Time for some to admit they just might not be right about everything all the time

Nobody ever said anyone was right all the time. If you want to project that upon me, that's your own problem. I'd actually be excited if you made a good counter-argument to one of my points that actually made sense.

the professionals might have a clue about what they are doing.

Nobody ever said the professionals had no clue.

You're arguing a ton of random shit because you care more about your rebuttal than about what your actually replying to. It's not about having a legitimate conversation for you.

What's sad is it's like that with a lot of people on this forum. One of the guys that liked your post and picked Denver in 6 was on Twitter earlier telling other people they weren't real fans because he didn't agree with how critical they were of the team. It's strange how much some people care about the criticism others have for the team, especially those that get on people for caring too much about what's said on the internet. And y'all know exactly who I'm talking about, "FAMS".
​

 

[kjironman1]

Strawman crap? Do you want me to bring up where are offense ranks in the postseason compared to the regular season? Because there's a noticeable decline in the postseason. I don't do what a lot of people do and talk out their ass, I can actually back my stuff up.

You can't actually argue my "strawman argument", so instead you belittle it, mock it, and argue taking points that don't apply to it and things that were never said. For example:

Nobody said that other teams didn't run drop scheme. I said criticisms of Stotts for continuously running drop are legitimate. Emphasis on continuously.

Nobody is arguing that they didn't or couldn't have a highly ranked REGULAR SEASON offense.
​

Nobody is making a strength of schedule argument right now.

Again, nobody is arguing this. If you remember correctly, I was one of the few people saying they still had a good roster with those two starters injured.

Nobody ever said anyone was right all the time. If you want to project that upon me, that's your own problem. I'd actually be excited if you made a good counter-argument to one of my points that actually made sense.

Nobody ever said the professionals had no clue.

You're arguing a ton of random shit because you care more about your rebuttal than about what your actually replying to. It's not about having a legitimate conversation for you.

What's sad is it's like that with a lot of people on this forum. One of the guys that liked your post and picked Denver in 6 was on Twitter earlier telling other people they weren't real fans because he didn't agree with how critical they were of the team. It's strange how much some people care about the criticism others have for the team, especially those that get on people for caring too much about what's said on the internet. And y'all know exactly who I'm talking about, "FAMS".
​

OK. I was going to stay away and simply stay on Crypto but because it's you and i DO respect what you bring and where you stand i will respond.

Lets start with this-

Do you want me to bring up where are offense ranks in the postseason compared to the regular season?

They have played exactly ONE game in the post season and they played very well on both sides of the ball. If you are trying to bring the last two injury riddled seasons into it I can respond to that also. Now if you are trying to bring into this conversation seasons where this team was the youngest team in the league i can respond to that also. Fact is this is the first time this team is not patched together or very very young over the last 6 or 7 years.
How about we rejoin this conversation at the end of the series they are currently playing? I happen to think and have even voted that this series will go 7 and I am hoping for a Blazer victory.

Next-

I said criticisms of Stotts for continuously running drop are legitimate.

You have brought this up over and over again and i will give you some credit for revising your stance to "Continuously" even though that simply isn't the case when you add "Dynamic Guard" which you did in an earlier post. Fact is pretty much every team in the NBA has a "Dynamic Guard". Even the worst teams have a playmaker at the position. Twolves Ricky Rubio, Kings DeArron Fox, Rockets John Wall. Maybe the Thunder don't but Alexander will be.
Every team runs drop schemes, Single coverage, Doubles and traps. The idea is to have the personnel to do it effectively and have the team defense tight enough to do it well. That takes time and over the last 20 games it has been happening. Go watch a Laker game and see what kind of problems they are having because they have not been playing together. That team has the personnel and you know it.

Next-

Nobody is arguing that they didn't or couldn't have a highly ranked REGULAR SEASON offense.

Again they have played one post season game. Try not to mix Harkless, Aminu and Turner into the team as constructed now.

Next-

Nobody is making a strength of schedule argument right now.

That is exactly what it seems like you are doing when you talk about regular season or talk about doing it against certain teams. BUT I WILL ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE NOT. So then what is the point when you talk about good teams or bad? They have a complete season to look at but only a portion where they had a healthy roster.

Next-

It's not about having a legitimate conversation for you.

We have had plenty of them. Understand that when i say something a little jaded i am the kind of person that says things like that as a joke and not as a personal attack. Ease up a little Bones. I personally like you very much and like what you bring. I'm just old and set in my ways.

Hope you have a great day! Change your underwear...

That was a joke Bones...

 

[mook]

This team is too small to be truly elite--we're outsized at three positions--and some past Blazers teams 76-78, 1990-3, 1998-2000 have been.

We also lack depth and aren't that good at defense #understatement.

I think of the current team as a "glass cannon", which is a term used in some video games... meaning a character that can do a lot of damage but dies pretty easily.

That's how I see this team: we're dangerous but fragile. I think we're good, and if things break well (like our current matchup) things can go well for us. It's a fun team to watch. But while I admire your enthusiasm and optimism, I just don't agree we're one of the best Blazers teams ever.

Yeah, I'd put our last Wes Matthews team ahead of us too.

I really like that term "glass cannon." I'd never heard it before, but I'm definitely keeping it.

I think Donald Trump proved that a glass cannon can be pretty effective given the right circumstance. Hopefully they do for us this year.

 

[riverman]

one of my favorite parts of the original post here....says it all for me.

Then we have the ongoing Stott's issue that I am so sick of hearing. Yes, there has been a few times (and I mention few) that he has made bad decisions over the years in very rare situations. The Phoenix game being one of them by using a challenge and losing a timeout....not good. BUT...overall this guy has been a coaching stud and dealt with some of the most horrific situations anyone could throw a team and a coach. He has pieced together lineups for 8 years and made them work good enough to make the playoffs every year. That is something special and do not lose sight of that. He does not shoot the shots nor does he control when CJ or Dame decide to do what they do. All he can do is give them his best advice and hope that star quality players make the right choices. To play Melo or not at end of games is a crap shoot (if I was a coach) because some nights he is on fire and other nights not so much...you have to do what you have to do. I think he has done well and for those of you that want a championship every year...your idiots. Like I said, 29 other teams go home with their head down every year...but you don't see the Spurs firing Pop...right?

 

[Natebishop3]

I really like that term "glass cannon." I'd never heard it before, but I'm definitely keeping it.

I have always heard it used in video games. Something with high damage but no armor.

A mage, for example, would be a glass cannon. High burst damage, but very little armor so can't take any damage in return.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I have always heard it used in video games. Something with high damage but no armor.

A mage, for example, would be a glass cannon. High burst damage, but very little armor so can't take any damage in return.

Will an iPhone translate this to English? Asking for a friend…….

 

[Natebishop3]

Will an iPhone translate this to English? Asking for a friend…….

Siri is still mad at you for not getting her flowers on your anniversary.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Siri is still mad at you for not getting her flowers on your anniversary.

So’s my wife……

 

[Duckhook]

Great post and analysis - thank you.

I think if the Blazers continue passing well and making the right passes, it'll be tough for any team to beat. 29 assists in game 1 and it was a beautiful brand of basketball. It's the 1 on 5 offense continually that allows team to get out and run on us for easy buckets. We've made concerted efforts to bring up the ball faster even on half court sets... it doesn't allow the defense to get set. Bring that a few more times against Denver and it'll be tough to beat us.

 

[BonesJones]

OK. I was going to stay away and simply stay on Crypto but because it's you and i DO respect what you bring and where you stand i will respond.

Lets start with this-

They have played exactly ONE game in the post season and they played very well on both sides of the ball. If you are trying to bring the last two injury riddled seasons into it I can respond to that also. Now if you are trying to bring into this conversation seasons where this team was the youngest team in the league i can respond to that also. Fact is this is the first time this team is not patched together or very very young over the last 6 or 7 years.
How about we rejoin this conversation at the end of the series they are currently playing? I happen to think and have even voted that this series will go 7 and I am hoping for a Blazer victory.

Next-

You have brought this up over and over again and i will give you some credit for revising your stance to "Continuously" even though that simply isn't the case when you add "Dynamic Guard" which you did in an earlier post. Fact is pretty much every team in the NBA has a "Dynamic Guard". Even the worst teams have a playmaker at the position. Twolves Ricky Rubio, Kings DeArron Fox, Rockets John Wall. Maybe the Thunder don't but Alexander will be.
Every team runs drop schemes, Single coverage, Doubles and traps. The idea is to have the personnel to do it effectively and have the team defense tight enough to do it well. That takes time and over the last 20 games it has been happening. Go watch a Laker game and see what kind of problems they are having because they have not been playing together. That team has the personnel and you know it.

Next-

Again they have played one post season game. Try not to mix Harkless, Aminu and Turner into the team as constructed now.

Next-

That is exactly what it seems like you are doing when you talk about regular season or talk about doing it against certain teams. BUT I WILL ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE NOT. So then what is the point when you talk about good teams or bad? They have a complete season to look at but only a portion where they had a healthy roster.

Next-


We have had plenty of them. Understand that when i say something a little jaded i am the kind of person that says things like that as a joke and not as a personal attack. Ease up a little Bones. I personally like you very much and like what you bring. I'm just old and set in my ways.

Hope you have a great day! Change your underwear...

That was a joke Bones...

I'm not talking about this years postseason, I'm talking about the last 7. If it was Aminu's, Turner's, and Harkless' fault then how were they good offensively in regular seasons past? Aminu shot 43% from three making more than three 3s a game in the Pelicans series yet his shooting was the main thing that got blamed for the sweep.


Every opinion I have about our style of play is based on years of watching the team. Theyve had good regular season offense in previous years. They won 13 games in a row before their style of play got them swept by the Pelicans. I've also said they could play any style of play against Denver and still win because they're that much more talented.

Sure, you could find things to try and excuse any of those years (we were young, we had Turner, etc.)...

But game 1 of the WCF we dropped against Steph. Games 2 through 4 we played a better scheme and had much more success but hadn't ran anything other than drop scheme the regular season so we didnt have the details down. If we did that could've been a series.

Against the Pelicans, Lakers, and Warriors, we continuously run pick n roll without having the floor setup to beat it when they trap us. It results in us being discombobulated and using offensively. It's easier to defend iso in playoffs because you're allowed to be more physical. If we didnt have the personnel to exploit the trap like some exclaim, why'd we run Dame into a trap 40 feet from the rim over and over and over again?

These arent my only complaints but they're there two biggest that hurt us in the playoffs. A igate regular season hot streak and success against Denver doesn't show me that when things get tough against an elite team down the road, that we're wont revert back to this style of play. I've seen us do it too many times. That's why it's funny when people think Stotts has proven me wrong or shown he's better than I think, because they base it off of the regular season or teams like Denver when I base it off of what he does in the biggest moments against the best in the playoffs. Not saying wed win those series but it's frustrating that we dont give ourselves the best chance to win.

 

[kjironman1]

I'm not talking about this years postseason, I'm talking about the last 7. If it was Aminu's, Turner's, and Harkless' fault then how were they good offensively in regular seasons past? Aminu shot 43% from three making more than three 3s a game in the Pelicans series yet his shooting was the main thing that got blamed for the sweep.


Every opinion I have about our style of play is based on years of watching the team. Theyve had good regular season offense in previous years. They won 13 games in a row before their style of play got them swept by the Pelicans. I've also said they could play any style of play against Denver and still win because they're that much more talented.

Sure, you could find things to try and excuse any of those years (we were young, we had Turner, etc.)...

But game 1 of the WCF we dropped against Steph. Games 2 through 4 we played a better scheme and had much more success but hadn't ran anything other than drop scheme the regular season so we didnt have the details down. If we did that could've been a series.

Against the Pelicans, Lakers, and Warriors, we continuously run pick n roll without having the floor setup to beat it when they trap us. It results in us being discombobulated and using offensively. It's easier to defend iso in playoffs because you're allowed to be more physical. If we didnt have the personnel to exploit the trap like some exclaim, why'd we run Dame into a trap 40 feet from the rim over and over and over again?

These arent my only complaints but they're there two biggest that hurt us in the playoffs. A igate regular season hot streak and success against Denver doesn't show me that when things get tough against an elite team down the road, that we're wont revert back to this style of play. I've seen us do it too many times. That's why it's funny when people think Stotts has proven me wrong or shown he's better than I think, because they base it off of the regular season or teams like Denver when I base it off of what he does in the biggest moments against the best in the playoffs. Not saying wed win those series but it's frustrating that we dont give ourselves the best chance to win.

Well the style of play this year is much different than that of years past. I see it but obviously the results are not happening so doesn't really matter.
Even in the loss last night when the team couldn't touch a Nuggets player they still were in the game without making three's. That would never have been the case in years past. We all watched multiple power drives to the basket for dunks and passing to cutting players in the midrange area. We also watched Stotts move away from Kanter and go to RHJ for a stretch. Then when Nurk Fouled out we watched them move to a smaller lineup which everyone around here was screaming for.

Bottom line there will be changes this off season and we all know it. Blazers even if they pull off a miracle and get by Denver will not get past the Lakers and we know this as well.

Stott's time here has run it's course. IMO so has CJ's and probably Nurks as well. Huge changes coming.

Just understand that means Lottery for the next year or two. They won't reboot and come right back. At least i would not expect them to.