ot: Westbrook out again

[rasheedfan2005]

Which generation are you from?

I'm generation coddle, but I'm a country boy so I wasn't raised to be a whiney bitch.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

I'm generation coddle, but I'm a country boy so I wasn't raised to be a whiney bitch. (see: LAC)

Fixed.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Flip it anyway you want. Move the goal posts all you'd like. There are 2 types of real Blazer fans here: those that think Portland is the best team in the NBA based on their record, and those that are waiting for them to fail. Which are you?

 

[crowTrobot]

There are 2 types of real Blazer fans here: those that think Portland is the best team in the NBA based on their record, and those that are waiting for them to fail. Which are you?

neither. I don't know if Portland is the best team in the NBA, and I'm waiting for them to succeed.

this all or nothing belief stuff is pretty silly. blazer optimistic agnostics unite!

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

neither. I don't know if Portland is the best team in the NBA, and I'm waiting for them to succeed.

this all or nothing belief stuff is pretty silly. blazer optimistic agnostics unite!

Agreed.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

I'm glad CJ is cleared to practice, we have a great option to come in and pickup minutes if any one of our PG, SG or SF rotational players is injured. LaMarcus or Lopez getting hurt would be worst case scenario, any other player and I think we could still be a very good team for ~5-15 games.

The Thunder are in a ton of trouble, I'd expect them to hover around .500 until Westbrook gets back.

Whoa, I don't know about that.

They still have Durant and Ibaka.

 

[Draco]

But the Blazers play too many minutes! They won't contend if they have an injury! No one talked about the "ya buts" with OKC. Funny how that works.

Westbrook was averaging his fewest minutes since his rookie year at 32.9. Didn't help him avoid 3 injuries.

Whoa, I don't know about that.

They still have Durant and Ibaka.

Did you see Durant and Ibaka in the playoffs? It was pretty bad. Now I expect them to be a bit better this go around but Westbrook is the difference between that being an average team and a great team.

 

[Draco]

Flip it anyway you want. Move the goal posts all you'd like. There are 2 types of real Blazer fans here: those that think Portland is the best team in the NBA based on their record, and those that are waiting for them to fail. Which are you?

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

 

[Nhawz]

Re: Portland catches a HUGE break. Westbrook out a month.

Crickets.

 

[Nhawz]

Hahahhah.... Cry me a river OKC! I don't feel bad for them one bit!

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Westbrook was averaging his fewest minutes since his rookie year at 32.9. Didn't help him avoid 3 injuries.



Did you see Durant and Ibaka in the playoffs? It was pretty bad. Now I expect them to be a bit better this go around but Westbrook is the difference between that being an average team and a great team.

Playoffs are also against much better teams and playing the same team repeatedly.

Also, Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and (possibly) Steven Adams could chip in valuable minutes.

It's not like they play murderers row over the next 2 months anyway.

 

[Sinobas]

Tough Shit.

 

[magnifier661]

Playoffs are also against much better teams and playing the same team repeatedly.

Also, Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and (possibly) Steven Adams could chip in valuable minutes.

It's not like they play murderers row over the next 2 months anyway.

I only hope they play .600 ball while he's injured. That way we can have a cushion for the home stretch.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

neither. I don't know if Portland is the best team in the NBA, and I'm waiting for them to succeed.

this all or nothing belief stuff is pretty silly. blazer optimistic agnostics unite!

Agnostic is an antonym for "fan".

 

[magnifier661]

Tough Shit.

Best post in this thread

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

Sith Lord? So you're saying I'm either a "Luke Skywalker" or a "Darth Vader" fan? Sounds like 2 types to me.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Playoffs are also against much better teams and playing the same team repeatedly.

Also, Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and (possibly) Steven Adams could chip in valuable minutes.

It's not like they play murderers row over the next 2 months anyway.

Jackson, Lamb and Adams are decent. I just think they are over-hyped and an excuse for why the Thunder are "elite", opposite of the excuses made against Portland.

 

[Sinobas]

On the idea of non-guaranteed contracts. One thing to keep in mind is that it's good to penalize teams for offering bad contracts. For example, if two teams get into a bidding war, and Team B offers a ridiculous contract to lure a player from Team A, should they be able to just wipe their hands clean of it if the player doesn't pan out?

In the NFL, you can cut a player and not have to pay him, but his remaining contract still counts against your cap.

I also agree that the NBA has too many games. They play 82 games and don't even eliminate half the teams, then there's a long playoff series. The only advantage you get from it is 1 home court game?

 

[Draco]

Sith Lord? So you're saying I'm either a "Luke Skywalker" or a "Darth Vader" fan? Sounds like 2 types to me.

[video=youtube;kVu_yMEhUfM]

 

[Draco]

Jackson, Lamb and Adams are decent. I just think they are over-hyped and an excuse for why the Thunder are "elite", opposite of the excuses made against Portland.

Ibaka plays awesome defense, he shoots the midrange jumper more accurately than LaMarcus. In their last matchup LaMarcus made an insane amount of tough shots against Ibaka; I don't think LMA can keep that up routinely.

Durant is the real deal on offense. I love his game and attitude. All your love of the Blazers chemistry you should appreciate the great team players throughout the league. Durant is one of the great personalities and a human being you want to be around.

 

[Draco]

On the idea of non-guaranteed contracts. One thing to keep in mind is that it's good to penalize teams for offering bad contracts. For example, if two teams get into a bidding war, and Team B offers a ridiculous contract to lure a player from Team A, should they be able to just wipe their hands clean of it if the player doesn't pan out?

In the NFL, you can cut a player and not have to pay him, but his remaining contract still counts against your cap.

If you had NBA contracts that are partially guaranteed a team is still penalized for offering it, as a portion would could against the cap for a player not on your roster. I suggest a third of the contract.

In the NFL its the signing bonus that counts against the cap. If you arn't paying a player there is nothing against the cap.

I also agree that the NBA has too many games. They play 82 games and don't even eliminate half the teams, then there's a long playoff series. The only advantage you get from it is 1 home court game?

Yeah I agree there should be more of a reward for higher seeds. I suggest letting the #1 seed pick their first round opponent, then #2, etc. Another idea is have a "play in" single elimination tournament for the 8th and or 7th seeds. The HCA seeds would get a few days of rest while the other teams play a quick back to back right before taking on a playoff opponent. Sort of similar to the playin games in the NCAA to get the 16th seed.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Ibaka plays awesome defense, he shoots the midrange jumper more accurately than LaMarcus. In their last matchup LaMarcus made an insane amount of tough shots against Ibaka; I don't think LMA can keep that up routinely.

Durant is the real deal on offense. I love his game and attitude. All your love of the Blazers chemistry you should appreciate the great team players throughout the league. Durant is one of the great personalities and a human being you want to be around.

You think LA isn't an MVP candidate then I have to assume?

Not sure what Durant has to do with Jackson, Lamb and Adams getting positive attention for the same thing the Blazers are doing, but getting negative attention.

 

[andalusian]

Bummer for them, but that's professional sports I guess - the good and the bad happen all the time and unfortunately for OKC, they have to go through some of that stuff now just as the Bulls go through it with Rose and the Celtics with Rondo and the Blazers did before.


As for what it means for Portland's games against them - after all these years with Blazers injuries, I have to admit that I am less concerned about "proving yourself against fully healthy teams" stuff - you got to live through the tough times, you should enjoy any good times, even if they come against less than healthy opposition.

 

[RR7]

Time to cut down on the number of games. Let's do it, Silver.

All these injuries happening are in the first few months of the season. They don't look like breaking down after a long season injuries. How does shortening the season help exactly?

 

[Carlito]

Without Westbrook OKC is very beatable

 

[Draco]

You think LA isn't an MVP candidate then I have to assume?

Not sure what Durant has to do with Jackson, Lamb and Adams getting positive attention for the same thing the Blazers are doing, but getting negative attention.

If Aldridge mixes up his play with a lot of inside moves and the team wins he has a chance. He's has no chance shooting primarily under 45% difficult two point jumpers.

I was rambling about Durant.

The OKC bench is vastly outperforming the Blazer bench so I have no issue with their bench getting much more positive press. Their bench players are also 'sexier' since they are very young and have potential to improve. Mo Williams and Wright don't have upside, and Freeland is rather plain.

Our starters are getting all of the national recognition and rightly so.

 

[andalusian]

All these injuries happening are in the first few months of the season. They don't look like breaking down after a long season injuries. How does shortening the season help exactly?

Same amount of time, less games. If the team had 23 instead of 29 games in this period - that's a bit more time for the body to rest and heal. The issue imho is actually more problematic at the start of the year because not all of these guys were 100% in shape at the start of the year...

 

[-Ace-]

All these injuries happening are in the first few months of the season. They don't look like breaking down after a long season injuries. How does shortening the season help exactly?

If there are less games, they can be spread out a bit more to eliminate things like four games in five nights.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

If there are less games, they can be spread out a bit more to eliminate things like four games in five nights.

Same amount of time, less games. If the team had 23 instead of 29 games in this period - that's a bit more time for the body to rest and heal. The issue imho is actually more problematic at the start of the year because not all of these guys were 100% in shape at the start of the year...

It's funny that you had to explain that.

 

[RR7]

If there are less games, they can be spread out a bit more to eliminate things like four games in five nights.

neither westbrook or horford were playing 4th in 5 nights.