Pelton: Trail Blazers Are NBA’s Most Underrated

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HCP said:
Christian Laetner made the Dream Team, means nothing....... I love CJ and can't wait to see what he does this year. I predicted MIP award, but one of the best SGs in the league? Amin had one nice series in his career...... I have a feeling we will be disagreeing all season my good friend.
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Christian Laettner was a quality NBA starter for Atlanta. CJ destroyed Tony Allen in the playoffs. He's nearly as good as Brandon Roy. You clearly haven't seen him play much.
 
Scalma said:
How many lottery picks do we need? We have like 5 of them already, and none older than 25. Sure we can use someone like Ben Simmons but even if we had the worst record in the league the chances of actually securing the #1 pick is low. I'd rather win. If Portland wins 40 games this season, they're well on their way.
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But enough has been seen of our lotto picks to know that none of them are going to be superstars. They may/should continue to improve, but not to the point that it'll put us in contention. Maybe Ben Simmons, or Dragan Bender, or a few other names I've heard but can't remember, won't put us there either - but the chances are higher than without them. We still need a dominant wing player before we can start dreaming about championships.
 
blue9 said:
But enough has been seen of our lotto picks to know that none of them are going to be superstars. They may/should continue to improve, but not to the point that it'll put us in contention. Maybe Ben Simmons, or Dragan Bender, or a few other names I've heard but can't remember, won't put us there either - but the chances are higher than without them. We still need a dominant wing player before we can start dreaming about championships.
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CJ is superstar. Vonleh is potential superstar. We'll see about Meyers in 3-4 years.
 
Aminu and Henderson are great wing players. Aminu is on the rise. Crabbe is decent. Harkless, we'll see.
 
KingAlbertoJrSpeed said:
Keep in mind that in fall 2013, none of the TNT hosts (Ernie, Chuck, Kenny) picked us to make the playoffs. Nik and MM said we were mediocre, might not make playoffs. Mags, Natebishop, and I knew better. We ended up with 54 wins and made it to the second round.
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Go back and see what I said! I swore I said 55 wins that season FAMS! I learned the game, then posted!
 
HCP said:
Go back and see what I said! I swore I said 55 wins that season FAMS! I learned the game, then posted!
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You look it up. We won 33 the year before. I don't think you predicted 22 game improvement.
 
KingAlbertoJrSpeed said:
CJ is superstar. Vonleh is potential superstar. We'll see about Meyers in 3-4 years.
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CJ is a superstar? Please, tell me how, without using a small sample that includes 2 playoff games and a handful of pre-season games?

potential star? yes. But labeling him a superstar NOW is simply false advertising.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
The goal for this season should be to get a top 3 lottery pick.
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Should for you, but not for NO

HailBlazers said:
Well its not. So go ahead and write Neil.
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Exactly. I still haven't heard from anyone here give a solid answer as to why one MORE lotto pick will mean such the difference for this team?

Vonleh has not had enough minutes to see how far his upside is. CJ is blossoming and its too early to tell how big his pedals will get yet. Meyers is a unique guy who has the physical elements to become an all star.

What is another Lotto pick gonna do to drastically change the pessimists view?

Everyone says we need a lotto pick. But what is the next sentence after that? then what? We are a 50 win team all of a sudden? I am begging someone to provide a solid, up and up answer as to what one more lotto pick will do to change this team so much compared to the 5 or 6 we already have?

Sell me, man... sell me.
 
Strenuus said:
CJ is a superstar? Please, tell me how, without using a small sample that includes 2 playoff games and a handful of pre-season games?

potential star? yes. But labeling him a superstar NOW is simply false advertising.
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That's more accurate.
 
Orion Bailey said:
Should for you, but not for NO



Exactly. I still haven't heard from anyone here give a solid answer as to why one MORE lotto pick will mean such the difference for this team?

Vonleh has not had enough minutes to see how far his upside is. CJ is blossoming and its too early to tell how big his pedals will get yet. Meyers is a unique guy who has the physical elements to become an all star.

What is another Lotto pick gonna do to drastically change the pessimists view?

Everyone says we need a lotto pick. But what is the next sentence after that? then what? We are a 50 win team all of a sudden? I am begging someone to provide a solid, up and up answer as to what one more lotto pick will do to change this team so much compared to the 5 or 6 we already have?

Sell me, man... sell me.
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I think the argument isn't more so that a lottery pick is what we NEED, but that NOT getting the lottery pick means we're muddled in the middle.

I think this team, as currently constructed, would not make a good run this year, and middle of the road it. If we are able to get another solid player, and in 2 years, get into the playoffs... we could make some noise. I understand the "playoff experience now for later" argument, though, too.

I'll still stick by saying the 2017-2018 season could be the start of something special.
 
IMO, barring injury (always have to add that caveat), I don't see this team finishing with a bad enough record to have a good shot at a top-3 pick. I think our best hope to avoid mediocrity is to have Dame continue his path to superstar ranks, have one other guy improve enough to become a realistic All-Star candidate within 3 years, sign a quality vet FA next summer with cap space, and hope that the rest of the ranks provide enough talent to look for a lopsided deal for an All-Star level player who's become disgruntled with his current team.
 
Strenuus said:
I think the argument isn't more so that a lottery pick is what we NEED, but that NOT getting the lottery pick means we're muddled in the middle.

I think this team, as currently constructed, would not make a good run this year, and middle of the road it. If we are able to get another solid player, and in 2 years, get into the playoffs... we could make some noise. I understand the "playoff experience now for later" argument, though, too.

I'll still stick by saying the 2017-2018 season could be the start of something special.
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But if we middle of the road it this year with this super young and upside roster, doesn't that mean the percentages of us being better next year than this year is good? So if we middle of the road it next year, say 9-10th spot, then next year just as progression and experience take place, we should be 7-9 spot? 6-8? and then this off season do exactly what E_Blazer is saying below...

e_blazer said:
IMO, barring injury (always have to add that caveat), I don't see this team finishing with a bad enough record to have a good shot at a top-3 pick. I think our best hope to avoid mediocrity is to have Dame continue his path to superstar ranks, have one other guy improve enough to become a realistic All-Star candidate within 3 years, sign a quality vet FA next summer with cap space, and hope that the rest of the ranks provide enough talent to look for a lopsided deal for an All-Star level player who's become disgruntled with his current team.
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This. 10 likes for you sir!
 
blue9 said:
Anybody in mind? Who are next summer's FAs that can put this team in contention?
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That is as good of a question as which lottery pick would be available next year to make our team better. Too many factors make this an unknown. Not that contracts are unknown, but who we consider quality now may be different at the end of the season. Plus what we think we need the most now may change by the end of the season. Trying to put a finger on a lotto pick OR a free agent is moot at this point of the juncture. My opinion is lets just root for the Blazers to win and improve. IF they do this with this current roster it will all come into place a couple years from now when we are truly a contender.
 
Orion Bailey said:
But if we middle of the road it this year with this super young and upside roster, doesn't that mean the percentages of us being better next year than this year is good? So if we middle of the road it next year, say 9-10th spot, then next year just as progression and experience take place, we should be 7-9 spot? 6-8? and then this off season do exactly what E_Blazer is saying below...



This. 10 likes for you sir!
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Mind you, I don't think we'll suck (HCP 20 win range), I think we WILL finish in the middle of the pack, and may squeak in to a playoff spot. I am merely trying to be a person in the middle and speak for both sides.

I think we're 3 years away from contending, regardless.
 
Worst outcome for me is that we end up with the 8-11 pick. Not bad enough to get a good lotto pick, but not enough spark to think we may not need it. Reality is that the odds are pretty good that is where we will be.
 
I looked up next year's Free Agent class, and here are the unrestricted free agents. A lot of them aren't even worth discussing, I've bolded the ones who we might have even the slightest chance of signing:

LBJ - won't sign here
Durant - won't sign here
Dwight - won't sign here
Drummond
Horford - won't sign here
Pau - won't sign here / too old
Wade - won't sign here / too old
Conley - not a position of need
DeRozan - blech
Noah - blech, too broken
Parsons - blech
Duncan - hahaha
Kobe - hahaha, won't sign here, too old, too broken
Jefferson - blech
Dirk - hahaha, won't sign here, too old
Rondo - not a position of need
Whiteside
Hibbert - blech
Clarkson - not a position of need
Jennings - not a position of need
Mosgov
Nic
Deng - blech, too old
Turner
Smoove - blech
Green
Johnson - too old
West - too old

I could go on, but it's pretty clear that we're not going to sign a superstar next summer, and even a star is a long-shot. In order to get another star/superstar or two we need to draft 'em or trade for 'em. And right now the only two stars that I can see potentially being on the trading block are Melo and Cousins. I hate (HATE!) Melo, but given the weakness of the wing position he'd probably be the most bang for our buck.
 
blue9 said:
I looked up next year's Free Agent class, and here are the unrestricted free agents. A lot of them aren't even worth discussing, I've bolded the ones who we might have even the slightest chance of signing:

LBJ - won't sign here
Durant - won't sign here
Dwight - won't sign here
Drummond
Horford - won't sign here
Pau - won't sign here / too old
Wade - won't sign here / too old
Conley - not a position of need
DeRozan - blech
Noah - blech, too broken
Parsons - blech
Duncan - hahaha
Kobe - hahaha, won't sign here, too old, too broken
Jefferson - blech
Dirk - hahaha, won't sign here, too old
Rondo - not a position of need
Whiteside
Hibbert - blech
Clarkson - not a position of need
Jennings - not a position of need
Mosgov
Nic
Deng - blech, too old
Turner
Smoove - blech
Green
Johnson - too old
West - too old

I could go on, but it's pretty clear that we're not going to sign a superstar next summer, and even a star is a long-shot. In order to get another star/superstar or two we need to draft 'em or trade for 'em. And right now the only two stars that I can see potentially being on the trading block are Melo and Cousins. I hate (HATE!) Melo, but given the weakness of the wing position he'd probably be the most bang for our buck.
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Kobe is retiring after this year. REJOICE!
 
BigGameDamian said:
Ya but he's not in a Blazers uniform.
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What does that have to do with his comment about money?

When you do your schtick, make sure it's actually pertaining to what you're replying to.

#thedetails
 
Man... I'm completely staying away from predicting how many wins.

1) Because I don't really care if we win games this season. My goals are completely about the development of our talent. If wins come in the process, great, if not...... more lotto balls.

2) This team is a complete mystery. It's like dealing you five cards in Texas Holdem, NOT turning them over, and then dealing the flop and asking me to bet, all without seeing the cards in my hand. Our known players are like the flop, but right now the rest of our roster is like a bunch of unknown cards in my hand that I can't see. I have no clue how we're going to play together. I have no clue how well Dame and CJ are going to play once the action matters. I have no clue how well our really young guys are going to perform. I really can't pin a number on this team.
 
blue9 said:
I looked up next year's Free Agent class, and here are the unrestricted free agents. A lot of them aren't even worth discussing, I've bolded the ones who we might have even the slightest chance of signing:

LBJ - won't sign here
Durant - won't sign here
Dwight - won't sign here
Drummond
Horford - won't sign here
Pau - won't sign here / too old
Wade - won't sign here / too old
Conley - not a position of need
DeRozan - blech
Noah - blech, too broken
Parsons - blech
Duncan - hahaha
Kobe - hahaha, won't sign here, too old, too broken
Jefferson - blech
Dirk - hahaha, won't sign here, too old
Rondo - not a position of need
Whiteside
Hibbert - blech
Clarkson - not a position of need
Jennings - not a position of need
Mosgov
Nic
Deng - blech, too old
Turner
Smoove - blech
Green
Johnson - too old
West - too old

I could go on, but it's pretty clear that we're not going to sign a superstar next summer, and even a star is a long-shot. In order to get another star/superstar or two we need to draft 'em or trade for 'em. And right now the only two stars that I can see potentially being on the trading block are Melo and Cousins. I hate (HATE!) Melo, but given the weakness of the wing position he'd probably be the most bang for our buck.
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Shows what you know.... LeBron AND Durant are signing here.
 
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