Playoff question revisited with Mo aboard

[magnifier661]

It does look like the depth concern is the center spot.
I like our depth every where else. But I would agree that the center position is fine......unless as you say Lopez and LMA get hurt. We need Joel to really step it up IMO. Either he or Leonard are the wild cards. One of them has to come through in case of injury.

It maybe a position allowing Aldridge to play center too

 

[Haakzilla]

...playoffs or bust, book it!

 

[e_blazer]

Center is a pretty thin position on most teams. Other than the Rockets and maybe the Grizzlies, what Western Conference team has significantly more depth at the 5 spot than the Blazers?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Center is a pretty thin position on most teams. Other than the Rockets and maybe the Grizzlies, what Western Conference team has significantly more depth at the 5 spot than the Blazers?

Depth or Quality depth? I'd argue 10-15 teams have better quality depth than us other than that we are in that middling level when it comes to centers but the center position is weak as it is. We are luck to have good guards and forwards.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

If Jerry Sloan was coaching the team, I would def say they are playoff bound. Mo, I think he makes the chances better. I still don't see it and unfortunately I don't see them being bad enough to keep their pick.

Even if they do make the playoffs with this core. Where are they going? Think it might have been more beneficial to play for that lottery pick.

 

[KingSpeed]

Agree on the still in the 6-8 range. We'll take that leap only if/when Dame does. Another decent big man behind RoLo can solidify our playoff chances.

I think all these teams are still definitely better than us: OKC/SA/LAC/MEM/HOU

Borderline on GS because they rely heavily on Curry's and Bogut's health. DEN will stumble a bit. Minny will never be better than us no matter how hard they try. NO is gonna surprise a lot of people this year I think. Could be better than us, but they've got no depth at all

Memphis is not definitely better than us. Randolph's game is declining. They lost Arthur. And we have a superior bench now. We always had a better starting lineup.

They did a few years ago kinda... They were a 7 seed in 09-10. Then Parker hit his prime.

I think they fall off this year unless Leonard becomes a true superstar.

Parker was already at his prime in 2007 when he was Finals MVP.

Why is Houston a Top 2 team? The Lakers barely made the playoffs last year with Howard. Unless Howard can start making some FTs, he's always going to be a huge liability.

This. Howard had Kobe, who was still better than Harden, for most of the season and they barely made the playoffs. Harden was sort of exposed in the playoffs. He barrels into the paint, praying for contact and if he doesn't get it, he's average. The refs didn't fall for it in the playoffs.

 

[KingSpeed]

Center is a pretty thin position on most teams. Other than the Rockets and maybe the Grizzlies, what Western Conference team has significantly more depth at the 5 spot than the Blazers?

Warriors have Bogut. Lakers have Pau/Kaman. I hate to bring this up, but the Lakers might be decent this year. Kobe is way ahead of schedule recovery wise. They had some nice pick ups who make them a little younger and more athletic. And Kobe, if healthy, is still a tremendous player. I saw him go for like 47/8/8, something like that, against us in the Rose Garden just 4 months ago.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

4 or 5 seed IMO

 

[blue9]

If Jerry Sloan was coaching the team...

Oh man, don't get my hopes up by mentioning his name!

 

[magnifier661]

Oh man, don't get my hopes up by mentioning his name!

Why not? We've taken Wes, Mo and Watson from Utah already

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Just remember nothing much was expected from the blazers in the summer of 98. Many thought we would be a low seeded team. Then they came out and tore shit up!

Yeah 1998-99 team without the mental cases. I love it!

Hi, my name is History. Have we met?

The 1999 season (there was no 1998 part of it) was the lockout-shortened season where the Blazers benefited from the fact that the young players chose to stick around Portland and work out together informally and were much more prepared than other veteran teams who treated the lockout like a vacation and came back out of shape and rusty. Although the following year the Blazers added Scottie Pippen for a collected PuPu Platter and REALLY became a threat, the 1999 season was pretty much a fluke.

 

[magnifier661]

Hi, my name is History. Have we met?

The 1999 season (there was no 1998 part of it) was the lockout-shortened season where the Blazers benefited from the fact that the young players chose to stick around Portland and work out together informally and were much more prepared than other veteran teams who treated the lockout like a vacation and came back out of shape and rusty. Although the following year the Blazers added Scottie Pippen for a collected PuPu Platter and REALLY became a threat, the 1999 season was pretty much a fluke.

I don't buy that for a minute. That team was leading in many rebounding, defense and knocked out two solid teams before losing to SAS. But if you want to discredit that team, then be my guest. I would love this team to be close to that in talent.

 

[PapaG]

I don't buy that for a minute. That team was leading in many rebounding, defense and knocked out two solid teams before losing to SAS. But if you want to discredit that team, then be my guest. I would love this team to be close to that in talent.

Clearly Whitsitt and Allen didn't think much of the '99 team that was swept by the Spurs, since they blew up that roster by bringing in Pippen.

 

[magnifier661]

Clearly Whitsitt and Allen didn't think much of the '99 team that was swept by the Spurs, since they blew up that roster by bringing in Pippen.

Just like anything.... If you have an opportunity to bring in smitty, Pippen for scraps; you gotta do it. Still doesn't take away the strength of that team.

Also, just think if they didn't blow them up? Their window would have been more than 4 years, like it was with the Pippen and smitty team.

 

[Natebishop3]

Clearly Whitsitt and Allen didn't think much of the '99 team that was swept by the Spurs, since they blew up that roster by bringing in Pippen.

Eh, it wasn't just Pip though. Steve Smith too.

We traded six players for Pippen and two players for Smith. We retained most of our core though, and we signed Detlef. We were still one of the deepest teams in the league. Wasn't Bonzi a rookie that year as well?

 

[BBert]

Warriors have Bogut. Lakers have Pau/Kaman. I hate to bring this up, but the Lakers might be decent this year. Kobe is way ahead of schedule recovery wise. They had some nice pick ups who make them a little younger and more athletic. And Kobe, if healthy, is still a tremendous player. I saw him go for like 47/8/8, something like that, against us in the Rose Garden just 4 months ago.

Fine. They aren't a championship team, so as long as they don't get a high lottery pick, and we kick their ass, it's all good.

 

[BigGameDamian]

The addition of Mo does push the team over the top. It may seem relatively small, but it changes everything with what the coaches can do with the roster. It means they won't rely on a rookie (CJ) to do or be anything. Whatever he gives now will be a bonus.

(If healthy), this team is a lock for the playoffs.

I thought it was CJ that pushed us over the top?

 

[magnifier661]

I thought it was CJ that pushed us over the top?

Well knowing you aren't for CJ; he should have a fine season.

 

[magnifier661]

3rd seed bitches!!!! Mark my words!

 

[THE HCP]

MAGNETS BITCHES!


Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!

 

[KingSpeed]

1999 wasn't a fluke. We were deepest longest team in the league. Kato, Sheed, Grant, Sabonis, JO. We havent been that big of a team since. Few teams ever are. Two starting level SGs, too. Two great PGs. Great defense from Anthony & Augmon. Great fucking team that could've beaten anyone except San Antonio which had the two best big men in the league.

 

[Natebishop3]

1999 wasn't a fluke. We were deepest longest team in the league. Kato, Sheed, Grant, Sabonis, JO. We havent been that big of a team since. Few teams ever are. Two starting level SGs, too. Two great PGs. Great defense from Anthony & Augmon. Great fucking team that could've beaten anyone except San Antonio which had the two best big men in the league.

David Robinson was not nearly as good as Hakeem or Shaq. Not even close. I'm probably forgetting someone.

And who was Kato? This guy?

 

[KingSpeed]

Spelled his name wrong. Kelvin Cato. He was our center for the second unit. Shaq was better than DRob. Don't know about Hakeem. Was he playing at a high level that year? Anyway. Duncan/Robinson was the best big man combo in the league.

 

[KingSpeed]

DRob had a PER of 25 that year. Hakeem was a 23.

 

[Natebishop3]

Spelled his name wrong. Kelvin Cato. He was our center for the second unit. Shaq was better than DRob. Don't know about Hakeem. Was he playing at a high level that year? Anyway. Duncan/Robinson was the best big man combo in the league.

Definitely the best combo, but I was just pointing out that they weren't the two best bigs in the league. I think Shaq was probably the best at that point.

 

[Daweez04]

I think some people are going to be rather shocked what this team will do now that there is actually a bench. Guys like Batum and Wes won't have to play so many damn minutes.

 

[Public Defender]

I was 50/50 on the Blazers making the playoffs before Mo Williams. I'm 70/30 now.

There were a lot of roster changes, and while they're ALL upgrades, the team was terrible at the end of last season, and it's hard to get those games out of my head. It'll be up to Terry Stotts - whose not the winningest coach around - to pull this team together.

 

[Draco]

If a few breaks go the Blazers way I think this team has a realistic shot of getting as high as a #3 seed. There is a lot of parity in the west and I think it might not be too many wins that separate the 3 and 6 seeds. Denver went on a hot run to end last season and boom they got the 3 seed. Even with a #3 seed a first round matchup will be very tough. I don't expect us to finish that well, I do expect we make the playoffs as something around a 6th seed.

This team could end up disappointing us and getting an 8th or 9th seed just as easily as they could surprise us and get a 3rd or 4th seed.

 

[Masbee]

I was 50/50 on the Blazers making the playoffs before Mo Williams. I'm 70/30 now.

There were a lot of roster changes, and while they're ALL upgrades, the team was terrible at the end of last season, and it's hard to get those games out of my head. It'll be up to Terry Stotts - whose not the winningest coach around - to pull this team together.

Wes and Batum were playing with injuries, and kept playing as long as the team had a shot at the playoffs. After the bad road trip, they called it a season. Perfectly rational and I agree with their actions. LaMarcus was dinged up too, and started sitting for games. Also, Lillard played most minutes in the NBA last season. Do you honestly think he played as hard at the end of the year? If you do, I have got some swampland I want to show you. The bench got more playing time at the end of the season, and you know what happened there: a big-ass faceplant.

Nope, I don't think we can take any lessons at all from what happened at the end of last season.

(Baring extended injuries to key players) I think we are all but a lock to make the playoffs.

Of course, most teams lose at least one important player for much of the season. So, we have to be lucky this season.

I think we need Lillard and Aldridge for 70+ games. We need Lopez for 55+ games. Can't lose any of those 3 for the season.

With the addition of Mo however, I think the team could lose one of our wings (Mo, Wes, Batum, CJ, Wright), and still have a decent shot at the playoffs.

 

[Public Defender]

"... don't think we can take any lessons at all from what happened at the end of last season"...?

I would agree that we shouldn't take much from that - but this team still has Damian Lillard, Wes Matthews, Nic Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Meyers Leonard, and Coach Stotts, right? Can't turn the page entirely. These players who are pretty much strangers to the playoffs in recent years still have to prove they can step their game up in March and April when the games get tougher and the good teams are fighting for position. Last year, the Blazers could get away with phoning it in. I'm assuming they'll look differently next spring, but not having done it before - whereas the Spurs, Clippers, Grizzlies, Warriors, Lakers, etc. have - I think they've got a better than 2 out of 3 chance, but not "all but a lock."

In short: Neil Olshey did his job and I give him an A for the moves he and his front office staff put together to improve literally every position on the team. PG? How about CJ McCollum and Earl Watson? SG? Mo Williams! SF: Dorrell Wright. PF: Lottery pick, Thomas Robinson. And the hardest position in the league to fill? Center? Robin Lopez.

The pressure is now on Terry Stotts to show what he can do with a good roster. I think they should be a playoff team. But it's a long season, most of these guys haven't been to the postseason before - or at least not as Blazers - so I'm going to measure my expectations a bit.