Portland Blazers "Official" Losing Streak Thread...

[BigGameDamian]

I understand this probably wont be the most popular thread but let me ask, While the streak hits 12 do you look at this as an embarrassment even though there's no chance the Blazers make the playoffs?

 

[NOVoodoo]

I understand this probably wont be the most popular thread but let me ask, While the streak hits 12 do you look at this as an embarrassment even though there's no chance the Blazers make the playoffs?

I'm not a Blazers fan, but as an NBA fan, I wouldn't look at it that way at all. They're clearly tanking, and that's the smart move. The season was an overall huge success, but as soon as they slipped out of the playoff picture, they put themselves in the position to get the #10 pick instead of not having a pick at all. I guess my perspective might be different if they were my team, but it's pretty clear when three of their best players are sitting out games, that they're not expecting to win.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I wanted them to make the playoffs. Once the losing streak started and the playoff chances disappeared, I was just fine with assuring a lottery pick. Who cares if this is an embarrassment for a few weeks. Few other than Blazer fans will remember. And we will focus on the draft soon enough.

 

[RR7]

I'm not a Blazers fan, but as an NBA fan, I wouldn't look at it that way at all. They're clearly tanking, and that's the smart move. The season was an overall huge success, but as soon as they slipped out of the playoff picture, they put themselves in the position to get the #10 pick instead of not having a pick at all. I guess my perspective might be different if they were my team, but it's pretty clear when three of their best players are sitting out games, that they're not expecting to win.

agreed, well said.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I don't care. Dame is the ROY and the future looks decent.

 

[Natebishop3]

I just want everyone to end healthy and for the season to be over so we can move on.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

and we saw what we can do when healthy....borderline playoff team without using cap space and having no bench basically.....now we just let the rookies loose...saw who sucks (most of them) and who we may keep for the future.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm most excited about what Will Barton showed at the end of the year. The kid has talent, he's just raw. The potential was there in the summer league, and I'm glad to see that he's building on it. I also like Claver and I think Freeland is even coming around.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I wanted them to make the playoffs. Once the losing streak started and the playoff chances disappeared, I was just fine with assuring a lottery pick. Who cares if this is an embarrassment for a few weeks. Few other than Blazer fans will remember. And we will focus on the draft soon enough.

Well ya I agree. I'm just excited about the teams future. Next season I think the Blazers will be much better.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm not upset at all. We're tanking perfectly after slipping out of playoff race. We're a contender next season.

 

[illmatic99]

We'll be lucky to make the playoffs next season. We're pretty far from the likes of HOU/GSW this year, and you'll have other teams in the west improving next year as well.

 

[BrianFromWA]

uh, we were 21-18 when Nic got hurt. Add a lotto pick, a bench, and a cap eater, and I think we're middle of the pack in the West

 

[illmatic99]

Good point. This losing streak has definitely clouded my judgement, but that run wasn't very sustainable (as evidenced by our current record), and we did have a pretty favorable schedule without many injuries until then. I suppose a lot of it depends on what Olshey does in the summer.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I understand this probably wont be the most popular thread but let me ask, While the streak hits 12 do you look at this as an embarrassment even though there's no chance the Blazers make the playoffs?

I don't

For a good portion of the game Portland had 5 rookies on the floor at the dame time last night.

 

[Blazinaway]

I understand this probably wont be the most popular thread but let me ask, While the streak hits 12 do you look at this as an embarrassment even though there's no chance the Blazers make the playoffs?

F no, I want the 10 pick, helluva job to get this close

 

[Mediocre Man]

good for them

 

[tlongII]

It's a huge embarrassment. The losing streak had little to no impact on our draft position and all it does is re-inforce a losing culture within the organization. They didn't just lose, they weren't even competitive in almost all of these games. Ridiculous.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It's a huge embarrassment. The losing streak had little to no impact on our draft position and all it does is re-inforce a losing culture within the organization. They didn't just lose, they weren't even competitive in almost all of these games. Ridiculous.

People and this losing culture crap. make me laugh.

There are a lot of teams that were a lot worse than us for many years that aren't anymore. How many rookies come in and have their teams be successful right off the bat?

 

[Nikolokolus]

It's a huge embarrassment. The losing streak had little to no impact on our draft position and all it does is re-inforce a losing culture within the organization. They didn't just lose, they weren't even competitive in almost all of these games. Ridiculous.

Nope, not ridiculous. Most of the guys that are doing all of the losing will have nothing critical to with the team's success next year aside from Damian. I also have a feeling that the disappointment can serve as a motivation to get better.

All of this "losing culture" nonsense comes from the fans. Wins in the NBA are about talent when it tries hard. The Blazers just don't have the stable of talent they needed to win this year. With a better draft pick maybe they get a player they like or maybe that tenth pick gets packaged in a trade to get a player they like.

Big picture folks.

 

[Elton]

I wonder if the team can actually package the pick in a draft-night trade this year? With the high likelihood that they surrender next year's pick to CHA wouldn't that prevent them from doing that? Something about not being allowed to trade picks in consecutive years?

 

[BrianFromWA]

they have to make the pick, then they can trade the rights to the player.

 

[Elton]

Oh I see. Gracias

 

[Mediocre Man]

I wonder if the team can actually package the pick in a draft-night trade this year? With the high likelihood that they surrender next year's pick to CHA wouldn't that prevent them from doing that? Something about not being allowed to trade picks in consecutive years?

They have to make the pick and trade the rights to the player. It's the same thing really. You agree to a trade with team A and then select the player they want.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Embarrassed about what? Haven't you noticed we're starting 4 rookies and playing 5 rookies significant minutes? And keep in mind, promoting guys like Leonard, Barton and Claver to the starting line-up makes an already weak bench even weaker. The team that's playing now is not representative of our actual roster now, and especially next year.

This losing streak gets us a better draft pick, gives Stotts and Olshey a much better idea of which of the young players are worth keeping, accelerates the development of those players and keeps guys like Aldridge, Batum and Matthews safe from potential injuries. Sorry, I just don't see the downside.

And seriously, it's not like we're going to finish last in the division. Now THAT would be embarrassing!

BNM

 

[e_blazer]

It's hardly an embarassment. I suspect that if the Blazers were still in the hunt for a playoff spot that Nic, Wesley and LaMarcus would all be taping up and playing regardless of their injuries. As is, it would be stupid to risk long term injury to a core player to try to win games that ultimately will end up costing the franchise a better shot at needed talent. My only gripe is the continued piling on of minutes for Lillard. I would be willing to bet that's because he wants to play. One more game and then on to the draft and summer rebuild. The true embarassment would be if we're in the same position next season.

 

[BigGameDamian]

It's hardly an embarassment. I suspect that if the Blazers were still in the hunt for a playoff spot that Nic, Wesley and LaMarcus would all be taping up and playing regardless of their injuries. As is, it would be stupid to risk long term injury to a core player to try to win games that ultimately will end up costing the franchise a better shot at needed talent. My only gripe is the continued piling on of minutes for Lillard. I would be willing to bet that's because he wants to play. One more game and then on to the draft and summer rebuild. The true embarassment would be if we're in the same position next season.

I question if Mathews and Aldridge are really to hurt to play? I think this might have been the plan from the very beginning.

 

[Ed O]

I question if Mathews and Aldridge are really to hurt to play? I think this might have been the plan from the very beginning.

From the beginning of the year? I don't think so--or , if it was, it was a lousy plan.

I'm not embarrassed at all by the losing streak--we're playing a ton of your guys and getting them experience--but if the plan was to barely miss the playoffs (even if it allowed us to retain the draft pick) I think it was a bad plan. The team would have been better served, IMO, by pacing the minutes of the vets earlier in the year even at the cost of winning fewer games. Our young guys would have more experience going forward and we would have a better draft pick.

Ed O.

 

[BBert]

Not embarrassed at all. Just disappointed they overachieved us out of the no. 8 pick.

 

[magnifier661]

Not embarrassed at all. Just disappointed they overachieved us out of the no. 8 pick.

We are winning the lotto. You heard it here first!

 

[Boise Blazer]

I could care less about the losses and I dont think the 10 vs 12 pick will be that big in the long run but I agree that the younger guys getting extended run could pay off big next year. The advancement in Claver and Barton may have accelerated their learning curve by a good 1/2 of a season.