Portland's chances of a championship?

[Nikolokolus]

Interesting question is which tired old saps take the minimum to try to ride coattails to a title?

Iverson for sure. Juwan maybe? Jerron/Jason Collins perhaps. There will be quite a few guys I'd reckon.

 

[Minstrel]

If Oden's healthy, the team has a tremendous core of Oden, Roy, Aldridge and Batum (with a possible wildcard in Bayless).

I'd love a consolidation trade that made it a three man core like Oden/Paul/Roy, but I don't think that's necessary for the team to harbor realistic title hopes. Oden just needs to be healthy. Ultimately, it just boils down to offensive efficiency...Portland's two-man game between Oden and Roy, with support from Aldridge and Batum, can potentially be as efficient as a three-man game between James, Wade and Bosh. The reason is that there are diminishing returns on star power. The first superstar makes the biggest difference to a team's offense. The second one makes a major difference, but a bit less. The third one, less still. It's not entirely clear that James/Wade/Bosh will be far more devastating than James/Wade.

The other issue is defense. I think a team anchored by a dominant Oden, with Aldridge providing versatile man defense and Batum as a perimeter defensive ace can be a significantly better defensive team than a James/Wade/Bosh/scrubs team. Of course, that partially depends on what "minimums" Miami surrounds their trio with...but high level defensive players, like Bruce Bowen, are generally not super cheap.

Of course, this all requires Oden to be a superstar. I think he definitely has that ability if he stays healthy.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

A lot of poople said the same thing when Boston traded for KG and Ray Allen. Top it off with the fact that those guys were nearing the end of their career's as opposed to being in their prime, and I think the writing is on the wall. The only way you can match up with a team like that is to maybe have 2 stars (like serious high level stars) and a deep bench to take advantage of their lack depth.

I think it's different. Only Pierce was a guy who had the ball in his hands to create - the other two relied on a point guard. And don't forget, that was the big FOUR. Are you telling me Mario Chalmers is Rajon Rondo?
Also: who's shooting the threes? Who's in the middle blocking shots? Who gets to guard Dwight Howard in the playoffs?

 

[BrianFromWA]

If Rajon Rondo is Mario Chalmers in 2008, and James Posey is Beasley, Celtics don't win.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I thought they were getting slim with all of the injuries, but fuggedaboutit. Might as well start stockpiling talent for another try at this thing in 7 years or so.

How do you know Miami isn't going to get injuries? There's certainly plenty of bad Karma directed their way...

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

With Cp3 or Deron williams

100%

Without him 1%

 

[Nikolokolus]

I will say this: If this experiment fails (Hell even Baylor, West and Chamberlain couldn't win it all together in '68) then does Cleveland rename itself to Schaudenfraude Ohio?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

They may also have chemistry problems. Let's face it, Bosh is going to go from averaging 24 pts/game in his career to averaging 16. He'll start missing allstar invites, he'll become annoyed, especially if they don't make it to the finals.

In a nutshell, he'll become a role player having to guard the other teams best big man and spend a lot of effort rebounding. I don't think he'll like it one bit.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

They may also have chemistry problems. Let's face it, Bosh is going to go from averaging 24 pts/game in his career to averaging 16. He'll start missing allstar invites, he'll become annoyed, especially if they don't make it to the finals.

In a nutshell, he'll become a role player having to guard the other teams best big man and spend a lot of effort rebounding. I don't think he'll like it one bit.

Winning cures all. I think if they are winning 60+ games a year (after spending his career in Toronto) he won't mind.

You have to think they all talked about this stuff prior to signing.

 

[hasoos]

They may also have chemistry problems. Let's face it, Bosh is going to go from averaging 24 pts/game in his career to averaging 16. He'll start missing allstar invites, he'll become annoyed, especially if they don't make it to the finals.

In a nutshell, he'll become a role player having to guard the other teams best big man and spend a lot of effort rebounding. I don't think he'll like it one bit.

I hope so. I also remember Bosh saying distinctly last year that he didn't want to be 2nd fiddle to somebody. He must have changed his mind since then.

 

[BrianFromWA]

He won't be 2nd fiddle. More like 3rd. If Shaq shows up, maybe 4th.

 

[hasoos]

I think it's different. Only Pierce was a guy who had the ball in his hands to create - the other two relied on a point guard. And don't forget, that was the big FOUR. Are you telling me Mario Chalmers is Rajon Rondo?
Also: who's shooting the threes? Who's in the middle blocking shots? Who gets to guard Dwight Howard in the playoffs?

At the same time, Paul Pierce isn't Lebron or Dwayne Wade. Both are a clear cut step above him in talent IMO. Bosh and KG is a wash IMO. No Chalmers isn't Rondo. They haven't filled out the team yet. Believe me, a decent PG will find their way to Miami. Somehow. What a big surprise that will be.............

 

[Idog1976]

It's an arms race now. If we want any shot, it's CP3 time.

NJN

Out - Favors, draft picks mega trade exception

In - LMA

NOH

Out - CP3, Okafor, Posey

In - Amec, Camby, JPEC, Batum, Bayless, Rudy, NJN pick, Portland picks, cash, monster LMA trade exception

POR

Out - LMA, Amec, Camby, JPEC, Batum, Bayless, Rudy, Portland pick, cash

In - Favors, CP3, Okafor, Posey

PG- Paul/Johnson/Mills
SG - Roy/Williams
SF - Wesley(MLE)/Dante/Posey/Babbit
PF - Favors/Okafor/Pendy
C - Oden/Okafor

Thoughts?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

At the same time, Paul Pierce isn't Lebron or Dwayne Wade. Both are a clear cut step above him in talent IMO.

I dunno. Pierce pretty much played LeBron to a standstill in the 2008 playoffs. Pierce was a big game player that year.

Bosh and KG is a wash IMO.

Maybe now, because KG is old and broken down. But KG of 2008 was head and shoulders better than Bosh. Bosh is one of the most overrated players in the league. KG is perennially underrated, in part because everybody underrates defense, and his defense was among the best ever.

No Chalmers isn't Rondo. They haven't filled out the team yet. Believe me, a decent PG will find their way to Miami. Somehow. What a big surprise that will be.............

Spare me the conspiracy theories. It's hot, the nightlife is fabulous for young rich men and there are no taxes. Whaddya want?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

NJN

Thoughts?

ANYTHING that gets us Chris Paul without giving Roy and Oden im for

 

[BrianFromWA]

your trade might look better if it was LMA to MIN, Al Jeff to NJN (he's a bigger chip for a TE, and his contract runs out when LBJ would be coming to Brooklyn in 2013-14) and Rubio to NOH, with MIN getting the picks.

 

[alex42083]

Roy can D up on Wade. If B-Roy feels like it...
Nicolas can D up on LeBron.
LMA, Oden or Camby can D up on Bosh.

We got this!

 

[maxiep]

They're still going to have Chalmers and Beasley (who will be great complimentary talents), they'll have some somewhat promising prospects in D'Sean Butler (when he gets healthy) and a big fat body in Dexter Pittman ... add a bunch of veteran's minimum guys to that roster and they'll be just fine (off hand I'd guess AI joins to chase a ring).

I bet Shaq returns to the M'eat.

 

[Idog1976]

your trade might look better if it was LMA to MIN, Al Jeff to NJN (he's a bigger chip for a TE, and his contract runs out when LBJ would be coming to Brooklyn in 2013-14) and Rubio to NOH, with MIN getting the picks.

Well whatever the details how about the lineup?

 

[Idog1976]

I bet Shaq returns to the M'eat.

Lol, Kobe you might want to ask Shaq "how LBJ's ass taste"?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Well whatever the details how about the lineup?

Well, duh, about the lineup...I don't know that Favors is ready for the starting PF spot over Emekafor, and I'd try for Redick over Mathews, but I'd take that team into battle.

 

[crowTrobot]

OKC is expert at milking their space. They're saving it to get Deron Williams next year.

he's not a FA until 2012 and their space may go away in the new CBA anyway

 

[maxiep]

Interesting question is which tired old saps take the minimum to try to ride coattails to a title?

Shaq.

 

[The Professional Fan]

If Portland is good enough to make it to the Finals, it's going to be because Oden is healthy and REALLY good... and if we make it to the Finals then we'll have a good chance to beat anyone.

Ed O.

3 posts after the OP and I'm just going to QFT this. I agree.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

I'm not trying to be a homer. And I'll admit it now, the Blazers window as the team of the future is limited.

But, every time I see Roy vs. Wade, Roy usually does as well, if not better than Wade.

And every time I see Aldridge vs. Bosh, Aldridge and Bosh do as well as the other.

Now, Lebron>Batum and the rest of our supporting cast but Oden, if healthy and if he ever reaches his full potential, still is and forever shall be the guy who takes us to the top.

Full potential Oden is supposed to be almost as good or equal to Lebron James.

Let's just put it at that.

It doesn't guarantee any rings or make us the team of the present or future but I guess it makes you want to believe still.

 

[Idog1976]

I'm not trying to be a homer. And I'll admit it now, the Blazers window as the team of the future is limited.

But, every time I see Roy vs. Wade, Roy usually does as well, if not better than Wade.

And every time I see Aldridge vs. Bosh, Aldridge and Bosh do as well as the other.

Now, Lebron>Batum and the rest of our supporting cast but Oden, if healthy and if he ever reaches his full potential, still is and forever shall be the guy who takes us to the top.

Full potential Oden is supposed to be almost as good or equal to Lebron James.

Let's just put it at that.

It doesn't guarantee any rings or make us the team of the present or future but I guess it makes you want to believe still.

Word and people need to stop sending negative waves in Odens direction and start thinking positively. Oden is our great black hope!