Report: Blazers will have the worst starting 5 in the Western Conference

[Stevenson]

Per Bleacher Report.

And please, don't let me hear you cry about Bleacher Report. Stick to the point being made. Personally, I can't really disagree with their take, and it sure as hell bums me out.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Gerald Henderson isn't our starting 2, CJ is, and I'm not sure either he or Aminu are even starters. Also not sure about Davis and Plumlee starting, I think it's a pretty even 4-bigs rotation with Meyers and Vonleh.

 

[MARIS61]

I disagree.

I think we cut loose a large degree of lackadaisicalness, especially on the defensive end. Matthews will never be the defender he was, Aldridge, Lopez and Batum were never known for diving on the floor for loose balls or taking the charge. They all but slept through the playoffs.

Our current roster has energy, athleticism and no small degree of game knowledge. I'm fairly certain we'll make the playoffs this year.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

First, he projects Davis to start, but I think it will be Leonard.

Second, he claims that neither Plumlee nor Davis are anywhere close to as good as Robin Lopez, and I disagree with that take. Plumlee's numbers as a starter were actually superior to Lopez's.

Third, I'd put the Blazer starters ahead of Denver and the Lakers, but that's it.

 

[BonesJones]

Haha. We have two above average big men, two average wings and a superstar PG...

 

[BonesJones]

Id still put us ahead of the T'Wolves, Denver, and the Lakers

 

[Pinwheel1]

I bet we will have the worst starting 5 in the WC. But at the same time we are just 1 really good starter away from having a really good unit.

You put one really good experienced scorer at one of our wings and all of a sudden that unit looks pretty good. Plumlee and Davis are better defenders than what we have had (When we had one of the " best" starting 5)
So now we have to replace LA's scoring with a wing player. Easier said then done, but it is not like we need 4 new starters. We have some pieces. We just need one more really good piece to fall in our lap.

I don't expect that to happen this year. So yes we will struggle this year.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Personally, I don't understand how you rate this team. It's incomplete in that we'll be throwing out a lot of inexperienced, young players. Most positions are wide open. Some guys are bound to grow, some bound to sink.

We are athletic, loaded with potential, but whether we take advantage of either remains to be seen.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Personally, I don't understand how you rate this team. It's incomplete in that we'll be throwing out a lot of inexperienced, young players. Most positions are wide open. Some guys are bound to grow, some bound to sink.

You answered your own question. Are you sure you need our help?

 

[HailBlazers]

Per Bleacher Report.

Lol that's awesome, tank city. We finally got what all those "tear it down" people wanted.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Worst on paper maybe but I think stylistically our team will work especially if our lineup includes Leonard in the starting lineup.

Our bench will be decent... Hopefully.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Personally, I don't understand how you rate this team. It's incomplete in that we'll be throwing out a lot of inexperienced, young players. Most positions are wide open. Some guys are bound to grow, some bound to sink.

Exactly. Four starting unit positions and key bench player spots are up for grabs. It's time for the players to show up for the audition (this upcoming season) and make their case.

 

[dviss1]

Where's Wookie when you need him!?

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

You answered your own question. Are you sure you need our help?

There's not really a question, I get what you're saying, but your response makes it clear you're not hearing me. Your response was clever, though. I mean, the whole "games aren't played on paper" is what I'm getting at.

And I didn't ask for anyone's help.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Where's Wookie when you need him!?

Yeah, in before Wooks can say, "Heh, Bleacher Report," even if the OP essentially alluded to the coming responses.

 

[Mediocre Man]

On paper that's probably fair

 

[BigGameDamian]

Gerald Henderson isn't our starting 2, CJ is, and I'm not sure either he or Aminu are even starters. Also not sure about Davis and Plumlee starting, I think it's a pretty even 4-bigs rotation with Meyers and Vonleh.

Oh really think you wrong. CJ & Dame would be an awful backcourt defensively.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Id still put us ahead of the T'Wolves, Denver, and the Lakers

Eh, maybe. In theory, Wiggins and Towns alone should be enough to make their starting 5 better than ours. But on the flip side, we've got Dame, so...?

Also, Dallas is definitely a question mark, depending on how Matthews and Chandler recover from their injuries.

 

[LuckyShot]

Haha. We have two above average big men, two average wings and a superstar PG...

I disagree. I love Dame, but I'd say he's borderline all star. Our wings are fringe starters. Our big are also fringe starters. On bad teams they start, on good teams they are key reserves. We are hoping some guys develop into more. On paper we suck.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Oh really think you wrong. CJ & Dame would be an awful backcourt defensively.

Maybe, but we have better interior defense and while Damian is still lacking defensively I don't see CJ as being a poor defender, a bit undersized but a fairly good defender.

 

[BonesJones]

I disagree. I love Dame, but I'd say he's borderline all star. Our wings are fringe starters. Our big are also fringe starters. On bad teams they start, on good teams they are key reserves. We are hoping some guys develop into more. On paper we suck.

That was last year. This year he'll be a superstar.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Sounds about right.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Gerald Henderson isn't our starting 2, CJ is,.

Given that Olshey has already said that CJ needs to work on becoming a 1, I'm pretty sure he won't be starting.

 

[BonesJones]

Eh, maybe. In theory, Wiggins and Towns alone should be enough to make their starting 5 better than ours. But on the flip side, we've got Dame, so...?

Also, Dallas is definitely a question mark, depending on how Matthews and Chandler recover from their injuries.

Honestly, I don't think Towns will be all that much better then Vonleh or Leonard this year, and Id certainly take Dame at this point in time over Wiggins.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That was last year. This year he'll be a superstar.

Superduperstar.

 

[LuckyShot]

That was last year. This year he'll be a superstar.

Right with you in hoping that's the case. In Dame I trust.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Suppose we just started our 5 best regardless of position, who would that be? Obviously Lillard. Maybe CJ. Almost certainly Henderson (sadly). Aminu? Leonard? Plumlee? Davis?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Given that Olshey has already said that CJ needs to work on becoming a 1, I'm pretty sure he won't be starting.

When did Olshey say that he wants CJ to become a PG?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Eh, maybe. In theory, Wiggins and Towns alone should be enough to make their starting 5 better than ours. But on the flip side, we've got Dame, so...?

Also, Dallas is definitely a question mark, depending on how Matthews and Chandler recover from their injuries.

Dallas is a big question mark, but if everyone is healthy and bounces back, then their starting 5 is pretty solid: D-Will and Wes, Parsons and Dirk and Pachulia is actually an underrated C.

 

[oldfisherman]

The only thing preventing this roster from being competitive is time. Lots and lots of time.