Shoot, Let's Just Leave Well Enough Alone

[ABM]

Oh, it would probably work, but I think both players see themselves as "closers" wheras Miller seems to have a little bit of chameleon in him when he plays and he understands the hierarchy that exists on the team and his place in it.

OK, in the interest of this thread title, I think I'll just shut up now.

 

[e_blazer]

The Blazers should absolutlely look to improve and I'm sure that they will. I don't know if there will be any major shakeup, but at a minimum filling in the spots on the bench that resulted from the trade of Blake and Outlaw will be important. And I'd be surprised if something isn't in the works to trade Rudy given his unhappiness and the need for a more consistent 3 point specialist.

 

[oldmangrouch]

My point is that this team has holes and it should look to fill those holes with players who fit.

Blasphemer! Burn the heretic! This team is perfect! Rainbows and butterflies!

 

[MARIS61]

Yeah, remember, that's what they first said about B-Roy and Dre.

From watching the playoffs, I'd say they were right.

 

[Natebishop3]

From watching the playoffs, I'd say they were right.

You mean the playoffs where Brandon Roy played in only two games in limited minutes, and Andre Miller carried our team to a game one win?

 

[oldmangrouch]

You mean the playoffs where Brandon Roy played in only two games in limited minutes, and Andre Miller carried our team to a game one win?

I believe he is refering to the "High Desert Country Hare-Ball " League.

You catch yourself a mess of jackrabbits, shave little numbers in their fur, hype them up on peyote, and then turn them loose during happy hour at Smokey's Bar, Bordello, and Gun Club.

C'mon down and bring the kids!

 

[jlprk]

There's no such thing as 'trotting out the same bunch' -- You're either getting better or you're getting worse.

He not busy being born is busy dying.

 

[craigehlo]

The problem with the current roster is that the Blazers don't impose their style of play on the other team ala The Magic/Lakers/Suns/Cavs/Boston. Those are the types of teams that we see advancing to the conference finals. The Blazers are still a team that lets the opposition dictate the style of play on most nights.

We've seen this team with a healthy Oden and it's simply not enough to guarantee something like a trip to the WCF. I think the Blazers need to think about making a serious run at Devin Harris or Tony Parker if either are ont he trade block this upcoming season.

 

[crandc]

The team, any team, should always look to improve, but there is a difference between total remake and tinkering. Three years ago the Blazers were in total remake mode. Now they are in tinkering. The core stays, the subs and role players and specialists do need an upgrade.

And they need to stay healthy - it is important to analyze if this year was sheer shit luck or if there is a problem with conditioning, diet, whatever.

 

[Mediocre Man]

This line of thinking is the same reason Portland only has 1 pro sports team.
"ah shucks, we like things how they are. They are safe and we shouldn't take any risks"

You simply have to swing for the fences every now and then, so if KP can somehow turn Aldridge, Rudy and a pick into Bosh, for example, he should do it.

All this team has proved, for whatever reason, is that they are good enough to get into the playoffs and get beat in the first round.

 

[STOMP]

I can't help but also think that a healthy Greg Oden - replete with the attention he'll most certainly draw - enhances the potential of a successful outside shooting game.

the Suns doubled LA most every time he touched the ball. I'm thinking he's seeing pretty much none of that if Greg and Roy are healthy and LaMarcus facing single coverage is usually money. The club's best 3 point shooter/spread the court player (Nic) probably should have had his shooting arm in a sling and their other best outside shooter was months removed from back surgery.

A healthy Blazer squad brings a deep balanced attack of slashers shooters and post players and they have a very nice collection of front court defenders and rebounders. While they might make some moves this offseason that further improve the club, I'd be very optimistic on their chances of advancing if they brought back the core of the current roster and they reached the playoffs healthy. Of those that project to get minutes, only Camby and Miller are over 30 and on the downside of their careers. The rest are more likely to improve then regress. Thats not stagnating.

Losing sucks and while I understand the lingering bitterness of many in the forum, I'm hoping that eventually a little more levelheadedness over how green the grass is on this side of the fence seeps into the conversation. It seems some here are more fans of roster moves for the sake of it then anything else.

STOMP

 

[hasoos]

Blake wasn't the solution before and that hasn't changed. The only thing bringing Blake back does is put out that situation we all hate to watch, where Nate plays Blake too god damned much. See time does heal all wounds. Because if it didn't, all of those games where Blake threw doughnuts in the scoring column would have jarred your brain and made you think about how fucking stupid that is.

Blake wasn't doing it for us. So we had to find out if the young guys would. They didn't or aren't. So it is time to move on, and bring in some fresh blood.

 

[donkiez]

Standing still this year could be improving if we stay healthly. Most of our guys are young enough that every year they are improviing, and as for as much flack as LMA gets I still say he is the perfect compliment to Greg.

Of course some minor tweaks are always made either through trade, draft or free agency. I have no serious hate for any of our guys but if we moved Rudy or Martell I would get over it quickly depending on who we brought in. Weather its through a move or player improvement we definatly need more consistant bench scoring and more front line toughness.

 

[Ed O]

The problem with the current roster is that the Blazers don't impose their style of play on the other team ala The Magic/Lakers/Suns/Cavs/Boston. Those are the types of teams that we see advancing to the conference finals. The Blazers are still a team that lets the opposition dictate the style of play on most nights.

I totally disagree. Portland IS able to impose its style most nights... at least during the regular season. A team simply can't come in 30th (or 1st) in Pace in the NBA without being able to play the style it intends to.

The reason the teams that are still around are (with the exception of Atlanta) is because they're the best teams. They're better than the Blazers: older, more experienced, healthier, and more skilled.

We've seen this team with a healthy Oden and it's simply not enough to guarantee something like a trip to the WCF. I think the Blazers need to think about making a serious run at Devin Harris or Tony Parker if either are ont he trade block this upcoming season.

I agree with this. The team should ALWAYS look to get better, and adding better players should always be a priority for the team.

Ed O.