Should Cho's Assessment of the Team Change?

[PapaG]

Does LMA's transformation affect Cho's thinking? Should it?

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/trail_blazers_big_changes_on_t.html

It was a July day full of smiles when Cho proclaimed the Blazers "one or two pieces" away from contending for an NBA title. And nobody disagreed. But since that day, the franchise has threatened to fall to pieces. There have been seven knee surgeries, three disappointing draft picks and a slew of missed shots on the court.The Blazers, a preseason pick to contend for the Western Conference title, are 25-22 and clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot.

In the process, Cho's task has changed from ushering the Blazers into a championship era to making sure they don't decay into irrelevance.

The days of proclaiming this franchise "one or two pieces away" have faded. In it's place is this matter-of-fact assessment from Cho:

"This team is an average to a little-above average team, and our record reflects that," Cho said. "And there's not going to be any quick fix to make it into a championship team. This is going to be a process."

Cho waited until the Blazers had played about half of their games before deciding what his long term plan is for the franchise. He said that plan may become clear to fans after the trade deadline, but added that "winning is still important."

"But I think you have to think short term and long term," Cho said. "We are not going to sacrifice a long-term goal for a short-term benefit."

 

[Nikolokolus]

He's still correct. This is not a championship caliber team. An above average team? Certainly. A very good team? maybe. A great team? No.

 

[maxiep]

LA's transformation into a #1 option shouldn't change his thinking whatsoever, other than to solidify his thought about the core of this team. Our recent record is more us playing over our heads than it is an accurate reflection of our talent level.

The new plan has to be to build around Aldridge, pray GO can have a healthy season, work on Batum's assertiveness, find a better and more consistent starting two than Matthews and use him as a 2/3 energy guy coming off the bench, hope Roy can give you 10-20 mpg at 80% of his old level for 50-65 games off the bench and fill the holes by putting everyone else on the block.

It's like trying to make a seven course meal with what you have in your cupboard: It's not an optimal set of circumstances.

 

[Blazinaway]

LA's transformation into a #1 option shouldn't change his thinking whatsoever, other than to solidify his thought about the core of this team. Our recent record is more us playing over our heads than it is an accurate reflection of our talent level.

The new plan has to be to build around Aldridge, pray GO can have a healthy season, work on Batum's assertiveness, find a better and more consistent starting two than Matthews and use him as a 2/3 energy guy coming off the bench, hope Roy can give you 10-20 mpg at 80% of his old level for 50-65 games off the bench and fill the holes by putting everyone else on the block.

It's like trying to make a seven course meal with what you have in your cupboard: It's not an optimal set of circumstances.

with the recent Harris/Speitghts rumors in just the past 12 hours it looks like "Cho's menu" plan is perhaps taking shape

 

[Nikolokolus]

If he gets Harris and Speights without having to give up the house, then do we call that "Dining and dashing?"

 

[Blazinaway]

If he gets Harris and Speights without having to give up the house, then do we call that "Dining and dashing?"

or Chinese takeout?

 

[PapaG]

Adding a Harris is really indicative of Cho's "one or two pieces" July mentality, and not his January "no quick fix" mentality, isn't it?

In other words, I think LMA has made Cho rethink his assessment of the team from just last month, or at least Cho should rethink that assessment, IMO. Finding a franchise-level scorer who can also help your team win is very difficult. Well, Cho has one now, and he didn't have one in early Janurary (or so he thought at that time) when he made his transformed statement to Quick.

 

[Minstrel]

Adding a Harris is really indicative of Cho's "one or two pieces" July mentality, and not his January "no quick fix" mentality, isn't it?

I wouldn't say so. If Cho believed that the team was close to contention, the best play would be to keep Miller, because he's playing at a high level and is working well with Aldridge. Harris would be a play for the future, since he's considerably younger than Miller. I don't think Harris could be seen as a "quick fix" move.

 

[PapaG]

I wouldn't say so. If Cho believed that the team was close to contention, the best play would be to keep Miller, because he's playing at a high level and is working well with Aldridge. Harris would be a play for the future, since he's considerably younger than Miller. I don't think Harris could be seen as a "quick fix" move.

I don't think he meant one or two pieces would result in an immediate title. I thought he meant one or two pieces to surround his All-Star player (Roy) with better talent.

If he still thinks this is an average team with an average futre, I'd be surprised, since LMA is playing at an MVP-level over the past two months. A very big "piece" was added; that piece just happened to be already on the roster, which is a huge bonus.

 

[Minstrel]

I don't think he meant one or two pieces would result in an immediate title. I thought he meant one or two pieces to surround his All-Star player (Roy) with better talent.

If he still thinks this is an average team with an average futre, I'd be surprised, since LMA is playing at an MVP-level over the past two months. A very big "piece" was added; that piece just happened to be already on the roster, which is a huge bonus.

My interpretation of his comment was that the team was a player or two away from being serious title contenders. That was with the assumption of an All-Star Roy, Oden coming back from injury and a complementary Aldridge.

So I don't think he thought it was "an average team" back then. He probably thinks it is now, because it is now (or maybe a bit above average...but not very close to elite). That could change if Oden can play next season and Roy can contribute.

 

[PapaG]

My interpretation of his comment was that the team was a player or two away from being serious title contenders. That was with the assumption of an All-Star Roy, Oden coming back from injury and a complementary Aldridge.

So I don't think he thought it was "an average team" back then. He probably thinks it is now, because it is now (or maybe a bit above average...but not very close to elite). That could change if Oden can play next season and Roy can contribute.

Hmm. This team has beaten San Antonio, Chicago, and New Orleans without Camby or Roy, and has won 7 of 9 since Cho made those comments. I'd hope he didn't draw a line on an arbitrary date to conclude his assessment, and is acting solely on that time frame. I'm guessing that he has the ability to take into account new information, and adjust any plans accordingly.

 

[Minstrel]

Hmm. This team has beaten San Antonio, Chicago, and New Orleans without Camby or Roy, and has won 7 of 9 since Cho made those comments. I'd hope he didn't draw a line on an arbitrary date to conclude his assessment, and is acting solely on that time frame. I'm guessing that he has the ability to take into account new information, and adjust any plans accordingly.

I'm not sure what in my post this is a response to. I wasn't saying that Cho wasn't adjusting to new information. Just that he probably thought the team was closer to title contention prior to Oden being lost for this season and Roy being likely lost forever as a superstar.

Your view seemed to be that Cho thought little of the team back in June, but should think more of it now. That wasn't my interpretation of his June comments, is all. I think he thought a lot of the talent back then.

 

[PapaG]

I'm not sure what in my post this is a response to. I wasn't saying that Cho wasn't adjusting to new information. Just that he probably thought the team was closer to title contention prior to Oden being lost for this season and Roy being likely lost forever as a superstar.

Your view seemed to be that Cho thought little of the team back in June, but should think more of it now. That wasn't my interpretation of his June comments, is all. I think he thought a lot of the talent back then.

Yeah, that's my opinion as well. Cho loved the team in June. I was referring to his more recent comments that departed dramatically from the June comments. Not sure how you didn't understand that, but I'll try to be more clear next time. Does LMA's recent explosion put him somewhere in between his two public statements on the construction and potential of this team?

Or, maybe his recent comments were a motivational ploy. Telling your roster (through the media) that they are "average" and need to be upgraded can have quite the motivating effect, I would imagine.

 

[Minstrel]

Yeah, that's my opinion as well. I was referring to his more recent comments that departed dramatically from the June comments. Not sure how you didn't understand that, but I'll try to be more clear next time.

Ah, I see now. It was due to this:

I don't think he meant one or two pieces would result in an immediate title. I thought he meant one or two pieces to surround his All-Star player (Roy) with better talent.

If he still thinks this is an average team with an average futre, I'd be surprised

I thought your "still" was in reference to the June comments you were talking about in that first paragraph, mostly due to you saying "I don't think he meant ... an immediate title."

I misunderstood you. Those two things made me think you meant Cho was saying the team was nothing special in June and "still" thought so. Now I see what you meant.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think the Blazers are further away than 1 or 2 pieces, unless those pieces are all star calliber players. But Cho said we need to make some deals and he was right.

 

[STOMP]

the new plan? Well Wesley is 23 Batum 22 Aldridge 25 and Greg is 23... thats 4/5th of what should be a very solid lineup. I'd be curious to hear what management's true opinions are of Elliot Williams, Petteri and Freeland as I've next to none, but it seems that they'll eventually need a new PG and to add some quality depth to their frontcourt. A healthy Greg would seem to bolster them into immediate contender status so I wouldn't be very quick to upset the apple cart unless it was a move that had obvious upside.

I'd probably try to consolidate JPEC and the two #1s into a single promising asset and hold onto Miller and Camby at least through this season.

STOMP

 

[Mediocre Man]

Counting on Oden is fools gold, Stomp.

 

[PapaG]

So, did it change? Or, did the Vulcans change?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think it's safe to say this is now a 'good' to 'very good' team, but I still see some potentially fatal flaws, namely: one true center, no real backup point guard and while the trade for Wallace is a no-brainer and a complete steal, he's still very prone to injury. I think the real problem is that I'm not sure this team is built for any kind of success post lockout and yet it's still probably not built for any kind of deep playoff run. we'll see I guess.

 

[maxiep]

I think Wallace's injury issues can be mitigated somewhat because he won't be the #1 option anymore. We can ration his minutes.