Should the Blazers guarantee the playoffs?

[Boise Blazer]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2013/09/canzano_enough_with_the_hollow.html

I will just get it out of the way and say yes, this is Canzano and 99% of the time he does sound like an idiot.

BUT, I do think this is an interesting question for conversation. Should they just have the attitude that they WILL make the playoffs internally? Should they just come out and say it publicly? Are they kidding themselves that we will make the playoffs? Is it just as important to change the culture of how this team approaches the season and playoffs?

I think MOST Blazers fans know that the playoffs are something that probably should happen this year but it will be interesting to see how the team handles that.

On Monday, nobody wants to hear the Blazers make the same tired promises. No talking about how much better the locker room feels, how they'll "try to compete for the playoffs" or "We're going to really push tempo this season." LaMarcus Aldridge said on media day in 2012, "I think it's a whole new feeling this year, which is good. Kind of like a new start after last season."

If he trots that trite stuff out as an opening statement on Monday someone should poke him in the eye. If he declares the outlook for the 2013-14 Blazers -- as he did last September -- is, "as long as we get better every night... we should be good," he should face a firing line of year-old Chalupas. If coach Terry Stotts says, "We're looking to compete for a playoff spot. I don't know why anyone would say otherwise," he should have to take a lap around the arena.

Enough with the meaningless talk. If the Blazers want to make Monday count, what we need to hear is that they will make the playoffs this season. Yes, I'd like a guarantee. Bet you would, too. Because as long as the organization is asking fans to invest their disposable income and emotion in this franchise, the least that a playoff-worthy roster can do is vow that, "It's playoffs or bust."

The Blazers have the longest playoff-series victory drought in the Western Conference. The haven't won a series since 1999-2000, and have missed the postseason altogether in seven of the past 10 seasons. Enough with the complacency, and broken culture. Save the excuses, too. This is a roster that is deep enough, and talented enough, and hopefully, determined enough, to be among the best eight teams in the West. The Blazers are good enough to participate in the postseason.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

A "guarantee" is worthless unless backed, unless the guarantor has some skin in the game. What do you want, for Stotts to offer up his job, or for the organization to partially-refund STH's if they miss the playoffs?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Should they guarantee the playoffs for which team? OKC? LAC? SAS? HOU? DEN? MIN? GSW? MEM? Maybe even the NOP?

 

[Mediocre Man]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2013/09/canzano_enough_with_the_hollow.html

I will just get it out of the way and say yes, this is Canzano and 99% of the time he does sound like an idiot.

BUT, I do think this is an interesting question for conversation. Should they just have the attitude that they WILL make the playoffs internally? Should they just come out and say it publicly? Are they kidding themselves that we will make the playoffs? Is it just as important to change the culture of how this team approaches the season and playoffs?

I think MOST Blazers fans know that the playoffs are something that probably should happen this year but it will be interesting to see how the team handles that.

This team is not a playoff team yet. Until the front court can prove it has more than 2 legit players on it, they are not there yet

 

[Boise Blazer]

A "guarantee" is worthless unless backed, unless the guarantor has some skin in the game. What do you want, for Stotts to offer up his job, or for the organization to partially-refund STH's if they miss the playoffs?

Fair point, Im not as concerned with the words as much as the attitudes and actual beliefs behind closed doors.

 

[Boise Blazer]

This team is not a playoff team yet. Until the front court can prove it has more than 2 legit players on it, they are not there yet

I think that's a valid point for advancing in the playoffs but not for making the playoffs.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

No need. LaMarcus and RoLo are going to get injured and miss significant games. Nevertheless, we'll win 45 games just missing the playoffs and MM/Dave/Others will say "see I told you we're not a playoff team..."

 

[Mediocre Man]

No need. LaMarcus and RoLo are going to get injured and miss significant games. Nevertheless, we'll win 45 games just missing the playoffs and MM/Dave/Others will say "see I told you we're not a playoff team..."

ROLO has missed significant time in several seasons, so factoring that in to playoff talk is smart.

 

[handiman]

So, players aren't allowed to trot out the same tired old lines but journalists are?

 

[Eastoff]

ROLO has missed significant time in several seasons, so factoring that in to playoff talk is smart.

I think it's useful to describe this as an aspect of why you assume the Blazers will miss the playoffs. Greg Oden and Elliot Williams are the only recent Blazers that I assume to be injured.

 

[julius]

Should they guarantee the playoffs for which team? OKC? LAC? SAS? HOU? DEN? MIN? GSW? MEM? Maybe even the NOP?

Denver?

They lost their coach (a big reason why they performed as well as they did) and lost Andre Iguoadala. Not sure they're a guarantee to make the playoffs. Not sure why New Orleans would be a better team either.

 

[julius]

This team is not a playoff team yet. Until the front court can prove it has more than 2 legit players on it, they are not there yet

Who is the 3rd "legit" front court players that New Orleans have?

Or Denver? Their "legit" big men consist or Javale Mcgee and JJ Hickson.

 

[HailBlazers]

So, players aren't allowed to trot out the same tired old lines but journalists are?

lol, riiight.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Yes, I think the Blazers should say that they won't raise ticket prices until they get out of the first round of the playoffs. Any other promise doesn't really mean much.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Who is the 3rd "legit" front court players that New Orleans have?

Or Denver? Their "legit" big men consist or Javale Mcgee and JJ Hickson.

Faried, Galinari, Randolph, Arthur

all are proven NBA caliber players.

We have Robinson, Leonard and Freeland and Howell who none have proven to be NBA caliber players.


Steitsma, Smith, Davis, Anderson and even Amundson have all showed they can contribute at the NBA level.

I am not saying they are world beaters, but they have shown they have the ability to at least play well at this level. Our guys haven't......yet

I really have no idea why you would argue that other than you like to argue with me

 

[julius]

Yes, I think the Blazers should say that they won't raise ticket prices until they get out of the first round of the playoffs. Any other promise doesn't really mean much.

They should retroactively price tickets to the price of tickets back when they made it out of the first round, for those who had them back when they last made it out if the first round

 

[SlyPokerDog]

They should retroactively price tickets to the price of tickets back when they made it out of the first round, for those who had them back when they last made it out if the first round

That's ain't going to happen. Can you imagine trying to run that one by Paul Allen.

 

[Stephen Curry]

IMO This team is not a playoff team YET!

 

[Nikolokolus]

What is a guarantee supposed to provide exactly? Does saying it make it so?

 

[blue9]

Yes, we need empty, non-binding guarantees. Hollow words spoken during training camp will ensure a playoff birth.

 

[dviss1]

This team is not a playoff team yet. Until the front court can prove it has more than 2 legit players on it, they are not there yet

Please name the legit front court players last year on the Heat other than Lebron and Bosh and don't you DARE include Birdman.

That's what I thought. Your argument is invalid.

 

[dviss1]

Faried, Galinari, Randolph, Arthur

all are proven NBA caliber players.

We have Robinson, Leonard and Freeland and Howell who none have proven to be NBA caliber players.


Steitsma, Smith, Davis, Anderson and even Amundson have all showed they can contribute at the NBA level.

I am not saying they are world beaters, but they have shown they have the ability to at least play well at this level. Our guys haven't......yet

I really have no idea why you would argue that other than you like to argue with me

Randolph and Arthur are NOT "proven NBA caliber players".

 

[Mediocre Man]

Please name the legit front court players last year on the Heat other than Lebron and Bosh and don't you DARE include Birdman.

That's what I thought. Your argument is invalid.

Chris Andersen had a 17.4 PER

Haslem

Why wouldn't you include Birdman?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Randolph and Arthur are NOT "proven NBA caliber players".

Anthony Randolph has been in the league for 5 years and has a 17.1 career PER.......3 points higher than Wes Matthews

Arthur is a proven role player in the NBA. Has been for a couple years now.

 

[dviss1]

Chris Andersen had a 17.4 PER

Haslem

Why wouldn't you include Birdman?

Haslem nor Birdman is the reason they made the playoffs. If neither of them played a second MIA still would have won.

Haslem put up all of 3.9 ppg and 5.4 RPG last season. Birdman had 4.9 and 4.4. Per or not they both suck.

 

[blue9]

Haslem nor Birdman is the reason they made the playoffs. If neither of them played a second MIA still would have won.

Haslem put up all of 3.9 ppg and 5.4 RPG last season. Birdman had 4.9 and 4.4. Per or not they both suck.

I agree with your first point (Haslem/Birdman not being reason for playoffs. But I strongly disagree with your last comment - neither of them suck, not even remotely. Haslem has gotten older and isn't able to play the way he did when he was younger - but during his prime he epitomized how the PF position should be played.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Haslem nor Birdman is the reason they made the playoffs. If neither of them played a second MIA still would have won.

Haslem put up all of 3.9 ppg and 5.4 RPG last season. Birdman had 4.9 and 4.4. Per or not they both suck.

Who said anything about them being the reason they made the playoffs?

You are arguing to argue. Portland has no proven front court depth, and if you don't agree with that you are stupid. There, now if you disagree you will be personally attacking yourself

 

[dviss1]

Anthony Randolph has been in the league for 5 years and has a 17.1 career PER.......3 points higher than Wes Matthews

Arthur is a proven role player in the NBA. Has been for a couple years now.

You really want me to give a shit about the PER of a player who plays less than 9 mins a game? I'm sure his PER would go down with more minutes.

Arthur? No reason to even bring him up. Proven... Meh... His best season showed averages of 9ppg and 4rpg while never averaging over 20 mins a game.

The only thing he has proven is that we don't know if he is going to stay healthy. I would much rather have Robinson.

 

[dviss1]

Who said anything about them being the reason they made the playoffs?

You are arguing to argue. Portland has no proven front court depth, and if you don't agree with that you are stupid. There, now if you disagree you will be personally attacking yourself

No you are attacking the Blazers (like all of you negative nancys do) for having the same issue as half of the league. Even the Champions.

 

[Mediocre Man]

No you are attacking the Blazers (like all of you negative nancys do) for having the same issue as half of the league. Even the Champions.

You are wrong.

Robinson, Leonard and Freeland have proven NOTHING. Haslem and Andersen have both proved they are solid role players, or can step in if there is an injury.