Stephen A. Smith says we're a piece away from winning it all

[Mediocre Man]

Boy, this act isn't getting old.


Anyways, I think the team is 1 piece away, BUT that 1 piece is going to be hard to find or get.

I couldn't agree more. Bashing someone for being an incompetent hack and then all of a sudden taking what he says as noteworthy because it is nice is getting old.


He is probably hoping the front office is as stupid as some fans and will make a push for Melo.

 

[maxiep]

I didn't listen to Smith when he trashed us for picking Roy, and I'm not listening to him now.

 

[julius]

Are many Blazer fans wanting to trade for Carmelo?

He'd be the worst thing to happen to this franchise since...well, the collapse of 2001.

 

[magnifier661]

Korver would be perfect for us

 

[Nhawz]

That one piece he is talking about, a borderline all star, would take too much of our assets to attain thus killing the chemistry this team has right now. We would take one big step forward ultimately to take two steps back. I think we keep doing what we are doing and wait till CJ gets healthy and see how he fits with our group. I think CJ will end up stealing MO's minutes as our first off the bench to help with the scoring load when wes, and dame need a break. That kid will be special.

 

[Nhawz]

Korver would be perfect for us

We would be the best shooting team in NBA history.

 

[ripcityboy]

I'm sorry but Stephen A. Smith is a joke along with his ESPN comrade, Skip Bayless. You're quarterback has a good game and it's "they look like a playoff bound team,"
then you lose a game and it's, "the worst example of a team I have ever seen." He plays both sides of the fence for all he can get. The missing pieces(s) are there and
I am sure Oshey will find them.

 

[STOMP]

Steven A. and Skip undoubtedly have different opinions then what they express for ratings. Their gig is to take provocative stands on some subject of the day and argue. On occasion their stand agrees with my opinion, so what? Their acts are pretty overt... everyone does get it that they're performing right?

STOMP

 

[Blazinaway]

A legit scorer off the bench.

Mo is too inconsistent for that IMO.

Before Davis went down I thought Ryan Anderson could be that guy.

Though, any difference maker will cost a lot. To get value you have to give up value. As thin as this bench is I don't know if we can afford that type of move this year.

think SPENCER HAWES

if we are in "win now" mode IMO he'd be a great fit

 

[Natebishop3]

Two pages so far on what Screamin A Smith thinks, and not bash of him because it's actually positive?

LOL

The man literally knows nothing about anything

So? This is a Blazers forum where we post Blazers news. Just reposting something that was on the Blazers website.

Take from it what you will. I've never really given Stephen A. much credit, but everything he says pretty much echoes what many of us have been saying. He doesn't elaborate at all on what that "piece" might be though.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I didn't listen to Smith when he trashed us for picking Roy, and I'm not listening to him now.

Ditto

 

[Mediocre Man]

So? This is a Blazers forum where we post Blazers news. Just reposting something that was on the Blazers website.

Take from it what you will. I've never really given Stephen A. much credit, but everything he says pretty much echoes what many of us have been saying. He doesn't elaborate at all on what that "piece" might be though.

Everything he says good. Not everything he says.

We differ. I think its a joke that people are happily posting quotes from guys they have despised because they are now saying nice things. You don't. No reason to argue about it

 

[Natebishop3]

Everything he says good. Not everything he says.

We differ. I think its a joke that people are happily posting quotes from guys they have despised because they are now saying nice things. You don't. No reason to argue about it

You guys completely misunderstand the point of posting links to national pundits like Smith.

It's not because they suddenly have credibility, it's because you know you've arrived when the pundits like Stephen A. jump on your bandwagon. Apparently we haven't come far enough to convince Skip Bayless though.

 

[santeesioux]

I'll listen to the guy when it comes to cheez doodles, but i don't care what he has to say about basketball.

 

[Nikolokolus]

You guys completely misunderstand the point of posting links to national pundits like Smith.

It's not because they suddenly have credibility, it's because you know you've arrived when the pundits like Stephen A. jump on your bandwagon. Apparently we haven't come far enough to convince Skip Bayless though.

It's a pleasant diversion to see something like that, but too often I feel like people try to turn it into some kind of validation. That said if it's coming from people whose basketball opinions I respect then that's a different story. If it was Steve Kerr for example then you start to get my attention.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's a pleasant diversion to see something like that, but too often I feel like people try to turn it into some kind of validation. That said if it's coming from people whose basketball opinions I respect then that's a different story. If it was Steve Kerr for example then you start to get my attention.

It doesn't carry any weight, other than the justification that we're playing well enough that someone like Smith would publicly say we could be title contenders.

Did he say anything substantive? No. I love when people say "they could beat any team on any give night." That could be said about literally any team in the league. He offers nothing about what piece is needed, or who, or where we could get it. We're playing well and Smith wants to be able to say that he was on our bandwagon since early in the season.

It's only interesting because it's funny.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Is there some unwritten rule where you have to agree with everything a writer or on air guy says 100% of the time? I just dont get this angle of yours mm.

Guy: "pizza is good"
Me: "I agree!"

Guy: "I like to get my scrotum stapled to other guys scrotums"
Me: "me too!"

Guy: the blazers suck
Me: "whoa, not really feeling that"

Clearly, one can differ occasionally. Not sure why you think they can't.

And 2 out of 3 ain't bad

 

[Run BJM]

Outsider's perspective: I think you need more defensive players, not more scorers. Adding a mobile defensive guy who can play either PF or C next to LA or Lopez would be money. Think Taj Gibson, Amir Johnson, etc. Obviously other teams aren't just giving away high level reserves like that though. I think an upgrade to Freeland or TRob is possible given your chips and it seems like the obvious upgrade to make on the roster.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Outsider's perspective: I think you need more defensive players, not more scorers. Adding a mobile defensive guy who can play either PF or C next to LA or Lopez would be money. Think Taj Gibson, Amir Johnson, etc. Obviously other teams aren't just giving away high level reserves like that though. I think an upgrade to Freeland or TRob is possible given your chips and it seems like the obvious upgrade to make on the roster.

I think you're pretty close to the mark ... a more reliable sixth man scorer type wouldn't be a bad way to go too (also, I wouldn't cry if they found a reserve point-guard who was more of a pass-first guy).

 

[Natebishop3]

I think you're pretty close to the mark ... a more reliable sixth man scorer type wouldn't be a bad way to go too (also, I wouldn't cry if they found a reserve point-guard who was more of a pass-first guy).

You know it's funny though, Wes would be a great bench player. He plays good defense and when he's hot, you leave him in. Getting someone like Evan Turner would be great because you start Turner and then move Wes to the bench where I think he could be very strong.

 

[julius]

If the team starts to struggle, and loses a few games, maybe they could have Wes come off the bench and start Dorrell Wright in the SF spot and move Batum to the SG spot.

 

[Natebishop3]

If the team starts to struggle, and loses a few games, maybe they could have Wes come off the bench and start Dorrell Wright in the SF spot and move Batum to the SG spot.

You'd think Wes would be perfect for the bench scoring role. He's one of those streaky guys that can go off for 30. If he's coming off the bench, you can afford to either ride him when he's hot, or play someone else when he's struggling (like last night.)

 

[Nikolokolus]

You know it's funny though, Wes would be a great bench player. He plays good defense and when he's hot, you leave him in. Getting someone like Evan Turner would be great because you start Turner and then move Wes to the bench where I think he could be very strong.

Evan Turner looks so much better this season (or he did early). Tough to imagine getting him for anything less than Wesley and other "significant" pieces.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I'm sorry but Stephen A. Smith is a joke along with his ESPN comrade, Skip Bayless. You're quarterback has a good game and it's "they look like a playoff bound team,"
then you lose a game and it's, "the worst example of a team I have ever seen." He plays both sides of the fence for all he can get. The missing pieces(s) are there and
I am sure Oshey will find them.

Yeah, I watched some of their segments last season. Joke would be good description for Stephen A. Smith. Skip has some interesting takes once in a while.

 

[Natebishop3]

Evan Turner looks so much better this season (or he did early). Tough to imagine getting him for anything less than Wesley and other "significant" pieces.

They're trying to tank though, right? Hawes and Turner are both free agents after this season. You might be right, but I was hoping they'd bite on a trade for CJ, Robinson, and Mayers. Three young, talented guys that won't affect their win percentages right now.

 

[Run BJM]

You know it's funny though, Wes would be a great bench player. He plays good defense and when he's hot, you leave him in. Getting someone like Evan Turner would be great because you start Turner and then move Wes to the bench where I think he could be very strong.

I would disagree with you. Wes seems like the perfect starter next to Lillard. Dame is a poor defensive player and ball dominant. Wes is a very strong two way player and IMO he's better off wreaking havoc when defenses scramble at Dame and LMA than he would be in a second unit where you would expect him to be a primary option and shot creator.

I like having a strong two way player as the starter and then bringing a scoring savant off the bench rather than the reverse.

 

[Natebishop3]

I would disagree with you. Wes seems like the perfect starter next to Lillard. Dame is a poor defensive player and ball dominant. Wes is a very strong two way player and IMO he's better off wreaking havoc when defenses scramble at Dame and LMA than he would be in a second unit where you would expect him to be a primary option and shot creator.

I like having a strong two way player as the starter and then bringing a scoring savant off the bench rather than the reverse.

Dame's defense has been disappointing this year. He was getting burned left and right last night.

 

[Run BJM]

On the plus side it doesn't seem to be a lack of effort, it isn't uncommon for young players to struggle a LOT on defense early in their careers. But yes, you'd think he would be better going into his second season, and hes got adequate athleticism and size to do much better.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Dame's defense has been disappointing this year. He was getting burned left and right last night.

Seems to me he is at the point of either or. Earlier he was really focusing on defense and shooting poorly. The last few games he has not focused on defense and shot well

 

[Natebishop3]

Seems to me he is at the point of either or. Earlier he was really focusing on defense and shooting poorly. The last few games he has not focused on defense and shot well

It looked to me like he was expecting help when he was funneling his man to the baseline, but no help came. Aldridge really isn't a very good help defender, as shown on that last shot by Monta.