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

[GriLtCheeZ]

To echo what has already been said, I think the Blazers need to add a consistent sixth man scorer, and another starting quality 4/5 big to the roster, to be a real playoff contender.

Freeland as a third big man is OK, but as the fourth big, he'd be a luxury. CJ might be our "consistent sixth man scorer", but he's only a rookie, and you can't bank on him just yet. Hopefully CJ blossoms, and the blazers add a big in the Summer with the mid level exception. TRob is too raw at this point so I don't expect him to be that big the team needs any time soon.

Who knows, maybe Olshey can get what the team needs at the trade deadline, without messing with the starting lineup. I wouldn't touch the starters right now unless it is for an obvious upgrade though.

One more thing, I hope that the "consistent sixth man" will be able to get to the basket and draw fouls at a high rate which is one thing the Blazers are lacking right now.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Aldridge really isn't a very good help defender, as shown on that last shot by Monta.

"As shown on that last shot by Monta..." 21 feet from the rim, when LA is playing center, and any basket wins the game. Talk about jumping the shark. Someone make Nate a new snowball. His has gotten so big it rolled down the hill, created an avalanche, and destroyed a village.

 

[Natebishop3]

"As shown on that last shot by Monta..." 21 feet from the rim, when LA is playing center, and any basket wins the game. Talk about jumping the shark. Someone make Nate a new snowball. His has gotten so big it rolled down the hill, created an avalanche, and destroyed a village.

We saw it repeatedly when Dame's man would go baseline and LA would just watch the guy go past him. All he needed to do was close on the ball and affect the shot, but he didn't even try.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

We saw it repeatedly when Dame's man would go baseline and LA would just watch the guy go past him. All he needed to do was close on the ball and affect the shot, but he didn't even try.

And you determined he didn't try, being charged with defending a 15x15 ft area, with 1.9 seconds on the clock, because he didn't make it out 21 ft from the hoop? This is the worst situation one could use to assert LA is bad at help defense. I couldn't sell this argument to a blind man, let alone get anyone to take it for free.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

We saw it repeatedly when Dame's man would go baseline and LA would just watch the guy go past him. All he needed to do was close on the ball and affect the shot, but he didn't even try.

When does it become Dame's responsibility to stop the opposing ball handler from getting to the baseline?

 

[Natebishop3]

When does it become Dame's responsibility to stop the opposing ball handler from getting to the baseline?

There IS a strategy to funnel your man to your help defense, but it doesn't work if the help defense doesn't.... well... help?

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

There IS a strategy to funnel your man to your help defense, but it doesn't work if the help defense doesn't.... well... help?

And had the Blazers won, this thread would not have been made.

 

[Natebishop3]

And had the Blazers won, this thread would not have been made.

A thread about Stephen A. Smith thinking we're a piece away from a championship would not have been made?

 

[cmeese47]

Reaching for straws if we are reacting to something Stephen A Smith said.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Reaching for straws if we are reacting to something Stephen A Smith said.

Actually we are reacting to something Stephen A. didn't say. The piece that is missing that Mr A. was referring to is what we are talking about. Do you disagree that the Blazers need to add 1 piece to be a contender?

 

[magnifier661]

Stephen A. Smith is about as knowledgeable as a piece of tin foil, when it comes to knowing what a team needs. I wouldn't trust him, even if he says we are for real.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's not like anyone is throwing a parade because Stephen A. thinks we're close to being legit championship contenders.

I posted it because it's an interesting take. Nothing more.

 

[BBert]

I agree with Nate. I think the good news is not that the national network nattering ninnies know about what they are talking, because in reality they care not, as evidenced by nattering Skip Bayless' idiotic "analysis". The only good news is that the team is successful enough to warrant national network news notice. The bad news is, how are we going to get this 'one piece' of which Mr. Cheese Doodle and other assorted posters speak? I'd settle for a better sixth man at the guard position. Paging CJ?

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

A thread about Stephen A. Smith thinking we're a piece away from a championship would not have been made?

I should have said argument, not thread. You've made a barrage of critical arguments in several threads since losing to Dallas, so my bad for getting mixed up.

 

[Natebishop3]

I should have said argument, not thread. You've made this argument in several threads since losing to Dallas, so my bad for getting mixed up.

The argument about Aldridge's help defense? I think a lot of people were annoyed by it in the game thread. To my knowledge, this is the only other place I've brought it up.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

It's not like anyone is throwing a parade because Stephen A. thinks we're close to being legit championship contenders.

I posted it because it's an interesting take. Nothing more.

I certainly am not. I don't think Smith's point was entirely baseless, whether he thought of it on his own or red it from someone else's notes. Bayless, however, was out of his element talking about the Blazer losing streak to end the season, and his infatuated with OKC is embursin'.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

The argument about Aldridge's help defense? I think a lot of people were annoyed by it in the game thread. To my knowledge, this is the only other place I've brought it up.

So you agree your argument, that it was LA's lack of help defense that allowed Monta to hit that game winner, is absurd?

 

[magnifier661]

It's not like anyone is throwing a parade because Stephen A. thinks we're close to being legit championship contenders.

I posted it because it's an interesting take. Nothing more.

Not calling you out. I'm calling Steven out. He jumps in and thinks he knows everything when he knows shit. Appreciate the link Nate.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Stephen A. Smith is about as knowledgeable as a piece of tin foil, when it comes to knowing what a team needs. I wouldn't trust him, even if he says we are for real.

True, but you agree he made a compelling argument right?

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Not calling you out. I'm calling Steven out. He jumps in and thinks he knows everything when he knows shit. Appreciate the link Nate.

I know. lol I didn't think that at all, was just expounding on my posts on the topic.

 

[magnifier661]

True, but you agree he made a compelling argument right?

Who Steven? No because I think we are there already. I think he's just like BGD that thinks you need another superstar to win. I don't agree. I think the team we have already can contend

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Who Steven? No because I think we are there already. I think he's just like BGD that thinks you need another superstar to win. I don't agree. I think the team we have already can contend

There's a big difference between contending and "winning it all"/having a window open. We aren't there...lots of teams dominate but get knocked out in the playoffs quickly.

hoop fam

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Who Steven? No because I think we are there already. I think he's just like BGD that thinks you need another superstar to win. I don't agree. I think the team we have already can contend

Ah OK. I thought it was kind cool, I guess, to hear someone with a huge audience to acknowledge that the Blazers have the size, length, horses, and 2 legit threats to score at will. And I agree with El Pres, he was saying 1 piece away from winning it all, hands down, no question. But it's a step in the accurate direction to describe the Blazers.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Remember when Stephen A Smith was ripping the Blazers for their 2006 draft picks saying the Blazers had a terrible draft day giving them an F . . . that was the year we picked Roy and Aldridge.

SaS did like the Blazers draft in 2007 and gave them an A . . . that was the year we picked Oden.

 

[BBert]

Who Steven? No because I think we are there already. I think he's just like BGD that thinks you need another superstar to win. I don't agree. I think the team we have already can contend

I also don't think we need another superstar, or even star. I think we need better bench play from Wright, TRob, Mo, and CJ. I also think there is a good chance each of them (CJ especially, LOL) will improve in time for the playoffs.

 

[magnifier661]

I also don't think we need another superstar, or even star. I think we need better bench play from Wright, TRob, Mo, and CJ. I also think there is a good chance each of them (CJ especially, LOL) will improve in time for the playoffs.

That's what I'm thinking as well. We need competent Indians. We have enough chiefs. I am very competent that Aldridge and Lillard are clutch enough to dominate the 4th. We just need the players that can keep us in the game.

 

[magnifier661]

Ah OK. I thought it was kind cool, I guess, to hear someone with a huge audience to acknowledge that the Blazers have the size, length, horses, and 2 legit threats to score at will. And I agree with El Pres, he was saying 1 piece away from winning it all, hands down, no question. But it's a step in the accurate direction to describe the Blazers.

I do love the national exposure, I just dislike SaS so much. I think he's a tool that talks from his ass. The national writer I would love to give us credit is Stern. He actually knows what he's talking about. He's given us praise, which I believe was the best so far

 

[BBert]

Remember when Stephen A Smith was ripping the Blazers for their 2006 draft picks saying the Blazers had a terrible draft day giving them an F . . . that was the year we picked Roy and Aldridge.

SaS did like the Blazers draft in 2007 and gave them an A . . . that was the year we picked Oden.

And Jon Barry argued that it was bad for the league that Oden and Durant were going to Portland and Seattle. You know, only the top media markets are allowed to have or keep talented players. It's the natural order.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Remember when Stephen A Smith was ripping the Blazers for their 2006 draft picks saying the Blazers had a terrible draft day giving them an F . . . that was the year we picked Roy and Aldridge.

SaS did like the Blazers draft in 2007 and gave them an A . . . that was the year we picked Oden.

If I'm going to take the liberty to rip media types for being categorically wrong, I think it's only fair to point out when they make a valid argument as well. That doesn't disqualify him from being a hack. It just means he made a fair argument... this time.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

And Jon Barry argued that it was bad for the league that Oden and Durant were going to Portland and Seattle. You know, only the top media markets are allowed to have or keep talented players. It's the natural order.

Barry and Smiddy both put Portland #2 in the power rankings on NBATV, and despite the moderators best efforts to solicit comments from them about Portland, they had nothing to say. It's so funny to me, but I'd rather they said nothing than talk out of their ass.