Steve Smith on Blazers: Good enough for NBA finals

[SlyPokerDog]

http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sp...e-smith-on-blazers-good-enough-for-nba-finals

 

[Strenuus]

Good read. He's right about the west. Completely up for grabs.

 

[Natebishop3]

Houston still scares the shit out of me. Dwight is still the hardest person to guard in the league.

 

[magnifier661]

Can you post the article? The framing is all fucked up and I can't read it

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Houston still scares the shit out of me. Dwight is still the hardest person to guard in the league.

Which is (weirdly enough) why we got Kaman, who has a reputation as a bit of a Howard stopper.

 

[HailBlazers]

I get the feeling you wouldn't hear Clyde saying that.

Can you post the article? The framing is all fucked up and I can't read it

Tribune: Where do the Blazers need to improve?

Smith: I think they still need to develop consistency, and improve their defense. They have some individual defenders in (Nicolas) Batum and (Wesley) Matthews, but they struggle just a little in transition. We know they can shoot the 3-ball. I'd like to see them be a little more physical offensively and not rely on the 3. I'd like to see LaMarcus attack and Damian go to the basket more. And even Nic and Wesley -- show us that when the 3-ball is not going, we can beat you another way.

Tribune: Can the Blazers get to the NBA finals this year?

Smith: They can, but seven or eight teams could get to the conference finals. The Spurs could win another title; they could get knocked out in the first round. If the Blazers get beat in the first round, I wouldn't necessarily consider it an unsuccessful year, even though I'm sure they would. I'll just say I think they could win the West. I also think they could lose in the first round, like a whole lot of other teams.

 

[magnifier661]

I get the feeling you wouldn't hear Clyde saying that.

Sweet thanks bro! I agree with him as well. I don't think there really would be upsets in the first round. So many teams are even strength and you just need a couple players to get hot in a series and it's all over.

Fuck Clyde and his Houston Homer Color Commentator Ass! That asshole made his mark in the league as a Blazer and cashed in for a title. He has no loyalty whatsoever. Man it disappoints me that I was so homer for him too.

 

[kjironman1]

Of course they are good enough. They just got to keep growing and start believing.

 

[HailBlazers]

Sweet thanks bro! I agree with him as well. I don't think there really would be upsets in the first round. So many teams are even strength and you just need a couple players to get hot in a series and it's all over.

Fuck Clyde and his Houston Homer Color Commentator Ass! That asshole made his mark in the league as a Blazer and cashed in for a title. He has no loyalty whatsoever. Man it disappoints me that I was so homer for him too.

Yup.

Still love Clyde, and actually rooted for that Houston squad, but he's lack of love for Portland is bs.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Houston still scares the shit out of me. Dwight is still the hardest person to guard in the league.

Me too, but they were down to possibly the worst team in the history of the league on the last possession of the game.

 

[Hobbesarable]

That's a good article by Eggers.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Houston will implode.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Houston will implode.

When they start playing good teams, probably.

 

[PDXFonz]

Steve Smith got an up close look at the chemistry of 1-15 during training camp. He knows what is up.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Steve Smith got an up close look at the chemistry of 1-15 during training camp. He knows what is up.

That and he is an unbiased person from what I've seen (Open Court). He seems to give every team a chance and looks past the marketing bullshit unlike people like Reggie Miller..

 

[PDXFonz]

Houston still scares the shit out of me. Dwight is still the hardest person to guard in the league.

Me match up so well with Houston now that they got rid of asik. Batum can D ariza, there is nobody to guard LA (I think asik did the best job on him, you can't have Dwight that far from the rim or we will get 2nd chance points all day) and there is no way montejunas can guard Kaman.