The Blazers are playing bad because...

[42N8Bounce]

I mentioned to a friend that the Blazers were playing bad over the past few games. He said it's because they drafted Oden over Durant. I replied that it was because we drafted Bowie over Jordan. That got me thinking. Why are the Blazers playing bad? Here's some thoughts.

1. Blazers drafted Bowie (#2) over Jordan (#3) in 1984.
2. Blazers drafted Oden (#1) over Durant (#2) in 2007.
3. Blazers pass on drafting Chris Paul (#4) in the 2005 draft. Traded the #3 pick to Utah for the #6 pick (Martel Webster) and the #27 pick (Jarrett Jack).
4. Blazers traded Moses Malone in 1976 for a first round pick (that became Mychal Thompson).
5. Blazers drafted Mychal Thompson (#1) instead of Larry Bird (#6) in the 1978 draft.
6. Blazers drafted LaRue Martin (#1) in 1972 instead of Bob McAdoo (#2) or Julius Erving (#12).
7. ...

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[KeepOnRollin]

In order for me:
7. We are just playing bad, period.
1. Went for need over BPA.
6. Went for need over BPA.
3. Went for need over BPA.
4. Would have been fine provided we didn't screw up #5.
5. Don't blame them on this. Many teams didn't take Larry.
2. This is the most defensible. We did finally take BPA. We just got unlucky.

Moral of the story though, never take need over BPA.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Red home jerseys.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Willie Taggart.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Harrison Fucking Barnes!

 

[Strenuus]

Eh, I dont do the whole revisionist history thing. We just suck right now.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Eh, I dont do the whole revisionist history thing. We just suck right now.

Agreed. This is called ‘tongue in cheek’ humor. Blaming everyone except ourselves......

 

[TBpup]

1. Small, ball dominant guard play in a system that basically focuses on that as 80+ percent of the offense. Other players only get bail out looks and never develop a rhythm regardless of their capability. Every player in the NBA can play at some level, they just need an opportunity and looks that work to their strengths. Pop has proven this for 20 years.

2. Lack of accountability. I see some players immediately yanked for one thing and others allowed to do the same things freely. That will never fly and I've heard rumblings for a couple of years now of some segmenting in the locker room because of it. Nothing major, but inefficient offense with little defense doesn't exactly play well when it happens over and over.

3. Lack of toughness. This comes from the top and it's just doesn't seem to be a Stotts thing. Nice guy, but doesn't seem to have that toughness factor or the willingness to address #2 above.

4. Flawed roster. I wasn't expecting this team to be a title contender. I was expecting to beat teams like the Nets (and others) w/o their top player in a home game.

5. Lack of focus. Even with a flawed roster, there is no excuse for games like last night. 11 TOs in the first half, and giving up 51 points to a one-man team with few other options. If Stotts won't call for a double-team, where is the player leadership to step up and call for it. If the players don't have the drive to ask/request/demand that if Stotts won't do it, then I start to question them as well.

 

[julius]

I mentioned to a friend that the Blazers were playing bad over the past few games. He said it's because they drafted Oden over Durant. I replied that it was because we drafted Bowie over Jordan. That got me thinking. Why are the Blazers playing bad? Here's some thoughts.

1. Blazers drafted Bowie (#2) over Jordan (#3) in 1984.
2. Blazers drafted Oden (#1) over Durant (#2) in 2007.
3. Blazers pass on drafting Chris Paul (#4) in the 2005 draft. Traded the #3 pick to Utah for the #6 pick (Martel Webster) and the #27 pick (Jarrett Jack).
4. Blazers traded Moses Malone in 1976 for a first round pick (that became Mychal Thompson).
5. Blazers drafted Mychal Thompson (#1) instead of Larry Bird (#6) in the 1978 draft.
6. Blazers drafted LaRue Martin (#1) in 1972 instead of Bob McAdoo (#2) or Julius Erving (#12).
7. ...

Feel free to add and sort -

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I totally forgot that they traded Moses for what ended up being Mychal Thompson (throw in Johnny Davis).

I think they're playing bad because there's some kind of rift in the team OR they've tuned out the coach.

There's too much of a pattern of shitty play the last few years for me to think otherwise.