The Future

[blue9]

I think getting to the playoffs at all are a pipe dream unless we can add an Allstar on the team.

Make the Playoffs at all "at all"? Or making them next year "at all"? If the former, I disagree. If the latter, I agree. I don't think anyone thinks the goal is to make the POs next year. But with a couple years of growth, and depending on the landscape of the WC, I can see this roster being 6th-8th seed in two or three years, which is right back where we were before this rebuild. Right now we're better everywhere except at the wing positions. Once we get those positions addressed (either through improvement of Aminu/CJ/Harkless, or through trades) we will be as good or better than we were. But getting a SG and SF that can be as good as Wes/Nic will be tough...although if we're measuring purely on last season then our SF doesn't need to be all that great.

I guess we disagree on the output of last year's squad. Even if Wes had stayed healthy I believe we were another 2nd-round exit, at best. The fact that we fell to shit when a moderately-talented player went down speaks volumes. The team was a pretender regardless of health. I'll be the first to admit that Wes was the heart & soul of the team, but if we were truly a contender we shouldn't have fallen off a cliff when he went down.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Make the Playoffs at all "at all"? Or making them next year "at all"? If the former, I disagree. If the latter, I agree. I don't think anyone thinks the goal is to make the POs next year. But with a couple years of growth, and depending on the landscape of the WC, I can see this roster being 6th-8th seed in two or three years, which is right back where we were before this rebuild. Right now we're better everywhere except at the wing positions. Once we get those positions addressed (either through improvement of Aminu/CJ/Harkless, or through trades) we will be as good or better than we were. But getting a SG and SF that can be as good as Wes/Nic will be tough...although if we're measuring purely on last season then our SF doesn't need to be all that great.

I guess we disagree on the output of last year's squad. Even if Wes had stayed healthy I believe we were another 2nd-round exit, at best. The fact that we fell to shit when a moderately-talented player went down speaks volumes. The team was a pretender regardless of health. I'll be the first to admit that Wes was the heart & soul of the team, but if we were truly a contender we shouldn't have fallen off a cliff when he went down.

I don't think we make the playoffs until we have two all stars on this roster. Period. The most likely way for that to happen is if we get the #1 pick in the draft in the next two years. Otherwise, if we can get a DeMar DeRozan type player, we might get into the tail end of playoff contention.

Warriors
Rockets
Clippers
Grizzlies
Spurs
Pelicans
Thunder
Lakers
Timberwolves

Will all have better rosters than us for the next 3-4 years, at least if things are on the current trajectory. We're basically competing with the Jazz and the Suns in terms of relevancy and ability to get into the playoffs.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I would love replies to my opinion in a respectful way and to hear all of your opinions as well.

In that case don't go to the politically driven threads in the Blazers OT forum.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

In that case don't go to the political driven threads in the Blazers OT forum.

Unless you're voting for TRUMP.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Aminu isn't much worse than what we got out of Batum last year.

Aminu is a completely different player. He's more Bo Outlaw compared with Batum's Derrick McKey. You can't just slot Aminu in and hope to play the same game. He may end up being as valuable, but only if our gameplan changes to fit him.

Put it this way, I think Batum has been at least on a level with Chandler Parsons, and Aminu got 18 mpg backing up Chandler's 33 last season. On the Mavs. Who are coached by Stott's coaching guru.

 

[Andrew Teyema]

In that case don't go to the politically driven threads in the Blazers OT forum.

Can't stop me from posting what I want. Just saying.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Can't stop me from posting what I want. Just saying.

Sure we can.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Can't stop me from posting what I want. Just saying.

LOL. They will have a field day with you.

 

[Andrew Teyema]

LOL. They will have a field day with you.

So be it.

 

[riverman]

In that case don't go to the politically driven threads in the Blazers OT forum.

I keep telling myself that but I never learn

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Not to flog a dead horse, but...
a problem going forward is that you can't play our two best backcourt players together for big stretches without being useless defensively. Damian and CJ just don't complement each other very well - CJ is sort of the poor man's Damian. Both are average distributors (Damian better than CJ), poor defenders (CJ better than Damian) and both need the ball to be effective. The fact that we could have had Antetokounmpo or Gobert instead of CJ only makes it more painful. It's the Westbrook vs. Reggie Jackson problem.

(And I say this as someone whose fave current Blazer is probably CJ.)

 

[Trackjack]

But Spurs do have 3 hall of fame'rs on the team and the best coach in the NBA. You can't really use them as an example.

The spurs won the championship because they play as a team not one player tried to do it by his self. Atlanta was successful because they play as a team. We will be successful if we play as a team.

 

[Andrew Teyema]

The spurs won the championship because they play as a team not one player tried to do it by his self. Atlanta was successful because they play as a team. We will be successful if we play as a team.

And that's the kind of team I want. I don't want a one man show, I want the whole team sharing the points and have a go-to guy, which is Lillard, for closing situations.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

And that's the kind of team I want. I don't want a one man show, I want the whole team sharing the points and have a go-to guy, which is Lillard, for closing situations.

This is a recipe for mediocrity in the NBA.

 

[riverman]

Not to flog a dead horse, but...
a problem going forward is that you can't play our two best backcourt players together for big stretches without being useless defensively. Damian and CJ just don't complement each other very well - CJ is sort of the poor man's Damian. Both are average distributors (Damian better than CJ), poor defenders (CJ better than Damian) and both need the ball to be effective. The fact that we could have had Antetokounmpo or Gobert instead of CJ only makes it more painful. It's the Westbrook vs. Reggie Jackson problem.

(And I say this as someone whose fave current Blazer is probably CJ.)

I don't see CJ playing that much with Damian for the same reason...defense and length.. CJ to me is best used as a Jason Terry type 6man who gets the most touches off the bench..we have good defenders in Aminu, Crabbe but Henderson would start if I coached and he's probably our best 2 way guard

 

[Hobbesarable]

Our 1-3 starters will probably be Aminu, Henderson, and Dame to begin the season. It might change as players emerge throughout the season.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't see CJ playing that much with Damian for the same reason...defense and length.. CJ to me is best used as a Jason Terry type 6man who gets the most touches off the bench..we have good defenders in Aminu, Crabbe but Henderson would start if I coached and he's probably our best 2 way guard

But CJ basically HAS to become a star given whom we passed up for him. And at the very least, if his minutes are kept low he's going to do a James Harden/Reggie Jackson on us.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Our backcourt starters will probably be Aminu, Henderson, and Dame to begin the season. It might change as players emerge throughout the season.

Will they let us play 3 in the backcourt? Wow, things have changed:

 

[Hobbesarable]

Will they let us play 3 in the backcourt? Wow, things have changed:

I should have said wings and the point rather than backcourt and in terms of perimeter defense.

 

[blue9]

We're basically competing with the Jazz and the Suns in terms of relevancy and ability to get into the playoffs.

Well I agree with you there - that's where I project our team currently. But I don't agree that the Wolves/Lakers are clearly ahead of us. And I think it's possible that the Pels could backslide over the course of the next 2-3 years, and if Durant leaves OKC that could add further change to the WC landscape. Additionally, when Duncan/Ginobili retire the Spurs could fall to the same level as all of these teams (though given how well they're run and coached I think RC/Pops will make the necessary changes to make sure that doesn't happen). And DAL could end up a mess quite quickly given the age/injuries of Dirk/Wes/Parsons. There's just no way to forecast what each team will look like in a couple years - teams that look strong now may be lotto teams in the blink of an eye (hello Blazers!).

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The Wolves are light years ahead of the Blazers right now.

They have:

Ricky Rubio
Zach LaVine
Andrew Wiggins
and Karl-Anthony Towns

They are one #1 NBA Lottery Pick ahead of us, maybe 2. If we win the NBA lottery next year, we'll probably be where they are at.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The Pelicans are a playoff team and on the way up. They won't backslide.
Sure, IF Durant leaves OKC and they'll be stuck with Westbrook and no one else and then they'll probably be at our level. That's an "if" situation.

Lakers have 3 young players that are potential all stars in Russel, Clarkson (more for the fan base and international popularity) and Randle. Once Kobe is gone, more FA's will be willing to go there and they will have a SHIT TON of space + those 3 young core players. Right now they are probably a fringe playoff team, they have Lou Williams and Hibbert.

Never mentioned Dallas, they're just a horse waiting to be put out to pasture.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I don't think we make the playoffs until we have two all stars on this roster. Period. The most likely way for that to happen is if we get the #1 pick in the draft in the next two years.

I think you're right about needing to get another all-star caliber player. We're most likely not getting one thru free agency, so the draft is the Blazers best hope. Although you don't necessarily have to get the #1 pick to land an all-star. To put the chances into perspective, here's a look at the odds of getting an all-star by draft position between 1990 and 2010:
Pick - Chances
1 - 76.2% (16 all-stars picked #1 in 21 years)
2 - 42.9%
3 - 57.1%
4 - 38.1%
5 - 42.9%
6 - 23.8%
7 - 14.3%
8 - 4.8%
9 - 33.3%
10 - 33.3%
11 - 14.3%
12 - 0.0%
13 - 9.5%
14 - 4.8%
15 - 4.8%
16 - 9.5%
17 - 19.0%
18 - 9.5%
19 - 14.3%
20 - 9.5%
21 - 14.3%
22 - 0.0%
23 - 0.0%
24 - 19.0%
25 - 4.8%
26 - 0.0%
27 - 0.0%
28 - 4.8%
29 - 4.8%
30 - 4.8%



Drafting smart is the key. Even if we do end up grabbing an all-star thru the draft, it typically takes 3-4 years for that player to progress to an all-star level. Unless we land a surprise trade, or one of our current players explodes, we've got a few years of playing the lottery. Enjoy the ride!

 

[oldmangrouch]

LaMarsha may be a wretched scumsucker, but he is a better player than anybody we brought in. A healthy Wes is also better than anybody we added.

This is not so much a cloud with a silver lining as an elephantine fart that is stripping the paint off the walls and killing buzzards at 100 yards.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

We should just trade for the 24th pick every year.

 

[BonesJones]

They were never considered contenders, it was a freak run coinciding with dirk just catching fire for half a season.

The Spurs still had the greatest PF of all time and a top 3 coach of all time. There are exceptions but generally the contenders have the best players in the game on their team. Look, we are not going to get relevant until we get at least a second team all nba type talent on the roster

You think the ATLANTA HAWKS ARE CONTENDERS? For what? They win a bunch of regular season games in the east....... that's about it, year in and year out. Google the meaning of contender quick before you accidentally post again.

What the hell is your guys definition of contender??? Being a contender doesn't mean title favorites. It means having a solid, realistic chance at a title. IMO there's 6 to 7 contenders every year, so there's no way you need a top 5 playear to contend

 

[rasheedfan2005]

We should just trade for the 24th pick every year.

lmfao!

 

[BigGameDamian]

Hey, great first post!

Some might tease but most are respectful.

Are you talking about teasing in the sexaul way?

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Are you talking about teasing in the sexaul way?

You mean in a cock pics sort of way?

 

[42N8Bounce]

We should just trade for the 24th pick every year.

Definitely trade #12 straight up for #24 every year. #12's got a bad run going on.
#24's grabbed - Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell, Andrei Kirilenko, and Kyle Lowry.
Between 1990 and 2010, there were 14 all-stars taken in the second round or undrafted. To name a few: Marc Gasol (#48, 2007), Paul Millsap (#47, 2006), Mo Williams (#47, 2003), Kyle Korver (#51, 2003), Carlos Boozer (#35, 2002), Gilbert Arenas (#31, 2001), Mehmet Okur (#38, 2001), and Michael Redd (#43, 2000).

I think for the Blazers to be a 'contender' (conference finals minimum?), they need that second all-star.