The NBA's surprise teams and disappointing squads ... thus far

[SlyPokerDog]

THE SURPRISES

Portland Trail Blazers, 4-4

As we mentioned, LaMarcus Aldridge’s decision to just about sign off on his departure from the Trail Blazers as soon as they were eliminated in the first round by Memphis last April helped accelerate the team’s rebuilding process. No, they wouldn’t get compensation for LMA, but they could get a Noah (Vonleh) by jettisoning some vets and looking toward the kids for help. Noah hasn’t been great (26 percent from the field; it just seems beneath his skill level), but Damian Lillard has played like an MVP and C.J. McCollum has developed into a 20-point scorer. Watching Al-Farouq Aminu and all his rebounding moxie remains a lovely League Pass gem. We knew coach Terry Stotts would give us a watchable offense, but who could have predicted it would be top five just eight games in?

Can They Keep It Up?

The schedule, if we’re honest, has been kind to the Blazers despite the team’s middling strength of schedule score. They’ve played five teams that were in the lottery and two squads that made the playoffs last year but have disappointed so far this season (more on those two later). Credit the youngsters, however, for taking care of business as they should – even if the team’s last two losses (to Detroit and Denver) felt like slip-away games that they needed to finish off.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...appointing-squads-----thus-far-195801397.html

 

[oldmangrouch]

Nope.

If there was ever a game for this team to snort fire and shoot lightning bolts out their arse, it was the LMA homecoming. Instead, they were lackluster at both ends of the court.

 

[Draco]

Nope.

If there was ever a game for this team to snort fire and shoot lightning bolts out their arse, it was the LMA homecoming. Instead, they were lackluster at both ends of the court.

Why would the players care about LMA homecoming?

Stuff like that only matters to fans.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Nope.

If there was ever a game for this team to snort fire and shoot lightning bolts out their arse, it was the LMA homecoming. Instead, they were lackluster at both ends of the court.

Lackluster? Seriously? I think "dramatically out-experienced" is a bit more accurate. The Spurs have seven players who have been in the league for 11 or more years, and six of those guys are in the rotation. The other three regular rotation guys that aren't in double digits are Patty Mills (6 years), Kawhi Leonard (4 years but like Dame, plays far beyond his years), and Lamarcus (9 years). A rusty Gerald Henderson (6 years) is our most experienced player, followed by Aminu and Davis (5 years each).

Experience matters.



It matters a LOT.

 

[Strenuus]

Nope.

If there was ever a game for this team to snort fire and shoot lightning bolts out their arse, it was the LMA homecoming. Instead, they were lackluster at both ends of the court.

There were only 6 players that were here at any point that LMA was.. Most of them didn't have an emotional attachment to it. lol.

 

[riverman]

There were only 6 players that were here at any point that LMA was.. Most of them didn't have an emotional attachment to it. lol.

Adding to that...guys like Meyers and CJ are thrilled that Wes and LA are gone..they got the jobs.

 

[BBert]

Nope.

If there was ever a game for this team to snort fire and shoot lightning bolts out their arse, it was the LMA homecoming. Instead, they were lackluster at both ends of the court.

Well...I can see that from a fan's perspective (mine). But the players on the floor? Most of them never played with LaMarcus, so probably don't give two cents either way about his homecoming, and the rest are getting their chance on the court, or at least an expanded role, because he left. I doubt they have the same motivation some of us fans do.

 

[oldmangrouch]

They owe us nothing - we owe them nothing...including our cheers.

Can't have it both ways.

 

[Draco]

They owe us nothing - we owe them nothing...including our cheers.

Can't have it both ways.

Who owes whom what?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Who owes whom what?

There were 5 straight posts saying the players don't owe it to the fans to care. I'm simply pointing out it is a 2 way street.

 

[jlprk]

I thought we were sharp, not lackluster, in the Spurs game. We made few errors, but they made no errors. The better team won; the Spurs are the Spurs. Popovich even had time to engineer Aldridge's confidence to be the game scoring leader, when Aldridge was the 9th-best performer per minute.

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailyleaders/_/date/20151111/gameId/400828010

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I thought we were sharp, not lackluster, in the Spurs game. We made few errors, but they made no errors. The better team won; the Spurs are the Spurs. Popovich even had time to engineer Aldridge's confidence to be the game scoring leader, when Aldridge was the 9th-best performer per minute.

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailyleaders/_/date/20151111/gameId/400828010

Looks like he was third best, but Dame was best

 

[blue9]

Looks like he was third best, but Dame was best

If he's going by +/- then LMA was 10th best?