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[HailBlazers]

I'm being positive, I tell you. Great comeback against the 2nd-worst team in the league, .280. We're 10 down now, 16 seconds left. But it's our ball I think.

Orlando is 9-10 this year against Western Conference teams FYI

 

[MickZagger]

High risk, high reward pick that most people figured was going to take awhile to develop into a basketball player. Maybe Leonard never gets there and maybe Olshey went for need instead of taking the best available, but it doesn't invalidate the value of a draft pick in the lottery; draft picks just represent more pulls at the slot machine.

It baffles me that fans thought that a 20 year old raw center would be NBA ready right off the bat. Setting yourself up for disappointment. He's shown me more this year than most 20 year old centers have shown me. Good hands, soft touch and the ability to run the floor are unteachable traits. Figuring out positioning on defense and how to use his length are very teachable. I expect huge strides just by the beginning of next year alone.

 

[RoyToy]

High risk, high reward pick that most people figured was going to take awhile to develop into a basketball player. Maybe Leonard never gets there and maybe Olshey went for need instead of taking the best available, but it doesn't invalidate the value of a draft pick in the lottery; draft picks just represent more pulls at the slot machine.

I've never seen the high reward that Leonard supposedly has.

He'll crack the starting lineup at some point I'm sure, but special he isn't.

 

[Darkwebs]

At least the Lakers lost today also

 

[EGame]

High risk, high reward pick that most people figured was going to take awhile to develop into a basketball player. Maybe Leonard never gets there and maybe Olshey went for need instead of taking the best available, but it doesn't invalidate the value of a draft pick in the lottery; draft picks just represent more pulls at the slot machine.

Ya I get that. I just don't see the 11th pick being of high value, but rare gems can be found and maybe we can get a center with decent potential. Leonard to me does not look like he will do much in the NBA. We shall see. I just wish we could have sucked this year like we all thought for a better pick (Im not trying to be a negative fan, but I figured playoffs wasn't realistic). Aldridge had other ideas, though.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Well if the Blazers keep this up all signs will point to a trade!

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I'm being positive, I tell you. Great comeback against the 2nd-worst team in the league, .280. We're 10 down now, 16 seconds left. But it's our ball I think.

Three 3s and we're right back in it!

 

[Nikolokolus]

It baffles me that fans thought that a 20 year old raw center would be NBA ready right off the bat. Setting yourself up for disappointment. He's shown me more this year than most 20 year old centers have shown me. Good hands, soft touch and the ability to run the floor are unteachable traits. Figuring out positioning on defense and how to use his length are very teachable. I expect huge strides just by the beginning of next year alone.

Agreed ... like I said, maybe he gets there and maybe he doesn't. I just wanted to address the idea that just because Leonard hasn't been an immediate contributor, it doesn't mean that he won't be some day ... even if that means he gets included in a trade and brings back a player that the Blazers can use right away.

 

[MickZagger]

Agreed ... like I said, maybe he gets there and maybe he doesn't. I just wanted to address the idea that just because Leonard hasn't been an immediate contributor, it doesn't mean that he won't be some day ... even if that means he gets included in a trade and brings back a player that the Blazers can use right away.

Why do we need a player that can be used right away?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Ya I get that. I just don't see the 11th pick being of high value, but rare gems can be found and maybe we can get a center with decent potential. Leonard to me does not look like he will do much in the NBA. We shall see. I just wish we could have sucked this year like we all thought for a better pick (Im not trying to be a negative fan, but I figured playoffs wasn't realistic). Aldridge had other ideas, though.

Luckily for the Blazers I don't think they're counting on finding a star in the draft. Lillard, Batum and Aldridge isn't a bad foundation to start from moving forward. In any case, the 11th pick (or whatever) just represents an asset to me, that asset doesn't even have to suit up for the Blazers IMO, it's just another chip in Olshey's stack.

 

[EGame]

Why do we need a player that can be used right away?

Don't speed up the process, Aldridge bolts and we are back to square 1.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Anyone who watched Leonard last year and in Vegas would have known he's a LONG ways away.

He's a project.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It baffles me that fans thought that a 20 year old raw center would be NBA ready right off the bat. Setting yourself up for disappointment. He's shown me more this year than most 20 year old centers have shown me. Good hands, soft touch and the ability to run the floor are unteachable traits. Figuring out positioning on defense and how to use his length are very teachable. I expect huge strides just by the beginning of next year alone.

Drummond and Oden were both ready

 

[Nikolokolus]

Why do we need a player that can be used right away?

I don't know, maybe we don't? I guess I'm operating under the assumption that Olshey is on a little bit of a timetable before Aldridge enters the last year of his contract. If Neil can't get there in time, surrounding him with enough talent, then that time-table probably goes away (meaning Aldridge gets moved).

 

[craigehlo]

The biggest disappointment for me this seasons is that the starters, aside from Lillard, are all vets. Lillard has room to grow, but I've got a feeling that Wes and Batum are pretty much all they are going to be. Adding some bench depth will help, but the flaws in this lineup are much deeper than that. We are wasting LA's prime years surrounding him with streak shooters.

 

[MickZagger]

Drummond and Oden were both ready

....and every player has the same career trajectory...

 

[Mediocre Man]

The biggest disappointment for me this seasons is that the starters, aside from Lillard, are all vets. Lillard has room to grow, but I've got a feeling that Wes and Batum are pretty much all they are going to be. Adding some bench depth will help, but the flaws in this lineup are much deeper than that. We are wasting LA's prime years surrounding him with streak shooters.

Batum has been great

 

[santeesioux]

Luckily for the Blazers I don't think they're counting on finding a star in the draft. Lillard, Batum and Aldridge isn't a bad foundation to start from moving forward. In any case, the 11th pick (or whatever) just represents an asset to me, that asset doesn't even have to suit up for the Blazers IMO, it's just another chip in Olshey's stack.

You can probably get a multiple year college player that can be good off of the bench in that range, not bad.

Wasn't Klay Thompson also the 11th pick the year before Leonard?

 

[Mediocre Man]

....and every player has the same career trajectory...

You said it baffles you when epode think raw centers can play well

 

[Nikolokolus]

The biggest disappointment for me this seasons is that the starters, aside from Lillard, are all vets. Lillard has room to grow, but I've got a feeling that Wes and Batum are pretty much all they are going to be. Adding some bench depth will help, but the flaws in this lineup are much deeper than that. We are wasting LA's prime years surrounding him with streak shooters.

I think Wesley is probably the player that he's always going to be, but Nic is playing a completely different role than we've ever seen him since he came into the league. He's much more of a facilitator and focal point of the offense than he ever was before. His biggest achilles heel, is the turnovers right now, if he can curb those I think he's got some untapped "ceiling."

 

[EGame]

You can probably get a multiple year college player that can be good off of the bench in that range, not bad.

Wasn't Klay Thompson also the 11th pick the year before Leonard?

If we can get one of those I'd be perfectly fine with it. Just got to wait and see how everything plays out. We need a couple good bench players as well as a center and we could be ok.

 

[handiman]

Bizarro World game. Eleven Blazers play and ten of them shoot 50% or better from the field. Lillard goes 1-16.

 

[Nikolokolus]

You can probably get a multiple year college player that can be good off of the bench in that range, not bad.

Wasn't Klay Thompson also the 11th pick the year before Leonard?

Something like that. Same for Paul George.

 

[HailBlazers]

The biggest disappointment for me this seasons is that the starters, aside from Lillard, are all vets. Lillard has room to grow, but I've got a feeling that Wes and Batum are pretty much all they are going to be. Adding some bench depth will help, but the flaws in this lineup are much deeper than that. We are wasting LA's prime years surrounding him with streak shooters.

Defense (C) and a bench would go a long way for this team

 

[RoyToy]

Batum has been great

His shooting percentages aren't that hot.

Great? No, not really. He's a little better, though. Difference is he gets more playing time.

 

[craigehlo]

Batum has been great

He's been better than last season, but I'm not calling Batum "great." He's passing well and shooting the 3 nicely. But he still hasn't improved his handles and doesn't get to the line enough to help this team like an elite SF should.

 

[MickZagger]

I don't know, maybe we don't? I guess I'm operating under the assumption that Olshey is on a little bit of a timetable before Aldridge enters the last year of his contract. If Neil can't get there in time, surrounding him with enough talent, then that time-table probably goes away (meaning Aldridge gets moved).

Yeah, I guess. I'm not 100% against trading Aldridge. I like our future regardless.

 

[craigehlo]

He's much more of a facilitator and focal point of the offense than he ever was before

I agree, but we desperately need offense on this team more than his dime dropping IMHO. His shot inside the arc still looks as flat as it has in previous years.

 

[RoyToy]

This is still a Lillard/Aldridge team. Clearly the best two players.

 

[MickZagger]

You said it baffles you when epode think raw centers can play well

What are you babbling about now?