Thought Experiment: remixing Blazers and Spurs

[Rastapopoulos]

Two proud franchises are going to suck this year. It seems pretty likely that both the Spurs and the Blazers will miss the playoffs, so let's play a game. Imagine you get to get to pick a 12-man team from both rosters that has a chance to be good. Who are the twelve players and how good would it be?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Controversial opinion: DeRozan would not be one of my 12.
(This may be less controversial to Spurs fans.)

 

[riverman]

I'd take Patty Mills and LaMarcus about now

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

C - Nurkic, Whiteside,
biggish forwards - LMA, Zach, Gay, Samanic
Smaller forwards - Hood, Little
Guards - Dame, Mills, Murray, White

 

[bobf]

Nurk, Whiteside, Pöltl
Aldridge, Zach
Gay, Derozen
Dame, CJ, Ant, Murray, Mills

 

[Rastapopoulos]

C - Nurkic, Whiteside,
biggish forwards - LMA, Zach, Gay, Samanic
Smaller forwards - Hood, Little
Guards - Dame, Mills, Murray, White

No CJ? Harsh! Having Dejounte would be sweet but also jarring: a guard who can play defense!?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Two proud franchises are going to suck this year. It seems pretty likely that both the Spurs and the Blazers will miss the playoffs, so let's play a game. Imagine you get to get to pick a 12-man team from both rosters that has a chance to be good. Who are the twelve players and how good would it be?

Do the players selected need to be healthy and able to play this season?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

No CJ? Harsh! Having Dejounte would be sweet but also jarring: a guard who can play defense!?

CJ and Demar were the obvious guys missing. I kind of felt like that team had enough offense, I wanted some defense. Id probably take CJ or Derozan and drop White. I did grab a couple young guys who Id probably drop if the goal was I have to win right now.

 

[KingSpeed]

Not so hot take: Both Spurs and Blazers WILL make the playoffs.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Not so hot take: Both Spurs and Blazers WILL make the playoffs.

Hot take: a squad comprised of the best currently-healthy players from the Blazers and Spurs would have a 2nd-round ceiling.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Changing my mind (and the rules): I think I'd give San Antonio all the 28-and-older crowd and give Portland all the young'uns. I'd be particularly interested in Murray, who will be a great 2-way player very soon.

So: San Antonio

Guards: Dame, DeRozan, CJ, Patty
Forwards: Aldridge, Gay, Carroll, Bazemore, Bellinelli
Center: Whiteside, Gasol, Tolliver

I predict: second round exit.

Meanwhile we get:
Guards: Murray, Simons, White, Forbes, Walker IV
Forwards: Zach, Nas, Samanic
Centers: Nurk, Poltl, Metu, Skal

Lottery team with promise for the future!

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Changing my mind (and the rules): I think I'd give San Antonio all the 28-and-older crowd and give Portland all the young'uns. I'd be particularly interested in Murray, who will be a great 2-way player very soon.

So: San Antonio

Guards: Dame, DeRozan, CJ, Patty
Forwards: Aldridge, Gay, Carroll, Bazemore, Bellinelli
Center: Whiteside, Gasol, Tolliver

I predict: second round exit.

Meanwhile we get:
Guards: Murray, Simons, White, Forbes, Walker IV
Forwards: Zach, Nas, Samanic
Centers: Nurk, Poltl, Metu, Skal

Lottery team with promise for the future!

we would be so bad for a couple years, but there is potential there.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Not so hot take: Both Spurs and Blazers WILL make the playoffs.

It's always unwise to count the Spurs out (I've been doing it for at least the past 3 seasons) and the Blazers do have a recent history of getting much better after slow starts...
BUT: I think this year is different. The West is just too tough to weather rough starts. Only the Warriors look like certain lottery fodder, and even they could have a miraculous surge if they get Klay and Steph back in the second half. Phoenix is/are legitimately good and Sacramento are 5-5 over their last ten (while we're 3-7, including a loss to them).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

we would be so bad for a couple years, but there is potential there.

Murray and Simon complement each other perfectly...

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Murray and Simon complement each other perfectly...

Yeah I could see that.

 

[KingSpeed]

It's always unwise to count the Spurs out (I've been doing it for at least the past 3 seasons) and the Blazers do have a recent history of getting much better after slow starts...
BUT: I think this year is different. The West is just too tough to weather rough starts. Only the Warriors look like certain lottery fodder, and even they could have a miraculous surge if they get Klay and Steph back in the second half. Phoenix is/are legitimately good and Sacramento are 5-5 over their last ten (while we're 3-7, including a loss to them).

I don’t think Phoenix is legitimately good. Flash in the pan. Might win 40 games if they’re lucky