Time to Assess Where the Blazers Are at Going into 2011-12

[PapaG]

1) They took the Mavs to 6 games with Roy at his worst and no Greg Oden.

2) They were still trying to figure out how Gerald Wallace fit into the team.

3) LMA was still playing a secondary role. Roy now stated in an interview he knows he is no longer his All-NBA self.

4) Andre Miller played OK in the playoffs, but had to dominate the ball, and was benched in the two wins.

5) Greg Oden. I thought I'd mention that one again.

6) Blazers had no help offensively off of the bench.

7) PG was gettting old.



So ... the Blazers addressed 6 and 7, didn't they? The rest could improve, or perhaps even should improve.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i have high hopes as usual, but, they will likely be crushed again...as usual

 

[maxiep]

I think we got worse tonight and Denver, Utah and Minnesota all markedly improved.

 

[EGame]

Our bench improved offensively? Do tell? We basically lost Rudy and added Nolan Smith. Roy is not going to bring much, Batum we will see, no backup PF, and Johnson as backup center? I don't see it. Anyway I really would not be shocked if we end up in the lottery. Wallace, Aldridge, and Matthews are going to get burnt out with a weak bench and a mediocre PG and Camby who wont bring much on offense. I truly believe we are off worse then people may like to think.

 

[B-Roy]

Start Nolan Smith. Really try to make him the PGOTF. I can't stomach Felton's mediocre crap.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

basically see this:

Felton/Smith/EWill
Matthews/Roy
Crash/Batum
LMA/???
Oden/Camby

think Babbit, Patty, and whomever else is probably negligible and/or worthless.

desperately need a backup 4 and some spot up shooting.

 

[Ed O]

I think we got worse tonight and Denver, Utah and Minnesota all markedly improved.

I agree.

MN has a lot of ground to make up, but Denver and Utah will be battling us for a playoff spot, and that's ... not good.

Ed O.

 

[RoyToy]

Are you guys really going to doubt Portland's playoff chances for the 3rd year in a row?

You guys are too much.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Blazers start off decently. Get a couple big wins, some big losses, some national TV games. But except for a few key injuries, the media doesn't pay attention to the Blazers.

Then, Blazers shock the league again by surprising everybody through a series of wins or through the stellar play of a player. Suddenly, fans are excited and talk about upside of said young player or team. They say things like, "If Player A wasn't injured and Player B and Player C continue playing this way, the Blazers will win the championship within 'X' amount of years".

Coaches either select or don't select certain players into all-star game; fan votes don't count contrary to Mike & Mike broadcasts. Then, mid-season trade for veteran player. Win some more games. Get a .700 record for the last month. Go to the first or second round. Match-up with team(s) that go deep into the playoffs and as a result, lose.

After Game 6, Blazer fans congratulate the team at the airport or at the Rose Garden. Mixum banishes himself into the internet wastelands. Paul Allen fires the GM. Blazers draft another PG. Anticipation for 'next year' is higher than ever leading the Blazers Front Office to marketing a new slogan.

 

[Ed O]

Are you guys really going to doubt Portland's playoff chances for the 3rd year in a row?

You guys are too much.

No. I didn't doubt the playoff chances either of the last two years. I was putting HCA as the standard for success, iirc.

This team is going to be worse, heading in, than either of those teams, though.

Ed O.

 

[B-Roy]

After Game 6, Blazer fans congratulate the team at the airport or at the Rose Garden. Mixum banishes himself into the internet wastelands. Paul Allen fires the GM. Blazers draft another PG. Anticipation for 'next year' is higher than ever leading the Blazers Front Office to marketing a new slogan.

So what's the slogan for this year?

"Rise with us...again"

"Yes. We. Did." (With a picture of Raymond Felton)

"It's Ray-ning in Portland"

 

[RoyToy]

No. I didn't doubt the playoff chances either of the last two years. I was putting HCA as the standard for success, iirc.

This team is going to be worse, heading in, than either of those teams, though.

Ed O.

Don't know if I agree with that.

I'd rather start with the Blazers' starting 5

 

[RR7]

Minnesota got better by adding a 3/4 and a PG to their roster? Meh. Utah will be interesting, as it seems the ershould be a trade to be made. I like both picks, but Kanter, Jefferson, Millsap, Favors, one needs to go. Wonder who they could get in return. Package one with Harris to improve their? Still, I'm not too concerned there. And Dnever adding a backup PF isn't going to be something that scares me about them.

 

[ppilot]

Don't know if I agree with that.

I'd rather start with the Blazers' starting 5

Unfortunately we have no front court depth at all

 

[RoyToy]

Unfortunately we have no front court depth at all

I think Johnson will be able to give the team some solid minutes and who knows, maybe Oden actually plays next year.

They could use a backup 4(sigh), but with a hole there that just means more minutes for Batum.

 

[B-Roy]

I think Johnson will be able to give the team some solid minutes and who knows, maybe Oden actually plays next year.

They could use a backup 4(sigh), but with a hole there that just means more minutes for Batum.

You're asking for a lot of things to go right. When was the last time that happened?

 

[Blaze01]

Where are the Blazers next year?

If they are lucky? 1st round and out......

 

[Minstrel]

Portland downgraded their present without significantly upgrading their future.

 

[RoyToy]

You're asking for a lot of things to go right. When was the last time that happened?

I don't think it's inconceivable that Chris John can give the team solid minutes. He's not bad a protecting the rim at all and he moves pretty well.

Oden WILL play again at some point.

 

[Rhal]

I really don't want to be in the lottery next year for a very big reason... CHA owns our pick...

 

[PapaG]

Portland downgraded their present without significantly upgrading their future.

So, you have the Blazers at less than 48 wins next season?

 

[Minstrel]

So, you have the Blazers at less than 48 wins next season?

If Oden doesn't play next season (as he didn't this year), I would take the under.

That said, downgrading a position doesn't necessarily mean the team will be worse next year, because there are a bunch of other players who have variance to their performance. Batum could make a jump forward in his development, Aldridge could make another step forward, Roy could re-invent himself. I simply think that whatever the team does accomplish next season, they would have accomplished more with Miller instead of Felton, because I feel Miller is a superior player to Felton.

 

[EGame]

I really don't want to be in the lottery next year for a very big reason... CHA owns our pick...

I thought they owned our 2013 pick. Maybe I'm wrong though.

 

[PapaG]

If Oden doesn't play next season (as he didn't this year), I would take the under.

That's not what I asked. Yes/No. You said the Blazers got worse in the present. Will they lose more than 34 games next year?

That said, downgrading a position doesn't necessarily mean the team will be worse next year, because there are a bunch of other players who have variance to their performance. Batum could make a jump forward in his development, Aldridge could make another step forward, Roy could re-invent himself. I simply think that whatever the team does accomplish next season, they would have accomplished more with Miller instead of Felton, because I feel Miller is a superior player to Felton.

That's an easy out. Hey, if the Blazers win 50 games with Felton, they would have won more with Miller! Prove that they wouldn't have done so.

It's hard to take you seriously at times. I know this routine works on most posters, but never taking a definitive position makes it easy to look like a smart guy. You remind me of every 55 year-old white exec I've ever met. Always leaving a semantic out of a non-decision.

 

[B-Roy]

I thought they owned our 2013 pick. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Yup, that's actually a positive.

If there was a time to tank, it would be now. The 2012 draft is loaded, and in a (probable) lockout year, dropping into the lottery won't seem so bad.

 

[PapaG]

I'm also wondering how getting younger at PG without losing any core players makes the team worse for the future.

Can you 'splain that one to me, Minstrel?

 

[Minstrel]

That's not what I asked. Yes/No. You said the Blazers got worse in the present.

Yes, I said they got worse in the present. They did that by downgrading at a position. Fairly straightforward concept to understand.

That's an easy out.

Thanks. I have found life is easier when one is logical, yes.

Hey, if the Blazers win 50 games with Felton, they would have won more with Miller! Prove that they wouldn't have done so.

Where did proof come into the question? I gave my opinion that they downgraded the present by weakening one position. That's not the same, either by logic or common sense, as saying they'll be a worse team next year than they were last year. What it means is that they'll be a worse team than they would have been if they hadn't made that move.

There's more than one moving part in this system.

It's hard to take you seriously at times. I know this routine works on most posters, but never taking a definitive position makes it easy to look like a smart guy. You remind me of every 55 year-old white exec I've ever met. Always leaving a semantic out of a non-decision.

I'm sorry, I literally couldn't understand any of this. Was it in English?

 

[Minstrel]

I'm also wondering how getting younger at PG without losing any core players makes the team worse for the future.

Can you 'splain that one to me, Minstrel?

Yes, I can. As usual, you didn't read the post you're trying (badly) to criticize.

Any other issues I can explain for you while I'm here?

 

[barfo]

You remind me of every 55 year-old white exec I've ever met.

Yeah, Minstrel. You are such a 55 year old white exec. You, you, 55 year-old white exec, you.

barfo

 

[Minstrel]

Yeah, Minstrel. You are such a 55 year old white exec. You, you, 55 year-old white exec, you.

Sorry, I don't speak whatever street slang that is.