Optimists, Naysayers, realists, members of this forum, distinquished guests, my fellow Trail Blazers fans, it has been decreed by S2 traditions that from time to time, we must come together and examine the fitness of our beloved team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
For 49 years we have fufilled this duty. We have done it in periods of prosperity and victory and we have done so alike in the midst of defeat and depression, at moments of great discord and struggle.
It is easy to look back on these tougher moments and proceed with a negative outlook as to the shape of our team. To suppose that it is inevitable, that the Blazers are destined for mediocrity. We must take in account both the good and the bad. We must hold evident that both of these elements make up the foundational character of the team.
The very esssence of the Trail Blazers name lays in perserverance, in fighting through the greatest of adversities no matter the outcome. The Blazers will to fight on is strong as it has been in recent memory.
General Manager Neil Olshey has recieved great criticism for his inability to sign big free agents. There is still much denunciation over his decision in 2016 to overpay Evan Turner and resign Meyers Leonard, Allen Crabbe, and Maurice Harkless.
There is no taking back of his actions there, but the team has seemed to make progress each year since the rebuild. They have made the playoffs 5 seasons in the row. This past season the Trail Blazers made it to the western conference finals despite missing their starting center and their backup center playing with only one workable arm.
The additions of Seth Curry, Rodney Hood, and Enes Kanter led to this recent success. Olshey implemented limited resources to make these moves. Furthermore he has done a more than adequate job in the draft. The Blazers have at least four important pieces because of his actions there, including Lillard and McCollum.
Olshey perhaps comes off as salesman esque but he has done well for this team. He has made them better at almost every point. He has his work cut out for him with limited available salary and several free agents including, Curry, Hood, Layman, Aminu, and Kanter. His decisions could change the face of the team as we know it.
As it is he deserves a more than passing grade. B+/A-
The Blazers Coach Terry Stotts as recieved a lot of animosity. He has been accused of an inability to make adjustments or high IQ plays down the stretch and at the end of games. Furthermore his capability to coach defense and a mire equitable offense has come under question.
Stotts qualifications, having won a championship as an assistant coach with Dallas seems at odds with his playoff coaching record. Still, he coached the Blazers to the western conference finals this year.
For all of his wanting idosyncracies he is an adept coach. While he is not on an elite level with coaches such as Greg Popovich he is a sufficient coach. His contract has been extended to the dismay of many. He has done well enough to deserve the benefit of the doubt.
With assistant David Vanterpool leaving, the Blazers are left with a large vacancy. Stotts must replace him. Hopefully, with a talented defensive minded coach. Until then we must give coaching a C+/B-.
Portland's guards are their best faucet. Lillard and McCollum make up one of the leagues best backcourts. Seth Curry is a terrific back up guard, as one of the best shooters in the NBA. Rodney Hood is well rounded off the bench. He can shoot well from distance, back down shorter players on the post, or bring it yo the basket. Evan Turner is weakest link. The Blazers use him to bring the ball up the court. They should use him like Hood, have them both backing down smaller opponents in the post. Turner doesn't fit with the Blazers, but again he hasn't bern used right. Anfernee Simons has the potential to be a star. He likely will be.
The Trail Blazers Guards get an A+
The Blazers Forwards are the the Trail Blazers most infirm position. Aminu more of a traditional Small Foward is played at the 4. Maurice Harkless who sometimes is on (good Harkless) and seemingly more than not to be found (bad Harkless), starts at the three. These two would arguably come off the bench on other teams. If Aminu and Harkless could find consistency the Blazers would be better for it. It is all together frightening, the prospect of Aminu dribbling as he runs down the floor. Though he shows more effort perhaps then Harkless. They can both improve should they stay.
Zach Collins should be Portland's starting Power Foward next season. The young big man played in his second season. He possesses vast potential and has improved each year. He has shown he is not afraid to do the dirty work. Though he has played a goid amount of time at the 5, he could be better suited at the 4.
Jake Layman and Skal Labiserre could also be options at the 4. Layman has played SG, SF, and PF. He seems to play the best at the 4 where he can cut to the basket for Alley oops and can have the best space to play on the fly. He is a guy who plays best moving, something the Blazers need to improve on.
Skal is another young bigman who is capable and should and probably will get a chance to show what he can do.
The Blazers Forwards get a C
The Trail Blazers played in the playoffs without their starting center Jusuf Nurkic. He is their third if not second best player. He was missed and would have been a big help to taking the double team off of Lillard and McCollum. He is a skillfull passer and versitile scorer. He is a bigman who can run.
Enes Kanter was a perfect signing. His deficiencies on defense could almost be overlooked with his ability on offensive rebounding and his shooting. He is a talanted veteran center.
Meyers Leonard has struggled to find himself as a player. He has played for the Blazers for seven seasons. Only Lillard has been on the team as long as he has. Meyers has gotten better. He is one of the best shooting big men in the NBA. His confidence has been key to his play and it has grown exponentially. It has room to grow more.
Centers A
I stand here to tell you that state of the Blazers is strong and favorable. The future is bright. There is no reason to fret. Let us stand together and celebrate Portland's accomplishments this year.
Lest you say the Trail Blazers path has been an easy one this season/post season let me remind you, the Blazers suffered several setbacks, yet they finished the season strong with 53 wins, including the last game against the Kings in ehich the end of our bench played some of the most inspiring ball we have seen.
In the playoffs the Blazers nearly swept the Thunder, are the only team to win a series without homecourt advantage and against the most winning home team in the NBA to boot.
Yes, the Blazers were swept by the Warriors, but they were not destroyed. This young team had no WCF's experience prior to this. They do now. They can come back next year healthy and get further.
Let us be brought together by adversity and view this years shortcomings not as some negative connotation, but as a step in a the right direction.
I also find it interesting that the 2 guys with the best effort level are the 2 lowest paid guys on the list.
