Tortured’s State of the Blazers

[hoopsjock]

That isn't a "Curve" grade TBF
That is the sum of your grades and the average. I'm a teacher. Your C+ is a hard grading system.
You gave the Guards an A and that is the only reason you got up to C+. It's actually funny because that has been the thing a bunch of the NEGS want changed. The first name that comes up when trade discussion comes up is CJ. Except maybe Meyers and ET if that is your preference.
Then you gave the Centers a B+ but seem to completely side step the fact that they went to the WCF's without their starting center. Why did that happen? Because the GM who got a C+ made huge moves and shored up the team and don't you even think for a second that the Blazers would not have been way better with Nurk and Kanter as a one two punch.
Oh yeah and then there is the coach. C..... But all three of the other coaches that made conference finals are great coaches. You can't even see a B out of that?

Can you please come up with a better word than "Negs"?

 

[dviss1]

Get a hold of yourself. If you cant handle people who dont think everything is rainbows and sunshine, then IGNORE them. FFS. Normally Id let this go but... you're sitting here ranting at Tortured? Are you fucking kidding me? And your ranting about me when I'm not even involved and making it personal? How many people live in your head? Get a grip.

You know what grade I give this season? An A-. And I think this roster is better than you do! But I have the "hater mentality"? All I do is bash the team? I'm too negative for you? The only things you have an issue with is that I voice my displeasure with the coach (which you cant handle), and that I think we had some fortune in getting to the WCF. Outside of a couple opinions on certain players (*cough* Evan Turner *cough*), those are the only negative things I have to say.

But if you think I post too much negativity, or you cant handle any of it at all, you have multiple options to relieve your emotional distress. You could be a big boy and ignore me. You could be find another forum to post on. You could throw your phone or computer in the garbage... I dont care. Obviously you need to do something though...

You ironically call me a kid while throwing a temper tantrum crying about people, attacking them, making things personal... and its all over another persons fucking grade? And then you want to complain about the forum not having "respect and courtesy"? Thats the most hypocritical thing I've ever read... All youve shown me is disrespect because you dont like my opinion. I cant remember a time where I attacked you personally. I give you shit for your opinion, just like you do mine. But Im not delusional and I know thats something that will happen on an INTERNET FORUM. I'm fine with that. Yet youve crossed the line and made things personal many times (just like you did here, completely unprovoked), and you want to complain about a lack or respect....

You sit here and whine about the very thing you engage in. You fan the flames in a major way, then cry when you cause a wildfire. Its comical.

Change something. What you're doing aint working for you.

 

[riverman]

If you're gonna talk shit... You should at least tag bones in the post.

c'mon......y'know how I keep it in neutral here? I say "some folks" instead of tagging a poster...fill in the blanks....there are entire conversations here of people talking shit without tagging forum members....I tag somebody when I want to compliment them usually...kj started the meltdown thread for this purpose but some folks just don't realize they're melting down I guess

 

[dviss1]

Can you please come up with a better word than "Negs"?

Hilarious that he's referring to the wrong people. @BonesJones s is a HOMER. He just wants a new coach and to get rid of Turner.

I. Agree.

 

[riverman]

He just wants a new coach and to get rid of Turner.

in my view he just wants agreement and seems to have a hard time with opposing views...to each their own...most of the time folks don't enjoy being talked at when they come here to talk with fans. I was once told in a post here that I'm too old for the forum and just sit around making shit up around here...I've gotten pms saying my jokes aren't funny by a couple members here. I like Torturedblazerfan because he's someone who will talk with you and actually consider another opinion after the fact...probably a nice guy. I've liked many of his posts. kj is right...old forum members have left here because of the snark he addressed and I agree with his reasons for it. At the end of this season I am happy about the state of the franchise....I'm cheering. I agree with some of Torey's talking points but not his style of counter punching to make a point. Anybody who actually posts..."I'm right about everything here" I find a bit suspect. Maybe I should just find another forum....I'll take that into consideration

 

[Propagandist]

I know. Serious Knee injury. I get a full ride scholarship Division One Baseball and play Red Shirt in Football plus out of College go Professional in Rugby for the Portland Jesters (ORSU) and make the American Eagles 2 years. Then play for the Army Rangers RFC between deployments but this kid thinks he has some kind of special experience. We better go easy on him for sure.

You are also one of those (badass) maniacs that participates in the Iron Man competitions, if I'm not mistaken. Freaking amazing.

 

[dviss1]

c'mon......y'know how I keep it in neutral here? I say "some folks" instead of tagging a poster...fill in the blanks....there are entire conversations here of people talking shit without tagging forum members....I tag somebody when I want to compliment them usually...kj started the meltdown thread for this purpose but some folks just don't realize they're melting down I guess

River.... The reason why you tag people could be much different than the reason others tag...

You're giving him WAY too much cover. @kjironman1's post was a fucking HIT PIECE on @BonesJones who WASN'T EVEN IN THREAD.... And he didn't even tag him.

Talk shit "to his face"... Not behind his back... It's weak and you know it.

 

[dviss1]

in my view he just wants agreement and seems to have a hard time with opposing views

Really quick tho... What did that have to do with the OP?

 

[riverman]

Really quick tho... What did that have to do with the OP?

consider me conversational.....I addressed Tortured in my post...kj didn't tell bones to be a big boy and ignore him.....I addressed bones saying that and state of the Blazers is a pretty broad topic

 

[riverman]

I'm out

 

[dviss1]

consider me conversational.....I addressed Tortured in my post...kj didn't tell bones to be a big boy and ignore him.....I addressed bones saying that and state of the Blazers is a pretty broad topic

He didn't need to because @BonesJones didn't call him out for no reason at all.

@kjironman1 is incorrectly blaming the "state of the forum" on bones. I think that's a step too far. Especially when bones had nothing to do with Tortured's post.

It also completely disrespects TBF's point of view. Saying he did not garner it on his own but that he's influenced by other posters... It's bullshit plain and simple.

KJ SHOULD put him on ignore if his imaginary reason for the state of the forum is due to how bones is posting.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

c'mon......y'know how I keep it in neutral here? I say "some folks" instead of tagging a poster...fill in the blanks....there are entire conversations here of people talking shit without tagging forum members....I tag somebody when I want to compliment them usually...kj started the meltdown thread for this purpose but some folks just don't realize they're melting down I guess

I get that a few of you think I shouldve given the Blazers better grades, @kjironman1, @CupWizier sorry Im blanking on the rest, and thats entirely fair, and I havent made it personal or disrespected any of you guys. Maybe I was too harsh when I wrote it out.

I really don't believe I was in meltdown mode or just being negative for the heck of it. There are lots of good things about this year and the Blazers future.

I may not have communicated it well, but such is the nature of writings ones thoughts at times.

 

[riverman]

KJ SHOULD put him on ignore

this is not possible since he's joined the 3 on 3 tournament...he's got staff status now and the ignore function doesn't work in this case..

 

[tlongII]

Apparently basketball grades is serious business.

 

[riverman]

Apparently basketball grades is serious business.

Personally I'd give the team an incomplete....make them repeat the senior year of high school and pick up the math grades

 

[dviss1]

this is not possible since he's joined the 3 on 3 tournament...he's got staff status now and the ignore function doesn't work in this case..

LOL. What are you talking about??

I'm in the 3 on 3 tournament too. I don't have Staff Status. Neither does @BonesJones. He's never had it...

 

[riverman]

LOL. What are you talking about??

I'm in the 3 on 3 tournament too. I don't have Staff Status. Neither does @BonesJones. He's never had it...

try putting him on ignore...you can't....it was explained to me when he first joined the tournament...I don't know about your situation because honestly, I've never tried to put you on ignore and really, in the end I come here by choice....that's on me. I log on here regularly and go straight to recent posts and more times than not, it's a bitch fest between forum members..same subject...often same posts...I read one page of posts, remark and get called out for not reading the previous 20 pages of argument so I have "context".....sheesh....I use the "some folks" descriptor rather than single people out...everyone knows the context

 

[Hoopguru]

I get that a few of you think I shouldve given the Blazers better grades, @kjironman1, @CupWizier sorry Im blanking on the rest, and thats entirely fair, and I havent made it personal or disrespected any of you guys. Maybe I was too harsh when I wrote it out.

I really don't believe I was in meltdown mode or just being negative for the heck of it. There are lots of good things about this year and the Blazers future.

I may not have communicated it well, but such is the nature of writings ones thoughts at times.

I thought your take on the "state of the blazers " was well done and your feelings. And feelings are not right or wrong.
Id probably give them a B+ because I fell the degree of difficulty this year in the west was huge. Like spring board diving in the Olympics, the higher the difficulty the higher the potential score.
I always enjoy and respect your input and feedback!

 

[Hoopguru]

Why does there need to be an ignore feature?
We should all be able to stay composed and be respectful to differing views.
There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone point of view and there is nothing wrong with admitting a mistake or apologizing to someone!
Get rid of that ignore feature it's a form of censorship or government control. lol

 

[riverman]

Why does there need to be an ignore feature?
We should all be able to stay composed and be respectful to differing views.
There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone point of view and there is nothing wrong with admitting a mistake or apologizing to someone!
Get rid of that ignore feature it's a form of censorship or government control. lol

it's a mute button..and only a mute button...if the neighbors start screaming I might put on a pair of headphones and crank the music

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Totally respect your opinion. You are saying Olshey has built a starting lineup that is 40% faulty. I can't give him credit/fault for 2012 because he had just arrived. The CJ pick was great value. Since then, his drafting given the positions has been no better than average. Free agency has not been overly successful, minus the short term prove-it deals, and I think you'd have to at minimum split the credit of those to the coaching staff as a whole. Currently we have minimal flexibility due to all these changes and most here do not believe this current roster is good enough to win a title.

I'd give him a C, but I'll bump it to a C+ assuming part of his strategy is that continuity of the core is something he believes in and that's why he hasn't made more big moves.

That's the thing, I think Olshey already got better forwards than Aminu and Harkless but Stotts just doesn't play them in the starting lineup. That's on coaching. I think we can all agree that our starting lineup would be much better with Zach Collins and Rodney Hood in place of Aminu and Harkless. Vonleh was a better starting at PF than Aminu as well but coach didn't give him much of a chance.

 

[CupWizier]

That's the thing, I think Olshey already got better forwards than Aminu and Harkless but Stotts just doesn't play them in the starting lineup. That's on coaching. I think we can all agree that our starting lineup would be much better with Zach Collins and Rodney Hood in place of Aminu and Harkless. Vonleh was a better starting at PF than Aminu as well but coach didn't give him much of a chance.

Vonleh started over 100 games (out of 185) in his short stint here so how can you say he was never given an opportunity. Vonleh has done better at NY but it is also a horrible team and his stats were just okay.

 

[Chris Craig]

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.

 

[Hoopguru]

it's a mute button..and only a mute button...if the neighbors start screaming I might put on a pair of headphones and crank the music

where is it?

 

[Hobbesarable]

Apparently basketball grades is serious business.

Hahahaha. I'll drink to that!

 

[Hobbesarable]

TBF’s State of the Blazers:


There's been a lot of talk about where the Blazers are at, was the WCF’s a fluke, or luck of the draw, was winning 53 games just a matter of health and good chemistry while other teams had to integrate pieces and learn to play together. Are Stotts and Neil Olshey the guys to steer the Trail Blazers ship, to a Trail Blazers championship.


So as a fan, I decided to I wanted to give a layman's take on where things are at and where it looks like the Blazers near future is going.


So lets start off with Neil Olshey.

Neil has been a GM that is hard personally to listen too, he often comes across as a salesman to the public. Just giving us the company line, and every 6 months or so the media around Portland tells us he was close to making a move that would have altered the fates of the Blazers, but it never quite materializes. It’s really hard to gauge how much of that is true, so we have to judge him based on what happened.

Neils Draft record has been pretty good. Sure there's been flops in there, but guys like CJ have panned out, and their current young players in Simons and Zach look to have a lot of potential.

Neils trades have been kind of alright, with some of them like getting Rodney Hood and Nurkic looking really good and some like Aaron Afflalo looking bad, though I think there are reasonable excuses that, that years iteration of the Blazers failure’s weren't because of that trade but because of Injuries to Wes Matthews, Rolo, and LMA.


Overall I've never been super high on Neil but Id says he’s done ok. His major failures have been in free agency, for the most part, 2016 is really all one needs to say on that. He did pick up Kanter, and Curry recently that were adequate additions to the team.


GM: C+


Terry Stotts:

Boy, this is rough and besides some foreshadowing about the Blazers forwards will probably be the “toughest” grade to dole out for the team. Terry’s had regular season success with the Blazers when at times it seemed like they wouldn’t have much.

He’s also had a lot of playoff failures, where it seems like things tightened up and he just fails to make adjustments, especially in-game. Some of it may be because he’s been in Portland for a long time and we’ve just seen the sets too much and his (lack of)motion offense have gotten to the point when it feels like there is collective moan in Portland when they run the 3 man weave, or run a PNR into a trap with no angle to an outlet (again).

For what it's worth I thought he showed some growth this year in the playoffs making changes (in between games) to how they did things.


Overall he’s probably an above average NBA coach, but is he the coach that can lead them to a ring? I really have my doubts here.


Coaching: C


The Roster:


The guards-

Well, this is an easy one. Dame’s straight up a baller even if he’s struggled with traps. CJ he may struggle at things like finding open players, and defense but he’s also one of the few players on the team who can straight up just get his. The dudes a scorer, and when he’s on he is fun to watch. When he’s not making baskets it can seem like he doesn’t do much else but he and Dame definitely make a good, and close to an elite backcourt.


The bench here has always struggled to have competent backups especially for setting up players, but Curry and Hood who is kind of a tweener have been good.


Guards A


Forwards:

Well... Yikes, what to say. Aminu and Harkless have been their steady starters (not sure why sometimes), for four years. Their defense has been the calling card.


The problem is, I think both have some decencies on defense. They’re both are good defenders, but I'm not sure they’re elite. Offensively while they both have games here and there of giving the team 15-20ish points, there’s a lot of games they may as well not be on the court offensively as well. Zach, in my opinion, is the PF of the Blazers future especially if he continues to fill out and get better.


Overall...

Forwards C- (and I am close to giving them a D here).


Centers:

It was really unfortunate what happened to the Blazers at the end of the season in regards to their centers. Injuries took what should’ve been a strength and made it a question mark. Nurkic, his growth into the Blazers 2nd best player, his ability to pass, take up space on defense occasionally hit 15-18 foot jumpers and be a presence man I missed him out there.

Their depth of Kanter (also a decent center who got hurt), Zach, and Meyers have been pretty good. It's really unfortunate the injuries they had here.


Centers: B+


The future: 2016 still casts a shadow over the franchise but fortunately those contracts are expiring next summer. They have a lot of decisions to make this summer, a lowish draft pick, and not a lot of cap space. Next year may be a bit of a downer especially if it takes Nurk a while to get back going.


Overall the 2018-2019 run was fun, but what the future holds is in flux both with how Nurk comes back and what NO can do with the lack of flexibility he created.

The Blazers run to the WCF’s “earned” NO and Stotts extensions, let's hope those weren’t overreactions.

I wrote all this while on a phone will fix grammar and spelling when I get to a computer.

I liked your post for your honesty and willingness to give your unbiased opinion. I respect that even if I may or may not agree. Here's to you, buddy.

 

[BlayZa]

i think were in an ok spot

the only sucky things have been

nurk injury
enes injury
turner and meyers = $42m
massive inconsistency from SF/PF positions


if that 42m was a decent SF and PF, we'd be golden

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Vonleh started over 100 games (out of 185) in his short stint here so how can you say he was never given an opportunity. Vonleh has done better at NY but it is also a horrible team and his stats were just okay.

He was a better fit for our starting lineup than Aminu. You're right. He got an opportunity and then never played again pretty much.

 

[riverman]

where is it?

left click on the avatar of the person...second line of blue font on the far right is ignore....same for unignore when you want to take them off the list.

 

[oldmangrouch]

That's the thing, I think Olshey already got better forwards than Aminu and Harkless but Stotts just doesn't play them in the starting lineup. That's on coaching. I think we can all agree that our starting lineup would be much better with Zach Collins and Rodney Hood in place of Aminu and Harkless. Vonleh was a better starting at PF than Aminu as well but coach didn't give him much of a chance.

True, which makes the whole Harkless/Vonleh saga so weird. Why did he give Hark and Leonard 8 figure deals while paying someone to take Vonleh off our hands? Was it to pander to Stotts, or did Olshey just blow it?