We still can save this season

[BrunoSOC]

Really. Thats the time to make a run, before the ASG. I really believe Dame will play better. He receives a lot of critiscim, thats include my self. I think he needs a time, and the ASG its perfect.


We have: Dallas, Boston(home), Atlanta(home), and Jazz before the ASG.

I think its a pretty hard schedule. But, if we want to have something, we must win at least 3 games. Its very hard and i know that, but thats the chance we have....


You guys think its time to accepted the tank? Thougts?

BTW: Sorry for my english.

 

[KingSpeed]

The season is definitely savable. Lots more basketball.

 

[Minstrel]

They shouldn't tank and they won't, because players aren't ever going to purposely play worse and there really isn't much opportunity for Olshey to "sell off parts" to weaken the team because many of the players are overpaid, underperforming or both. The best he can probably do is try to trade Plumlee for some so-so draft picks.

That said, I don't think this season is savable. Sure, if they go on a tear, it's still mathematically possible--but short of getting fluky hot like last year, this team doesn't have the talent level to rip off a huge run.

 

[BrunoSOC]

The season is definitely savable. Lots more basketball.

So you think we will finish what position? Playoffs, 8,7,6,5 seed?

 

[TBpup]

No higher than #8 unless some other team ahead of us has a major free-fall due to injury.

 

[e_blazer]

If squeaking into the 8th seed constitutes "saving the season", then that's certainly attainable. In order to have a chance to do anything other than get swept by the Warriors, the Blazers would need to pull off some sort of a trade that brings in front court talent. Even that wouldn't give a realistic shot at winning a series against the Warriors.

 

[BrunoSOC]

and What about trades? Im from brasil so i dont know so much the news from trail blazers. I just follow here and some twiiter acounts. Have a rumor or something? I just cant accepted the season we have. Its bothers me a lot

 

[TBpup]

and What about trades? Im from brasil so i dont know so much the news from trail blazers. I just follow here and some twiiter acounts. Have a rumor or something? I just cant accepted the season we have. Its bothers me a lot

It bothers most of us. That is why we have such an issue with the performance given what happened last season and that they are all a year older and more experienced.

 

[e_blazer]

and What about trades? Im from brasil so i dont know so much the news from trail blazers. I just follow here and some twiiter acounts. Have a rumor or something? I just cant accepted the season we have. Its bothers me a lot

There aren't many credible rumors out there right now. There was a lot of talk about the Blazers being interested in Serge Ibaka, but I don't know if there's a realistic deal to be made. Usually, if you hear about it, that means that it's not happening. The trade deadline is February 23rd, so we'll find out within a couple of weeks.

 

[Chris Craig]

The Blazers may end the season with the 8th spot, it is certainly possible, but there are a lot of hungry teams battling for it, and the Blazers haven't been very hungry. I would never condone tanking, but I will say this, one might think making the eighth seed is salvaging this shamble of a season, but the real save would be to use the rest of the time to actually develop our players, and if we make the playoffs doing that great. If we continue on our current path and barely squeak into the playoffs with the 8th seed and presumably lose to the warriors in the first round, whether its a sweep or not, what have we gained? A little more humility? A couple more games of playoff experience? Right now players are regressing, and if we end the season on that note, well shit, then we are in the same hole, we are now.

I have to think Olshey is trying to figure out some deal to make us better. I just hope hes not trying to play his cards to close to his chest because the time is over for that. We need a change, or its going to be the same. I am not saying make a trade just to make one, I am saying Olshey do your job son, because so far your just backing yourself in the corner pal.

If for some reason we wait till the off season to make moves, (which will either make for a rough rest of the season, or allow the players to relax enough knowing they are going to finish the season here to start playing to win again) then it makes even more since to use the rest of the season to develop our players. progress not regress.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

We're one Lady Gaga satanic ritual away from winning it all!

 

[e_blazer]

We're one Lady Gaga satanic ritual away from winning it all!

If only there were a virgin available for the sacrifice somewhere in Portland.

Wait...Sly?

 

[KingSpeed]

The Blazers may end the season with the 8th spot, it is certainly possible, but there are a lot of hungry teams battling for it, and the Blazers haven't been very hungry. I would never condone tanking, but I will say this, one might think making the eighth seed is salvaging this shamble of a season, but the real save would be to use the rest of the time to actually develop our players, and if we make the playoffs doing that great. If we continue on our current path and barely squeak into the playoffs with the 8th seed and presumably lose to the warriors in the first round, whether its a sweep or not, what have we gained? A little more humility? A couple more games of playoff experience? Right now players are regressing, and if we end the season on that note, well shit, then we are in the same hole, we are now.

I have to think Olshey is trying to figure out some deal to make us better. I just hope hes not trying to play his cards to close to his chest because the time is over for that. We need a change, or its going to be the same. I am not saying make a trade just to make one, I am saying Olshey do your job son, because so far your just backing yourself in the corner pal.

If for some reason we wait till the off season to make moves, (which will either make for a rough rest of the season, or allow the players to relax enough knowing they are going to finish the season here to start playing to win again) then it makes even more since to use the rest of the season to develop our players. progress not regress.

What do you mean by develop our players? We've been playing our young guys (everyone's young) all season? Geezus, Noah is starting.

 

[KingSpeed]

So you think we will finish what position? Playoffs, 8,7,6,5 seed?

I don't know but 7th is attainable. Not sure about higher than that.

 

[craigehlo]

Without a major trade, 7th is a pipe dream.

 

[riverman]

We would have to have a Miami like 10 game run and win most of the remaining games to get a good seed in the playoffs..I like the optimism KS....just really not there yet myself

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

We're one Lady Gaga satanic ritual away from winning it all!

Too bad there isn't a way to lip-sync basketball plays.

 

[THE HCP]

"#64Wins.....Finish ahead of Spurs and Warriors...."

 

[riverman]

Too bad there isn't a way to lip-sync basketball plays.

Meyers can't move his lips with his eyes open and play basketball at the same time

 

[42N8Bounce]

I love the Blazers, and enjoy watching a competitive game of basketball. I consider the season 'saved' if we can field a team that is competitive and gives it all each night.

With that said, I want to see the Blazers make the playoffs. Yes, even if it's only the 8th seed and facing the Warriors. Most likely we will lose. But like last year, even though we lost, we put up a good fight that was entertaining to watch.

Chip and a chair.

 

[oldfisherman]

The players saved last season.
But just when things where starting to click, the off season roster moves happened. So the process started all over again.
The players can save this season, maybe. But just when things will start to click, here comes the off season roster moves again.

My prediction, next season, this team will be worse than this season. We do not have enough players that consistently contribute to improve the team. It takes almost all season just to get them to play together.

 

[TBpup]

What do you mean by develop our players? We've been playing our young guys (everyone's young) all season? Geezus, Noah is starting.

Vonleh is starting but by last count, they have run a grand total of 1 play for him in that entire time. Meanwhile, he has set 8,963,418 picks. That is not exactly developing him. Against Dallas, he had 4 points and 3 rebounds in the first 7 minutes while his teammates did absolutely nothing. Stotts rewarded him by sitting him on the bench the rest of the game.

Not exactly 'development'.

 

[BigGameDamian]

So you think we will finish what position? Playoffs, 8,7,6,5 seed?

Let's see what the Blazers do with the trade deadline first.

 

[Trackjack]

Yea we can save the season but going have to be up to the players. There no quick fix for this team this season. If you trade at the deadline we need to do it for the future.

 

[Minstrel]

The players saved last season.
But just when things where starting to click, the off season roster moves happened. So the process started all over again.

I don't understand what you mean here. You seem to suggest that the team came together last year and then all their continuity was ruined by a bunch of roster changes. But the off-season was mostly notable for lack of roster changes, as Olshey spent a bomb to keep all the team's pieces together. The only significant difference was adding Evan Turner. Are you saying Turner destroyed the team's continuity, to the point that they went from a 50+ win team (their pace after the All Star break last year) to a 35 win team (their current pace)?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yea we can save the season but going have to be up to the players. There no quick fix for this team this season. If you trade at the deadline we need to do it for the future.

So you want to see the Blazers trade for draft picks?

 

[Cippy91]

Yeah guys let's get that 8th seed so we can get absolutely pounced by the warriors. Come on now. Not only have I gave up on the team but we need to hit the lottery. I don't wanna see this team in the playoffs. Would be embarrassing

 

[riverman]

I love the Blazers, and enjoy watching a competitive game of basketball. I consider the season 'saved' if we can field a team that is competitive and gives it all each night.

With that said, I want to see the Blazers make the playoffs. Yes, even if it's only the 8th seed and facing the Warriors. Most likely we will lose. But like last year, even though we lost, we put up a good fight that was entertaining to watch.

Chip and a chair.

I would enjoy seeing this team play the Spurs if it's playoff ready.....at least they'd learn a good lesson about team defense...I think those Spurs games helped the old previous core get better

 

[Chris Craig]

What do you mean by develop our players? We've been playing our young guys (everyone's young) all season? Geezus, Noah is starting.

Noah starts but he is barely on the floor before he is yanked and rides the bench the rest of the game. While Meyers has had a lot of time in past seasons to develop, he hasn't gotten the minutes to find him self again after last season, either decide he is done and trade him or give him minutes. Same with Ed trade him or play him. Stotts needs to set a rotation and stay with it, 8-9 guys. When you keep switching playing Meyers and Davis every game, and neither play really gets ample time to see the court they regress. Give one the time.

We always have the end of the roster guys, Connaughton, Layman, Quarterman, Napier. These type of guys ride the bench and become dead weight never developing because they don't play then we end up kicking them to the curb, and replace em with a new batch.

Tim Fraizer
Viktor Khryapa
Joel Freeland
Victor claver
Sergei Monia
Nolan Smith
Armon Johnson
Elliot Williams
Ha Swung Jin
Etc....etc...the list goes on

Some guys actually go on to be developed by other teams

Party Mills
Jermaine O'neal
Will Barton
Dante Cunningham
Luke Babbit
Josh McRoberts
Jerryd Bayless
Sebastian Telfair

Point is, the Blazers have never been a good team at developing players. Most teams that become elite, started with drafting and developing players. Usually you got to pick some diamonds out of a lemon tree, and the Blazers have a knack for picking lemons, but hell take those lemons and make lemonade.

The Blazers have tried to trade and use free agency as a shortcut, but there is no shortcut. Develop the players. I am sure if we don't trade his rights Diez will be riding the bench next year after we drop Connaughton. We will get rid of Quarterman and find a new young pg to lay our hopes on...but if we are to win, to become elite, the cycle needs to stop.

 

[oldfisherman]

I don't understand what you mean here. You seem to suggest that the team came together last year and then all their continuity was ruined by a bunch of roster changes. But the off-season was mostly notable for lack of roster changes, as Olshey spent a bomb to keep all the team's pieces together. The only significant difference was adding Evan Turner. Are you saying Turner destroyed the team's continuity, to the point that they went from a 50+ win team (their pace after the All Star break last year) to a 35 win team (their current pace)?

1/3 of the roster was turned over last summer. It is actually higher than that if you include the mid-season turnover of BUPGs.

This next off season it looks very similar. About 1/3 of the roster will probably turnover.

The more players that are turned over on a roster during a season, the more variables that develop to impede building team chemistry. This includes team chemistry on the floor as well as in the locker room. It takes time for one new player to adjust, changing 5 or 6 players complicates the process.