What have you learned about the team from this series?

[Chris Craig]

We need a starting PF

That I like it when everyone underestimates/ counts us out....

 

[theprunetang]

I also think we need a starting PF, but one thing I have noticed is that having both Harkl and Aminu out there, we can switch on so many things defensively. We need a PF that provides more offense than Chief, but that can still switch on picks.

 

[Natebishop3]

Myers, Vonleh, and Henderson are expendable.

I don't think Vonleh is expendable, necessarily, but I would trade him for the right piece. He's not part of the core. We might need him to develop though, because he has the potential to be a decent scoring power forward, and we desperately need that right now.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

For me:

Harkless is part of the core of this team. We need to keep him. If he could develop a consistent outside shot, he could be an All-Star.

Plumlee is truly valuable. His basketball IQ, versatility, and rebounding have been a revelation. If he could only develop a little mid-range jumper....

I don't care if we let Hendo leave. I like Hendo, but he's too one-dimensional and I would rather have his cap space.

Aminu is someone I'd rather have coming off the bench. He's someone we could plug into a number of holes, which makes him extremely valuable, but I'd rather have Harkless starting and we need a legit scoring power forward.

This team needs one more consistent scorer. Preferably a power forward. We need someone else who can put the ball in the hole, because if a team focuses on Dame and CJ, the rest of the team is extremely iffy.

Lastly..... free throws. These guys need to do nothing but shoot free throws all summer.

I agree with all of that. This offseason, Mo needs to do nothing but shoot 3s and free throws, Vonleh needs to work on a mid-range jump-shot and develop two effective post moves, and Plumlee needs to become proficient at hitting a jump shot from the top of the key. If all three of those things were to happen, I would confidently consider this a contending squad.

 

[BlazerWookee]

That whole team needs a change of scenery.

Is it really a "change" if there's zero scenery where they are now?

 

[oldmangrouch]

I've learned that Plums is the guy I may have given up on too soon.

 

[Strenuus]

I said when he's 100% healthy.

Oh, now the caveats come. *facepalm*

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

CJ = Terry
Dame = Clyde
Mo = Jerome
Ed = Buck
Mason = The Duck

Aminu = Uncle Cliffy

 

[Wizard Mentor]

CJ = Terry
Dame = Clyde
Mo = Jerome
Ed = Buck
Mason = The Duck

Aminu = Uncle Cliffy

I like the sentiment, but the big problem is Ed isn't Buck. Horford is Buck!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

fine.

Ed = Mark Bryant

 

[Natebishop3]

CJ = Terry
Dame = Clyde
Mo = Jerome
Ed = Buck
Mason = The Duck

Aminu = Uncle Cliffy

I think you meant Uncle Spliffy.

 

[riverman]

I've learned that the team bounces back from 2 brutal losses and manages to win 3 in a row...that's a sign of good things to come. I've learned why Mason was on a gold medal team USA!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Fun fact:
In 1977 when we won the championship, we lost the first 2 games, and came back and won 4 straight.

If we win tonight, I will be feeling especially nostalgic (in addition to generally going insane!)

 

[BigGameDamian]

I also think we need a starting PF, but one thing I have noticed is that having both Harkl and Aminu out there, we can switch on so many things defensively. We need a PF that provides more offense than Chief, but that can still switch on picks.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=j3y4ogq

 

[blue9]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=j3y4ogq

BGD, man, how does Monroe address "switch[ing] on picks"? Yes, he can score in the post. But prune's salient point was the ability to switch on the P/R defensively. I'm not saying I'm against the proposed trade (or for it), just that it doesn't address the post you're responding to. Also, pretty sure you can't S/T a player in a package, which is what you're proposing with Crabbe.

 

[KingSpeed]

I've learned we need no changes. Re-sign everybody. Based on how we've improved as the season goes on, this team, as is, will win 55-60 games next year. Can't argue with that.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

*Plumlee is one of the best high-post passers I've seen in a long time. Not Marc Gasol-ian but pretty close.
*Dame's defense is worse than I thought. He can't guard Austin Freaking Rivers.
*This team has no chance unless CJ steps up. He's every bit as important as Lillard.
*Aminu is extremely inconsistent and can't be relied on. Just look at his last two games.
*Even before the injury Blake didn't look himself. Something is going on there.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I've learned we need no changes. Re-sign everybody. Based on how we've improved as the season goes on, this team, as is, will win 55-60 games next year. Can't argue with that.

Are you going to bet HCP again?

 

[Stevenson]

Aminu is expendable.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Aminu is expendable.

Exactly.

Or at least find a legitimate starting SF so you can move him to the bench.

 

[Strenuus]

That we won.

 

[Sinobas]

I think the weakest link in the starting lineup is Aminu. He has poor ball handling and passing skills, which really limits him offensively. Sure, he's been a decent 3pt shooter, but as we've seen, not one you want to rely on. He also doesn't have a post game or many moves inside. Teams focus on Lillard, and the ball works it's way to Aminu and you see sometimes he gets the ball inside but he doesn't have the skill to do anything with it, so he passes it back out and someone has to hoist up a bad shot.

He's certainly a solid defender and versatile defender, best suited to guard other stretch 4s, but he's no defensive powerhouse like Draymond Green.

Also, I don't understand some of the Blazers strategy. They have two nimble and athletic centers in Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee, but it seems that they have them hang back more to guard the basket on the pick and roll rather than jump out to double the ball handler like we see other teams doing to us.

DeAndre was a huge factor in this series, anyone that things Plumlee had a better series is silly. The Blazers were afraid to penetrate when he was in the game. He jumped out to double Damian on the pick and roll, and Damian basically gave up and gave it to Plumlee, who would find either Aminu or Harkless. So the Clippers designed their defense to make Harkless and Aminu score, and the Blazers played right into that. I wish they would try having the pick man actually roll to the basket. And perhaps having a pick man that can shoot, like Meyers would have helped.

We'd probably be better off with a Meyers/Harkless front court than Aminu/Harkless.

 

[Sinobas]

*Plumlee is one of the best high-post passers I've seen in a long time. Not Marc Gasol-ian but pretty close.
*Dame's defense is worse than I thought. He can't guard Austin Freaking Rivers.
*This team has no chance unless CJ steps up. He's every bit as important as Lillard.
*Aminu is extremely inconsistent and can't be relied on. Just look at his last two games.
*Even before the injury Blake didn't look himself. Something is going on there.

To me, it seems that it's not so much his defense, but that the Blazers don't give their guards as much help on the pick and roll as other teams. A lot of times you see CJ and Dame losing their man on screens and getting no help.

 

[Sinobas]

For the Warriors series, I'd think about benching Aminu and start Henderson at SF and Harkless at PF.

 

[KingSpeed]

Guys, No, Aminu did not score 30 in every game of the series. Did some of you expect him to?? But the fact that he had the talent to give us ONE 30 point game in a series is HUGE. That's all that you can ask of a role player. Play defense, rebound, and getting us a win all by yourself once a series is good too.

 

[KingSpeed]

I think the weakest link in the starting lineup is Aminu. He has poor ball handling and passing skills, which really limits him offensively. Sure, he's been a decent 3pt shooter, but as we've seen, not one you want to rely on. He also doesn't have a post game or many moves inside. Teams focus on Lillard, and the ball works it's way to Aminu and you see sometimes he gets the ball inside but he doesn't have the skill to do anything with it, so he passes it back out and someone has to hoist up a bad shot.

He's certainly a solid defender and versatile defender, best suited to guard other stretch 4s, but he's no defensive powerhouse like Draymond Green.

Also, I don't understand some of the Blazers strategy. They have two nimble and athletic centers in Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee, but it seems that they have them hang back more to guard the basket on the pick and roll rather than jump out to double the ball handler like we see other teams doing to us.

DeAndre was a huge factor in this series, anyone that things Plumlee had a better series is silly. The Blazers were afraid to penetrate when he was in the game. He jumped out to double Damian on the pick and roll, and Damian basically gave up and gave it to Plumlee, who would find either Aminu or Harkless. So the Clippers designed their defense to make Harkless and Aminu score, and the Blazers played right into that. I wish they would try having the pick man actually roll to the basket. And perhaps having a pick man that can shoot, like Meyers would have helped.

We'd probably be better off with a Meyers/Harkless front court than Aminu/Harkless.

Plumlee had a better series and it wasn't close. In addition to being third in rebounding in the entire playoffs, he was 8th in assists in the entire playoffs. He saved us from the Clippers' trapping defense. Without his passing in Games 3 & 4, we would've been swept. He also nearly had a triple double in Game 2. And he hit the series winning freethrows.

 

[Sinobas]

DeAndre Jordan is the best defensive player in the game right now. He owned the paint the entire series. You don't collect an assist for forcing a bad shot because teams know they can't drive on you.

 

[dviss1]

I don't think you can ever expect him or Plum to develop a consistent shot.

Your gonna eat those words bro.

 

[dviss1]

If Durant leaves, I would toss an offer of Vonleh/Davis at them and see if they bite.

Davis.....?

No.... Meyers bro. Meyers.

 

[Blazinaway]

Myers, Vonleh, and Henderson are expendable.

agree and I'd add Crabbe to that if his asking price is too high