Who's better than us now (in the West)?

[Fairly-Hard]

I tried to put your post to music...the best I came up with was Strawberry Fields Forever ('To" had 5 syllables a couple of times)

“More than a feeling”

 

[tykendo]

The Blazers will be good not great.
To
Nobody really knows?
To
The Blazers aren’t good enough!
To
Nobody really knows?
To
What about injuries!
To
Nobody really knows?
To
If the Blazers could just get!
To
Nobody really knows?

I’m going with nobody really knows.

I know this, "I don't doubt Dame".

 

[42N8Bounce]

Here's a look at how many all-stars each team had last year (I defined an all-star as selected within the last 3 seasons):



Does Portland need a second all-star to contend? Well, looking at the table above, I'd say it certainly helps. Can Dame do it by himself with a great supporting cast? Perhaps. Memphis and Dallas made a good run at it. Lots of teams have two all-stars. However, without a strong bench, you're probably looking at a short post-season.

How do the Blazers get that second all-star without mortgaging their bench and future? I don't think there's an easy answer to that. Draft? Free Agency? Trade? Develop?

Here's a look at the odds of drafting an all-star:



The odds of drafting an all-star in the first round is about 17.1%. That's about 1 in 6. No more trading away first round picks for middling starters. Draft smart and build assets.

Did we already draft that second all-star? Simons? Sharpe? (Walker?)

I don't think trading Dame is the answer. Rebuilding by blowing it up takes too long and is too risky. I don't want to be a bottom dweller for 6-10 years. Dame is a generational talent. I say keep him as long as he wants to be here. Draft smart and watch for that consolidation trade.

As for where the Blazers end up at the end of the year in the standing - as always, it comes down to who has the healthy team come playoffs. I think the Blazers could end up anywhere from 4-8. But if they are at full strength at the end of the year, I think they could really make a good run in the playoffs. Stay healthy and continue to develop the young talent.

 

[STOMP]

The Blazers will be good not great.
To
Nobody really knows?
To
The Blazers aren’t good enough!
To
Nobody really knows?
To
What about injuries!
To
Nobody really knows?
To
If the Blazers could just get!
To
Nobody really knows?

I’m going with nobody really knows.

News flash, the offseason is always filled with speculation as thats all we have. You sound like you might need to take a break from here until the season starts.

STOMP

 

[Fairly-Hard]

News flash, the offseason is always filled with speculation as thats all we have. You sound like you might need to take a break from here until the season starts.

STOMP

That might be that case?
To
Nobody really knows?

 

[SIeepwalker]

Here's a look at how many all-stars each team had last year (I defined an all-star as selected within the last 3 seasons):

View attachment 48915

Does Portland need a second all-star to contend? Well, looking at the table above, I'd say it certainly helps. Can Dame do it by himself with a great supporting cast? Perhaps. Memphis and Dallas made a good run at it. Lots of teams have two all-stars. However, without a strong bench, you're probably looking at a short post-season.

How do the Blazers get that second all-star without mortgaging their bench and future? I don't think there's an easy answer to that. Draft? Free Agency? Trade? Develop?

Here's a look at the odds of drafting an all-star:

View attachment 48912

The odds of drafting an all-star in the first round is about 17.1%. That's about 1 in 6. No more trading away first round picks for middling starters. Draft smart and build assets.

Did we already draft that second all-star? Simons? Sharpe? (Walker?)

I don't think trading Dame is the answer. Rebuilding by blowing it up takes too long and is too risky. I don't want to be a bottom dweller for 6-10 years. Dame is a generational talent. I say keep him as long as he wants to be here. Draft smart and watch for that consolidation trade.

As for where the Blazers end up at the end of the year in the standing - as always, it comes down to who has the healthy team come playoffs. I think the Blazers could end up anywhere from 4-8. But if they are at full strength at the end of the year, I think they could really make a good run in the playoffs. Stay healthy and continue to develop the young talent.

Nice post.
There hasn't ever been an all star drafted 12th ?

 

[42N8Bounce]

Nice post.
There hasn't ever been an all star drafted 12th ?

Not during that 20 year snapshot between 1990 and 2010.

 

[STOMP]

Hart > Brooks
Grant <> JJJ

Sorry no. These are both starting position talent advantages for Memphis. They didn't accidentally win the most games in the league the 2nd half of last season.

STOMP

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Sorry no. These are both starting position talent advantages for Memphis. They didn't accidentally win the most games in the league the 2nd half of last season.

STOMP

If you honestly think that Dillon Brooks is a better or more talented player than Josh Hart, or even necessarily better suited to the SF position, then there is no conversation to be had here.

 

[STOMP]

If you honestly think that Dillon Brooks is a better or more talented player than Josh Hart, or even necessarily better suited to the SF position, then there is no conversation to be had here.

Honestly, did you watch much of Memphis last year? Obviously we disagree and there is probably little common ground to be found here. However, are you aware that Memphis was 21-6 without Ja last season? That includes the playoffs. Guess who plays the point for long stretches each game when Ja is out? Brooks is also one of the best on ball defenders 1-3 in the league. I'd trade Hart for him in a heartbeat.

STOMP

 

[PDXFonz]

Honestly, did you watch much of Memphis last year? Obviously we disagree and there is probably little common ground to be found here. However, are you aware that Memphis was 21-6 without Ja last season? That includes the playoffs. Guess who plays the point for long stretches each game when Ja is out? Brooks is also one of the best on ball defenders 1-3 in the league. I'd trade Hart for him in a heartbeat.

STOMP

Last two seasons have been weird seasons and injury ridden seasons for a lot of teams.

It’s going to be hard to predict next year based off of last year. Even though there are good indications of who’s talented from the past two seasons.

 

[wizenheimer]

If you honestly think that Dillon Brooks is a better or more talented player than Josh Hart, or even necessarily better suited to the SF position, then there is no conversation to be had here.

as a Duck fan, I can say that Hart is a better player, primarily because he's much more efficient on offense and is a much better rebounder. Defensively it's a wash

but Brooks would be a good role player to have off the bench. I'm not sure though that a team could have both Winslow and Brooks coming off the bench. That's a lot of bricks chipping paint off the rim