Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

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Boom
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2019/20 Thread

Post by Boom »

Phalanx wrote:By and large, this is an aging version of what we have already seen the last several years. The plan includes a ridiculous amount of optimism that guys like Hood and Nurkic can come back from injury and be starters all season for a playoff team. They are also not admitting to themselves that Collins and Simons (and probably Little) are little better than busts. Unless Derrick Jones Jr or Giles starts playing out of their minds in a new setting, which I assume is what Olshey is hoping by taking those stabs in the dark, I expect this team to struggle to make the playoffs and be out by the end of the first round, if not sooner.
You obviously didn’t watch Portland in the bubble... Nurkic was a stud. There’s no reason not to expect him to be starting and playing at a high level this season. Adding Covington is significant. Melo was the only swing forward on last years team. They were all guards and bigs. Covington and Jones will help the team.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2019/20 Thread

Post by Phalanx »

Boom wrote:
You obviously didn’t watch Portland in the bubble... Nurkic was a stud. There’s no reason not to expect him to be starting and playing at a high level this season. Adding Covington is significant. Melo was the only swing forward on last years team. They were all guards and bigs. Covington and Jones will help the team.
The bubble was eight games. I'm talking about the whole season. There is no starting-quality post player for when Nurkic goes down. I said when, not if. Covington was a decent trade, although it really was a shame to give up two drafts for him. I don't think he will be nearly enough, and it sounds like he will mostly be playing out of position. We'll see how it all comes together. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2019/20 Thread

Post by Everythingsducky »

Blazers still suck, and can’t defend the 3. Same old, same old, just different names. Not expecting them to win the west, like Chuck throwing away $100K on his pontification (love the guy, but he’s an idiot). Heard possibly Stotts may be on the hot seat this year (via Quick on the FAN). I don’t totally get it. His defense sucks, but when you have teams loading up on all-stars, and the Blazers only have one, he is playing with an uneven playing field. The way this shitty league is going (Harden and his BS included), a few teams are just going to load up. Love Dame, but eventually he will get tired of trying to get players here. Big markets will prevail in this system. Just the way the NBA likes.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2019/20 Thread

Post by StevensTechU »

That game made me want to vomit.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by pezsez1 »

Not hitting the panic button yet. These guys need some time to find a rhythm. We could really use Zach Collins and for Hood to be a little healthier. The Blazers need to be as close to 100 percent as possible to have a realistic chance at advancing in the playoffs.

That said, we really need a backup PG -- and Anfernee Simons doesn't count. I love Ant, but he's not ready to lead the second unit of a playoff team. We don't need a blockbuster trade here, just a veteran at the league minimum who can distribute the ball with confidence. We have lots of talent on the bench but it's wasted without a facilitator.
Willie Taggart is a dick.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Threa

Post by Everythingsducky »

Good win against the Lakers, complete dud against the Slippers. Blazers have yet to win the first quarter in any of the games. Playing from behind every game. Nurk is definitely not the same Nurk (not entirely his fault). Lillard’s shot is off so far. Too early to mess with the starting lineup, but the early returns aren’t great. Could attribute that to Lillard’s slow start. Not sure why Giles gets no time. The 3 point defense doesn’t seem to have improved, but it’s early. I’m not sure if teams should just employ 15 3-point shooting specialists, that is where the pro game has gone (long distance shots have longer rebounds, making big men less effective). Move the line back a couple feet. I guess eventually the 3-point line will be half court. Whatever, but the NBA game is boring. I miss the days of mixing it up around the hoop, some physicality, and the 3 being an added extra, not a deep shooting exhibition.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Threa

Post by Boom »

Everythingsducky wrote:Good win against the Lakers, complete dud against the Slippers. Blazers have yet to win the first quarter in any of the games. Playing from behind every game. Nurk is definitely not the same Nurk (not entirely his fault). Lillard’s shot is off so far. Too early to mess with the starting lineup, but the early returns aren’t great. Could attribute that to Lillard’s slow start. Not sure why Giles gets no time. The 3 point defense doesn’t seem to have improved, but it’s early. I’m not sure if teams should just employ 15 3-point shooting specialists, that is where the pro game has gone (long distance shots have longer rebounds, making big men less effective). Move the line back a couple feet. I guess eventually the 3-point line will be half court. Whatever, but the NBA game is boring. I miss the days of mixing it up around the hoop, some physicality, and the 3 being an added extra, not a deep shooting exhibition.
Guys aren’t in game shape. Games have been sloppy league wide. It’s going to take some time.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by dd10snoop28 »

We will not make it past the conf finals. Not with LAC/LAL in the west.

Our team is no different than prior years and both LAC/LAL got better.

Wait for a rebuild.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by Everythingsducky »

WTF Blazers? Lose to a depleted, not good Bulls team at home? It’s early, but they seem in disarray. Nothing but hoisting 3’s. Tried to get Nurk involved in the pick and roll, but Nurk isn’t totally on his game. As early as it is, Stotts should still be on the hot seat. Has the team tuned him out? I don’t see the fire other teams come out with. Really disappointed in many facets of this team. Not too early to be disappointed. Very bad loss.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by lukeyrid13 »

It seems like Jones, and more so Covington are still working to gel with the team.

Hopefully they can get more comfortable as the season goes along. Both are clear upgrades over Aminu and Harkless, but those guys at least had good chemistry for several years.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by Boom »

Looks like Nurk didn’t workout after leaving the bubble. It’s going to take him time. Melo is playing too many minutes as well. He should be a borderline DNP with this roster.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by Phalanx »

Saw this article today, detailing how Lillard believes he will be the best Blazer of all time.

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/new ... r-all-time

This did not surprise me - it's pretty well known how much Lillard thinks of himself - but I was surprised by how many people on social media agree with him. As for me, I'm less impressed with last-second shots as I am with winning games , and especially in the playoffs. Clyde Drexler vs. Damian Lillard in the playoffs is not even close. The Blazers of the early 90's were feared. They were a dominant team. The Blazers have never even been considered a contender in the entire span of Lillard's career.

Lillard believes that all he needs to cement his place as best Blazer ever is a championship. I maintain that given Lillard's bloated contract, he will never have the team around him to even get to the Finals, much less win it all, and the older he gets, the more of a salary cap black hole he will become. So for me, Drexler's legacy as best Blazer ever is safe for a long while yet.
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by Everythingsducky »

Phalanx wrote:Saw this article today, detailing how Lillard believes he will be the best Blazer of all time.

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/new ... r-all-time

This did not surprise me - it's pretty well known how much Lillard thinks of himself - but I was surprised by how many people on social media agree with him. As for me, I'm less impressed with last-second shots as I am with winning games , and especially in the playoffs. Clyde Drexler vs. Damian Lillard in the playoffs is not even close. The Blazers of the early 90's were feared. They were a dominant team. The Blazers have never even been considered a contender in the entire span of Lillard's career.

Lillard believes that all he needs to cement his place as best Blazer ever is a championship. I maintain that given Lillard's bloated contract, he will never have the team around him to even get to the Finals, much less win it all, and the older he gets, the more of a salary cap black hole he will become. So for me, Drexler's legacy as best Blazer ever is safe for a long while yet.
Lillard may have to renegotiate his contract to get some help in Portland, and their cap issues. Not so sure he would do that, even though he has probably pocketed $200M+ so far, with much more to come, with endorsements, rap dollars, etc. What may a championship in Portland be worth to him?
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by Boom »

Phalanx wrote:Saw this article today, detailing how Lillard believes he will be the best Blazer of all time.

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/new ... r-all-time

This did not surprise me - it's pretty well known how much Lillard thinks of himself - but I was surprised by how many people on social media agree with him. As for me, I'm less impressed with last-second shots as I am with winning games , and especially in the playoffs. Clyde Drexler vs. Damian Lillard in the playoffs is not even close. The Blazers of the early 90's were feared. They were a dominant team. The Blazers have never even been considered a contender in the entire span of Lillard's career.

Lillard believes that all he needs to cement his place as best Blazer ever is a championship. I maintain that given Lillard's bloated contract, he will never have the team around him to even get to the Finals, much less win it all, and the older he gets, the more of a salary cap black hole he will become. So for me, Drexler's legacy as best Blazer ever is safe for a long while yet.
:roll:
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Re: Portland Trail Blazers 2020/21 Thread

Post by DuckMastaFunk »

What are the chances the Blazers pick up Cousins?
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