Biggest weakness: Talent, Toughness or Experience?

With all of the talk about what it's going to take to balance the roster and put this team in a position to seriously contend in the years to come, it got me to thinking about where this team needs the biggest adjustment, or where the biggest chink in their armor is. I've gotten just as caught up as everyone else in calling for a new point guard who can get dribble penetration, I've even suggested signing Artest as a means of infusing some honest to god nastiness. But what do you think the biggest 'hole' is? Is it a combination of all these factors, is it none of the above? Explain

 

Talent. They're just not good enough right now. Some of that will be addressed by Aldridge, Oden, Batum, Rudy and Bayless getting better as they get older. That might get them to title contention by itself, but the team should always be proactive in trying to increase the talent when they can. Winning a championship is really difficult, and it takes an overwhelming talent level (though how you structure that talent is definitely a good discussion...a 12 deep roster of good players shouldn't be the goal).

I don't think toughness is a problem. Experience may have been a problem this season, as the team seemed shell-shocked a couple of times in the playoffs. I don't think it should be a real problem going forward.

 

We need less jump shooters and more players who can create their own shot and take it to the rim.

 

I think what you're saying is that the Trail Blazers need to do a show "Portland's Got Talent."

I concur.

 

I agree with Ed. The Blazers made it to a Game 6 in the playoffs' first round based almost entirely on their talent. But they didn't have any idea what Game 1 was going to be like, nor did they realize what it meant to face elimination on the road. Now they know what both of those experiences are like.

Sure, the Blazers could use a tough enforcer-type, but Przybilla fits that bill pretty well - and the Blazers are bound to sign a free agent PF of some kind who'll likely add a dimension of that, as well.

Teams can always use more talent, but when it comes to young, talented players with room to improve, I'd stack the Blazers' young core (Aldridge, Batum, Bayless, Oden, possibly Outlaw, Rodriguez, and Roy) against any team in the NBA. What they need is seasoning.

 

Talent

If this playoffs has shown anything it is that to advance you need to be a team that has 3 players who can make plays\score consistently...except LeBron of course, who is other wordly at this point...

Maybe that talent is here...maybe it isn't...time will tell....

Roy was there all series...LA for 1/2 the games showed up...Rudy showed up for 1 game...everyone else was a no show....

This team needs another scorer to put next to Roy & LA...maybe that will be Rudy, maybe Oden in a few years...even if that proves true, IMO they should look to acquire another scorer while the window of opportunity is open (ie cap space)....

 

That sounds like the problem is experience, not talent.

Our roster is actually very talented. Our playing rotation is an average of 23 years old. Experience and maybe a vet to show them ropes is all we need and a backup four with a pair. Talent isn't a problem at all.

With the youngest rotation in the NBA and making it to the playoffs how can any of you say it's lack of talent?

 

They need a center of the future. Przybilla is not much of an offensive presence and significantly older than the core of Roy/Aldridge.

 

IMO...yes.

Billups & Anthony...and in the games they DID win they had another player step up...be it JR Smith, Kleiza or Martin

LA has Kobe, Gasol played well...as did Odom

ORL has Turkoglu, R.Lewis & D.Howard

HOU had Yao, Artest and Brooks (particularly in thier wins)

Did all 3 guys hit on all cylinders every game? No...but my point was POR NEVER had 3 guys hitting on all cylinders at the same time...and for 1/2 the games it was just Roy...and in even in POR 2 wins, 1 was just about all Roy and the other was Roy & LA...where was the 3rd contributor?

I think LA will get that consistency...and maybe Oden or Rudy will develop into that 3rd player....Outlaw is a lost cause IMO, cut ties with him...POR has the opportunity to go out and get a 3rd option player...I think a guy like Jamal Crawford coud be good for one example...whoever it is though, they need another go to player...

and CLE is the exception, as LeBron is SO talented that he is literally carrying CLE...and in the end it may not be enough....The Lakers get that with Kobe sometimes as well....Roy lifted POR to a win by himself in 1 game, he is good but not Lebron or Kobe good...not yet at least....

 

We'd have to get that via trade because we are not getting that in this draft.

I would nominate Tiaggo Splitter or DeAndre Jordan.

From the scouting reports I've read, even though he's 6'11" 250 lbs, Freeland is strictly a PF. Otherwise, I would say we have that future guy in Freeland.

 

Just goes to show, though, that talent is a serious problem. Portland has a pretty big hole at center long-term.

Freeland is more of a power forward and not even one who can be just assumed to have NBA success. If he becomes a reliable backup power forward, that will be a nice bonus. Portland badly needs a young NBA-caliber center for the next 5-10 years. Until they have one, they have to be considered lacking in talent.

 

Jamaal Magloire without the All-Star history.

 

Pritchard has never been able to land a free agent of that magnitude.

How many current/former All-Star free agents has he signed as Trail Blazers GM?