Not that far away

The season is still very very young, but I think we have to be encouraged by our starters. This team is not that far away from being able to compete for a playoff spot. Give the team a year to play together, work out some kinks, and then this summer add a few pieces for our bench. I think our timeline is a lot better than some of us thought it would be.

If Batum can keep up this play, I think he's an All-Star. The guy has been playing like we all hoped he would for the past two years. He's playing D, he's rebounding, he's moving with the ball and slashing. If nothing else, his play has been the most encouraging this year.

Lillard is a stud. There's really not much else to say. He's only going to get better.

Matthews is not a star by any means, but having him healthy has been a big boost. He's the kind of guy any playoff team must have. He's a heart guy. He hustles, he can shoot, and he plays defense. I know some of you think he should be coming off the bench but I like him in the starting lineup. I'm not sure if he could produce as well off the bench.

Aldridge is off to a slow start... again..... but I'm hoping he'll pick it up as the season goes on and he builds chemistry with Lillard. I think as Lillard grows, Aldridge will slide back into his #2 spot that he was happy to occupy with Roy.

I think we need to take the rest of the season to assess Hickson, Leonard, Freeland, Claver, Barton, etc. We need to know what we've got in these guys. I know Stotts wants to win, but our complete lack of a bench will keep us from legitimately contending this year. Give the young guys some burn and let them sort it out.

This summer try to build the bench, add a piece or two and then next year I think we could be right back in the thick of things. We need to address backup point guard and backup shooting guard. Those are the two weak points right now.

 

There's really not much to see with our bench... They simply suck. None of those guys except maybe Meyers I'd keep and he looks worse every game.

Starters look great though. I think we draft a SG or Center in this next draft where we should have a top 5 pick. No way these starters stay healthy at this rate. The blazers likely will be a dumpster fire by January because of the god awful bench/injuries.

 

That's one viewpoint.

 

And that's absolutely ridiculous because Mathews, Batum, and Aldridge should make this team a very good defensive unit.

 

Not if they have to play 40+ minutes a game and are also expected to score most of the points.

 

We are literally 2 solid bench players away from being a damn good team. We need a solid 8 man rotation. Right now we have a solid 6 man rotation (Lenard).

 

after they lose a few more games i really hope we start seeing heavy doses of barton claver and freeland

hell sign an undrafted guy, try and find the next morrow or something

 

So does anyone else think if Batum keeps up this play, he'll be a '2a' and LaMarcus a '2b' behind Damian's '1'?

 

i think LMA is a legit 1a to lillards hopefully 1b, and batum can be a legit #2

 

Leonard can be a legit #3 down the road imo. He's crazy good at FT's, all he needs is to do is develop some post moves.

 

for how raw he still is, there are at least flashes already of him putting it together, i think the future is bright for him as well

 

What this team desperately needs is a Ben Gordon type of player. Someone who can come in off the bench and score so that we aren't relying so heavily on our starters to put up points. Jamal Crawford could have been that guy, but he was too much of a toolbag last year to keep around.

 

I think I'd flip Lillard and Aldridge, LMA being 1b.

 

He needs A LOT of work on defense. If anything, his offense is better than his defense right now.

 

I think we want Aldridge to be a 1a, but I'm not sure he has the mentality. Lillard is too much of a distributor to be a 1a I think. He is perfectly happy putting up 20 points and handing out 10 assists.

Maybe Batum could be a 1a?

 

Did you see Batum wave off Lillard when he brought the ball over the half court against the Spurs? That screams 1a.

 

I'm totally fine with Batum being 1a if he can be consistent, but he sure seems hell bent on proving that he deserves that money. That's a far cry from some guys that get the fatty contract and take a vacation.

 

Most teams have a decent bench and struggle to come up with a "Big 3." It's just a lot easier to come up with 6 guys with 12+ PER's than it is 3 starters with 19+ PER's.

Portland seems to have its Big 3 figured out. Are they a big enough Big 3 to win a championship? Probably not, unless Lillard and Batum's ceilings are a lot higher than most of us think. But it's a great foundation to build on.

My hopes of winning a championship went up in smoke with Roy and Oden's knees (and the formation of the Miami Superfriends). These three, coupled with a well-built supporting cast, could be a perennial WCF contender in another two years, with hope of growing from there. And that's my definition of "not that far away."