Aldridge's Camp Discuss Trade Possibilities

Hey, you said you couldn't see any possible way that we miss the playoffs and I'm just sayin' that there's always a way

 

Would you say there is no possible way sas misses the playoffs?

 

I don't think I'd say there's no possible way for any team to miss the playoffs. If Tim Duncan were to go down, that team would become very mediocre.

 

So when we discuss seeding or making the playoffs; it's pretty safe to assume it means "barring no major injuries"?

 

Basically, but we're also usually not dealing in absolutes. For instance, I could see the Blazers finishing in the 4th or 5th spot. That is contingent on a few things, such as Aldridge continuing to play at a high level and Lillard taking another step towards being a star point guard. It is also contingent on our bench working out the way that we think it will.

 

Absolutely agree. There will be many variables like defensive scheme, bench production, Lillards improvement, aldridges ability to play the block, etc.

 

I will say that I'm not especially impressed with Stotts, and I could see us making a change in the next couple years. It's not that I don't think he's a decent coach, I just don't think he's a championship caliber coach and I'm hoping that Paul will be able to lure someone great when we're finally hitting our stride.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if SAS just barely made the playoffs as the 8th seed even if healthy and got swept in the first round. I wouldn't be shocked if they were the #1 seed and made it to the finals again. They just seem to be great one year but very ordinary at other times. They are a very unusual team.

 

I think it just depends so much about how healthy they are and who they are playing. They can't seem to handle young, athletic teams.

 

I'm sure he understood completely why we tanked the last 13. We wanted to make sure we got our 10th pick. I don't think he was upset about it at all.

 

At the same time, if we make the playoffs but get dominated in the first round, I could see the team giving him one more year or possibly even dumping him. How long is his contract, anyone know?

 

I don't think he minded losing games he and Wes sat out. But there were a few of those games LaMarcus was in the lineup and the team was trying like hell to win but could've beat anyone.

 

Well I'm sure it has to be frustrating to build a lead, or stay close in a game and then watch your bench come in and get blown out of the water.

 

Well I'm sure for every bad there is some good he has done. WE just don't hear about it. I don't believe all that has been done is as great as what many have built it up as. Which is why I'm suggesting on waiting on proclaiming Neil anything. I do think Allen plays a part in all these moves. Do we hear him a part of them. No, he probably doesn't want the credit. He seems to like carrying a lower profile. I do think he played a big part in the Damion Lillard draft choice and I think the choice was his. But to say he doesn't have any say on the player personal decisions, I think is slightly inaccurate.

 

Yeah I got to say I'm against all the hiring and firing that takes place with head coaches. Besides Phil and Pop unless its a bad coach I don't think it makes much of a difference. I'd rather see a team just stick with one for a long haul I think its really cool when you see a coach in the same city for 10 years.

Now I suppose if the players tune out a coach you have to make a change. Nate had lost the respect of the locker room and when that happens its silly to leave a coach in place.

 

I never said that Paul doesn't have a say in the decisions. I said that I think he tends to follow the lead of his front office, which is why so many bad decisions were made over the last few years. Now that we have a halfway decent GM, the decision making is getting better. Unless you think Paul is a genius some years and a moron in others, I think it's pretty clear that (unless he completely disagrees), he allows the experts to make the moves.

For example, the story back in 2004 was that Nash wanted Telfair, Warkentein wanted Jefferson. Paul backed Nash, and then compounded that error by sticking with Telfair instead of drafting Paul.

 

Ok, and I don't think I nearly made myself clear in this regard. Yes, I think the player personal guys plays a bigger part in these moves. But I've noticed something since 06, that the moves inside his organizations have improved greatly. This is within the Seahawks and the Blazers. I don't think he is responsible for all these positive moves but I think he has learned to have a steady hand and be more of a positive force behind whats going on both organizations. Both organizations are probably being run better now than at anytime ever before.

 

Still, I would love to know the story behind the KP drama and the Cho firing after only one year.

 

I don't disagree with any of your concerns of him. Your concerns are my concerns. I wanted to stick a fork him during the Cho debacle...but something has happened since then.

Whatever he is doing now is working. His football team are football contenders and they just may get it done. This Blazer team imo, is being built very similar to the way that Seahawk team was built. We say how good of an offseason Neil hashad but a lot of these guys he has brought in are journeymen. Players that just don't blow your skirt up. With that said, his Seahawks team were built the same way and look where they are headed.