Haha.. So basically keep anyone had a good game last night but fuck the rest. A week ago everyone was eager to get rid of Crabbe and his contract. The list of who is expendable changes game by game.
If you look solely at the record without looking at what the team did. They had a good record after the slow start along with a nice playoff performance. The problem isn't the back court. Its that the team has a glut of SFs, no interior defense and no low post offense. We're playing a SF at the PF position. We have no backup shooting guard. We have no true starting PF or Center or a backup PF or Center in the rotation aside from a potential filled 21 year old or a rarely used Ed Davis. We rarely play the backup PG and play a SF as a point forward. Yes, but let's put the blame on the highest scoring backcourt duo in the league. Sure, the perimeter defense is concerning, but I don't really see too many offensive concerns with Lillard/McCollum playing together. Neither are really holding the other back. Just don't really get all the freaking out about having to get rid of either player to make things magically better.
You always have to give some thought to whether a brief (and, in this context, a half season is pretty brief) period of success is sustainable/predictive of the future. The main difference between this year and last year is the defense--their team offensive rank is similar, but they had a much better team defensive rank last year. You might ask, which one was the fluke--last year's great second-half run or this year's first half? That can't be answered conclusively, but I think that the team's personnel comports more with a very poor defensive team than a solid one. The only decent/good defensive players they have are Harkless, Turner and Aminu, none of whom are shut-down defenders or among the best team defenders in the game. They have one of the worst defensive backcourts in the game and no rim protection. All of that would imply a very bad defensive team, and that's what we're seeing this year. I personally wouldn't proceed with the assumption that last year was the team's "true talent" if I were GM. I think, for the reason given above, that this year is more representative.
Who would be the ideal SG (who would be available in a trade) next to either Lillard or McCollum then that will improve their backcourt defense or make the team better?
If they hadn't been able to sign Wade, I actually think Butler would have been very obtainable. Right now, I'm not so sure.
Jimmy Buckets being mentioned as obtainable is crazy to me (I've only heard it on the Lowe podcast). He's only 2 years older and in his prime right now. If the Bulls had interest, I'd pull the trigger.
Absolutely. But you can't really differentiate between Dame and CJ in that category, either. Their personalities (or is that demeanors?) are so similar, I fully expect CJ would fill Dame's leadership role with ease if it were "his" team.
I have yet to see CJ want to be the alpha dog of the team. Skillwise, he can take the last shot no problem. But CJ seems so laid back, while Lillard is a little more of a Type A personality.
If you have two guys fighting for that leadership role, it tears the team apart. CJ has had no choice but to defer to Dame, who had already taken on that role. We won't know until CJ has a team of his own to lead, but he shows all the right signs. As for being laid back, I disagree. He doesn't scowl as much as Dame, but CJ has a bit of that Chris Paul feisty-ness to him. Dame complains (within reason) about not getting calls, while CJ just chips an opponent with an elbow to send a message.
CJ is a good scorer and a go to guy. I stated that above. Doesnt mean he is a natural born leader. Lillard has shown these qualities over several years over and over again. The willingness to step up and be the face of the franchise.
Its pretty hilarious how this forum and fanbase always turns on the team's best player over the years. I said this would happen during the whole Aldrdge thing. This one is quicker than normal. Face it, no matter what you'll always look for the bigger better thing. Its a sickness.
As the kids say, "I adjusted your words to better reflect the reality that I perceive." I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but it's hardly a Blazers fandom thing. Every fanbase inevitably starts demanding change when their team doesn't win a title and often the question becomes, "How good is Best Player, really?" Lillard's quite good. Not "never trade him" good, but quite the fine player.
