Blazers Mid-Season Grades

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by 42N8Bounce, Jan 11, 2018.

  1. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    *Bones'
     
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  2. handiman

    handiman Well-Known Member

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    Well, if you're going to look at it that way, then you also have to consider the value of what we get back. Layman is a non-producing cheap contract. All that's good for in a trade is filler or bringing back an equally bad player on a cheap contract. In other words, about as useless as it comes. Meyers might be harder to move, but he probably brings back more just because his salary slot demands it be a more meaningful trade.
     
  3. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    Well, if it's based on expectations, Meyers should get an A+. Everyone here thought Meyers would totally suck. Sure, he hasn't played much, but at least when he has played he's made his shots. Based on the way he played last year, that wasn't a given.

    It's not like Layman is that much younger than Meyers. He was a 4-year player and is 23 years old. Aren't those guys supposed to be more NBA ready? Layman is like a worse Victor Claver without the accent. He looks like a basketball and moves like a basketball player, but the results suck. I'm not really seeing any potential upside there. The only "upside" I can think of is: "he can't possibly shoot this bad forever". Well, I heard the same thing last year. I heard it when he was sent down to the D League last year, I heard it in Summer League and now here he is, still bricking his shots.

    Personally, I'd base my grades on actual performance. After all, as a fan, all I care about are wins and losses. If you have unrealistic expectations, that's on you. What someone makes is a Neil Olshey and Paul Allen problem. I mean shit, they are the ones that gave Meyers that contract. What was he supposed to do, turn it down? I don't hold his contract against Meyers. I personally think they saw him get off to a hot start and don't want to take a chance on him backsliding and hurting his trade value.

    Plus, with Collins playing, there really isn't any PT for Meyers. I think given the choice most posters (other than that @swish3 guy) would rather see Collins get the minutes than Meyers.

    BNM
     
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  4. noknobs

    noknobs Well-Known Member

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    I'm pretty similar, I'll go...

    Damian: A-
    CJ: B
    Nurk: B
    Aminu: A-
    Turner: C
    Harkless: C
    Shabazz: A
    Connaughton: A-
    Ed: B+
    Vonleh: C-
    Collins: B+
    Leonard: D
    Swanigan: C
    Layman: D
    Team: B-
     
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  5. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    Layman's value >> Bieb's value

    Layman can be included in a trade to make salaries match, Bieb's (basically) can't.

    Offseason Conversation:
    NO: "Are you going to play Biebs this year?"
    TS: "Probably not"
    NO: "Why not?"
    TS: "He could put it all together this year, but he probably won't."
    NO: "Would you trust him in a playoff game?"
    TS: "Very, very unlikely."

    .... "and with the 10th pick in the 2017 NBA draft...."
     
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  6. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Expectations and Salary? :dunno:
     
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  7. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Team Grade: C++

    The Blazers are up four games to last year, but there are several games they should have won with an easy early schedule but didn't. The schedule only gets harder from here. Team chemistry is on the rise, but there still seems to be some inconsistencies.

    Damian Lillard: Damiam has continued to lead this team, shake off adversity and doubt, and continue to be the humble star that he is. He shines bright.

    Grade: A

    CJ MCCollum: As of late CJ has come alive and is shooting lights out. He seems to have found his bearings after struggling early. Hopefully he can keep the flame going. He needs to learn to pass though, seriously!

    Grade: B

    Al Farouq Aminu: He is shooting well from the 3...better than last year. He continues to be a strong defender. But, his offense outside the arc is almost nonexistence, with the exception of a dunk here and there. To watch him dribble is terrifying. None the less he is an important part of the roster.

    Grade: B-

    Jusuf Nurkic: Nurkic lost weight and is still learning how to control his lighter body. He has been weak at finishing around the rim for most the season, though he has gotten stronger there as of late. He doesn't seem to be the beast he was last year but, he is a young center with skyhigh potential.

    Grade: C+

    Evan Turner: Evan has struggled to find a working place on the roster since Olshey signed him to that ridiculous contract. His numbers continue to fall, and he doesn't seem to fit. Not sure if he can or will.

    Grade: D-

    Moe Harkless: Moe has struggled most of the first half of the season. He all but disappeared till laye Decrmber when had an awakening of sorts. He is showing spurts of the Harkless we saw last year. Is he just in a funk? Does he not want to be here? Hopefully, he really wakes up and comes to play. Because he can play.

    Grade: D+

    Pat Connaughton: I have to admit Pat has done better than I thought he would. He was tasked with replacing Crabbes numbers and has helped defensively. Pat may belong on the basketball court after all. Baseball might have to wait.

    Grade: B

    Noah Vonleh: I expected more from Noah this year after he showed some upswing next to Nurkic at the end of last year. But, his game hasn't moved much offensively. I wish he'd just attack the hoop with the ball. Still, he can rebound and defend well. With his cheap contract there is jope yet.

    Grade: C

    Ed Davis: Ed doed the dirty work. He's physical as hell under the rim and takes shit from no one. That said, Ed spent last year injured was supposedly a renewed player according to Stotts and co but his numbers have barely changed. Part of it is he is playing undersized at center. I like him though and hope the Blazers don't trade him. His contract though and his appeal makes it likely

    Grade: B-

    Zach Collins: Zach didn't get a lot of minutes early but know that he is getting time on the court, he is proving himself again and again. He should be the Blazers starting PF. Dude is that good. Defensively he'll block the shit out of you without thinking about it. His length bothers and he can dunk and shoot all the way out to the three. Collins is the whole package. A Few years and he will be a star.

    Grade: B++++

    Shabazz Napier: Guy can ball. He really stepped up with Dame out and proved he belongs. The Blazers are going to have to pay him. He should be starting somewere, but damn he is the perfect backup point guard. Is it fair to him?

    Grade: A

    Meyers Leonard: For all the shit I give him, he has played better this year in limited minutes, but his digree of improvement over the 5 years hes been here is so incremental, that ge isn't worth anywhere what he is being paid.

    Grade: D----

    Jake Layman: Layman can't hit the broad side of a barn. He has a nice touch, but has collected more clanks than a rusty pipe. He hasn't shown much potential beyond his ability to shoot the three.

    Grade: F

    Caleb Swanigan: Guy has a lot of heart. I love that he is always runs towards the hoop for boards. He has a lot of development head of him, but he can be somebody in this league if he can work on his offensive game. Guy is butterfingers a bit.

    Grade: C
     
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  8. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    Weren't his expectations lower than anyone else on the roster? The guy received so much hate at the end of last season, the fact that he manages to get out of bed every day would seem to exceed most people's expectations. Anyone who says they had high expectations for Meyers entering this season is lying. Not even Kingspeed is that much of a homer.

    BNM
     
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  9. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    I feel like someone's offseason prediction in their name block was "Meyers avg 15ppg" or something. Maybe I'm wrong.

    Point taken, though.
     
  10. handiman

    handiman Well-Known Member

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    The best play of Meyers' career came in the playoffs.
     
  11. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    Immaterial. It's about trust, and Biebs doesn't have Stotts'.
     
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  12. Shaboid

    Shaboid Well-Known Member

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    +1 for mentioning @swish3
     

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