What free agents have signed here technically? Kanter? Between us and a lakers team in disarray. Pretty darn easy choice. Hood? Trade Curry? Was out for an entire year and just needed one team to take him. I really hope this run helps us in the future in terms of free agents, but to say they have already lined up free agents before is a bit misleading.
I feel like stotts is like that standard delivery message: Please allow 3-5 business games for delivery.
Even if free agency is still an issue (especially due to salary cap limitations) as I mentioned in my post maybe trading for disgruntled stars can be an option. Again who know what pieces we would have in the future but this success could make us an attractive option for said stars wanting out of there situation. At this point who wouldn’t want to play with Dame?
Unsatisfied with the season, but at peace with the root cause. There will always be a hole in my heart centered on "What if Nurkic was healthy", which is discontentment at its core. Very satisfied with the team though, outside of health it is mostly minor quibbles and unrealistic fantasies about roster upgrades.
For me it’s black and white like a motherfucker. This team has done better than anybody could expect. Especially with Nurk and CJ going down the way they did. Proud of these guys no matter what happens Sunday!!!!! First the Summer League Championship and now pushing a higher seed to 7 games in the west semis? Doesn’t get any better!
Yes. Talent roster and depth wise during the regular season, I believe so. And if we take into consideration injuries, RIGHT NOW, definitely yes.
Doesn’t mean our boys can’t win game 7 on the road. As we’ve seen in the past Dame and his heart has been known to lead this team to victory, we will see.
Kanter also chose us over LA because of Damian Lillard and Neil Olshey Give them their props. Regardless of how easy the choice was (In your opinion), he still CHOSE us: Text from Lillard prompted Kanter to choose Blazers over Lakers PORTLAND, Ore. — When Enes Kanter was deciding whether to sign with the Trail Blazers or Lakers — he said he got five or six offers but "it came down to [the Lakers] and Portland" — it was a text from star guard Damian Lillard that sealed the deal for Portland. As for what Lillard said in the text, Kanter said that's between him and Lillard. But he said the text meant a lot to him. "I saw how good of a teammate he was, that he would text me," he said. Kanter had his first practice with the Blazers on Wednesday in New York. Portland plays the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, the first of seven consecutive road games. Kanter said his first practice with the Blazers was like the first day of school. "I was just trying to get the sets, it was like smoke coming out of my head," he said. "A lot of plays, a lot of actions, but it was good. ... I was nervous, but they helped me a lot. Amazing locker [room]. From the first moment I stepped in, everyone was trying to help." Kanter compared coming to Portland to his time in Oklahoma City. He played with the Thunder from 2015-2017, averaging 14.2 points and 8.0 rebounds off the bench for a team that averaged 51 wins and made a trip to the Western Conference Finals. He said the Blazers are a great team and aren't missing a lot. He plans to focus on bringing energy and being a good teammate. "How can I make others better? That's the one thing I'm looking for, because we're trying to get to the playoffs and go far there," he said. Kanter said the fact that Portland wanted him four years ago, when he signed a four-year, $70 million offer sheet that Oklahoma City eventually matched, made a difference in his decision to choose the Blazers over the Lakers. "When Neil [Olshey, Trail Blazers president of basketball operations] talked to me, it was emotional. ... They believed in me four years ago," he said.
That right there should be proof to anyone that he's not leaving us. Him and Nurk are going to be amazing together, for many years.
The word "expectations" is a better choice for my view point. I expect us to go into the WCF against Houston or GS. If not, I can always say 7 wins this playoff year is better than the last two seasons.
Considering coming into the season pretty much every analyst and pundit had the Blazers falling from third to probably out of the playoffs, I'm pretty happy. Granted, we should have won Game 4 and advanced by now, but to do what we've done and be missing Nurk in the playoffs ... if you'd have told me this before the season, I'd have been thrilled.
I would have agreed with you.... but I'm not so sure anymore. If you take away their top two players they've got Millsap Harris Barton Craig If you take away our top two players we've got Kanter Hood Zach Harkless/Aminu Obviously Millsap is the best of that bunch, but I would take Hood/Zach over Harris/Barton or Craig.
Going into this year I said one win in the playoffs is a vast improvement over last year. We got that win. This team has grown far better then what I had hoped. Without a doubt the Kanter, Hood and Curry acquisitions have determined our success in the post season. When Nurk went down not one person would have faulted us for folding and having a 1 round exit ...again... In fact they were betting on it. I would just like to win at least one game in the WCF
you can buzzkill the guys who came here all you want...they all want to be here across the board. ..Kanter had more options than the Lakers...he also chose to sign an offer with us before....what my point is...guys are gushing about Portland and it's showing on the court. I think this season has put the Blazers on the map as a destination...apparently you don't....all good
