He did. He was essentially saying that the team will continue to play and try and win games. I expect nothing less from any of the players.
Fair enough....but I think it's crazy that they get swept out of the playoffs year after year after year after.....you get the idea.
That's not tanking. You seem to keep getting confused as to what tanking is so maybe you should define what tanking is as I have posted the definition a few times already.
I'd phrase it like Players know what's best for them, but not necessarily what's best for an organization. I'm not a fan of tanking, but I also think if I was a GM / Owner of business while I would want to know what the players think at the end of the day I'd go with my strategy for an organization over an employee's. Players are paid to play, not think about long term organizational structure.
Winning isn't a given and yes, this team is definitely struggling as are several teams for various reasons.
There is a HUGE difference between tanking and a team losing games. If this team isn't good enough like some of you suggest then simply let the season play out and they'll get a lottery pick. That's not tanking though. This team isn't purposely trying to lose.
And they never should. That is a loser's mentality. But, they also shouldn't kill Dame this season by trying to play him long minutes every game for no reason.
I think killing Dame early in the season is wrong to do even if they were a contender. I have said this repeatedly since the beginning of the year (and previous years). Having Dame dead by the playoffs isn't going to lead to us winning a championship. I've been very critical about the way Stotts uses him.
So far, the Blazers have been having an off-year and can't seem to catch a break. With a record of 10-16, the Blazers are 11th in the Western Conference and will need a drastic shift in their play if they want any chance at making it to the postseason. According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, McCollum was recently asked about whether the team should tank or not and he had a pretty firm answer. Steve Dykes/Getty Images Per The Athletic: "“You crazy,” McCollum said with a disgusted chuckle as he collected the final items from his locker and left. “You have a good one.” Even bringing up the lottery is blasphemy to McCollum and Damian Lillard, players who have led Portland’s charge to six consecutive playoff appearances while forming a culture that is rooted in extra work, belief in the system, and trusting one another on the court and in the locker room." For now, it really seems as though the Blazers have no plans to call their season a wrap just yet which should be good news for their fans. You always want to see your team put up a fight which is exactly what the Blazers are preparing to do.
CJ probably would likely say something similar if you questioned him about why they kept getting swept out of the Playoffs every year.
well, for one, we haven't been "swept" out of the playoffs every year during the Stotts tenure. Last year we made it to the WCF and yes we got swept in the WCF series I would definitely prefer that than going 3-4 in the first round. You wouldn't? Also, one of those first round sweeps was to the Warriors and I believe that year they only lost one game all playoffs.
in the last 3 Blazer losses, Dame has average over 39 minutes while the Blazers have lost by an average of 17 points. Somebody needs to send Stotts a memo
