This team can't shoot...and the shooters we have are streaky. Norm is the most stable player we have unless Dame is healthy.....Ant disappoints me like Batum used to....he looks good then for 4 games he disappears.....right now I'd keep Norm, Dame, Nas and Nance Jr.........everyone else can go.
The Blazers are just a generic NBA franchise. They're never the worst, never the best, they have a star but not a top-tier one, their role-players are anonymous, they don't do anything interesting offensively or defensively. They don't have any "characters" on the team. The only time anyone who isn't a Blazers fan would switch to a Blazers game on League Pass is if Lillard is on one of his 50-60 point heaters, which might happen a few times a year.
I recall Billups saying during the PC that they wouldn't shoot as many threes. Well, to me thats what this team has been about mostly, live and die by the 3 ball. But thats been Dames trade mark, right? Last night there were several occasions when they would push the ball either on inbound or d rebound and play fast more guys got to the hoop. With Dame over the years slowly bringing the ball up across mid court it can stifle the athletic talents of the other players. I'm surprise w/Billups being a pg he doesnt want to create through pushing the ball more. Nance is a great example as he good on the break in a half court he's not so, same with Naz.
For me, a big part of the problem is that Dame, while fun to watch play, is pretty sour personality-wise. I'd so much rather cheer for someone like Steph Curry, who actually seems to enjoy basketball and life, than Dame, who despite his talents and successes seems borderline depressed and/or angry. barfo
Id try and move CJ, Nurk, Ant, RoCo & Nance for two front line players that can defend and score consistently.
Dame was never Garnett-level. Garnett was a unicorn. The nearest thing to him since is either Anthony Davis or perhaps Evan Mobley. And the thing about him is: he changed the game on defense even more than offense. Dame is a great scorer. That's it. (On the court, that is. He's definitely unique as a franchise representative off the court.) Like I said, the best comp for Dame is Reggie Miller.
In addition to lacking size and muscle, this team also lacks chemistry, synergy, intensity, and identity. Watching them play is like being forced to listen to your parents Perry Como records. YES THEY ARE MORE THAN BORING.
Reggie as a shooting guard was masterful coming off screens a shooting the ball. he played off ball a lot more than Dame. I think Reggie also was made out more as a leader on the floor.
I'm going to do the unwise and take a barfo post at face value. It got me wonderin', though: which Blazer throughout our history has been most full of joie de vivre? The most happy-go-lucky, "let's play two!" kind of personality? Travis Outlaw perhaps? I have to take issue with Curry: I love the guy off the court, but he drives me nuts on court with all the showboating, combined with whining about non-calls. But I can't really think of a star who doesn't whine about calls, though - goes with the territory, I guess.
It starts with ownership. This team not owned by someone who cares about the game. Zero passion for the game. An owner SHOULD feel competitive with other owners. If my team sucks, I am a bad owner that doesn’t know the sport; in over my head. The Blazers don’t even have a real owner anymore without Allen. Vulcan is pretty much a robot owner. Zero fucks given about winning. Just make money. Anyone on this board would kill to own a team; a dream come true, think about it and let it sink in for a sec. Did Jody/Vulcan ever dream of being an owner? They don’t fucking care about the sport.
I'm not at all sure I'm remembering them accurately (misty water-colored memories...), but I'd nominate Uncle Cliffy, Jerome Kersey, or Brian Grant. Since the comparison is to Dame, it needs to be someone who was at least close to being a star, which I think excludes Outlaw. barfo
I disagree FAMS! This team has been one of the most high scoring teams for years. We had so many huge exciting comebacks over the last 9 years. Of course had our D not been so shitty, there would be no need for comebacks, but then again, we wouldn't know what DameTime was all about! This current team is unwatchable.....and I HAVE to watch!
I'd rather listen to this record on repeat than watch any more of this version of the Blazers. (admittedly, I picked this song because I didn't expect to end up liking it) It's not lost on me that the Blazers are definitely killing me softly, and have been for 40+ years now.