This isn't new for Portland. Back in 2020, the Blazers were down to around the #5 spot in the Lottery before for going on a bit of a run to finish 35-39. That year, the Lottery wasn't great (did we even have a pick?), but we would have finished around where we are now but instead of tanking, they beat some of the other tanking teams to squeeze into the Playoffs and get trounced. The whole philosophy of smaller, offensive minded with little defensive impact players has not boded well. Even if it has taken them to scraping into or higher ranked Playoff spots, the result has most often been a quick dismissal. The year they beat the dysfunctional Thunder and then the baby Nugz, is the exception that almost proves the rule. This team needs a complete retooling, length, defensive chops, and some 'dog' to them. And it is tough to see where Billups would be the guy that would get the most out of that group even though it seems like that might be his basketball lineage.
Agreed. We need to draft long wings that can do both. Sharpe was a good start. He’s pretty much the most physically gifted young SG to come out in recent years. Ausar Thompson, Taylor Hendricks, either guy has the physical traits and defensive chops and offensive potential for a SF today. Grant is already a physically gifted SF/PF. Ant and Dame. One guy has to go depending on what direction Dame wants to go this offseason.
The tanking teams weren’t invited to Disney in 2020. The teams we played were desperately trying to make the playoffs.
Orlando hosts the struggling Nets who had a breakout game last night against the Heat. Could they have tired legs? Could the Magic sneak in a win? That would tie them with the Blazers in the all important 'win' category. Let's go Magic!
2020 was the draft Portland sent it's first of two 1st's to Detroit for RoCo. The 16th pick: 16 Isaiah Stewart 19 Saddiq Bey 20 Precious Achiuwa 21 Tyrese Maxey 25 Immanuel Quickley 28 Jaden McDaniels 30 Desmond Bane after that draft, and the following off-season, this is the perimeter roster that Olshey thought was a good idea: Keljin Blevins 6-4 CJ Elleby 6-6 Derrick Jones Jr. 6-5 Damian Lillard 6-2 CJ McCollum 6-3 Norman Powell 6-3 Anfernee Simons 6-3 geeeeeeeeezuzzzz
It's fun to think that after going 10-4, the team has gone 22-38. and now are guaranteed a losing season too. Wait, fun isn't what I meant.
We still play the Spurs, and in the NBA, any team can beat any team anytime. If it's necessary, we have to take out Sharpe and Little too
We still play the Spurs on 04/06. We have the play the tankiest roster in the history of tanking to lose that game. John Butler has to start.
Thats an important one for them to lose also. Hoping to be hard not to win that game unless POP wants to help Dame overt his team.
Spurs don't really have to tank anymore. They are pretty much a lock for bottom 3 which all share the same odds. Pop can actually coach now.