You're right. Portland has generally ranked in the top-three this season for offensive efficiency. Pace holds down the PPG.
Joel Przybilla is untouchable in my book. Jefferson would be a nice addition that would instantly help us but if they are asking to much you don't blindly trade anyways. I want to see how this team does in the playoffs then see what the needs are. KP did the right thing by holding off.
The Blazer offense can be very efficient....when the Blazers are in front, or at least real close. When the team has one of their periodic flat stretches they tend to get in a big hole. When that happens, the team becomes way too reliant on Outlaw and Roy. I know I sound like a broken record - but the main reasons we have these weird streaks early in games or on the road is lack of experience and lack of all-round games from our PGs. Bayless is a rook, and Blake and Sergio are one-trick ponies. Adding a shooter is not the only way to provide more offense. A good floor general can have the same effect without scoring a ton of points himself.
Finally Roy voices my constant and only gripe with Nate: When Roy was asked what concerned him most about the team's recent play, for the first time all season he didn't say defense. He said it was the team's "offensive rhythm." He said the team needs more "effective movement," like making hard cuts through the lane. Like looking for passes when you make those cuts. At the same time, Roy said he feels the Blazers need to become more daring passers who look for the back-door cut, who aren't afraid to throw the lob pass. "We always try to make the safe play, and I think to make your offense effective, you have to look at every option," Roy said. "Sometimes you have to thread needles. I'm not saying that we have to go out and turn over the ball, but we have to be looser out there. Right now, nobody wants to make a mistake." He's pretty much saying "Less Steve, More Sergio". Let them play Nate, just let them play.
i cannot wait until we have a playoff spot locked so only get to read POSITIVE posts from mixxum - dude, you better fukin stick to that agreement!
I think he is actually saying more Blake, less Sergio. Sergio's over-dribbling is not conducive to offensive movement... Sergio's usage% is actually higher than Blake's! Isn't that crazy when you consider that Sergio's assist/TO ratio is worse than Blake's? What it tells us is that when Sergio is playing instead of Blake - he dominates the ball more than Blake - but his over-dribbling actually stagnates the offense - as shown by his lesser assist/turn-over ratio. Steve Blake plays within the offense, Sergio dominates the offense - which is pretty sad given that he is not an elite scorer or as good at running the team efficiently...
The Blazers are going to make the playoffs and that's all that matters this year. It was the goal at the beginning of the season and it will be accomplished. Bigger and better things next year, and the years after that. Get used it.
Wow, Mixum. We didn't make a trade, time to let that go buddy. No one knows for sure what was on the table. I agree that we have a group of players on this team that I'd trade in a heart beat for a good veteran (Outlaw, Webster, Rudy, Sergio), but once Batum, Oden, and Bayless develop, this team is going TO KICK MAJOR ASS. Nearly all of our weaknesses are addressed by these players, with the one remaining point be that we don't have a young Steve Nash running the team...but few teams do have that kind of player. In a few years our starting lineup has a chance to be as good as this: Devin Harris(bayless) Brandon Roy Tayshaun Prince(batum) LaMarcus Aldridge Dwight Howard(Oden) Of course they may not all develop to that level but it could be close. Then you're not going still be complaining about how we didn't make a trade back in 08-09 will you?
And the people that complain about not making a trade don't seem to realize that it might have made us worse instead of better. That is always a possibility. And I'm not just talking long term, but right now as well.
Pretty much exactly it. I think Batum's ceiling is a tad bit higher than Prince just because I think he is better at a younger age (than prince was) and I think Bayless' ceiling is similar to Monta Ellis's ceiling (we don't know what it is yet as he is just 23) mixed with a little Devin Harris. But yeah, great post. Its crazy, can you IMAGINE thsoe 5 players as a starting lineup? 70+ win team, imo.
Its fun to think about how good each of our players can be, and how high their ceiling is. Obviously most will not get there, but they all can. And wow, how fun would that be!
If each young Blazer player listed here were to be filling the lofty projections in this thread (which is of course doubtful), I really don't see money being much of an issue. The CBA favors the team with the player's rights in Free Agency and their is no hard cap on spending. Paul Allen probably has more money under his couch cushions then the Blazers might collectively command in salary. STOMP
