Do you think Kpee has given up on this season?

Even when brandon comes back it wont be enough to make the playoffs. He knows it. He already has his excuse with injuries but 30 wins at the all star break should be enough to convince him our season isnt over but hes scared to move his guys that hes in love with.

I know you guys will never admit it but Rudy and BAyless are not that special and i doubt ever will be. This team is too streaky and needs a more consistent way to score. If Houston make that trade the its goodnight for us. Right now its between us the grizz and rockets.

We really need to keep our team in the playoffs... not getting a spot sets us back big time. Nobody looks back and says they had injuries... just that we didnt get in. I thin kpee has sent up the white flag. 30-25 is amazing for the talent we have. oh and the clippers is a must win.
so is boston

 

Why trade away core pieces to try to resurrect a team that more than likely won't make any noise in the playoffs even if they do get in?

 

because the pieces are mediocre and have value .....

and...

keeping a playoff spot in the west is important. playoff experience can never be pushed aside for all the "young talent'

 

I was thinking the Blazers wouldn't make the playoffs, and then I had a look at the competition. The competition for the #8 spot isn't so great either (Houston and Memphis at this point, I count out New Orleans.) So it will probably be a toss up as to who makes it.

As for KP, I don't think he ever gives up, he is an optimist. But that doesn't mean he will make a move, it just means he hasn't given up on the team.

 

I know this stuff is coming from a bad place, but you make some valid points.

 

Actually I think it is having an effect on them this year. Their confidence is clearly not what it was, and has been shaken. They have lost that arrogance they once had, and don't look like a team that will get it back any time soon.

 

Lol how many times are you going to make this thread. Get something new.

 

If Rudy, Martell, Blake, TO and Bayless are "core players, " this team is doomed. Those guys all need to be on the table if we want to make an impact deal.

The core players are Roy, Oden and maybe Batum. LMA played his way out of consideration.

 

Yes I believe the Blazers will have to re-establish themselves. A lot of teams will gain confidence against the Blazers this year, with or without Roy.

 

Aldridge is playing no different than he ever has.

 

I tend to agree. That isn't to say cut each of those guys listed above, as they are still useful rotation players, but the only players on this roster that I see with any kind of star potential are Roy (already there, but how durable is he going to be?), Oden (if he can ever stay healthy) and Nic (he's already a defensive stud, with an emerging offensive game).

I'm probably jumping the gun, but I think Nic ends up being our best player in 4 years time -- in terms of impact at both ends of the court and likelihood of staying healthy enough to stay on the court (shoulder issue this year aside).

 

That is the whole problem. You see, we aren't paying him and asking him to be the guy he was in his first, 2nd, and 3rd year in the league. We are expecting him to step up and be a #2 scorer on this team, and play better than he had in the past.

Was anybody out there not expecting Lamarcus to be the #2 scorer on the team, and raise his level of play higher this year?

I am sure there are some who expected Oden to become that guy. But I doubt it is many.

 

He has been the #2 scorer on the team this year

 

This post by Hollinger pretty much sums it up for me. Keep in mind that he was being guarded by Jeff Green most of the night, who is 6'9" tall and 235 pounds. :

Oklahoma City frustrated Portland all night by fronting LaMarcus Aldridge in the post, with many of Portland's 24 turnovers coming on botched entry passes that were stolen by rotating weak-side defenders. Aldridge made life easier for the Thunder by inexplicably passing out of 1-on-1 matchups on the block, but some of that may have been because of how hard he had to work to get the rock in the first place. He was held to 15 points and committed four turnovers.

 

FYI Jeff Green made Batum look a little small last night, so Jeff Green is no slouch when it comes to measurements.

How long has it been said the perimeter players on this team are terrible at feeding the post? That was the big uproar when Oden was still playing. The team isn't good at it.

Everyone knows Aldridge is Portland's #1 option right now so defenses are keying in on stopping him, making him the focus of the defense. Considering he's supposed to be a #2 scorer, I don't see how this is held against him when he struggles a little bit. He's a #2 guy trying his best to play the #1 role, but it's all still Aldridge's fault. Maybe if the Blazers could make some 3's OKC would get out on the shooters more instead of packing the lane. Still all Aldridge's fault though.

He's still averaging 20/10 this month on 50% shooting, but he still sucks and isn't a part of the future despite being 24 years old.

 

Stop talking as if Batum is a core player. I know we all love him, but he has proven just as much as Bayless and Rudy has. I know you guys don't like to hear it, but he has been incosistent just like with the rest.