We're 2-1, including a road win and this team hustles, shows energy and plays hard. We may not have a lot of talent, but our attitude is great. Still don't see 40 wins but Stotts is starting something good. Also, if Leonard is over 7', why he is shorter than other centers?
The Blazers have a decent nucleus to continue to build around. Their bench is atrocious, so getting to 40 wins will be awfully tough. If they can somehow stay healthy, though, there's still a halfway decent chance I will win my bet with Sly. All that said, the Blazers are showing some signs of being on the right path. I wonder what next summer's FA market will yield? Will the Blazers be relatively big players? Time will tell.
I think we have talent with the starters but we are very thin after that. I also think our pieces fit prety well, especially with a PG that can make it all work - sum is greater than the parts. Wheether our bench develops will be a big key this year.
Well, the Blazers need to find some off the bench production because it's not getting done. Our starting five is really doing a fine job but with the lack of bench production we are probably more like a 27 or 30 win. To me the teams biggest need a is backup PG. Someone who can make that 2nd unit go. Tell then what do you guys think about Wes coming off the bench and starting Sasha Pavlovic? That might help provide a spark off the bench and I think Wes would be ok with that.
One problem I have with that is that Wes generally guards the best opponent PG/wing. I don't trust Sasha to do that, or to guard Batum's man if Nic takes the best player.
Sign Delonte West. He's a dependable SG and PG. He has playoff experience and he can score. And he's willing to play for the minimum. Yes, he's bipolar, but maybe the team could take him under its wing and help him get the help he needs.
Totally agree. We just need one sparkplug off the bench, and if Will Barton isn't ready to be that guy, maybe West can be. Interesting to note, and maybe this is something to think about: of 7 active bench players, 6 are new to the team this year. No context, no chemistry yet... I imagine they'll get a little better as the season goes on naturally. Though I do like Stotts's approach to integrating bench-warmers to the lineup slowly instead of running two five-man teams in and out.
This isn't meant to be offensive to you Eric, because I understand your situation, but the Blazers have had a severely bi-polar player on their roster before and he was one of the worst chemistry-killers in the history of the team. I really like the chemistry we're building right now, and I don't want to see it damaged just so we can win a few more games this season. I think we should just ride it out and then use our cap space to sign some decent backups this summer, not overpay someone that probably won't deserve a max deal.
Around the team at the arena, but I hadn't started traveling with them yet. My first road trip we had just traded away Sheed. I just got the tail end of the JailBlazers...... I was on the plane when they found Bassy's gun in Boston though.
(obviously I'm not Eric but...) That's a really good point. I'm convinced. Also, it's a decent little starting 5 we have right now. Not perfect by any stretch, but I'm definitely more relaxed about them than I was... the goal this year should be to get them relief, a chance to sit 12 minutes a game instead of 8-10.
The thing is, Delonte West isn't suffering from minor problems.... the guy is unstable. He can't stick anywhere and nobody wants to offer him a deal. That's pretty damn telling. We don't need that kind of crazy.
That whole thing was crazy, cause the plane was headed to Toronto. Can you imagine if the guys with Red outfits on horseback had found that at the border!
