The "Making Playoffs Means Mediocrity" Myth

C'mon Eric, I like Lillard as well, but the kid is not a superstar at this point, and might not ever be

 

Yeah around 2000, Not the 1990's. And certainly not 1990-92 when they went to the WC finals three straight years with picks other than Buck and Clyde at 14......late draft picks (Porter, Jerome, Duck, Ainge, Cliff, Drazen)

But does it really matter? Trader Bob went overboard. He put together a good team but kept adding more. He didn't know when to stop. Or didn't think he had to.

 

Glad to see you're catching on. Only God knows the truth.

 

I completely understand I am all but alone on this island, but history shows you need to get lucky to be good. Most teams, especially small market teams, do that through the draft in today's NBA

 

I thought we did get lucky? I mean who would have thought that we would ever work a deal with jersey for their #6 pick? Aldridge was a good pick up and batum late first rounder was a steal.

 

That remains to be seen. What I do know is he definitely has the skill and demeanor to be one.

 

When one of those turns into a superstar then I will agree with you

 

who is a superstar?

 

You are not on an island, and you are 100% completely correct...

How about this team MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, and then actually WIN IN THE 1st ROUND before people here start predicting NBA championships? What a concept....

I don't think a team with LA, Batum, Lillard & Matthews is anywhere near a top echelon team...not now, not 5 years from now....

 

He is a superstar level talent. He is having a much better rookie season than other superstars like KG, Kobe, and Wade did. 18/6 and a game winner in 23 games? He is definitely on track to be a superstar, depending on what you think is a superstar. He's playing better than Roy did too. He has an outside shot at becoming an All Star this season.

 

I think we all realize that. The point of the discussion is how do we get better. Is sucking a few more years and getting lucky in the draft going to do the trick? Or can we do t by being mediocre and getting lucky. Both strategies have failed and both have worked. However one is more frustrating and painful. (IMO)

 

Says who? Thorpe just did an entire piece saying he was not quite in that tier

 

How has being mediocre and getting lucky worked? For who? Not trying to be difficult, I can't think of anyone other than maybe the Pistons

 

if we are talking conference finals then.......Portland. We went from mediocre to a top team. 5 times.

 

this same old tired argument

 

We weren't lucky though. That was also a very different Paul Allen

 

Apparently you didn't read the full article. Thorpe said this at the end of the article: "But it's clear he has a chance to get to the level of Rose, Westbrook or Irving, which is saying a lot."

 

Bollocks. Hibbert signed the offer sheet, as did Millsap. Each was willing to come here, but his team matched our offer.

 

Yeah there are alot of good players that would sign with the Blazers (or anyone for that matter) if we were one of the few with available money. It's the super stars that only a few teams get. But like the lottery, it's pretty much "right time at the right place". So that's why I think the only thing you can do is keep building assets and hope you can get the right trade. But that doesn't necessarily mean sucking so bad you get a top pick.

Utah has made a nice effort. Right now they have stocked up on bigs. (Kanter, Favors, and Jefferson) it will be interesting to see what they can pull off between now and July to help their future.

 

Have you looked at Hibberts stats lately? He used Portland to leverage a deal he isn't close to living up to. We actually dodged a bullet on that one!