Is Portland for real? (Playoff Team)

It all hinges on Aldridge. If he stays healthy, we've got a good chance. If he goes down, I'm not confident in Robinson as a starter.

 

Backup center, power forward.

Robinson and Freeland are not very good. League will figure out Freeland

 

If either Lopez or Aldridge go down I'm pretty sure they go with Freeland as a starter. He's a natural PF (so a better replacement for LMA) and a hustle/defense guy (so a better replacement for Lopez).

Even still, your point is very valid. I'm not confident with Robinson or Leonard getting significant minutes without LMA out there.

 

I understand where you're coming from, and in regular season games I agree with you. But when it comes to the Playoffs you've gotta look at the coaches: Pops vs Stotts. In a 7-game series there's very little chance Stotts comes out on top.

 

Freeland goes straight up for blocks, he works hard, he only takes shots when he should. He's not very good, but he's smart enough to realize that and not do more than he should. He's a puzzle that needs to be figured out in the same way toilet paper is. If you are working that hard at it you should probably get some help.

 

Freeland is doing just fine as the backup center. It's the backup power forward spot that is weak right now. It could improve, as Robinson progresses, but right now it's our weakest position.

 

But we got him for FREE. Mo, Wright, Lopez, Robinson, Watson . . . all FREE.

 

We are very thin and outside Aldridge below average at the big men positions.

 

I agree and, while I like him and want to see how he develops, I can also see him being moved at the trade deadline for a vet backup to help with solidifying a roster for the playoffs.

 

I wonder if Freeland could get TRobs minutes at the 4. I think he's shown enough to at least warrant a test drive.

 

I think we will be in the playoffs but if we are a seed 7, 8 I dont have high hopes for getting to the second round.

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He already has. Last game he got his 2nd half minutes from what i could tell. I can see Stotts giving TRob minutes in the first half and depending on how the game is going deciding whether or not to shrink his bench in the 2nd half.

 

It's game 8 tonight. Keep up. We're 5-2.

It's already been done.

 

It's not like TRob has been horrible. He's had a few stretches of solid minutes, but he's definitely raw. I think he's worth developing though.

 

as long as Lillard and La Marcus stay healthy, yes we are legit.

 

I think we will make the playoffs. We have a legit bench, a real center, and lets face it, there are a lot of mediocre teams out there. The big question for me is will Aldridge and Lillard play defense. Aldridge seems to not have a problem jacking it up this year... and that is great, he is a potent weapon, but will he have the same desire on D? Not sure. Same with Lillard... even in the wins I have seen them walking through a bit on D.

I still think Blazer fans may underappreciate what a gem Lillard is. Maybe our hearts are still broken from Roy and Oden to be willing to invest what we should in Lillard, but the guy is money.

 

Hell yea he is!!!!