Playing world Poker tournament with a pair of 2's and bluffing that shit all the way to the end for the win
Sure--and every other personnel transaction aside from LA's departure has been understandable and defensible, if not excellent.
I am more show me than just talk, but I look at the process and care about it . . . I also don't think it is easy to put together a championship contending team. But I do think GMs get paid lots of money to make moves that they think will put together championship contending teams and most GMs do in fact make moves to try and do this. I just not accepting right off the bat that Olshey's moves will be successful . . . mainly because I know how hard it is to do. And if you want tot take shots how about you stop twisting things one sided. Use numbers to imply NO turned a team around but what the process shows is he added an all star PG with a draft pick (a great move by Oshey) and Lopez another good move to an already existing core of Aldrdige who continued to improve each year, over achieving Wes who also continued to improve and Batum (which Neil did decide to match, good choice). That line up stayed healthy all year, played as a starting unit together more than any other starting unit in the NBA and blossomed into a 54 win playoff team that went into the 2nd round. Neil was responsible for putting together pieces to an already existing core but he didn't put together a roster that won 54 and while Lillard hit "the shot", Aldridge was the one who was the most responsible for getting them to the 2nd round. As far as this off season, you may be right that Plumlee turns into a quality starting center (will he be more valuable than who he was traded for is what I wonder), that trading Batum for Vonleh may be smart IF Vonleh develops (who cares about where he was drafted: T-Rob was drafted 5 and that didn't work out). I think many GM do make trades and moves that look to have potential but often they end up not working (look at Minny). You always seem to be all over my shit taking shots at me and I don't know why. I'm sorry I haven't been that impressed Olshey but am I doing it in way that is completely unfair to him or you just got some beef with me?
I'm not sure if you saw what you just posted, but your own words explained why we went from lottery bound to 54 wins. Lillard, during his rookie season, helped take a 28 win team to 33 (not much of a huge improvement but Dame was still just a rookie). Then after adding Lopez and 2nd year Dame, we jumped to 54 wins (+21 wins), with the same Aldridge, Wes and Batum.
I saw. I've never said Olshey was a bad GM. I think he is an OK GM who can really sell it. He has made a great move, IMO (Lillard), some good moves and some bad moves. I hope he proves me wrong as turns out to be a great GM. (I don't know if you mishighlighted but I'm not saying NO turned a team around I am saying he added a couple key pieces to create a great starting lineup) I just not buying into all this hype about him I see on this board and also seem to be the only one who wonders if he could have done more with the LA situation. One thing is for sure, Olshey threw LA under the bus. Maybe it is all LA fault, according to Olshey all of this is LA's fault, but I don't believe a lot of what Olshey says.
I don't believe there is as much hype as you suggest. I think fans are just pleased with how Olshey is handling things. He isn't necessarily "swinging for the trees" type moves, but base hits. When he has swung for the trees, it seems most of the players want to come here. As for the LA situation, I think it was right of him to keep Aldridge as much as he could. If Matthews didn't go down, I think our situation would have been entirely different.
I have no issue with you; I just disagree with your opinions, and gave detailed explanation as to why. It's nothing personal. This is just the nature of open forum discussion.
Opinions are like asswholes and lips everyone's got one.. Sometimes we agree with each others opinions...sometimes we are scratching our heads...not worth taking things personal though....
I think its awesome that everyone assumes we could go down to All-StarMart and simply pickup an All Star to convince Lamarcus to stay. Its a lot easier if Lamarcus is helping with the process rather than sitting back saying "I want an oompa Loompa daddy buy one for me now!"
Agree with Schilly. If LaMarcus wanted to be in Portland, he could/should/would have recruited another running mate. But he didn't, and he didn't. I don't know what Olshey could have done other than what he did, and I like the way he is playing the hand he's been dealt. The game isn't over.
Well OK, I thought the whole I don't care or pay attention or understand process was an attack but I guess your way of making a point. Not bothered by it just thought you had some issue with me, thanks for clarifying. And for the record; I don't pretend to know all the answers and said I could be wrong about Olshey, just a fan who is not that impressed with what he has "done" But like I said this is all his roster now and he has been given a pass on the LA situation so he now has the time and resources to show what he can do as a GM.
I don't know if there is anything Olshey could have done. I do know he was trying to tell fans he wasn't sure LA was gong to leave after already trading Nic and an insider (Hughes) coming out the next day saying LA is gone and Blazers are going young. So hard for me to believe anything Olshey says . . . like when he gives an interview basically saying he couldn't do anything and LA screwed the Blazers. Who knows what conversations happened and what if anything could be done. Just know LA is gone and Olshey is blaming him for the rebuild. All fans can do is hope Olshey can rebuild they organization to being relevant again.
I'm of the opinion that you can not believe anything a salesman says while still benefitting from his ability to sell things. So yeah, we might get some smoke blown up our skirts, but at least he's on our team.
For all we know, the Blazers Ownership/Management felt the team had peaked, they didn't want Lamarcus back, they didn't want to pay all those big contracts for a team that wouldn't seriously contend, and this is playing out just the way they planned. If so, I'm good with that, too.
I agree, that could also be what was going on What i find interesting is usually when a disaster in an organization occurs like this a GM or head coach is gone. In this case all the blame has been put Aldridge with ownership/management/GM smelling like roses. Again maybe rightfully so, but I find that interesting.
When contracts are all built to expire the same year, from mostly previous GM's, then wouldn't they get a pass?