So: are we going to be TOO good?

All I care about is seeing our guys develop. It's really going to dictate what Neil does going forward. If Meyers averages 16 and 8, if CJ puts up 15 off the bench, if Aminu or Harkless prove to be solid contributors, that's going to help Neil identify holes that need to be filled and figure out the best way to fill that need.

 

Great so if that happens and we end up winning more games because of it, are you going to be angry we end up picking 14th?

 

Is that the exception or the rule?

I'm not saying it's impossible, but even with all of that smart drafting and Morey's "Moneyball" approach, it still took a major free agent picking Houston to put them into the conversation as a top 4 team in the west. not to disparage Portland, but it isn't (and never will be) a free agent destination for those highly coveted All-Star/All-NBA types.

 

This, AND there's no guarantee a top 5 pick turns out to anything more than a decent player. How many top picks did Minnesota flirt with before they managed to be respectable? Wesley Johnson? Ricky Rubio? Jonny Flynn? Derrick Williams?

The notion of wasting 2-3 years of Damian's prime hunting that elusive second star in the draft (who likely won't even become a star until a few years in) is pretty un-enthusiastic to me.

 

Here's the thing. I don't think Damian is good enough. He's a definite notch below Curry and while I think he's "very good" he's not "great" (and probably never will be).

 

Since when was Houston a destination city? It wasn't until Harden became a super-star.

I tend to agree that Portland is never going to sign a superstar, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility to sign a really good player. Hell, Greg Monroe almost picked us this past off-season but instead chose Milwaukee who is ironically in a very similar position as the Blazers - just further along in the process.

 

Blah... Meh... Answer the question please. Substantiate your opinion. Validate yours and debunk mine please...

 

I'm in rebuilding mode, wins and losses don't mean much to me. I usually base success on how I see our guys developing. If we win games and our guys look great, all the better. If we lose and our guys are showing encouraging signs of growth, that's fine too. I'm not going to be "angry" either way.

 

Low state taxes, a place where a lot of players make their off-season home, etc.

 

I think that is where most of us are at as well.

If we suck enough to get a top 5 pick, it's likely because the guys that we have were not good enough. There will be more to evaluate in that situation but I don't think that particular situation is an enviable one.

 

Curry = MVP
Lillard = Not MVP

Do you need more?

 

And how many good free agents did they sign before Harden?

 

Actually, I have to agree with this. Houston has nailed many top tier free agents prior to Harden. Clyde being one of them (yes I know he is from Texas). I think Otis Thorpe was added via trade? Houston has had a pretty good long history for players.

 

Totally agree with you. Ive said this before and I'll say it again I love Dame and all but coming in after a couple seasons, I thought his shooting was going to be pretty automatic feeling like Curry, or Durant. A guy who it felt like every shot was going to be good, cause they all look good. But his jump shot has regressed. I think he’ll be a streaky shooter his whole career. Hoping I’m wrong. I’d love a 40% season from 3. But I’m now to the point where I cringe often when he pulls up to shoot from midrange on out.

 

Clyde was traded, and has ties in Houston.

 

One thing that I'm really paying attention to this season is Dame. Does he step up and become a superstar? Does he continue to struggle with his shot? I think this will be a make-or-break year for Dame as well. We fine out if he's a legit superstar, or if he's just an All-Star that needs to be second fiddle. He has definitely shown great leadership, and I'm happy about that, but he has to perform on the court. That doesn't necessarily mean I want him to average 30 per game. I just want him to play well, keep his teammates involved, be a leader, and in that process if he can average 25ish, that would be awesome.

 

Ummmmm we traded Clyde to Houston.

 

NBA - 5 man on the court team, 12 man active roster, 15 man roster.

Tennis, Bowling, Golf - one man team, 1 man active roster, 1 man roster.

One guy isn't the end all for a teams success or failure and your very mention of GS via Curry proves that. What was Curry's numbers the year before last? Im at work so I cant take the time to look it up, but I think they were close to the same as last year and if so, why didn't GS win back to backs then?

Basketball=TEAM ball. Something the NBA has kinda lost touch with until last years champs. I see potential for great TEAM ball with this roster making us very difficult to stop and or predict.


Um yeah, you need to say ALOT more. So Dam isn't Curry, so were fucked? lmao. Come on. Need more than that. Dame doesn't need to be Curry because we aren't Golden State!