Half this team will not even be on the team in a year or so But hey this is what ya wanted and look what's happening in the playoffs
This is an insane theory. I think Neil can always find rotational players. He can find one this year in free agency. The problem is we need something better than just a rotational player in order to take the next step.
And we're off to the races again on the pick or playoffs question. Of course picks have value. Would this year's lost pick be of more value than next year's? Maybe, if we assume next year's Blazers are likely to finish with a better record than this year's. Would this year's lost pick be of more value than the future first round pick that Olshey picked up as a part of eating Varajao's contract? Hard to say, but I'm betting that Olshey has enough assets to make a deal this summer one way or another.
And you had this given to you form NO as gospel? Come on. Stop with the absolutes, unless its an absolute. Your post is pure hypothesis. Lets discuss in actuality please?
Welp, the chickens are coming home to roost. This was the fear that many of us had. Make the playoffs, get plastered by a significantly better team, and lose the pick with nothing to show for it. Obviously the series isn't over, and there's always a chance we could come back, but I just thought it was interesting that Plumlee is one of the only guys performing and we literally got him for a non-lottery draft pick last year.
And this is pretty much what I expected when I hoped for making the playoffs. Guys are getting a taste of what the playoffs are like and are probably not enjoying getting their butts kicked. Hopefully, they'll start hitting some shots at home and they'll get to enjoy some success. If not, it's just going to make them hungrier and work harder to get ready for another shot next year. In the meantime, Olshey has a pick that he can use in trade this summer if he wants, and he'll have a a pick next year that he likely would have had to give to Denver if the Blazers had missed the playoffs this year. I don't see the loss of this year's pick as a significant factor in the team's chances to improve next season.
Really the point of the thread is to point out that Mason Plumlee has been a big positive in the playoffs, and he was acquired with a pick. Not so much to harp specifically on the argument over whether playoffs or pick are better. I just saw people arguing about how much a rookie would help us right now, and I just thought it was funny because last year's pick is helping us quite a bit right now.
I KNOW right lol "BUT OUR PICK WOULD HAVE NO VALUE!!" I been trying to tell these folks that for months but hey this is what they wanted
That's your opinion. You have no clue how this playoff experience is going to play out. Fear all you want, but its illfounded, because its simply an assumption that its nothing, or the ones who can benefit wont be here next year....
Y'all know that was just a shot in the dark. I never backed it up... I just went with a gut feel. That doesn't hurt my credibility to say that I'm not swayed. What does that have to do with credibility? Ironic that someone with no credibility would like it, though. That's the funny part.
Its been my observation that most forum members think Plumlee needs to go to the bench and we need a better big, and i might be in that category now. So great. another bench role player on a team full of them. The pick helped wonders. It was a game changer just like this years would have been. Kinda laughable considering the criticism of our bigs currently...
The dude is getting double teamed left and right, and he only has two options, pass out, or try to take it to the hole. He has done both. What the hell else is he going to do? There's only so many options he can do. What else can he do? The team needs to set better screens, maybe? Perhaps, just maybe, it has more to do than Dame. It's crazy that your scapegoat may not be the sole reason. It just ruins everything!
Making the playoffs is a valuable tool for evaluating the team. Before the playoffs and now, your views on who is vital for the team's future is different. Before we were like: Have to keep Gerald, have to keep Harkless, have to keep Crabbe, CJ and Dame work well, etc. Now? Those views are different when it actually counts. It makes Neil's job a little easier to see who to deal and who to keep. A lot of the guys on the team, in my opinion, lots TONS of value in these first two games as far as being absolutely necessary on this squad. Its easy to see we absolutely need low post scoring and that needs to be addressed this off-season. Things like that. Playoff experience is vital. I always say the first time you make the playoffs is popping your cherry. Then after that you need to and are expected to win. We are popping our cherry with this squad now, better now than later.
This has been a debate all year. The trade was made and we were losing a pick this year or next. So stop crying about it and move on.
Actuality: we are headed into a free agent market where there is more money available than talent. It is safe to predict that it will be worse than last summer - and look at the contracts Wes and Rolo got then! I agree with Olshey's decision to let those guys walk rather than over-pay them. It is hardly unreasonable to assume he will make the same decision with Meyers/Hendo/Harkless/Crabbe etc. That may not be half the team...but all 4 of those guys were part of the rotation at some point. Sometimes, people exaggerate to make a point. And BTW - LMA was a "go to" scorer, just not a very good one!
I can agree with you there. Plums look horrible in game 1. But that experience helped him in game two. He was all over the place....rebounding (10) , passing ( 7 assists) 2 steals, 1 block, 5-7 from the field and 7-9 from the line..........The guy filled the stats sheet.
Touche. Rather funny though, as you seem to have faith in everybody *but* Plums - and he is the only one I have any hope for at all!
Really well said. I mean, the popping the cherry thing, meh... but otherwise, it's really well said. Best evaluator of talent ever is playing the games, is it not?
Not sure where you got that? MY views have changed about almost the whole roster, but I have yet to voice it, so not sure where that came from? I have no more faith in Crabbe, Harkless, AMinu, Vonleh and Hendo than I do Plums at this point. They all seem to be decent role players, but currently, thats about it. Im not sure if any of them can become that third go to guy, and if not, then we need to figure out who WILL work best with he team and whoever we get, and who wont, so the ones that wont are the ones to go.
Scapegoat? I have been defending Dame all series, but when we're talking about how valuable it is to gain experience of being in the playoffs, and Dame has the most experience on the team.... it doesn't really help the argument, does it? I'm not hanging this on Dame. Not at all. You can kindly climb down off that soap box. The rest of the team is playing like crap, but I'm also seeing Dame forcing things and making bad decisions. He's not without blame.
