This team does not look very good. I will refrain from being any more critical until we get about 20 games into the season though.
It is early but there are some signs that you certainly hope turn around in a hurry. They don't look like they are playing very hard at times. Last year that was rarely an issue but this year so far there have been some significant stretches where effort didn't seem very high. They have given up massive runs to their opponents, been dominated inside and badly beaten on the glass at times. Some of that is a product of the small lineups but to me it seemed like there was more effort last year. Did too many people get a big paycheck? Could easily be 0-5. Yes, it would still be early but if not for a depleted Jazz roster and a monumental meltdown by the Nuggets, the Blazers would be 0-5 going into road games at Dallas and Memphis. Defense could actually be worse. To me this is attributable to the small lineup where they are outmatched at every turn. They are out matched on defense and on offense, no one is guarding Plumlee, Aminu or Harkless. Tough to win when you can't get stops on the defensive end and are playing 2-on-5 on the offensive end.
Here is some analysis from Dan Marang: "If you add up the differences of points off turnovers, second-chance points, fast break points, and points in the paint, the Blazers are giving up over 20 extra points to the opponent on average." http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/11/...unding-points-in-the-paint-fast-break-defense
