According to Dame, the Blazers just need to tap into their existing mean streaks to get better on defense: http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ing_for_mean_streak_o.html#incart_river_index On perhaps a more practical side, it sounds like Terry Stotts is using the two-day break between games to kick some collective ass and really focus on getting back to basics on defensive play: http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ics_in_demanding_prac.html#incart_river_index I'm hoping that the message and the practice pays off starting tomorrow night. Especially so since I have tickets and I want to see a win over the Pacers.
Just a hunch, but I believe what is missing from the Blazer's roster is a savvy vet or two. Savvy vets to mentor the kids down during games to keep them focused. Savvy vets that can give the kids hints on what the opposition is doing to them during a game, and how to counter those moves, especially on D. Savvy vets that can help them get easy buckets.
The Blazers lack the hunger they did a year ago. The chips on their shoulders have been sated by saturated contracts that have defeated the thirst to prove themselves.
He's an unsigned free agent. We'd need to cut, or trade, someone to clear a roster spot for him. Unless we make a trade, his vet minimum salary would put us over the luxury tax threshold. I suppose we could add him as a coach if he's willing. BNM
Do you think we could do any worse at the moment? I say get him in there as our coach for our bigs in the paint as well as screens and picknrolling. We need something. He sure as hell couldn't hurt.
He may be holding out to see if anyone picks him up. He hasn't officially retired and the vet min salary for a player is going to be a lot more than he'd make as a first time assistant coach. BNM
That's very interesting. It doesn't seem like the team's coach has a mean streak, at, all. Stotts is no Jerry Sloan or Norm Van Leer, that's for sure. And that has to filter down to the team, and the team's identity. If Stotts isn't a take no prisoners defensive coach, and he clearly isn't, then the Blazers need to hire one.
This is Portland. There is one, and only one, answer, and he's presently bumming around Australia. Bring back Steve Blake.
Actually, you may be onto something. All three times we traded Blake we got a center in return (Magloire, Camby and Plumlee). So much for the adage you never trade a big for a small. Blakey could be the linchpin in a deal that nets us Cousins, Whiteside or Noel! BNM
A mean savvy vet, first name that comes to mind is…….. Steve Blake, believe he is now playing in Australia. He might help the guards play better. Kris Kaman appeared to have made a positive impact on the young bigs while he was here. But as BNM mentioned, it would take some cap space juggling. Olshey has our backs against a wall. We would not bring the savvy vets in to make a positive impact on the floor, except in emergencies. But they could make a positive impact to the game by being mentors. There probably are other unsigned older savvy vets to consider. I have not given it much thought past what is wrong and how to fix it. Our young kids are giving a good effort. They have talent. But right now, we are not getting the most out of their talent. Actually KingSpeed, you probably have a better handle on whom than I do.
