They aren't 'Young' anymore

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by TBpup, May 22, 2019.

  1. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    You're not factoring in "second childhoods"
     
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  2. H.C.

    H.C. Well-Known Member

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    Sketchy to say neither are outstanding dribblers ight.
    Now we're using stats ight.

    27.4 usage rate
    21.2 usage rate
    22.6 usage rate

    Oh I also find it funny that you're not using Nurk's 5th year stats.

    Who has the ball in their hands more?

    Nurk is a fine passer and has plenty of vision.
    He doesn't have an offense built around him like Jokic, nor does he have the off-ball movement from CJ&Lillard that Green gets from KD/Curry/Thompson/Iggy/etc.
     
  3. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    The thing that's wrong is... How the hell are we going to get better?

    Dame and CJ are in their prime.
    Nurkic is coming back from injury so he'll be largely absent and then probably not at the same level
    The coaching will be the same.
    We can only keep one of Curry, Hood, and Kanter. With only one of them, we probably don't make it out of the 1st round, and definitely don't make it to the WCF.
    We have limited flexibility this off-season to improve our team, and have a GM who hasn't shown the creativity to overcome it.
     
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  4. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    Nurkic is better at tough passes.
    Green is the better overall passer though, as being able to attack and put pressure on the defense to open up passing opportunities for others is a part of passing. He's also a smarter passer and reads the defense better.

    And Jokic is better than both of them. Nurkic isn't really in their class.
     
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  5. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    Dame has more than 2-3 years left in his prime. Nash was 31 when he won his first MVP. Dirk was 33 when he won his title. I’d say 3-5 years is Dame’s prime. And as a team we’re not as old compared to the rest of the league as you suggest. We were the second youngest team in the playoffs this year.
     
  6. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    GM is not creative? He got Hood and Kanter for nothing. Every offseason, people say we haven’t gotten better and then we play better.
     
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  7. TorturedBlazerFan

    TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

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    Well of course, but Nurkic is still much better as a focal point of the offense / outlet for Dame then what they had,
     
  8. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    Lmao. Trading two 2nd round picks for a role player isnt creative. Signing a buyout free agent isnt creative. You dont understand what I mean by that, I guess.
     
  9. TorturedBlazerFan

    TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

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    When it comes to how “creative” NO is or isnt, its kind of a hard job to judge from the perspective of a fan. We really dont know if he’s being creative or trying to be. I mean, NO isnt my favorite..., but we have no idea what agents wont return his call, what GM’s are or arent willing to work with him. If it sounds like Im making an excuse, I’m not trying to, Im just saying only a few people really know what conversations he’s having, and if he’s “trying” creative things or not. I 100% know you, you know this, but its much easier for is to come up with things that work, and why all the players, teams, agents, etc should want them to happen, then it is to make those things happen.

    Creative or not, I liked that he turned two guys not playing, into a roster spot for Kanter and got Rodney.
     
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  10. KeepOnRollin

    KeepOnRollin Well-Known Member

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    Olshey tried to be creative and get Porter. Was outbidded at the last moment.
     
  11. SportsAndWhine

    SportsAndWhine Dumbass For Hire

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    It doesn’t really matter; the product next year will be what it is. We don’t affect any change as loyal customers of the corporation. I hope we do really well next year, that Meyers wakes up enough to make us not miss Kanter, and that Nurkic provides us the extra boost to do even better in a Westerm Conference that’s full of changes.

    But ultimately, sports are just a bet you make with yourself every game that in three hours you’ll feel happy. It’s just a game. I hope we win but I refuse to worry about things I can’t change.
     
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  12. H.C.

    H.C. Well-Known Member

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    Not saying he is or isn't in their class.
    I just found it funny when the guy said this.

    Then went onto use the year where Nurk averaged 1.8 apg instead of this year when he nearly doubled that at 3.2
    I don't think it's inconceivable to believe Nurk could hit the 4-5 apg range.
    Which imo is prolly the number he needs for Portland to continue to make noise in the playoffs.
    Portland needs easy buckets. Can't rely on getting to a spot and pulling up.
    Works against gambling defenses like OKC, and inexperienced teams like Denver.
    But GSW more often than not kept CJ/Lillard from getting to those spots. Instead forced them 1-2 feet deeper on those jumpers.

    You're a shooter you know what it means when the defense forces you 1-2 feet deeper on the shot you want to take.
    Still makeable, but not the rhythm you wanted.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2019
  13. hoopsjock

    hoopsjock Well-Known Member

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    I don't know but I'll tell you this, we'd still be playing and GS would be shitting their pants right now on the verge of being eliminated.
     
  14. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    not only that, we saw Green absolutely blitz Portland in transition. He was like Westbrook, only under control. Neither Jokic or Nurkic can do that. Green can run an offense; Jokic can be the main pivot point of an offense. Nurkic can't really do either yet

    I was talking about Portland really needing a player like Paul George or Kawhi to take pressure off Lillard and somehow, Nurk was morphed into a player with that kind of offensive impact. I like Nurkic and think he's Portland's 2nd best player but he's not going to take the defensive pressure off Dame like an elite wing would

    HC: I used 4th year Nurkic because I used 4th year Jokic and Green. All things equal

    yeah, Nurkic upped his assists to 3.2 this year, but I just don't think that's anywhere close to the ballpark of Green and Jokic averaging over 7 assists. That's more than Lillard averaged. More than that, Jokic had an assist/turnover ratio of 2.35, Green was at 2.31, while Nurkic was at 1.39. It's loopy to suggest Nurkic is anywhere within 3 zip-codes of being in the same class as a playmaker

    one final note: Portland had a healthy Nurkic against the Pelicans last year and he didn't do one thing to ease the defensive pressure on Dame
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2019
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  15. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    Well he can prove me wrong this summer because he'll have to be creative to upgrade the roster with the guys we're set to lose.

    I doubt it happens. Hope I'm wrong.
     
  16. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    It doesnt matter if the team is better next year? Maybe to you. It matters to me.
     
  17. oldmangrouch

    oldmangrouch persona non grata

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    He is very creative at coming up with deals he "almost" made.
     
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  18. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    yep...and I think we're seeing that with the Porter rumor
     

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