Game Thread SEEDING GAME# 4: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - AUGUST 6, 2020 - THURSDAY, 5:00, NBCSNW

Nope let’s just offer GT an extension in the fall.

 

I would rather keep Lillard, CJ, Trent and continue to see where Collins goes and continue to play Nurk.
Seems to me Trent pretty much guards any wing out there.

 

Exactly. Give him an extension and see how this plays out. If the team is really good you look for both Dame and CJ to take a little less to keep players here on their next contract.
Great players make those kinds of decisions to make great teams.
Dame and CJ have both made plenty of money. They want a Championship.

 

You let Whiteside drop off the books and pick up a solid backup . You see what Ariza wants because he is slated for one more year at just under 13 mil. Nurk is wrapped up for 2 years. Hood has one more year. Simons has 2 more on his contract.
There is a question on Anthony.

 

Regardless, if the Nuggets are missing players, that was a solid win and Portland's actually entertaining to watch again. All four games have been a vastly different viewing experiences than the rest of the season - for my money anyway. I guess Nurk makes that much of a difference. Offensively, things seem to run pretty smoothly, with the ball being passed inside/out instead of round the horn of the three point line from earlier this year. The energy and activity on the defensive side of the court to end the game was encouraging.

So, who can we realistically take in a playoff series? Denver's a bad match up if Murray and Barton play and Porter stays relevant. Paul George gave Aminu/Turner/Harkless/Hood fits last year and Melo isn't an upgrade defensively. Now we'd have to play George plus his superior clone, so Clips are a bad matchup. I think anyone else is beatable. If they follow standard playoff format, I guess we could avoid both until the WCF. Hmm.

 

So much gloom and doom over a win.

 

I believe Zach had 2 turnovers really but you didn't mentioned his 9 boards that lead the team.

 

The questions aren't limited to just Melo. Hood suffered a career altering injury. Ariza is getting old and isn't exactly commited to the Blazers. Collins' ceiling may well be "decent back-up center." This team isn't going anywhere until it gets a meaningful upgrade at forward. If Trent can play, keeping CJ and his ugly contract is not the best use of limited resources.

 

Last year the team was in the WCF. This season, some fans are satisfied (even excited) at stumbling into the 8th seed with a sub .500 record. Some of us see this as a huge step back and are not satisfied with the status quo.

 

The only question is melo and that isn't really a question. If he comes back it will be for around the same money.
Hood has one more year. He rehabs and try to come back. If he can't play well you let him walk. Simple.
Trying to say Collins is at his ceiling is just plain crazy talk. He also has one more year. There is no question there. He stays and plays.
Ariza has one more year only partially guaranteed 1.8 million.
The Blazers do not have limited resources. They are fine.
Pau Gasol Off the books
Swanigan off the books
Whiteside off the books
Anthony off the books
Ariza off the books mostly???
$45 million off the books if they want it gone.

 

Why is it a step back? We had a ton of injuries that cost us wins. Clearly, if we had Nurk and Collins at all season, we’d be a top 3 seed again. We’re excited about 8 seed because after all the injuries, we still have a chance. First round will be the real WCF and we have a chance to beat them.

 

I love this action



So many options on that with how poorly denver played it

 

Nice to see 2 minutes of Dame highlights on ESPN -



I love watching him play. He's such a great floor general. 45 points. 12 assists (and only 2 turnovers). 3 steals. 1 win. Amazing.

 

Sorry, but while I saw some good things tonight, I didn't see anything to indicate this team would have been a top 3 seed without the injury issues.

 

Will the NBA allow the blazers to beat la in the 1st round?

 

Exactly. This team is lookinng pretty strong and it is a talent driven league.

 

The problem is that we'll run into luxury tax issues. Nurk is going to get a big raise too

 

remember this?

 

He's gonna get maxed, even if he contributes 80% of what he's been doing.

 

Full strength?

Dame
CJ / Trent
Melo / Hood
Collins / Ariza
Nurk / Whiteside

we’d be a top team