Notice Dame Still Optimistic Blazers Can Contend for Title

There's a good article on NBA.com about the Blazers. Nothing really new, but a good overall synopsis of where the team, and Dame, are at.

https://www.nba.com/news/damian-lillard-optimistic-blazers-can-contend

 

"Though Portland made no blockbuster deals, Lillard became encouraged with how Blazers general manager Neil Olshey improved the roster on the margins while still retaining backcourt mate, C.J. McCollum."

 

Yeah. Seems to co-incide with some of the comments he made during training camp. Dame sees a move like CJ for Simmons or CJ for Siakam as lateral. Unless it was like CJ for Paul George or KD or something, hard to think Dame would have been okay with CJ gone.

 

Difficult to tell if that is actually what Lillard said or the conclusion drawn by the columnist.

 

I expect (and hope) that players feel this way. You have fight like there’s a chance to win no matter what.

The worry here is that this is what Neil also believes. And that dame and others have been brainwashed by our delusional management into thinking we’re close to a title.

 

These two are probably the same reason why he's still with us though, so take the good with the bad.

 

so basically more of the same appears the likely outcome, more reruns and early playoff exits assuming no significant injuries, not what I prefer at all. Either blow it up or make a trade for someone like Simmons and take the chance

 

Those who are tired of playoff exits im wondering if they have ever been s fan of a perpetual lottery team.
Grass isnt always greener….Unless its smokable…

 

Simmons is a mental case, probably washed up at age 23 and CJ is putting superstar numbers, count me out on this Ben Simmons trade but if they'd like a Robert Covington package we can talk

 

Kings have missed the offs for 15 straight years and they still have loyal fans that fill their arena?

 

According to every advanced analytics rating system I looked at (EPM, BPM, PER, Darko, Lebron, Raptor) CJ is currently better than Simmons. It’s kind of a recent thing though - last year. CJ may not be a great fit but God know if Simmons is a fit.

 

They don’t. Their arena has been pretty empty although I bet it starts filling up this season. Kings are no joke this year.

 

http://www.espn.com/nba/attendance

 

Guess part of the reason their arena looks empty is because it’s bigger.

 

They do well for not being in playoffs 15 years.
The Blazers wouldn’t do that well after 15 years.

 

Agreed. Olshey is frightened to death of losing Lillard, and hence will never trade McCollum. It’s very dysfunctional.

 

*wrong thread*

 

Lmao I’m out man