Are we headed toward the mediocre middle?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Freshtown, Jan 17, 2022.

  1. Freshtown

    Freshtown Well-Known Member

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    We’ve known for awhile that we are too bad to make real noise in the playoffs (if we even got in).

    But are we now realizing that our youngsters are playing well enough to keep us out of the top 5-8 pick conversation?

    Are we headed toward something like 12th pick? The mediocre middle? Perilous purgatory?
     
  2. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    it's the Blazers. So obviously, Portland won't make any substantial trade; then will end up with the 8th seed and the 15th pick. Then give the pick up to Chicago. Then get swept in the playoffs by the Suns or the Warriors.

    then Nurkic and RoCo will walk next summer. And Cronin will get the GM job because Seattle is satisfied with the direction
     
  3. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    To be fair I think the armchair thing only works for quarterbacks. GMs potentially do a lot of their work if not the majority of it while sitting in armchairs. You are right though we all do like to think about the way we would run our favorite team but we just don't have access to what would be the actual hurtles or impasses we would find when implementing our ideas. I like Cronin and hope he's able to get a lot more roster movement that makes the team cohesive than Olshey ever did but I have no idea what that might take or what would even be available, just speculation.
     
  4. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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  5. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    For the past TEN years.

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  6. AmirIcon

    AmirIcon Well-Known Member

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    We're starting to see coaching change this team. If we can make a significant trade, I don't see why we can't compete. We definitely still need to move CJ and if we can get a Simmons or Siakam, I see no reason to tank.
     
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  7. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    It's like 2015-2016 all over again.... we should have been shit and gotten a lottery pick to put with Dame and CJ, but Dame had other ideas and and we made the playoffs. I still think that threw a major wrench into Neil's longterm plans.
     
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  8. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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  9. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    We've actually been there for quite awhile, we just didn't realize where we were, and some never will.
     
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  10. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    The truth is the NBA is all about mediocracy. In the last 40 years 14 of 30 teams have won a championship and in the last 20 years 10 of 30 teams.
    And as of right now only 16 of 30 teams are above 500 and we are at the half way mark.
    If you are looking to root for a contender every year, better become a band wagon fan.
     
  11. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    well, the problem with that narrative is Portland has not come close to being a contender for two decades. It doesn't have to be "every year". But it would be nice to be once or twice in a decade
     
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  12. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    That was my point and never said Portland was, in fact most in here think it was fools gold that they played for the WCC a few years back. Every year there are only 4-6 teams that are serious contenders, but yeah, there can be a dark horse in there once kina a while. For fans that are really just interested in championship or bust, they may have to wait a long time or band wagon a team.
     
  13. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    It's only a problem if you didn't enjoy winning the last game because it hurts your draft pick....and I guess if people sports gamble but for entertainment...beating the Lakers alone in a season is really fun from my view....fans will get disgruntled with any team losing that's won a ring in modern history..the Bulls became really middle of the pack after being a dynasty...the Warriors took a tumble after theirs....Knicks fans still pack the Garden.....at least this season the narrative is a pretty clean slate....I think the Blazers have been a contender twice in the last decade with some bad injury luck setting them back. Fans don't get rings...they will get ugly after a 4 game losing streak. You're only as good as your last good game in this sport.
     
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  14. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    wut? I'm not even sure what it is you're arguing and NO, the Blazers have not been a contender in the Stolshey era

    besides, how did this become an either or? Why can't I enjoy some games in a season yet be really disappointed that for 2o years Portland has been mired in different levels of mediocrity? Why can't I enjoy Dame at the same time I detest management for repeated failures to build a contender around him...something he desperately wants by the way

    a season includes free agency; training camp; 82 games that define a season; the trade deadline; the playoffs; and the draft. All of those have meaning
     
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  15. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    I'm not arguing....just expressing my opinions. But your reply seems argumentative about the Stotts era..Olshey didn't survive his record....I don't believe in mediocrity either...it's a narrative that I think is an illusion. If the suits in the front office keep you from enjoying Dame, that's a shame...I think Dame is happy with Chauncey, his team and the front office...all the rest is pretty much Blazer fan fueled speculation or disappointment ..enjoy the ride...it's supposed to be fun and is a lot of the time. Ant and Nas right now are playing like number one lottery picks...that's pretty exciting to me and probably to Dame as well. I think Joe Cronin is in a great situation with a chance to put his stamp on this era of Blazer hoops. No reason to think we won't see roster changes. I for one want to see Chauncey succeed here. I don't think Dame is desperate about anything....he's already won in life....his words. His happiness isn't connected to a title..it's to a career. Fans obsess about the title. If the Bucks lose in the first round for a couple years their fans will do the same as the year before their title, they wanted to fire the coach that won the title...short term memories in basketball
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2022
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  16. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    I don't know what it is you are arguing...honestly I don't and I'm not trying to be combative

    it seems like you're suggesting there is no difference for fans of the Kings or the Timberwolves vs the Blazers. They have all fallen short of a championship for 40 years...so it's the same. Just enjoy the ride

    it's fine if you're satisfied with what has been the status quo for 20 years. That's your prerogative. I'm not because I believe the Blazers can, and should have done much better, and 20 years is a damn long time
     
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  17. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    Enjoy in the moment and spare yourself the seasons that have disappointed you for apparently a long, long time.... I've enjoyed Blazer hoops for 40 some years...so yeah..enjoy the ride...right now enjoy seeing the young guys turn into impact players...choices. There's a big difference between the Kings, Wolves and Blazers.....we haven't had a different roster and coach every year for decades and failed year after year to make the playoffs. For the reccord I'll bet there are Kings and Wolves fans that enjoy winning a quarter in a game and don't stress over the overall record...just hope they put up a good fight tonight and you can cheer for them...they do sell tickets even though they've sucked for a long time
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2022
  18. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Longest playoff streak in the league FAMS. Ton of teams wish they could say that.
     
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  19. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    But were never contenders!

    The last Blazer team that were legit title contenders were led by Sheed and Pip

    Squeaking into the playoffs has been Portland’s calling card since 2012.
     
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  20. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Correct nobody said they have been contenders. But I’ll take squeezing into the playoffs every year over This shit.
     
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