Dame Tweet

That's what is so sad. Lost a lot of respect.

 

Just like when LaMarcus left. Bunch of fourth grade girls throwing a hissyfit because they heard someone their crush smiked at another girls, lol.

 

Well awesome, time to reconcile and move toward being the best we can be.

 

Once reconcile is complete, Joe needs to add some serious depth at center. At that point i will apologize.

 

I've been thinking about "what went wrong", and I'm wondering if the problem has been Defense, or more specifically, Nurk.

Nurk Fever hit, when his presence immediately made our defense MUCH better. We've always had pretty boys who could put the ball in the basket, but have been severely lacking in the defense and rebounding department, making Nurk a revelation. Even with Dame/CJ (and later Ant), our defense at least "good enough" and we advanced in the playoffs a couple of times.

You guys probably know better than me, but Nurk has had some injuries, and the team's defense has suffered - like last in the league suffering. We've tried numerous times to get "good defensive players", but it hasn't helped.

Is it Nurk injuries? I honestly thought that our defense would improve with the departure of CJ - it didn't. Are Ant and Dame just that bad? Last ditch attempts at improving our defense by having Jeremy act as a "point-of-attack" defender fell flat (it's weird to be hoping that the 2nd round Rupert will take that role from him, or maybe Thybulle, Nas get healthy?).

Anyway, ultimately, I think our Bad Defense is the source of Lillard's wanting out. What are your thoughts?

 

The lack of size at SF is key, IMO. But let's face it. Nurk hasn't been the same since that compound fracture happened. It took all his aggressiveness away. I still thing that Blazers team with a healthy Nurk has a chance to win it all. That team was rollin' when that injury occurred. Before that injury, Nurk was a force. He had stellar games against Jokic. He was the Beast. Now he plays it safe. That injury didn't happen to me on that night. I just wish things had been different. I've got to believe Nurk sure as hell does.

 

baloney, he's very likely going to the Heat, with a 3rd team involved. Check Woj tweets.

 

I think this is more Joe saying to Miami, we don’t like your package and go find a 3rd team.

I still think Dame goes to the Heat if that’s where he wants to go. But it’s on Miami now to find a 3rd team and assets we will like.

That’s how I read that quote.

 

But that's not the reality, Portland has been tasked with finding a 3rd team... and for good reason. JoeCro needs to find a player he wants that a 3rd team will give up for Tyler Herro.

 

Partly in agreement — It’s Portland’s job to list young players on 3rd and 4th teams BUT it’s Miami’s job to make it happen. And picks.

 

This

 

Lack of SF/PF size is a key component.
Most people want to point at the C for the weak defense. Most poor defenses are caused by having weak point of attach defense. Ironically Dame had a direct effect on this...

 

this new front office has employed PR bullies, which green lights Blazer fans to be mean. It's OK to troll Lillard? Sure!! People get more likes on their Blazer comments by being antagonizing twits, then the fans saying something nice about the man who carried a mediocre basketball team to the playoffs for almost a decade.

 

There are few great defensive players in the NBA. There are some good teams that play good team defense. Most don't. It's an offensive game. I don't miss those grabbing, slapping 89-80 games. Jordan got better at defense because the refs allowed him to maul people. He could slap, grab, hold and the refs would look the other way. Jordan himself was grabbed, slapped, and mauled by the Pistons. Then David Stern over corrected and let Jordan get away with the world.

 

Furness looks pathetic

“Look at me Dame! Over here!”

 

Agreed. I don't think it's going to be Miami at this rate. Good for Cronin if so