it wasn't a right track because it brought the team to it's current cul-de-sac. Unless of course that track had several junctions and Joe managed to make the wrong turn down most of them
So who is Dame going to be on this team that'll bail us out to wins that help us make and win playoff games? No. There isn't one. The team is worss, and there's no argument.
With the Conductor and Dame together in Portland for 58 games had a point differential of -4.1 or 26th worse in the league. This year it’s-4.4 or 23rd in the league….so better in some ways, no? Winning with defense instead of offense
I read recently that Grant had brought in his personal shooting coach to work with Scoot and that's the improvement we've seen in Scoot's 3 pt shooting and jumper. Joe said in one interview that Grant had been great with the rookies and Toumani and Sharpe have also benefited from Jerami's mentorship. He doesn't complain about minutes or role either. His real value is as a defender of starting caliber wings.
The problem with the Dame teams was that we couldn't get a second All-Star. Now we don't have a single All-Star. All Stars are much more difficult to come up with than the rest of the team. We are far worse off than when we had Dame.
Why would Grant complain about his role and minutes? He's started every game he's played and is #1 in minutes per game tied with Camara.
OK, I'll explain because the OP might actually listen. The traditionally best way to build a team that wins 50+ games a year is to have a team that wins 35 in a year first, especially with young players player hard, and yes, sometimes even sacrificing for the team. The lotto has been around a long time now, but it is a recent phenomena that people think a team can go from 20 wins to 55 wins right away. We now have a rarely in the history of the NBA - a young team that can play solid defense. I find that exciting. Teaching that team to lose is not obviously a good idea.
And he’s been shut down for his whole tenure here to tank after the break and still been happy Not being a playoff team. He just doesn’t complain and genuinely seems to want to be here. In Portland that holds currency with the franchise that steve Blake loyalty. We have to overpay vets here. Always have. Deni is the anomaly
Maybe don't use your anti-Dame bias as a foundation for a conclusion that doesn't fit the numbers Portland was outscored by 329 points that season. In the last 12 games that Dame missed, the Blazers were outscored by 242 points. In the first 12 games that Dame missed, Portland was outscored by 49 points. In other words, in the 24 games Dame missed the Blazers were outscored by 291 points. In the 58 games that Dame played, Portland was outscored by 38 points. That means that Portland's average point differential with Dame was -0.66 points. The point differential without Dame was -12.13. Looks a lot different than the way you tried to portray it, doesn't it?
Dame’s ability to deliver in playoffs was limited. Sure he won a couple first rounds on big shots. CJ bailed him out in 2nd round vs Denver. He got destroyed by Jrue in 2018. And in 2016 2nd round, we lost first two games to GS playing without Curry. We are much better equipped to win now long term because of our defense.
Sure, and we probably have the horses to get to that 7th or 8th in the west tier, but we don't have a star to propel us to the top echelon. That's the problem.
We have 4 players with legitimate All Star potential that is being realized day to day right now. I think we are much better off than when we had Dame.
It should be noted Dame has a 2 time MVP, Finals MVP teammate now and his team is 5th in the East. Dame is a flawed player.
he just said there are 4 Blazers with "legitimate" all-star potential. In another thread he wondered if Bol Bol was as good as Wemby. Do you really expect to get a rational answer out of him when he's in this loopy troll-mode?
Well, All-Star is such a vague title. Plenty of players have been All-Stars who simply weren't an All-NBA caliber player. Someone like Kyle Korver. Very good role player. Not a star. I could see Scoot, Shaedon, Deni or even Ayton getting an All-Star nod if we were winning a lot. Doesn't mean they're a cornerstone.
That's true. I could still see Scoot, Shae or Deni getting a legit All-Star nod at some point. But.... still..... not necessarily a cornerstone.
