2021 Blazers new reality sinking in - Fight for the 10th seed

I didn't...not with the same GM in place again

 

I think that the collection we have without any moves (except hopefully picking up a backup PG) is still in the mix for staying out of the play-ins but in the playoffs.

We need to start Gary, DJJ and RoCo with Dame and Enes. We need to play that group together as many minutes as we can. Gary, DJJ and RoCo are such disruptive forces on defense that we could actually be a good defensive starting unit despite two bad defenders in Enes and Dame. Both Dame and Enes just have to be ready to get any loose balls whether off tips or rebounds and try.

I for one am sure that RoCo will start making threes, it will happen. I also think DJJ will start hitting enough wide open threes to keep defenses honest. Obviously Gary can knock them down. We have to find Enes and DJJ around the rim or diving to it. Doing all of that and Dame being Dame will give us a really good starting offense.

Our bench is pretty simple. Ant is going to be a problem so don't play him any more minutes than Dame sits (hopefully find someone else DLeague, FA or best through a trade to be backup PG). Rodney seems to be doing better and I only see him improving so he's a great SG/SF to have off of the bench. Melo needs to play within what he can do at this point in his career and he will be a decent backup PF. I really think that Giles needs minutes and touches around the basket and he can be a serviceable backup C, probably an upgrade on D from the starter.

That's not a flashy team but it is a playoff team. Dame will put up huge numbers while holding down the fort and remember by the end of March we'll probably have both CJ and Nurk back and that team should be able to move up a couple of spots in the standings, like 8th to 6th.

 

over the last 7 seasons, Dame has proven his shoulders are broad enough to carry the Blazers into the playoffs. I'd be surprised if this year was different, although Covid volatility has made everything less certain

 

With the influx if defensive minded wings, I ABSOLUTELY expexted better on defense than the same porous nonsense we have had recently. I also expected that some things would be done to take advantage of the new players' strengths. Once again, my expectations have not been close to being met. Stotts' offensive genius has turned last seasons best ranked slasher (Jones) into a stand in the corner 3-pt shooter who way too seldom gets a lob pass thrown to him....and when he does, it looks like it was kicked in his direction by a bad soccer player.

My expectations were they wouldn't be getting down 15-2o points a game every game for 2 weeks, sometimes to teams that were complete garbage and before we starting on the injury MASH wagon.

Fair enough?

 

Well this offseason if there isn't major player movement and we bring back the same roster next season....... you won't be as upset right?

 

Terry Stotts collecting excuses as to why he can't win like Thanos did with the infinity stones.

 

Actually, I get more upset each season with the basic same 'ole, same 'ole with only minor changes to the periphery all the while wasting Dame's prime. Some people are more okay with mediocrity. That is there right. It's just not what I prefer.

 

I don't think people are "ok with mediocrity"....... I just think most don't assume and expect their favorite team is going to when 60 games and go to the finals every season, JUST BECAUSE THEY ROOT FOR THEM.

 

R.E.L.A.X. Dame 'bout ready to go Nuclear.

 

Every season? Please find where ANYONE said ANYTHING close to that...lol.

I'd like to see ONE season with legitimate improvement to contender status. It's been 20 years. Doesn't seem like too much of an ask when supposedly you have the best backcourt in the NBA and an 'offensive genius' as a coach.

 

Over the last 20 years of NBA hoops there's been a slow but steady movement towards more parity.....now 20 years later there are not 2 teams dominating everyone from the gate and everyone else playing for the bronze......there are legit teams in the small markets...we happen to be one of them and the path to the top has gotten much more difficult....a 1 seed isn't a given to sweep an 8 seed anymore at all. we've seen upsets all around and an injury or two can put a repeat championship team in the lottery like the Warriors...to me...basketball is more fun with increased competition..I'm loving watching new young teams play well like Charlotte and New Orleans.....nothing is a given which to me is a shoutout to the sport. Dynasties are boring.