Game Thread 2022-23 Game #81 - BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - APRIL 8, 2023 - SATURDAY - 1:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

Oh, OK. Sorry. I looked at that list and was less than impressed.

 

I hope they are taking notes.

 

Grant doesn't look.

 

It's fun to play that way. It's also fun to watch.

 

Minnesota.

 

Or the best 6th man microwave we've had in forever.

 

I will this year’s G-League team would murder last year’s team….

 

This, for me, is a reason to trade Lillard and go young. It is fun to watch. I don't want to have another season of slow pace, mature basketball, because for this team mature=lazy for some reason.

 

Yeah I feel like playing a few years as the OKC Thunder would be pretty fun. I also think this is probably what Chauncey’s strength is.

I’m conflicted. But ultimately, what Dame wants is what I can live with.

 

I'm certain i don't think Nurk is starter caliber. Wondering if Simons is more a 6th man. That puts two of the 5 the Blazers have in the 6-10 slot in my book.

 

It's been shown to him what happens when he doesn't.

 

Pretty sure Pat Con just recently started on a team that won the Championship and gives quite a bit more than just shooting. He was a backup.
He is head and shoulders above Knox, Walker or Eubanks and Watford.

 

Thank You.

 

So Blazers have two starters in Dame and Grant?

Hopefully Shae is also at that level next year but its very possible he needs time and will be more of a great backup next year and then a starter in year 3.

So how do Blazers add 3 starters with the MLE and ownership that wants to stay under the tax?

 

5 players he said. Sharpe better be a starter by next year. If he isn't they are tanking again. Of course they might be tanking for 5 or 6 more years? Maybe even 10? People around here seem to like the lottery? Maybe the majority of the fanbase does as well? It's exciting for about 30 mins a year and the Blazers seem to do well in summer league. They can Really figure it out and start the tank earlier next year? Even the game threads are equally as dramatic wanting to lose and the arguments are just as impressive. Heck they got 10 page thread out of this last game. Next year they can ride the "Fire Billups" threads.

 

Not sure how many people really 'like' the Lottery, but many do see it as a way to improve if you are going to live in the 1st round exit space year after year. Petrie, Walton, Drexler, Roy, Aldridge, Oden, Dame, Sharpe....all what would now be Lottery level talent and most of those in the Top-7. It sucks to be down here, but might as well make the best of it and get the best pick possible. It is the way the league is set up. The vast majority of Finals MVPs are Top-7 picks and most of those are Top-3.

For a smaller market team like Portland, we are not getting significantly better in FA'cy and only marginally better in trades. Lottery picks are where it is at. Hit a home run for the years you are there, and hope you don't have to go back again.

 

I feel that way some times also. I think Billups tried for awhile to speed Lillard up and it actually worked for a few games but then when Lillard started scoring so much Billups just let it go. I think when the ball moves a lot and every guy on the team gets to shoot at least a few shots, it elevates their games.

 

If the walk-it-up-the-court, iso approach was winning games, it would be more palatable. Since both styles were losing, I much prefer the more active, sharing of the basketball, up-tempo style.....where they have had to try to lose to actually lose games. How many of these would they have won if they were really trying to win....even with the personnel they were putting on the court?

 

Maybe they could quit miss managing the team and use their assets better? Just a thought?