Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #61 - BLAZERS @ CAVS - MAR 2, 2025 - SUN - 12:30 PM - CHARGE - BLAZERVISION

that's kind of what I said

I don't agree obviously. I don't see a Giannis or Tatum or Curry or Durant or Jokic or SGA or even a Dame on the roster. Not even a younger version

 

eh. shaedon has shown flashes. not sure how to change his mentality

that said... our 99/00 team didn't have THE GUY either, and we were one donaghy away from a title. if this roster can somewhat near that one, i'd be OK.

 

They had a Top 50 player of all-time and an all-star. Combined with the deepest team, that can't be put together (salary wise) anymore in todays CBA.

 

Rip City!

 

My read on Scoot is that he’s going to be a fantastic teammate and a really good starter. Not sure if he’s gonna be an all star unless he’s averaging 10+ assists.

Deni has some real potential. I think he has the right attitude. I’m not sure yet what his ceiling is.

Shaedon is the most frustrating. He has the highest ceiling as far as I can tell. He could be the guy. I’m just not sure if he has it in him. But he’s still so young. Curious to see what he becomes.

 

c'mon...there's no comparison...that team won 59 games by the way and backtracking a few season would have still won 50

that team had guys who appeared in 21 all-star games, 8 all-NBA teams, and 11 all-NBA defensive teams. And that group of guys didn't include Sabonis, Brian Grant, Stoudamire, Steve Smith, Bonzi Wells, Greg Anthony and Stacy Augmon.

that was also 25 years ago when the NBA was very different. And it was about 5 CBA's ago when it was much easier to assemble talent, mainly because there was no luxury tax and Paul Allen was willing to spend lots of money. Jody is not Paul; Cronin is not Whitsitt

 

Context is getting lost here.

I am not comparing the 24/25 blazers to thr 99/00.

I am saying they can MAYBE be in that mold in a few years, without a singular high usage scorer. Sheed led that team in scoring at 16ppg. Even adjusting for today's pace, that wouldn't be all that high.

And the HOF guy you're talking about was averaging 12ppg as our second leading scorer very clearly beyond his prime.

 

For those of you getting angry at this game, please step back a bit. This same team 50 games ago would have been demolished by halftime against this sorta pressure on the road. Cavs are 28-4 at home. Even without Mitchell, that is a serious team and they play elite.

Our defense is vastly improved. And guys like Deni, Scoot, Tou, and Shaedon have taken tangible leaps. I hate that our lotto position is worse now but we are taking the right steps in development. If our wins earlier came because of only Ant/ Grant/Ayton and none of our future players were contributing, i too would have been upset. But our MVP this whole season has been Toumani. And his experience this year will pay massive dividends when we are winning. Can't expect these guys to just go lay down so the team can get a chance at drafting their replacement.

 

sure. The Blazers might be like Indiana or Detroit or Houston or Memphis in 2 or 3 seasons. The Rockets really don't have a go-to guy that's dependable. Haliburton is the Pacers best player but he's not a #1 option. Memphis has Morant and Jackson so they do have a big leg up on the Blazers. I don't see any of those 4 teams as contenders right now, but it seems pretty clear contending is not on the agenda of Blazer ownership or management

I would really like the Blazers to commit to a Scoot-Sharpe-Camara-Avdija-Clingan starting lineup and run with it over at least a full season. I'd be quite curious what that team can do. But that sure doesn't look like the path Portland will take

I don't know what the Blazers are going to do but crunch time is coming. In the space of 1 year, Ayton, Simons, Timelord, Thybulle, Sharpe, Scoot, & Camara will all be getting new contracts. And Avdija & Clingan will be getting theirs a year later. 9 new contracts in 24 months. Something has to give.

 

Whatever happened to Lamar Hurd?

 

Personally I think this game was the perfect outcome. Our young guys get minutes, they played well..... and we lost.