30 teams in 30 days: Portland Trail Blazers look to build from within after quiet summer

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2017.

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  1. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    http://www.nba.com/article/2017/09/...-blazers?cid=EMA_NBA_daily&uniqueID=488709942

    Today's team: Portland Trail Blazers

    2016-17 record: 41-41. Severe shortcomings on defense and an inability to capture the magic of the previous post-season caused the Blazers to struggle to reach the playoffs, then sputter once there, losing in the first round to the Warriors.

    Major additions: Caleb Swanigan (draft), Zach Collins (draft).

    Major subtractions: Allen Crabbe, Festus Ezeli, Andrew Nicholson, Tim Quarterman

    The lowdown: Twelve months after spending generously, the Blazers entered the 2017 summer projected to pay $40 million in luxury taxes this season, a steep price given the results. That wasn’t going to fly, not for a team that isn’t a title contender, and so their mindset changed drastically. They suddenly went cheap, adding rookies and subtracting one very pricey backup guard.

    There are times when you know, almost immediately, that signing a player is a reach. The Blazers admitted as much when they dumped Crabbe and his massive deal this summer on the team that gave him that four-year, $75 million offer sheet in 2016, the Nets.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2017
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  2. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Odd that Festus Ezeli and Tim Quarterman qualify as MAJOR subtractions.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2017
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  3. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    Yeah zero minutes for Festus and a total of 80 for Quarterman last year isn't exactly a huge loss.
     
    e_blazer, Sep 5, 2017
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  4. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    The article is pretty negative.

    Hopefully it's bulletin board material that gets the guys fired up.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2017
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  5. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    Yeah, that was my thought too. I'd say Nurkic definitely has a chance to be an All-Star. How many teams have more than three players of that caliber? And to say that Swanigan played "reasonably well" in Summer League is pretty faint praise.
     
    e_blazer, Sep 5, 2017
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  6. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Two seasons ago, we played defense in the 2nd half and ended up with a nice record for year 1 of a rebuild, and 2nd round exit where no playoffs were expected in the first place.

    Last season, everyone got paid, they played little defense, and we had no player take a big step up in their game. Ed Davis historically has been much better than he showed last year, and I think he's emblematic of the Blazers' failings. Still to make playoffs while rebuilding is impressive.

    I'm a "show me" kind of guy, but I'm optimistic about this season because we'll have Nurk for (potentially) 82 games and we addressed our needs on the front line with the draft picks. I'm hopeful that one or both can give us 16 minutes/game and contribute, but that remains to be seen.

    The guys can play defense if they want to, that's the upside.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2017
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  7. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Even more odd that Andrew Nicholson qualifies as a major subtraction, seeing as he wasn't actually on last year's team.

    Kinda kills the credibility of the article from the get-go.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Sep 5, 2017
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  8. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    I think we're going to be better than 41-41. Not sure if we'll top 50. If Nurk does for the team what he did last season, who knows - it could be even better.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2017
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  9. BLAZINGGIANTS

    BLAZINGGIANTS Well-Known Member

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    Uh, and Andrew Nicholson?
     
    BLAZINGGIANTS, Sep 5, 2017
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  10. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Negative or realistic sir?
     
    THE HCP, Sep 5, 2017
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  11. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    To put a different spin on it, I wouldn't really claim the our two rookies should be considered "major additions" would you?
    It should just be additions and subtractions, but I'm sure it's the same for every team's preview.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 5, 2017
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  12. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Depends on Nurk and if at least one of the young guys takes a step up.

    If Vonleh starts showing he's a quality PF, for example. He's shown improvement from year to year. Last season he was a decent contributor.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2017
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  13. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    I've said before I absolutely LOVE what Noah did once he started playing next to Nurk..... that was playing to his strengths for sure. He's a garbage man out there scraping and clawing! Excited to see them again.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 5, 2017
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  14. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    What??? No Greg Stiemsma??? I'm sure we'll miss his 0 minutes, 0 points, 0 assists, 0 steals and 0 blocks every bit as much as the comparable contributions we received from Ezeli and Nicholson.

    BNM
     
    Boob-No-More, Sep 5, 2017
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  15. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    This is how the writer summed things up for the Blazers' roster:

    "Portland’s best hope is for growth from within; the majority of the roster is well under 30 and it’s possible that some players haven’t reached their peak. However, how many besides McCollum and Lillard are potential All-Stars? Until Portland can add to that mix, the Blazers will live on the cusp of the playoffs, unable to break through the elite group."

    It's possible some players haven't reached their peak? It's a fact that some players haven't played a game yet in the NBA so, it's probably pretty certain that they haven't reached their peak. The only guys I would say have definitely peaked are Turner, Aminu, and Davis. Everyone else, including Dame and CJ (and even Leonard), have upside. Ignoring Nurkic as a player with the potential to be an All-Star is either negative or dumb.
     
    e_blazer, Sep 5, 2017
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  16. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    I can see what you're saying. I'd say Mo in the right situation could take his game to another level.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 5, 2017
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  17. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

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    Not to mention Nicholson!
     
    blue9, Sep 5, 2017
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  18. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    The sad truth is that we have THREE MAJOR questions marks:
    PF
    SF
    Bench

    We have many "good" players, so it's very possible someone becomes a "very good" or "excellent" player at SF and/or PF. However, it remains to be seen.

    Mo is on the brink of becoming "very good" but it seems like his game is more of a product of the players around him.

    If Aminu magically shoots 38 3FG%, we're probably golden.

    Rookies/Vonleh....
     
    Wizard Mentor, Sep 5, 2017
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  19. rasheedfan2005

    rasheedfan2005 Well-Known Member

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    Slide butters to sf. He reminds me of a large, slow, retarded version of kyle korver except he cant shoot under pressure.
     
    rasheedfan2005, Sep 5, 2017
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  20. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    The thing is by fixing one of those 3 major question marks, you might be fixing all 3. Just think if you added an excellent player at either SF or PF......... all the other players would benefit especially the one "good " role player. And depending who we traded for that player, the trickle down might help the bench. (or you would have one more excellent starter who could play with the bench)

    Pritchard fucked us......
     
    Pinwheel1, Sep 5, 2017
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