And why's that? Curry is an upgrade over Shabazz and Napier. Collins should be able to replicate Davis production. Harkless and Nurkic were horrible for half the year so if they put together a more consistent season, we should be better I theory. We'll probably win less games because of injuries and the West is tougher than last year, but I don't see how we put a worse product out on the floor. I'm interested to hear you explain that. Utah didn't do anything this summer and we were arguably on the same level. We won their last year. I don't see why we'd be heavy underdogs.
There’s very little proof that Zach is actually ready to replicate Davis’s production especially on the offensive glass. Also if the plan really is to play through ET more that does not excite me at all... The Blazers are super thin up front and we might see a lot of Meyers Leonard and ET at the same time. So I agree the guard situation probably got better, but I can see an arguement on the other side as well.
But it's hard to say Davis was a huge positive on that end, and Zach can do other things offensively (like shoot). His defense is better too.
I'll be cheering….folks want to water down the season before the tip off...must suck to feel that way
Well so far Zach shoots but it doesn’t go in... His defense at least inside is better than Davis’, but where Davis made a living was on the offensive glass and he proved to be one of the very best at getting the extra possession rebounds. I see why people are excited about Zach at times, but He’s got a ton to prove in my opinion.
I just think that we have five main variables that could make our season better or worse than last year) Curry (Upgrade over Bazz and Pat?) Harkless (Can he be good for the majority of the season) Nurkic (Can he be good for the majority of tbe season) Collins (Can he replace Davis' production) Offensive System (Can it be improved) I see at least 3 of those 5 things happening.
I hope so. His shot mechanics while not perfect look “ok”, so the thought is eventually it’ll fall for him. I don’t even really feel like I’m being negative, I’m just in “wait and see” mode with Zach. He showed some spurts of wow he’s good but he also had a whole lot of bleh...
He only played for half a season though. A lot of players make that 2nd year jump. I just think his defense will be good enough where there won't be much of a drop off on our bench.
I guess we’ll see! I’ll be cheering for him to succeed. My original point was mainly that I can see the arguement that the Blazers could be worse this year. Not that I necessarily take that side.
I don't see it. Even if that doesn't happen, Curry is a big upgrade, and Nurk and Harkless should put together better seasons. I even have hope for our offensive system as Terry seems to have had an epiphany.
Was it him or NO that said we’d be playing more through ET and they’r Trying to build the 2nd unit around him. That’s a bad epiphany heh.
We beat Utah and broke there winning streak twice one there and one at home. Last one clinch our Northwest championship and secure third place. So with both team coming back basically the same I think we got a good chance winning the game. Yes Utah is tuff on their home court.
I'm not worried about them getting 41 wins. I think fans are way over selling other teams "improvement" and under selling the importance of having competent backups.
Thats just it though. We will miss Ed so much man. I don't think our backups are any better than last season, I really don't.
How do you feel about Curry taking Napier’s minutes? Like obviously you’re “closer” to them than I am, but I thought Napier seemed like a really good scrappy defender but offensively was kind of a net negative most of the time. I see Curry as kind of the opposite.
NO, but I think that meant trying to get pieces that fit better with him on the bench, not necessarily using him more than we have.
True but you can never underestimate what a leader Lillard is. It wasn't Ed that got us to that record last year, it was Lillard putting the team on his back and dragging it there.
"We can't keep Ed so I can get players that won't make ET's contract look so horrible. Now if I can only get players that will make Meyers look good." - Neal Olshey
