In Dave's recent BE mailbags he keeps dropping snide remark after snide remark that the Blazers have no intention of competing. Latest example: Where do you come down on this? Personally I think it's ludicrous. I think all of Portland's moves this summer have been part of a strategy to (1) put a better team on the floor this year, and (2) collect valuable assets. While Dave insists we're right on the verge of trading Aldridge and bottoming out, it seems to me most fans and other writers are hailing the productive offseason and projecting a 7th or 8th seed with upside.
I feel the same feeling when we were just getting JR Rider and Sheed etc..a young team that will be exciting and up and coming. I think we'll eventually turn a lot of these assets into something special to open a championship window.
The way I look at it, from an outsider's perspective, the Blazers have enough young prospects. They're not going to be a title contender in the next year or two, but why would you set your franchise back by tanking with guys like Lillard on the roster? You have your foundation... now just build around it.
Yeah. Being "merely" a contender for the 8th seed isn't a horrible thing when your core is so young. It's not like we're aiming for the 8th seed with the Bucks' roster.
I think this was a "turn the corner" summer. We almost made the playoffs last year with what we had then.....and what we have now is greater than that. I really believe we can reach a 5th or 6th seed this year.
The only part of the situation that has me torn is our stupid draft pick going to Charlotte. I really hope we can figure out a way to trade for a pick in the draft if we make the playoffs.
Exactly, except that some of us have that upside defined as 5th seed tops in the future, with pretty much zero odds of seriously contending. With the current roster, at least. Our great track record of FA signings should fix that.
yeah, except when the blazers win it all, he'll be the first one knocking on the FO's door asking "where's my ring"?
That is such an original opinion. I've never heard that one before! You should probably start threads about it and post it repeatedly, just because it's such a unique opinion of the team!
Why. What makes this random person with no inside connection to this team opinion hold anymore weight than any of ours? He's a hack! Sent from my baller ass iPad FAMS!
I don't think this roster's upside is 5th seed. Aldridge and Lillard are legitimate All-NBA stars at premium positions. Batum is a fringe All-Star/high-end role player. Matthews is a solid player. Lopez, McCollum, Leonard, etc. What team did the Pacers almost just win a championship with? A star in Paul George. A fring All-Star/high-end role player C in Hibbert. Hill? Stephenson? West? I think that team has less pure talent than ours. Same with Memphis.
