ESPN computers say Blazers to miss playoffs

I don't get the idea that Melo helps us that much. Why didn't he help the Knicks if he could do that for us?

The ESPN prediction sounds right to me, but Stott's teams always seem to pick up steam as they go along. A LOT will depend on injuries. But the West is brutal.

 

Yeah, I'd be very skeptical of the idea that Melo is still a star. I don't think acquiring him, especially at the cost of Harkless, upgrades Portland much. Just as I don't think Houston getting him changes their outlook. With his scoring efficiency and lack of defense, he's probably only an average-ish player these days.

 

Until they show me otherwise, the TWolves will always be a dumpster fire in my book. They've made NBA experts look bad for a few years now and they've underperformed with the best of them. Keep applying the lipstick to that pig please!

 

Guarantee they didn't take our record post Nurk into consideration.

 

As a 4th option he helps big time... makes us very difficult to defend. A lot different than being the 1st option on Knicks

 

Offense hasn't been this team's problem, and there's a law of diminishing returns with just adding more offense to team that is already pretty wing-dominated in the scoring department -- Melo on the team will necessarily reduce the number of shots that Lillard, and McCollum take and given his relative inefficiency is that really going to make the offense more difficult to defend? Maybe a little bit in certain matchups, but it probably wouldn't matter when he's giving up just as much as he would on defense.

 

If Nurk can play how he played the last part of the season we for sure make the playoffs. We played our best after getting Nurk.

 

But they might have taken our record pre-Nurk and post-healthy Nurk into account.

Can he stay healthy?

 

There's no way Melo waives a no-trade clause to be 4th option.

 

That seems about right. I was going to say around 50 wins, if Nurk stays healthy and we have the same roster as last season. We got rid of our best outside shooter and a few teams got better, so I'd say 40-45 now.

 

The model makes predictions based on the current roster, so yes it did account for Nurkic being on the team. It's possible that his injury history maybe limits the predicted number of games he'll be available?

 

Take it easy on these kids with all that knowledge you're swinging around son!

 

Based on name because he wouldn't make us a better team

 

Whether you like Melo or not, don't you think the attention he would demand would open things up for our others guys at least. Making things run smoother? Or are you in the camp that he would bog shit down? I've seen him flourish when surrounded with other stars, the Olympics for example. But maybe that's because they were playing shit teams. I would love to have a go to guy in the post like we used to have.

 

Do you think Nurk can develop into a go to guy in the post when needed?

 

He'd bog shit down, and our defense would be even worse.

 

I don't know. He showed some great post moves one trip, then looked a little scrambled the next. Think I need to see more of him to get a feel. I was impressed with his court vision and passing out of the post.
I guess we does have enough of a game that it allowed Noah to play well out there with him. Demanded enough respect that people sagged off of Vonleh to a point where he was free for putbacks a ton down the stretch.

 

In today's NBA, it's nice to have a wing who can post. Since perimeter defense is so important today, taking that guy down low opens up so much for your offense

 

CJ said Melo would make us a top 3 team... but I guess you know more about NBA basketball from your couch than he does.

 

Because NBA players are always great at putting a roster together.

But keep sniffin that jock, fanboy