ESPN Ranks Portland's Young Core One of NBA's Best

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Jul 21, 2015.

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  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    "The Blazers did a pretty nifty job of redirecting their priorities in the wake of LaMarcus Aldridge's departure, not to mention the exits of Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez. Lillard gives Portland a young star to lead a rapid rebuild, and the offseason acquisitions of Aminu, Vonleh and Harkless have helped bolster the young depth. Vonleh could turn out to be better than Aldridge someday, while McCollum, Leonard and Allen Crabbe should all benefit from expanded responsibilities."

    http://www.nba.com/blazers/overtime/espn-ranks-rip-citys-young-core-one-nbas-best
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jul 21, 2015
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  2. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    wait, I'm confused. Bleacher Report said we're the worst...?
     
    BrianFromWA, Jul 21, 2015
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  3. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    From ESPN of all places...go figure..Finally some kudos from the media! Notice they didn't mention Henderson
     
    riverman, Jul 21, 2015
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  4. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    ESPN must not read RipCityTwo. :dunno:
     
    BBert, Jul 21, 2015
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  5. oldmangrouch

    oldmangrouch persona non grata

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    Bleacher Report hates our present and ESPN likes our future. They could both be right. :dunno:
     
    oldmangrouch, Jul 21, 2015
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  6. Blazers Roy

    Blazers Roy Well-Known Member

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    It's funny, but i really can't wait to watch them play this season!
     
    Blazers Roy, Jul 21, 2015
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  7. PDXFonz

    PDXFonz I’m listening

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    This is very good information! I had no idea that I had gone from subscribing to insider, to not subscribing but reading tidbits like this, to not caring what so ever. Really speaks towards how downhill espn.com/nba has gone. It's basically not even worth reading anymore. If I didn't prefer their box score layout I don't think id even go to that website anymore.
     
    PDXFonz, Jul 21, 2015
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  8. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Bleacher report said we had the worst starting 5, which we may have, not the best young core for the future which we may also have
     
    Mediocre Man, Jul 21, 2015
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  9. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Not funny at all. You probably thought like I did. The old team would win games, but werent serious contenders. With this we get the unknown. Last years team was a rom-com. Enjoyable, but you knew exactly what was going to happen. This years is more like the Usual Suspects, where you have no idea what the hell will happen
     
    Mediocre Man, Jul 21, 2015
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  10. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    Are you saying we end up in a pool of blood, or that we get the wool pulled over our eyes until the very end? Neither one seems appealing, frankly.
     
    BrianFromWA, Jul 21, 2015
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  11. Blazers Roy

    Blazers Roy Well-Known Member

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    Yes, something like that! i really loved the old team and i wanted Wes to retire a Blazer ,but i didn't think they were legit contenders.

    All these unknowns and young players is fascinating to me, i use to be one of the only guys watching those garbage minutes when Mayers,Crabbe and CJ were put together on the court so i'm excited to see them evolving.
     
    Blazers Roy, Jul 21, 2015
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  12. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    I think many of us may have attached themselves too much to Aldridge, Batum and Matthews because they were there through dark times. That attachment clouded our judgement with the reality that the team just wasn't good enough. I am just as guilty.

    With the new direction and acquisition of new players, we have built a strong foundation. We may not win a bunch of games this season (even though I believe we will be close to .500) I think the fan base will get excited and behind this new squad.

    Sometimes you need to move on and start over because the stale relationship will only bite you in the ass if you try and keep it together.
     
    magnifier661, Jul 21, 2015
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  13. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    Sorry, but I have difficulty in reconciling the two statements.
     
    tlongII, Jul 21, 2015
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  14. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    Wait a minute... That team wasn't good enough, but this one is? And if this season goes the way I think it will the fans will not be happy.
     
    tlongII, Jul 21, 2015
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  15. julius

    julius Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Most of us didn't expect the team that won 54 games and beat Houston to be any good. So maybe we fans are not the best judge of talent.

    Plus, I don't think anyone is saying this year.
     
    julius, Jul 21, 2015
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  16. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    I have a hard time with this. We are young, yes, but so are Utah, Minnesota, Orlando, Milwaukee - all of whom are easily better than us right now, and also have more potential.

    Maybe people are super-excited about CJ and Leonard because of the Memphis series. But one series against a rather unusual (for the modern NBA) team is not a good indicator.
     
    Rastapopoulos, Jul 21, 2015
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  17. Jade Falcon

    Jade Falcon Just to piss you off.

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    I'm more concerned about the coaching staff. I was not entirely impressed with our playbook and the way Stotts handled the skill that we had last season; especially during Memphis. I get it: we were worn out and Memphis just played a better game. But Stotts had the talent, and didn't utilize it to it's strengths.

    So what is he going to do with a bunch of unknowns with less skill and experience?

    I am weary of this.
     
    Jade Falcon, Jul 21, 2015
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  18. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    It's not that this team is good enough now, but that our management realized the old team wasn't. Better to reload if you can't win it all.
     
    magnifier661, Jul 21, 2015
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  19. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Who on Utah is as good as lillard? Who on Orlando? Wiggins is a stud and the Bucks may end up having some special talent, but right now lillard is better than anyone on any of those teams.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Natebishop3, Jul 21, 2015
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  20. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    As we are built now, we aren't going to be front runners for anything. But we have the pieces and cap space to get there if a player is ready to move on. We just need to be good enough for those players to feel good about coming here. Play like we are better than advertise and FA or disgruntled stars may want to come.
     
    magnifier661, Jul 21, 2015
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