What if that is not enough? Then what is it time to consider trying to deal Matthews, McCollum, Barton, etc. Do we need a different coach? What happens if we fail again in the playoffs or god forbid miss them?
Lets see what happens first. This coach and this GM has not taken this team to the playoffs yet so it's not really fair to put past failures on them. As far as trades go, sure, if the trade makes sense and it benefits the team I'd be for it but right now is not the time to consider it. Trade deadline past and the season isn't over. No moves to make.
Obviously we cannot do anything now just want to know what peoples expectations are if we struggle in the playoffs this year. I guess to be fair what are your expectations if we somehow win a series or make it to the WCF?
If we make the WCF all of the players on the team will have a much higher trade value so I expecet to see Lebron on the team next year. Maybe Durant too.
I think the Blazers needed some humbling to get back to underdog ball again which is what lit a fire under the team early in the season. It's actually good that the bench is getting geared up going into the playoffs. Come playoff time Stotts will tighten the rotations and know how to match up series to series. In the meantime, I'd have the starters shooting freethrows by the truckload in practices. We'd have won twice as many recent games if our 4th qtr free throws were money.
Coaches don't make players turn the ball over, miss open shots or freethrows or brick layups. I don't blame Stotts in any of those areas and those are the areas that have caused us to lose a lot of close games since the break.
While that maybe true I think his substitutions and the way he has handled the bench leaves a lot to be desired
I just want to take credit, I complimented Batum and suggested he be more aggressive and bam he followed my advice and is dominating.
Sure it is Victory looks good in any color. Especially when Batum leads the team to a Blazer Victory.
They did not lose though, show me a night when a starter goes 0-8 from the floor and we still win. Then combine that night with Lillard going 1-11 from deep. Sometimes the worst teams can surprise you when they try Milwaukee has some talent and they tried hard last night but we won a close game in OT. So we overcame some bad shooting and won a close game two things that the team had been failing to do.
The team is officially 6-2 without LA and the 2 losses have come to San Antonio by 2 and Golden State by 1. I am not suggesting the team is better without LA but it is nice to see people like Batum and lately Mo Williams step up without him on the court.
I don't think there is anything that truly needs to be fixed with this team. This is the best situation for Dame to go into the leadership role with Aldridge being injured. I think by the time April rolls around, the Blazers will be that team no one wants to face.
