So what next? Should we rebuild? The roster we have now (assuming Oden doesn't contribute) is nice but I don't see it peaking past the 2nd round. Is it even worth playing through? Edit: Dammit wanted to add a poll too
From Blazers Maniacs to Blazers Manics As long as we have LMA we continue to do whatever it takes to build around him
Would you rather have durable thugs or frail saints? LaMarcus needs to keep working on pimping more bitches.
I prefer durable thugs because we were actually winning. Nobody gave a shit about the moral quality of the team when they were playing in the WCF.
This is similar to the fall of 78, but it's not after a championship nor a quick break. This has been a slowly building death, that didn't have any title to sooth us.
The wounds are pretty fresh, but ... I really do think there could be a silver lining to all of yesterday's happenings. Roy taking the medical retirement was the second best outcome that one could imagine (the first being his return to all-star form) and even the news about Oden probably adds some clarity to the path forward and his future with (or without?) the team. The Aldridge heart condition thing doesn't sound good, but it's highly treatable and despite the fact that this is the second time it's flared up, with monitoring I wouldn't worry too much about it. One way or another the Blazers are going to be free and clear of a lot of cap ballast in another year and they will probably get a nice long look at their youngsters this year which makes it easier to see where they fit in over the long haul. A step backward in the standings looks likely in the near term, but with a little bit of luck they should have the opportunity to add some talent in what most experts consider a talent rich draft this year. Furthermore, they'll have enough cap space to make unbalanced trades or even be candidates for teams looking to dump salary when the new luxury tax rules kick in a couple of years from now.
I think, as far as the division goes, they're still the 2nd best team. Utah is bad. Denver is horrible and Minnesota is young and unproven. Despite having Adelman as their coach, they really don't have a superstar player (Portland almost does in LaMarcus). I'd rather the Blazers either suck and get a good lottery pick, or trade for one. One is possible, the other is unlikely.
agreed 99% with this. i think it remains to be seen how the team will play this year though, and see a playoff team (early exit) still likely. bad place to be our cap situation is looking fairly marvelous as of next summer though
I think all the billboards in Portland should have Rice Krispies trio wearing certain blazer #'s saying Snap, Crackle and Pop with us!!
Everybody seems to forget that after 2000 WCF, the "Jail Blazers" never advanced past the 1st Round of the Playoffs, and their winning % in the regularly season is on the level with what the "Frail Blazers" are today. It's not like the team left championships on the table by splitting the team up and rebuilding. Breaking up that team would have been necessary even if they were upstanding citizens.
