Mike Tokito: "Trail Blazers Questions: Did they overtinker with the roster?"

No. They got rid of guys who weren't contributing too much and were paid too much.

 

I know a lot of people bitched about Turner but there will be times we miss his ball handling and decision making.

 

No. We got better.

 

Not I.

 

From what I understand Bazemore can D up and also has a decent handle.
However, I think he's a much better shooter.
We will find out soon!

 

I am hopeful that bazemore can d up as well as turner did when he was locked in. I have a feeling Herzonjas playmaking will be a very good addition under Stotts style.

 

Overanalyzing.

Changes needed to be made and it happened. I will enjoy the upcoming season.

 

I can get behind this I guess, but unfortunately I don't share the optimism about the latest mix that most weighing in seem to. I wanted more outside shooting and got less. I like defense from the frontcourt and want versitile defenders who can switch off seemlessly. While Whiteside can clog the middle, he can't switch off on smaller guys and I fear he'll be iso'd to death if they try to. My biggest hope is that Zach takes giant steps forward and truly deserves the spot Neal carved out for him. My secondary hope is that Mario proves worthy of SF minutes as I like Hood off the bench bringing it. I feel he needs the game to run through him to be effective and he'd get lost as a starter.

I will enjoy the season as I love hoops. Hope I'm off on my pessimism and the Blazers crush it.

STOMP

 

I like this summer's changes, but I have to admit, it's an interesting then-and-now perspective. Fashion trends repeat themselves every 20 years, so why not NBA team building patterns in Portland?? It only makes sense.

 

Howd we get less? We lost Kanter, Aminu, Harkless and Turner from our main rotation. Curry was the only legit shooting we lossed amd we replace them with Simons, Bazemore, Tolliver, and Hood+Collins playing more minutes.

 

Seth shot 45% from deep last year... did that lead the league? If Tolliver plays a role bigger then garbage minutes/towel waver, Portland is truly in trouble as he's one of the worst Defensive Bigs I've ever seen and well on the wrong side of 30. I expressed hopes for Hezonja to earn a role (for some reason you omited him) but he shot a Turner-esk 27% from 3s last season. Bazemore shot 32% from deep last season while Hood shot 34%. My fingers are crossed for Simons but he also shot 34% from 3s last season. Collins 33%. You list Kanter as if he's anything different then Whiteside.

PDX had 3 legit deep ball threats, by my count they now have 2. Thats how.

STOMP

 

So you dont think Hood is a good shooter? You dont think Simons is either, based off the smallest of samples? You dont think Collins will continue to improve?

Id rather have multiple solid to good shooters than one elite shooter. Its better for spacing.

 

Screw that a hole. I quit reading when he just HAD TO bring up 99-00 playoffs. F him.....

 

with a 15-point fourth-quarter lead over the Lakers in Game 7 of the conference finals. Portland famously blew that lead, opening the door for the first of three consecutive championships won by Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal version of the Lakers.

Couldn't he at least mention that this was the official admittedly rigged game by the official. Would have kept by blodd pressure under 200!!!!

 

Of course it's better to have more good shooters then just one. Yes we can hope that the young players improve, that would be great. But facts are Portland has fewer guys on in the projected rotation with a track records as good 3 point shooters then last year. You want to bring up Tolliver? I'll counter with Meyers, who as much as I cringed over is better as a defender and 3 point threat. Most of the guys you listed have shot the 3 ball about the same as Al-Farouq (career 34%) and no one would describe him as a good shooter. Hood is the best of the bunch but as a deep ball threat he's (A) definitely not Seth and (B) was already on the roster last year. I see him as a volume shooter who gets his rhythm going off the dribble and not a catch and shoot guy you can stick in the corner to keep the D spread.

Come the end of games and especially the playoffs, I expect we're going to see the same strategy teams have employed of daring anyone outside of Dame and CJ to make a shot. Here's to the young guys taking giant steps forward and making them pay... especially Collins. If he could advance to become a solid shooter from the perimeter that would really help the spacing.

STOMP

 

You have a valid argument. However, I think Ant will be close to as effective as Seth with the 3 ball. Ant is a tremendous shooter.

 

If you give more minutes to better shooters and take them away from worse shooters, are you not adding more shooting to the equation?

I mean, if you establish a number of qualifications, you could probably make that case. But mathematically, it's highly likely our 3pt shooting is better this season.