Woj recently did an hour podcast interview with Olshey. I listened to the whole thing. Very interesting. My main takeaway is that this is one very smart guy who is always thinking long-term.
Every year it's the same old shit. Trade deadline rolls around and someone creates a thread to discuss if the team needs a trade or not. Seems like every year the team gets hot around this time and so everyone pussys out and falls in love with the team. Then by the time the playoffs roll around the damn team goes cold. If we do make the playoffs it's likely the Blazers get bounced. So let's keep the same fucking strategy and let the cake bake!
Arent you the person always asking for a trade, or making trades... why would you of ALL people be mad that people are talking about trades?
One of them kind of HAS to be. The Grizz are the 5th spot, the Rockets 9. Even if we are in, no scenario outside of a SAC, DEN or NO making up 10 games on MEM in 28 games has them both missing the playoffs, and HOU can, by playing only slightly better, beat out one of us, UTH and DAL. It's an order of magnitude more likely that both make the playoffs than neither.
I'm not mad at people talking about trades, usually that's all that it is. Seems like this team is always young and the cake is always baking at about 350 degrees.
You are absolutely correct on one thing: if we do make the playoffs it's likely we get bounced, since 15 of the 16 teams that get in don't win. Then again, you can't win if you don't play (brought to you by Spirit Mountain Casino!). But I'm confused about which strategy you think we do the same every year. Last year: Afflalo and Gee for Barton and our 1st. 51-31, lost to MEM 4-1 2013-14: 54-28, #5 seed, The Shot to win 4-2 vs. HOU, lost to SAS 4-1 2012-13: Picked up Eric Maynor by dumping Ronnie Price. 33-49, no playoffs. 2011-12: Camby for Thabeet, Flynn and a 2nd. Crash for the Dame Lotto pick. 28-38, no playoffs 2010-11: Dante, Joel and Marks for Crash Wallace. 48-24, lost to DAL 4-2 2009-10: Camby for Blanky and Outlaw, 50-32, #6 seed, lost 4-2 to PHX 2008-09: Diogu for Ruffin. 54–28, #4 seed, lost to HOU 4-2 2007-08: Taurean Green to get Von Wafer. Ended up 41-41, no playoffs. So we've a) Let it Bake (relatively) and made the playoffs in 2008-09, 2013-14. We've b) "Gone for It!!" and made the playoffs in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and last year. We've c) Let it Bake and missed the playoffs in 2007-08 and 2012-13. We've d) Sold Off Veterans for Picks and missed the playoffs in 2011-12. Which ones are you pissed about, or think are our go-to at Trade Deadline Day? I could see us doing any of the 4 this year and it wouldn't surprise me.
It's tough, also, since I haven't seen this team play. But if I were GM, I would be very careful about trading away even role players from this team (aside from Kaman). Here's why: Just about everyone bought into Dame's "All in Together!" thing, starting with the summer trip. Everyone seems to be knowing their roles and growing into them. The results have been good since before Christmas. Now, will they peter out like the 13-game streak team in 2007-08? Maybe. But we have a good mix of young players playing hard, and will have max cap space this summer. We haven't signed our young guys to extensions (aside from Dame, obvs) , so there are no poison pills. If someone makes a sweetheart offer for CJ (or Meyers?) this summer NO can decide then. I just think that you ride out this season the best you can, give everyone warm fuzzies all year long about "team" and "togetherness" and "culture"
I remember very vividly Olshey talking about how they had a decent team with Elton Brand's Clippers and how they constantly tried to patch that team so they could make a magical jump to contender and how that was a big mistake that he won't make again.
Mehh.. Semantics man. For that matter then GS isnt a playoff team. HAHAHA. Come on bro, I know your more level headed than that. Exactly!!!
I'll tell you what, that Kim Kardashian could clear some space in the paint. The NBA hasn't seen a rebounding ass like that since Wes Unseld.
So you just said what I said you were angry about. Nothing out of the norm for you, not getting it. It's fine.
You just semanticed my semantics. It's why I put the caveat in parentheses. Unless they are GS, SA, or anyone that has a 99% chance or higher...
Mmmmm, not really though. You said clinched a spot. not 99% chance. Neither GS or SA have clinched a spot. Memphis will make the playoffs. Count on it.
What are people's definition of "Letting the Cake Bake." It seems to me that it means not disrupting chemistry by making trades for a substantial period of time - like 2 years. IMHO, we can't possibly be "Letting it Bake" because we just flipped over half our roster 9 months ago. Let's not complain about Baking until we have the same starters for at a very minimum of 2 years - but it should really be 3. We've had the same starters for TWO games What are people's definition of "Letting the Cake Bake." It seems to me that it means not disrupting chemistry by making trades for a substantial period of time - like 2 years. IMHO, we can't possibly be "Letting it Bake" because we just flipped over half our roster 9 months ago. Let's not complain about Baking until we have the same starters for at a very minimum of 2 years - but it should really be 3. We've had the same starters for TWO games, assuming Harkless has now supplanted Vonleh. Not making a move at the deadline is NOT equal to "Letting the Cake Bake."
