Now that we confirmed Denver sucked

reality is Denver was a pretender, not a contender. I don't think Murray would have changed that formula, but who knows...maybe

but as weak as Denver is compared to real contenders, Portland was weaker, and that wasn't just coaching. It's the talent of the roster and the mesh of the players on the roster. Billups or D'antoni wasn't going to guide the Blazers to a 2nd round win over the Suns. To think otherwise is delusion

Olshey-Stotts-CJ...they all need to be gone, but Portland sure appears to be only going 1/3 of the way thru the necessary changes...so next year, at this time, we'll be looking at another 1st round exit. Although if Powell leaves, maybe will be calculating the odds of moving into a top-4 lottery pick from the 13th slot

 

This is so well said. I’m jealous of your ability to put your thoughts down in writing

 

thanks....but my next post will likely only generate pity

 

Only a fool would ignore it.

 

It confirmed how portland needs a guy like Ayton. He was remarkable on keeping jokic in check w/o fouling. I mean jokic still did his thing of course. Portland also needs a veteran backup PG. You can't win without a backup PG. Neil is a moron to think Ant is a PG. Ant is about a close to a pure SG as you can get. It really hurt the team.

 

This is what pisses me off when people say "Neil is a GM, you guys are just fans on a forum, if you think you know more blah blah blah"

A LOT of us were calling for a backup point guard before the season started. Why is it that we can see that Ant and CJ aren't point guards, clear as fucking day, but Neil's dumb ass can't get it through his skull?

 

I have always advocated for having a backup point guard in case Dame got hurt. However, a healthy Dame means only 12-14 minutes a game for the backup.

Also, a backup PG who is not a really good outside shooter is useless on a Terry Stotts offense. Combo guards is what I think Terry preferred. Maybe Neil forced it on Terry by who he signed, but I have a hard believing that since it was the same every year. You think he would have asked for a different type of player at PG.

Now Terry would use a point forward at times to run the 2nd team, (i.e ET) but that still usually left 2 shooting guards on the floor. The bottom line is I think Terry had a lot of input on the type of player he wanted at the backup PG position. The more shooters the better.

 

that's because people mistakenly think a backup PG at the Time Frazier of aging Steve Blake level is the suggested solution. That was never it. What Portland has needed is a backup PG at the level of George Hill or Derrick Rose or Rajon Rondo. A player like that would get a hell of a lot more than 12 minutes a game

 

The reality of Ant is this - he has proven to be a very good three point shooter.... but that's literally it. He can't drive. He can't pass. He can't defend. He provides one skill, and while that skill is very valuable, he really needs to at least become a decent defender.

 

Rondo is exactly who I was thinking of when I said Terry would not use him. Whether you or I think he would have helped, IMO Terry would not have thought he was a good fit. He preferred the Seth Curry, Napier, Mo William types.

 

how do we know that Stotts preferred the Curry Napier types? Those are the only types Olshey gave him

 

Message to who?

 

I believe we should re-sign Kanter. He is a perfect backup.

 

So in 9 seasons Terry never mentioned to Neil what type of back PG he preferred? Or that he did and Neil ignored him for 9 years?
I have a hard time believing that.

 

Yep! Probably only 22 to 24 teams in the league worse. That is "Truly" how bad this team is.

 

Even Michael Malone commented that it was "remarkable" that his Nuggets beat the Blazers. Of course, he was coming from the standpoint that they were shorthanded.