OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: DECEMBER 2024

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Nov 25, 2024.

  1. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    Messages:
    31,693
    Likes Received:
    12,477
    Trophy Points:
    113
  2. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2008
    Messages:
    19,595
    Likes Received:
    16,590
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    PDX
    Pels can catch a tank.
     
  3. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2008
    Messages:
    23,078
    Likes Received:
    35,581
    Trophy Points:
    113
    you don't know that. It might be true; it might not

    Jrue was on a championship team in Milwaukee, but he played with MVP and DPOY Giannis; a healthy 29 year old 3-time all-star Middleton; and, at the time, an All-NBA-Defense C in Lopez

    the year after the Bucks won the championship, they lost in the conference semi's when Middleton was hurt and couldn't play. The following season was a 1st round exit when Giannis was hobbled. Jrue didn't propel the Bucks to any notable playoff success those two years.

    in last year's championship, he played with Tatum and Brown. In his time in the NBA, Jrue has played with Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans, Demarcus Cousins (before the injury), Rajon Rondo, Julius Randle, Giannis, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Brown. Those guys have combined for 36 all-star game appearences

    Dame, in his prime, never played with guys like Giannis, Middleton, Tatum, Brown....hell, he never even played with a guy like Jrue. For 8 straight seasons, when he was 25-32 years old, the best player, arguably, Dame played with was CJ
     
  4. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Messages:
    67,506
    Likes Received:
    66,108
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Rastapopoulos and Wizard Mentor like this.
  5. Cugel

    Cugel The epitome of mediocrity

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2019
    Messages:
    6,429
    Likes Received:
    6,097
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Canvas Repairman
    Pels are tanking. Probably blowing it up more or less imho. Sellers at the deadline.
     
    Chris Craig likes this.
  6. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    Messages:
    31,693
    Likes Received:
    12,477
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If they could have stayed healthy I thought they might be interested in Ayton.
     
    Cugel likes this.
  7. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    Messages:
    57,378
    Likes Received:
    57,980
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Yep, writing was on the wall when they offloaded Valanciunas during the off-season.
     
  8. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    44,055
    Likes Received:
    32,269
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Vagabond
    Location:
    Water Valley, Alberta Ca
    Yeah, if he goes down for any extended period of time...oof da poof da.
     
    THE HCP likes this.
  9. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Messages:
    10,160
    Likes Received:
    9,183
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Disagree - they gave up picks for Dejounte Murray. Seems they thought Ingram could be flipped for a good center to replace Val, then he had no offers, then they had tons of injuries.
     
  10. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    Messages:
    31,693
    Likes Received:
    12,477
    Trophy Points:
    113
  11. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    36,775
    Likes Received:
    15,593
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    UPS
    Location:
    V-Town Baby
    All I remember is us being favorites against the Pelicans in the 1st round and them sweeping us because Jrue Holiday absolutely put cuffs on Lillard.
     
  12. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2008
    Messages:
    18,433
    Likes Received:
    15,567
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It was crazy that anybody had us favored. We only beat them during the regular season because Davis got injured, otherwise they would have swept us in the regular season.

    With Davis and Rondo able to take away the passing lanes Jrue was able to lock Dame up.

    Heck, Scottie Pippen locked Magic up in the finals as well. It can be done. Jrue is an incredible defender.

    That was a terrible matchup for Portland unless Davis was injured. Heck, they even beat us once when he was injured that season.
     
  13. PDXFonz

    PDXFonz I’m listening

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2013
    Messages:
    19,393
    Likes Received:
    15,973
    Trophy Points:
    113
    “The game”
     
  14. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Messages:
    10,160
    Likes Received:
    9,183
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The Blazers were a 3 seed and the Pelicans were the 6th seed. Demarcus Cousins was the Pelicans big star along with Davis but had torn his Achilles. The Pelicans hadn't won a playoff game in 8 years and only had one other appearance getting swept.

    So totally made sense the Blazers were favored.

    I still think there's more teams that can win a title with Jrue as their PG than Dame. Dame needs very specific types of costars with both an offense and defense that is designed to use his strengths and hide his weaknesses. Thats why there were so few teams in the Dame trade market while basically every contender was interested in acquiring Jrue from us.

    There have been many dozens of NBA champs with a solid two way PG being a key member of the champ. The NBA title winners with a short score first poor defensive PG are basically Steph and nobody (Isiah Thomas was a good defender)
     
  15. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2008
    Messages:
    23,078
    Likes Received:
    35,581
    Trophy Points:
    113
    yes, Jrue was the primary defender on Dame, but Jrue didn't clone himself so he could double team Dame on every possession. That's what the Pelicans did. They did it with Jrue AND Rajon Rondo AND a combo of E'Twaun Moore & Solomon Hill. But more than that is they doubled, tripled, and trapped Dame at every screen or pick, or even a hint of one, with AD and Mirotic. Giving Jrue credit for all that is revising history. They completely flexed their defense toward Dame. They sold out on stopping Dame and dared the other Blazers to beat them. CJ & Aminu were weakly single covered in that series. They combined to average 43 points on great shooting. And it wasn't anywhere close to enough.

    it was never more apparent that Olshey's ideas on roster-building were fucking garbage. So of course, he was given 4 more seasons to fail even worse
     
  16. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    Messages:
    31,693
    Likes Received:
    12,477
    Trophy Points:
    113
  17. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2008
    Messages:
    18,433
    Likes Received:
    15,567
    Trophy Points:
    113
    They killed us when they had Davis available. Terrible matchup for us. They had multiple All Stars, we only had one.

    I agree. Jrue isn't as good offensively as Dame but he's a better overall player, and one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
     
  18. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    36,775
    Likes Received:
    15,593
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    UPS
    Location:
    V-Town Baby
    Holiday is the best defending PG in the NBA. Probably since the hand checking rules. I’ve watched him completely lock down stars for years. He’s no slouch on offense either and can pick it up when needed.

    If I were building a team with those guys I’d take Holiday. But I’ve always put a big emphasis on guys who can impact a game when their shot isn’t falling. It’s why I’m not a Simons fan at all.
     
    Phatguysrule likes this.
  19. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    36,775
    Likes Received:
    15,593
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    UPS
    Location:
    V-Town Baby
    The Bucks defense went from 4th to 25th in team defense when Holiday was swapped for Lillard.
     
  20. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Messages:
    10,160
    Likes Received:
    9,183
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The Pelicans didn't have multiple allstars - Cousins was injured. They had one (Davis) - just like the Blazers.
     

Share This Page