While I like the majority of players, I think there are some holes to plug. The current backup PG situation is no good, but if we could get Blake back I would be fine with that. We need to take a look at moving Rudy & Bayless perhaps for a more consistent offensive threat off the bench.
Would it be a good idea to find a version of Bayless (scoring PG) that's a little more PG and a little more Jump Shooter to replace both Bayless and Rudy if we move them? Or would be over-consolidating?
There's no such thing as 'over consolidating" as long as you get a bonafide 30+ minutes/game guy. It's hard to think of anybody specifically that fits that profile, but the best I can come up with is Ben Gordon off the top of my head; he's definitely not a point guard, but he's a big time shooter who can defend point gaurds reasonably well and after his down year in Detroit you have to wonder if the Pistons might have a little buyer's remorse, on the flip side, he'd be an awfully expensive sixth man; you'd have to find some way to get him at least 32 minutes a night, and use him as a sort of Manu Ginobli sixth man in name only.
Joe Johnson and Brandon on the same team? I'm trying to visualize what the offense would actually look like in that scenario (gut level feeling is "icky")
Oh, it would probably work, but I think both players see themselves as "closers" wheras Miller seems to have a little bit of chameleon in him when he plays and he understands the hierarchy that exists on the team and his place in it.
The Blazers should absolutlely look to improve and I'm sure that they will. I don't know if there will be any major shakeup, but at a minimum filling in the spots on the bench that resulted from the trade of Blake and Outlaw will be important. And I'd be surprised if something isn't in the works to trade Rudy given his unhappiness and the need for a more consistent 3 point specialist.
You mean the playoffs where Brandon Roy played in only two games in limited minutes, and Andre Miller carried our team to a game one win?
I believe he is refering to the "High Desert Country Hare-Ball " League. You catch yourself a mess of jackrabbits, shave little numbers in their fur, hype them up on peyote, and then turn them loose during happy hour at Smokey's Bar, Bordello, and Gun Club. C'mon down and bring the kids!
The problem with the current roster is that the Blazers don't impose their style of play on the other team ala The Magic/Lakers/Suns/Cavs/Boston. Those are the types of teams that we see advancing to the conference finals. The Blazers are still a team that lets the opposition dictate the style of play on most nights. We've seen this team with a healthy Oden and it's simply not enough to guarantee something like a trip to the WCF. I think the Blazers need to think about making a serious run at Devin Harris or Tony Parker if either are ont he trade block this upcoming season.
The team, any team, should always look to improve, but there is a difference between total remake and tinkering. Three years ago the Blazers were in total remake mode. Now they are in tinkering. The core stays, the subs and role players and specialists do need an upgrade. And they need to stay healthy - it is important to analyze if this year was sheer shit luck or if there is a problem with conditioning, diet, whatever.
This line of thinking is the same reason Portland only has 1 pro sports team. "ah shucks, we like things how they are. They are safe and we shouldn't take any risks" You simply have to swing for the fences every now and then, so if KP can somehow turn Aldridge, Rudy and a pick into Bosh, for example, he should do it. All this team has proved, for whatever reason, is that they are good enough to get into the playoffs and get beat in the first round.
