So NOW do you understand what I'm talking about??? We are a better team this year.

This team isn't even an Audi yet. More like Hyundai Sonata. Top of

You'd skip a 1200 dollar trans flush too.

 

Regardless, I am more excited about this roster than I was about last years team.

 

I'll do it.
Lillard is still here so theres that.
I'm not going to compare Plumlee and Rolo due to they're completely different players.
I will say the eye test says the overall impact Plumlee is having through 37 games this year is bigger than the impact Rolo had over 59 games last year.
I think Rolo had a horrible year last year...
BUT it's difficult to compare impact because they were asked to do different things.

CJ is a different player than Matthews and I believe this years team doesn't have a player on it that takes it personal when teams score on them.
CJ has shown he can get his own shot, something Matthews struggled with. Matthews had a stepback and a fadeaway in the post.
Personally though the current Blazers team misses a player like Matthews, and they're harder to find than guards who can score/get their own shot.
Everyone is too nice.
So at the two, the Blazers are worse off...

I have never liked Aminu, I never liked Batum.
Too often last year Batum tossed lazy passes that were turnovers, IDC about the other stuff. To me lazy passes happening consistently shows you're not checked in.
Too often this year I see Aminu going into traffic out of control.. Leading to a turnover, a wasted 10seconds with ballstopping or a missed layup trying to score over 3 defenders. I won't bring up defense, only will say both players have left me with a lack of effort some nights.
The three spot tho they are similar, both players suck.

At the four spot the Blazers are worse off.

Last year the Blazers didn't really have someone coming off the bench scoring consistently throughout the season...
Is Davis better than Freeland? Yet to be seen.

Harkless/Crabbe are players the Blazers didn't have last year.
I don't count Afflalo as part of the Team last year as he played how many total games with the team last year?

TLDR team isn't better this year than last. They won't win more games, nor do they show the cohesiveness the team last year did.

 

I can respect that.

 

What is our record this season? What was our record last season? What was our record the season before?

/Thread.

 

What if - like many people believe - we make it to the POs and exit in the 1st round? That's exactly what last year's team did. I know the West is weaker - but all that really matters is the end result. And we'd have achieved the same result minus Wes, Nic, and LMA.

 

What was our record five years ago? What will our record be next season? What is the square root of 4, 182,593?

 

We're only going to win 47 games next season after signing Durant and LeBron in the offseason?

 

Last years team was so much better than this year it's ridiculous. Before Wes got hurt we were a title contender.

 

We will have to agree to disagree on a few things, though mostly I think your accurate. I think your way off about the Wes/CJ comparison.

 

Oh, I didn't mean that as a knock on CJ, and I don't mind agreeing to disagree at all.
But make or miss it's common to find a player who can get their own shot.
I just don't find it common to see players who are willing to fight you to keep you from scoring, and take it personal when you do.

 

CJ is better than Wes and it's not close. At all.

 

Thank you. I understand the importance of Wes's moxy about D, but CJ's offence more than covers the differential in my opinion.

Which means that our only major downslide has been PF. But we upgraded the bench way more. 1-12, we are a better team. Just like everything else. Stat lines don't always reveal this. SO our record doesn't reveal it, but we are a better team moving forward 1-12.

 

I'm not saying that I disagree (though I might), but the stats (WS, BPM, VORP) certainly do: http://www.basketball-reference.com...atthwe02&y2=2016&p2=mccolcj01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

 

I think it's a question for the offseason..haven't seen enough yet to compare them...last years starters were elite when healthy..not this seasons so far but it could be much worse

 

And Meyers' injury set him back when he was about to blossom as a starting PF in this league. We're in fine shape.

 

He might be right now, but pre-injury Wes was a far superior player.

 

We downgraded at SF too.

CJ is on pace for an equal number of WS per game, on a team with less wins, and I've always found BPM to be a flawed stat.

 

As I said, I'm not saying I disagree (though I might). I was just curious what the stats had to say. I rarely (if ever) build my arguments around "advanced" stats.
I've really come around on CJ, but I still think he falls short of healthy Wes. CJ is definitely better with the ball in his hands (by a lot!), but that's the only place where he's clearly better - and he pales in comparison on defense.