Cronin / Billups / Dame knows a ring isn't in the cards this year. Might as well maximize our chips. I predict after all star, we will be in tank mode, and I won't be upset. I will cheer for Phoenix to not win rest of the year
But at this rate, it doesn’t seem like we need to intentionally tank. The West is stacked. Teams that were supposed to tank like OKC and Utah are winning. Even Orlando is a pretty good team. The Lakers will be better. There are only 4 teams that are for certain worse than us: Houston, San Antonio, Detroit and Charlotte.
The thing is, even if they tank, their chances of getting a top pick are slim. And chances of them doing a big deal trade this summer are slim, imho. They aren't going to get squat for Nurk, and the rest of the assets they have (that they are willing to trade) aren't going to get them jack shit. Their best hope is getting the #1 pick in the draft and hope that Victor doesn't pull an Oden on the team. The whole "wait until summer" is just a carrot dangled in front of fans to stave off the eventual revolt against the team being shitty for another year. The only thing worth anything this year has been the occasional exciting dunk by Shaedon, but he has to show more facets to his game than the occasional block. Need to him to start showing a complete game, where he shows signs of what we hope can be (again, outside of dunks where he doesn't create it on his own).
Yes. Look to 2025 playoffs though. Sharpe will be ready to roll by then. Then the last couple years of Dame’s extension, we start dynasty. Dame hangs around as Sharpe and VW take over. Once Dame retires, Simons or whoever steps right in and the dynasty continues.
I might cheer for OKC actually. And Denver. I usually root for underdogs but I think Denver deserves so I’m fine if they win it. No Phoenix or Dallas. Oh I’m with the Kings too.
Getting the most picks we can obtain and building around Sharpe is our best bet. Completely hit reset button. It’s a tough pill to swallow I know. But it has to be done. We will suck for awhile but it’s won’t be as bad as sucking with a star. Look at how the great teams are being assembled these days. There’s s reason why first round picks are at such a premium. Fan of the Blazers first, Lillard second
The dude is 19, didn't play at all last year, and is shooting 47% from the field. He's doing a lot more than just dunking the ball. Of course hopefully he shows more, but I think you're not giving him enough credit for how well he's played so far given how young and inexperienced he is.
However the Blazers have a winning record against teams ahead of them in the conference standings (not including Oklahoma City). So the margin isn't very wide.
He made a superb pass out to Anfernee Simons and a had a block that was like a volleyball spike. His defense got a little better. This season could all be worth it if we the viewers could see more of Sharpe.
But of course they have assets. They have Simons, Little, Sharpe and few other youngs to use for All Star for Dame. And if not, they have Dame to gain even more young talent if they want. But you can't have the cake and eat the cake. They are like this monkey with hand in the coconut. This monkey is not clever. And this line about 2025 plan, when Sharpe and Ant will be superstars and Lillard will age like LeBron. This is even better than Olshey's "look".
No, you misunderstood what I meant. I'm very happy with what he's showing, and doing on the court. I just mean that he needs to take the next step in the progression to being a reliable player. He doesn't create for himself yet, and he's not creating shots for himself (or trying often). It's not that he needs to be already set by his age, but he could at least show it more often.
Are they not taking? By not getting available bigs to help cover for their brutal perimeter defense, and for the love of all that is holy, just add some size, they are quietly taking. The layup drill that SGA put on last night was a joke. Not dead sure how it could have been much worse. Tanking while not trying is one heck of a feat given some of the talent in this team.
you do understand I wasn't advocating a direction, right? I was just saying what I thought Portland's intention was. I don't think the Blazers will shut down Dame, Simons, and Grant. Especially not Grant with his impending free agency. What they might do, sometime after the all-star game (if the trends continue), is start cutting their minutes to 30 or maybe even less. But all of the current Blazers want the playoffs
