So the question comes back to this........The way this team is constructed now, In the next 2-4 years can this team win a championship with minor upgrades? I would have to answer no but with that said I do think they are very good, fun and exciting to watch.
A few minor upgrades to our bench along with conservative improvement projections for our starters puts us in the WCF next season 7 times out of 10.
If the Heat succeed in adding Carmelo to the mix, is there much that can be done to make the Blazers have a better chance of winning a title in the next 2-4 years than they would? Or, if the Blazers trade Aldridge to the Cavs so that they can entice LeBron to re-sign with them, which would be the point of that maneuver, do the Blazers stand much chance of beating them? I would have to answer no, but if we trade Aldridge away then I think that we'd be farther away than we are now. Last year, the trade Aldridge crowd said that the best the Blazers could do with him would be to compete for the 8th spot. Instead, while the Blazers had no bench to speak of, they still won 54 games and made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. I'd rather upgrade incrementally from there and be in a position to take advantage of a good break or two and possibly be in a position to compete for a title than constantly go through rebuilds. I said the same thing last summer and I stick by it this year. That said, if there's no sign that this plan will succeed after next season, Olshey has his contracts lined up so that there could be a major reshuffle then.
I agree with BlazerWookee that we can get better with just internal player-growth and minor changes but I think one thing that has to improve is Aldridge's defensive awareness, understanding and instincts. If he doesn't make this a priority and makes a real, positive change we would be too vulnerable defensively with both him and Lillard playing 40mpg. Lillard also should work hard on this, they have no reason to be so clueless on defense, Get a good defensive coach and get them to practice hard until they get it. It's not rocket-science. Not directly on-topic but I also would like all the starters to play significantly fewer minutes. I want our bench players to play a much bigger role next year.
We don't have less star-power than the Spurs. It's about maximizing your talent and playing your cards (players) right.
I don't want or think we should 'rebuild' right now. We can get incrementally better, and look for opportunities going forward to upgrade through trade. You never know what might happen. Taking two steps back right now removes us from any potential opportunity for that 'one good move' that puts us over the top.
My take is similar. The starting lineup is contender quality. They had to play too many minutes, got dinged up here/there, etc. Ran out of gas, a little, toward the end. The bench was improved, but not much of a boost. Stick with these guys and use MLE and BAE to beef up the bench is not a bad plan at all. IMO.
If you bother reading through my idiotic comments you'll find many examples. Of course calling me an idiot already proves you're smart (and part of the majority, good for you!), actually reading what I said and explaining why you think I'm wrong is probably too idiotic for you...
That's what I'm talking about. I just don't see this team reaching the level of the Spurs, Heat, the old Lakers, Boston teams and so fourth I the next 3-5 years. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong but by that time Aldridge will be 33-35 and wanting to move on anyway.
Exactly. Show me one example of something I was wrong about and explain why. Attack even one point I made instead of attacking me.
Why do I have to explain anything? It's not like you explained any of your points. Newsflash, just because you say "LaMarcus is a defensive liability", doesn't make it true.
Regurgitated is not a word I even know but it must prove great substance. Give me a break, you weren't relevant since B-Roy was still a Blazer...
