The super Melo to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

Not nearly enough sample size or variation in lineups to solely point to Melo as their problem. And growing pains should be expected, no?

 

Correct.

However, in the last 5 years, in 3 different teams, Melo had a positive net rating only 1 year. I'd say that's a pretty decent sample size about Melo, even if it is not for Melo being the cause of the problem in Houston.

 

Small sample size, Yes. But it's not that the Rockets are just better with him sitting it's that he has the "WORST net rating in the NBA..." And I haven't seen anything that would change that going forward. Could he be used better? Yes....he is still a very efficient post-up player. Maybe in that way his offense could better even out the defensive gap. But his defense is atrocious.

 

Literally not true.

 

He's a flawed player. This is known. And the teams he's played with either didn't cater to his strengths or they were horrible fits to start. But he's also a really talented scorer. If he doesn't work out, we can waive him just as easily. The biggest loss in the transaction would be someone like Baldwin, who we can find on any scrap heap in town. Why not try him out in our system, with Dame leading the locker room? How many careers has this system resurrected?

 

Anyone else remember the 2000-2001 team (the year after our epic Game 7 collapse against the Lakers)? Our team was rolling, add some players late in the season (I don’t blame it on Rod Strickland, though), and we have a major collapse?

Some say the team was upset with special treatment of some of the vets such as Detlef Schrempf..... killed chemistry....

 

I don't see the parallels, that team prior to adding Schrempf et Al was 12 minutes from winning a title.

Our current squad hasn't won a single playoff game in two years while our stars are getting neutralized due to lack of talent.

 

Is there actual proof of Melo even being a chemistry killer? Seems more like a media driven narrative. The only issues Melo has ever had have been with coaches. And it’s not totally fair to put all the blame on Melo either, especially with the Hornacek incident, where he was just sticking up for his teammates. Everyone loves Stotts, so I don’t see that being a concern in Portland.

Everyone that matters on the Blazers is also pro Melo. Dame and CJ wanted him last summer, don’t see why they wouldn’t want him now. Shit, theres probably more room for him now than there was then.

 

I’m curious as to why the Rockets seem to be in such a rush to part company with Melo. Why not wait until the end of December when he could be included in a trade package? From the Blazers standpoint, it would certainly be better to swap a player rather than taking on more salary and Luxury Tax. What’s going on behind the scenes that’s so pressing that they want this done NOW?

 

I still see a need for another scorer late in games. The bench has been good, but they’re not out there in the fourth when games are won or lost. The unit that’s out there is the same unit that was out there last year when we got spanked by the Pelicans. Teams don’t sell out to stop your best players in the regular season like they do in the playoffs, so I’d hope Olshey was smart enough to know that and not let regular season success give him a false sense of security.

Maybe Melo isn’t that guy, but we’re not a complete team.

 

is this still a thing?

 

Didn't woj hint at a possible out clause of sorts when he first came in? If it doesn't work for either side, they call it quits fast.

 

From the athletic not woj

"In any sense, a breakup was definitely always a possibility. Houston put itself in a low-risk, potentially solid return situation by inking Anthony to a minimum contract. There was a gentleman’s code of sorts that said if things just didn’t work out for one reason or the other, both parties could void the agreement and move on with their respective lives."

https://theathletic.com/648561/2018...ouston-rockets-future-daryl-morey-gary-clark/

 

From what I’ve read they want to give more minutes to the more defensive minded Gary Clark, and are letting Melo decide whether he wants to stay with reduced minutes or go elsewhere.

 

He accepted coming off bench in Houston and they dumped him anyway.

 

Schrempf was ON the Blazers team that lost in 2000 WCF. I believe he played decently in game 7.

 

Strickland was the only guy we signed midsession 2001. And we went from 1 seed to 7 seed. Thing is, Strickland played well.

 

No it was Schrempf too, same day as Rod. Schrempf had retired the previous summer and Whitsitt talked him into coming back.