When healthy, we will have zero weaknesses.

Now that Pendergraph has shown that he can be the rugged backup PF we've been looking for, we now have all the pieces we need. Honestly, where is the hole? We're stacked! No trades please.*



*unless it's Andre Miller for Antawn Jamison

 

It's really all about putting Egos aside when all healthy. If that happens, we already have everything we need to win a championship. Hopefully this season can be a big learning experience for us.

 

Its not a question of when...its a question of if really....

 

Maybe if we can have them all at the same time they'll go out there with something to prove rather than feel the weight of expectations. People are calling Oden a bust after his injury, some people will probably call our whole team a bust the way things are going.

 

Anybody who honestly believes this team has zero weaknesses when healthy is smoking something.

 

Every team has weaknesses in some areas. I think our team has less weaknesses than any other in the NBA if we're healthy. I don't see how you could argue otherwise.

 

"when" being the key word and IF we can ever stay healthy.

its the same as saying IF he doesn't hit the miracle three.. we win the game. on paper yes we are deep but in reality we are injury prone so it means nothing.

 

our weakness will still be perimeter defense- especially against speedy point guards.

 

I disagree. Without any trades we are begging for conflict. We have way too many good NBA players, with a rotation that shouldn't really exceed 9 players. A consolidation trade, IMO, is necessary -- we have some serious logjams. This depth is nice if we have major injuries like this year, but it isn't good for chemistry when fully healthy, which is what we will need for a title run.

We also still need many players to develop including Batum and Bayless (who will be huge for us) and Oden.

And then, we also have to get healthy, which is definitely an "If" instead of "When"... I agree with a previous poster there.

Go Blazers.

Edit - I also agree with the previous poster... perimeter defense. Though Batum back will greatly help our wing defense... hopefully Bayless develops into a very solid PG defender, but we don't have on now.

 

Too much finesse, too many jump shooters, not enough points in the paint, not enough toughness, not enough easy buckets, no second 'star', not enough perimeter defense, too many question marks at center about longevity/reliability, too many rookie scale or young guys who are still chasing their first big contract ... should I continue?

This is a 'nice' team that will probably continually post 'nice' regular season victories by utilizing its depth, it is not however even remotely constructed like a championship team, that is built to play playoff basketball.

 

kp needs to trade if we are gonna take another step.

1. get a scoring sf who can post up. batum can back up.

2. get a banger pf/center who scores in paint.

3. find out what kind of pg can play best with roy. its not miller.bayless? maybe but i think hes a backup.

 

I also disagree.

With everyone healthy, there will be a battle royal for minutes. I'm not surprised the team has been playing better lately. Since everyone is getting minutes, there is a lot less stress on players; everyone knows they'll be playing and will be more consistent. Minutes are everything to a player.

When everyone is back, they will need to make a trade and / or shed some of the current players.

 

it will be interesting to see where rudy fits when he comes back. im guessing sf

 

Too much finesse? - We have Oden, Przybilla, and Pendergraph. Those are 3 tough mofo's. I have no problem with our toughness.

Too many jump shooters? - This is a valid criticism, but we do have Roy, Bayless, Oden, and Aldridge who can take it to the rack.

Not enough easy buckets? - Last year we were the most efficient offensive team in the league. That would argue against your point.

Longevity/Reliability at center? - I can't argue this point. However, I would point out that the premise in my original post was that we be "healthy."

Too many rookie scale/young guys? - I disagree with this completely. Rookies and young guys are as likely, and possibly more likely, to buy into the team concept. Look at Pendergraph and Cunningham this season.

There is NO QUESTION that this team has all the pieces it needs to win a championship. All they need is health and a little luck.

 

You really don't get it.

 

Buy Low (and consolidate): Diaw - looking bad this year, Rubio - won't ever come to Minn

Blake/Outlaw for Diaw - they just get out of his contract, he's a very fundamentally sound player, but it's not working for him next to Capn Jack for some reason. One of those guys who's a great passer and high IQ, but plays passive when not relied upon. Could help and raise our court IQ at the 4 position mainly, with spot minutes at 3 and 5.

Bayless for Rubio - Minnesota aint gonna wait forever for Rubio, and Bayless has raised his stock this year. Having him with Roy is duplication that causes all our shots from 1 or 2 and no movement in the offense whatsoever. He could be a very valuable tool (in the Arenas model) under the right coach, but not Nate.

next year:
Miller/Mills/Koponen (with Roy and Rudy getting the main backup minutes at 1)
Roy/Fernandez
Webster/Batum/Cunningham
Aldridge/Diaw
Oden/Pryzbilla/Pendergraph

with Rubio waiting in the wings (as Miller expires). That roster is much more balanced, and is very versatile IMO.

 

It does not argue against the point.

An efficient offense has nothing to do with easy buckets, it is about making the most use of each possession. How many open layups to Blazers get? Open/easy short jumpers? Not very many. They are built on jump-shooting and, it seems, relatively little movement. IIRC, the Jack Ramsey teams were built on movement and ended up with quite a few relatively easy buckets because defenses would regularly lose their guy. Nate's offense is more ISO oriented which is often not a good indicator of easy buckets.

Not enough easy buckets. Yes. Efficient, sure. Not mutually exclusive.

Gramps...

 

They are not mutually exclusive, but efficiency is definitely an indication that you are getting good shots.

 

Nic coming back should help in that regard.

 

As does Bayless when he gets minutes.