Who's better than us now (in the West)?

Because they have more talent.

 

Be careful. You may have just hit a hornets nest saying Lillard and Morant are on the same level. I think that's fair, but others don't.

 

I don't think there is anyone that hates every player on their team.

Saying someone is a comparable talent does not equal hate.

 

Once the games start up in earnest, with all this off season pretend time expectations I'm reading, I bet he'll be a scapegoat.

STOMP

 

Not sure why people are so high on Wenbanyama. He's getting meh stats in the French league (which is pretty weak) just like Ntilikina did (Frank was a role player in my hometown and I had no clue why anyone would pick him in the lottery)

 

The Blazers will be good not great.
To
Nobody really knows?
To
The Blazers aren’t good enough!
To
Nobody really knows?
To
What about injuries!
To
Nobody really knows?
To
If the Blazers could just get!
To
Nobody really knows?

I’m going with nobody really knows.

 

I tried to put your post to music...the best I came up with was Strawberry Fields Forever ('To" had 5 syllables a couple of times)

 

“More than a feeling”

 

I know this, "I don't doubt Dame".

 

Here's a look at how many all-stars each team had last year (I defined an all-star as selected within the last 3 seasons):



Does Portland need a second all-star to contend? Well, looking at the table above, I'd say it certainly helps. Can Dame do it by himself with a great supporting cast? Perhaps. Memphis and Dallas made a good run at it. Lots of teams have two all-stars. However, without a strong bench, you're probably looking at a short post-season.

How do the Blazers get that second all-star without mortgaging their bench and future? I don't think there's an easy answer to that. Draft? Free Agency? Trade? Develop?

Here's a look at the odds of drafting an all-star:



The odds of drafting an all-star in the first round is about 17.1%. That's about 1 in 6. No more trading away first round picks for middling starters. Draft smart and build assets.

Did we already draft that second all-star? Simons? Sharpe? (Walker?)

I don't think trading Dame is the answer. Rebuilding by blowing it up takes too long and is too risky. I don't want to be a bottom dweller for 6-10 years. Dame is a generational talent. I say keep him as long as he wants to be here. Draft smart and watch for that consolidation trade.

As for where the Blazers end up at the end of the year in the standing - as always, it comes down to who has the healthy team come playoffs. I think the Blazers could end up anywhere from 4-8. But if they are at full strength at the end of the year, I think they could really make a good run in the playoffs. Stay healthy and continue to develop the young talent.

 

News flash, the offseason is always filled with speculation as thats all we have. You sound like you might need to take a break from here until the season starts.

STOMP

 

That might be that case?
To
Nobody really knows?

 

Nice post.
There hasn't ever been an all star drafted 12th ?

 

Not during that 20 year snapshot between 1990 and 2010.

 

Sorry no. These are both starting position talent advantages for Memphis. They didn't accidentally win the most games in the league the 2nd half of last season.

STOMP

 

Honestly, did you watch much of Memphis last year? Obviously we disagree and there is probably little common ground to be found here. However, are you aware that Memphis was 21-6 without Ja last season? That includes the playoffs. Guess who plays the point for long stretches each game when Ja is out? Brooks is also one of the best on ball defenders 1-3 in the league. I'd trade Hart for him in a heartbeat.

STOMP