One choice. Get it on the record. Votes displayed publicly. Take some time to think before you choose.
To me, it's the bench, by far. Lack of consistency, ability to hit the clutch shots to keep the team on the plus side, all equal the need for better talent. Blazers need some dead eye shooting on the bench ,BADLY!
IMO if you have to try to "blame" one person I go with Olshey because he put this roster together which frankly does not fit the coaching style very well, he over paid for several players which now makes it much harder to make any moves to improve, and so far has been unwilling to break up a guard duo who IMO are a poor fit.
None of them are the problem. We just need more shooting without sacrificing defense. One or more of these guys will have to go to address that problem, but it doesn't mean any one of these guys were a problem. None of the above.
In reality you can look at each of those on the list as a negative and a positive. It's not as simple as saying x is the problem. There is also a lot to like about this team as well but it appears many got butthurt over the way the season ended and now demand changes. Nobody liked the way the season ended but overreacting can be a more serious problem and can even lead to an even worse situation.
Lol. Theres two problems. Stotts and olshey. Theyve been a problem for years. Losing 10 straight playoffs games isnt an over-reaction, its a pattern.
As much as I would like a new coach, the biggest problem by far IMO is the Dame/CJ combo as the centerpiece of this team. Until we trade CJ, nothing will change no matter what players we bring in. 2 players under 6’3” who by nature default to ISO ball and aren’t great defenders, wo take 50% of the shots, and taking up 50% of the salary cap will never be a contender. I like both players individually but not together. Until Neil admits this the Blazers are doomed for mediocrity for the rest of Lillards time with the Blazers. Trade CJ now while he is still young enough to have good value
6 of those losses were to the Warriors which were superior to any team in the playoffs. The grass isn't always greener on the other side so be careful what you wish for.
The bench imo wasn't as consistent as it could have been, especially with Davis & Turner out for a while. We need a knock down 3 point shooter off the bench (Shabazz?) too, get us back into games.
Upon reflection I think it's mostly an overall roster problem more than any one culprit. Since Olshey (and Paul Allen) is primarily responsible for the roster, if I had to pick someone to blame, I'd have to pick Olshey. Even though I'm not necessarily saying he's a problem. He's made some good calls and some bad calls. I think Paul gives him another off-season and trade deadline to fix the roster. Probably through the playoffs to see if we have better results. If the roster is still visibly flawed by then, I will be calling for the head of Neil Olshey. I hope Paul Allen does too. But mostly, I hope he doesn't have to because we make some big moves that pay off in the WCF next year. Ugh, the hopes of a sports fan....
Anthony Davis is not the reason why we lost that series. Rondo/Holliday were the problem. By far. They played excellent defense and they torched our guards.
All through the season, you homers told critics, "You are team-unpatriotic. Wait till the season's over to talk about the big picture." The majority held their silence. That time of reckoning has come. Now your propaganda line is, "No one had any criticism until the playoffs. You overreact." Olshey worded the lie this way. "Where were all these people that wanted these sweeping changes 10 days ago." Deaf, dumb, and blind. You guys live in your own little world.