dudleysghost

Didn't Huey say before that Sergio and LaMarcus should start to help us win, and now he says they should start to help us tank? Either he's had a change of heart regarding their relative abilities, or he's like many in here who just want to see the young guys play and will shape their logic and perceptions around that to make an argument for them to play.

Either way, we're going to see them play more. The Magloire showcasing will be over in a few weeks, no matter what. LMA will get more minutes. Sergio had already earned the backup PG spot outright before spraining his ankle, so we were already on track to see more of him.

The Blazers aren't going to truly tank this season. For one thing, Nate won't go along with it. For another, management certainly realizes that they have just started to rebuild fan interest, and another 4-33 end of season swoon would really damage that, so they aren't going to push for it. But it is tough, because this is a really good draft class.

I think that we won't see tanking, but we will see another mini "youth movement", but it will be a little different than in the last two years. Before, we went to youth partially to force-feed them minutes, but also because the veterans on the team either gave up or got injured, or both. This year, our veterans are looking a little more durable and less numerous. The youth is also way more talented than it was before. We'll see youth playing because they will legitimately be the best options available. Guys like Aldridge, Sergio, Travis and maybe even Martel are slowly earning Nate's confidence by developing their games, and they will get more minutes as the year goes on because they will deserve them.

We'll still see Jack and Roy starting at 1-2, because they are also "youth" and they can play. Zach will still start at 4, barring injury, and Joel will probably continue to start at 5. But there will be gradual change as Sergio, LMA and Travis will get more minutes in the second half at the expense of Dickau, Dixon and Magloire. We're already seeing this happenning.

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ThatBlazerGuy

I dont want to tank. I want to keep loosing games like we have the past 2 weeks. Close games that allow the team to grow and the young guys develop in positive ways. I think the only midseason changes we should make are shipping out Magloire/Dixon and starting Outlaw at SF.

Bwatcher

I'm not so sure that Oden and Durant are going to be in the draft this year. While by reputation this draft is strong in depth, I'm thinking that 2008 may be the year to get Oden. Durant is said to be more NBA ready now, but I personally think that he would greatly benefit with another year to be the focal point of an offense to grow into a role as a consistent shooter.

PhilK

Starting Sergio at PG and LA at C isn't a way to tank. It's a way to win games.

Too bad Nate doesn't understand that.

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mediocre man

I'm not in favor of tanking per say, but I wouldn't mind it one bit if Nate threw the young guys out there and just let them play. We wouldn't be as good, but they would improve faster IMO, and we would undoubtably get a higher draft spot.

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crandc

The Blazers lost 3 very close games to 3 good teams. What I would like to see is them learn to not make the mistakes that cost them these games.

If the official position is to tank, I will have to become an unofficial fan because I will NEVER root for the Blazers to lose.

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hasoos

Our chances of getting the #1 pick are miniscule at best, especially with Boston now having lost 15 straight (tanking it obviously) and the Memphis doing its best to stay right with them.

The proper way to go is to have the team grow, and if we luck into a pick, great.

Right now if the Blazers would just figure out who needs to get the ball in crunch time instead of having Outlaw take shots down the stretch, they would be getting some wins. Roy needs to stop deferring and realize he is one of the best 2 scorers out on the floor, and he has the responsibility to make something happen. Once that happens, the Blazers will start winning some games and turning this ship around.

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Hasoos

sjla2kology101

we want Portland to have the 3rd or 4th worst record, statistically the team with the overall worst record doesn't have the best chance at number one. there system is flaud thats why only what like 2 teams which finished the regular season with the worst record has gotten the 1st pick since they started the lottery.

Utherhimo

i want the 5th worst that way we can leap frog into the top 3 but I dont want to tank for it!

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2k

Good god we lose an OT game to one of the best teams in the league and people are talking about tanking the season.

blakeback

The whiners used to want the young guys to play more because they thought it would mean more wins, now it seems like the whiners want the young guys to play more so the team will lose.

Finally someone realizes that the young guys aren't as good as they thought.


btw, anyone who roots for losing is a loser.

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blakeback (formerly blakejacked, formerly blakejack)

stockfire

The irony of begging to play Sergio to lose is really funny.

If we lose, we lose. Best case scenario we play every tough team as close as possible but somehow are defeated in a long-string of games and end up with a good pick without suffering an extreme loss of confidence and tell our players it ok to give up.

To tell our players to cash in the season, AGAIN, does nothing but instill the mindset than when things are looking down, its ok to give up. Our team needs to quit waiting for a savior.

I am all for developing young guys and allowing them time to grow, but we should not be playing certain players for the implicit reason of losing.

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Blazer Ringbearer

Boo to tanking.

I think a more logical approach for player development (and possibly a few less wins) would be to buy out Magloire after the trading deadline (barring any can't miss deals).

Save a few bucks, let him go play for someone else, and open up more time for Aldridge to play and develop.

You might win more, might win less with that approach, but either way Aldridge is better for next year.

I suppose you could look to move Dixon, but unless he's causing trouble with chemistry, I'm not too concerned.

His minutes haven't been getting in the way of giving opportunities to the young guys...

Schilly

Since 2000 here is how it stacks up for who wins the lottery

Utherhimo