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**craigehlo** · 02-14-2008, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moldorf

Your comment about the blazers having "a couple of years to go": well that was said by KP before the season began...repeatedly.

A couple years away from what? The playoffs? Or being competitive and not getting blown out wire-to-wire?

moldorf · 02-14-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigehlo

A couple years away from what? The playoffs? Or being competitive and not getting blown out wire-to-wire?

they are competitive, otherwise they wouldn't be 4 games above .500.

And here's a newsflash: every team has games where they get "blown out wire-to-wire"...did you just start watching the NBA this year?

Dallas lost 2 prior to last night, including a 19 point loss to New Jersey, and 3 games before that a 23 point blow-out loss to Detroit.

what's worse...portland losing by 20 at Dallas where the mavs are 23-3, or dallas losing by 19 at NJ where the Nets are 12-15 ( and where portland won by 26)?

If portland isn't in the playoff hunt this time next season, then your negativity might have some merit...now it's just over-reactive melodrama.

tucsonhanny · 02-14-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hap

well said.

is "hanny" nicknamed for "hannah"? I have a cousin (not that she lives in Tucson) who sometimes goes by "hannie". but I dont think we should just assume that going by something means it's a nickname. Afterall, she calls me "that big stupid git", and thats not my nickname.

Well, not since the 11th grade.

May I inquire as to how come a Tucsonite (?) is a Blazer fan?

Hanny is my name, not a nickname. I lived 20 years in Oregon and rooted for the Blazers since their championship year. I am an alum of Portland State, but don't follow them sports wise. Moved to Tucson in 1998 and work for the University of Arizona. My family still lives in Portland. Have tried to root for the Suns but Blazers are still my team. I will root for the Suns against any team but the Blazers. Thanks for asking Hap.

Thanks Mr Jayremmie for your support.

MrJayremmie · 02-14-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

If we're 10 games out with 9 games to play, YES, but that's not the situation right now. We're only 4 games out! With THIRTY to play! Don't quit yet. We get to play the Warriors twice more. Win both of those and we cut their lead on us in half. Don't give up yet. Believe Harder.

i'm with ya dude, but GS isn't the only team, Houston seems to have a huge adv. on us, with the series, and us not being able to beat them. Take away their crappy start and injuries, and they are one of the best WC teams, imo.

MrJayremmie · 02-14-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

We weren't going to make the playoffs at 5-12 either. It ain't over til the big-boned, non gender-exclusive individual sings.

I agree that we shouldn't run Roy and Aldridge into the ground. This is, unfortunately for us impatient ones, a rebuilding year, so spread the minutes and see what others can do.

I disagree in starting Sergio though. It's one thing to give guys opportunities to show what they can do, it's quite another to start them. Sergio has done nothing to show that he deserves a promotion like that. Some may say that he's walking on egg-shells because of Nate... Well cry me a river. He's a professional, deal with it like everyone else. Shoot over 37% from the field or over 65% from the line and we'll talk. Hell, try defense while you're at it. You may find it fun.

As far as not talking so many jump shots, I think I agree with you - But... At some level I find myself wondering if they should just stick with what they're good at. I'm sure this is something that everyone has been hearing and focusing on, and I wonder if that's just adding additional pressure whenever they do shoot jumpshots. It's hard to go against your nature. Of course, work for the best shot (which is usually close to the basket), but you can't be afraid of taking those open shots from the outside, and I've been seeing guys pass up more and more open shots and try to go inside only to miss or turn it over in the process.

I don't like you very much ProZach, but that was a great post and i agree, speciallyabout sergio.

ProZach · 02-14-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrJayremmie

I don't like you very much ProZach, but that was a great post and i agree, speciallyabout sergio.

I'm flattered. But I wasn't aware you even knew me.

**Dan** · 02-14-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucsonhanny

Hanny is my name, not a nickname. I lived 20 years in Oregon and rooted for the Blazers since their championship year. I am an alum of Portland State, but don't follow them sports wise. Moved to Tucson in 1998 and work for the University of Arizona. My family still lives in Portland. Have tried to root for the Suns but Blazers are still my team. I will root for the Suns against any team but the Blazers. Thanks for asking Hap.

Thanks Mr Jayremmie for your support.

I knew a girl who went to U of A (and PSU) but I dont know what she's doing now. Just thought I'd share.

I so wanted to do the joke, like when someone goes "I'm from Canada", and they're asked "oh, do you know Jake?"

but realized that wouldn't be as funny.

tucsonhanny · 02-14-2008, 05:35 PM

How important is playoff experience for this team? Even if we were to make it, I'd be concerned they would 4 and out. They are clearly not ready for the playoffs yet. Going 17-1 certainly raised everyone's expectations. Before that, I was thinking the Oden's injury gave us a free pass this season to not worry about the playoffs an develop the young talent.

I think as long as we surpass last year's record this season will be at least a partial success. Roy has surpassed my expectation and to a lesser extent Outlaw has as well. Aldridge is doing OK, his strength is a running big man in an up tempo team. Playing Nate's slow ball is not his strength. He'd be killer playing with Phoenix or GS. But he'll get much better with more help down low and experience.

Like a lot of people, I hope Sergio will get more playing time down the stretch. We still don't know if he can be our future point guard or if we need to invest another first rounder on a point guard. Outside the big three, Outlaw & Sergio and maybe Webster, I wouldn't be opposed to moving anyone else in trades. I'd keep the latter three unless we can get a major core piece in return. (ie. Someone BETTER than Devin Harris, who I see a quality role player)

If we are going to get a major player in a trade, it will be because we are willing to take on major contracts so it's likely any big trade will use up our cap space.

hasoos · 02-14-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucsonhanny

How important is playoff experience for this team? Even if we were to make it, I'd be concerned they would 4 and out. They are clearly not ready for the playoffs yet. Going 17-1 certainly raised everyone's expectations. Before that, I was thinking the Oden's injury gave us a free pass this season to not worry about the playoffs an develop the young talent.

I think as long as we surpass last year's record this season will be at least a partial success. Roy has surpassed my expectation and to a lesser extent Outlaw has as well. Aldridge is doing OK, his strength is a running big man in an up tempo team. Playing Nate's slow ball is not his strength. He'd be killer playing with Phoenix or GS. But he'll get much better with more help down low and experience.

Like a lot of people, I hope Sergio will get more playing time down the stretch. We still don't know if he can be our future point guard or if we need to invest another first rounder on a point guard. Outside the big three, Outlaw & Sergio and maybe Webster, I wouldn't be opposed to moving anyone else in trades. I'd keep the latter three unless we can get a major core piece in return. (ie. Someone BETTER than Devin Harris, who I see a quality role player)

If we are going to get a major player in a trade, it will be because we are willing to take on major contracts so it's likely any big trade will use up our cap space.

Oh comon after last year with Golden State, anything can happen in the playoffs.

**nikolokolus** · 02-14-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucsonhanny

{...}
Like a lot of people, I hope Sergio will get more playing time down the stretch. We still don't know if he can be our future point guard or if we need to invest another first rounder on a point guard.
{...}

Like a lot of people I think the "Let's see if Sergio is our PG of the future" experiment is over and the results just came in: Negative. He's definitely fast and can pass, but he is zero threat shooting the ball -- 20 feet, 15 feet, 10 feet, it doesn't matter the boy can't shoot, he does occasionally show an ability to get to the hoop, but he usually has trouble finishing there too. And don't even get me started on his FT%; there's no excuse for a guard of any sort to chuck 64% from the charity stripe, 36% from the field and a measeley 28% from beyond the arc.

I know it sounds like I must have something against El Chacho, I don't, by all accounts he's well liked by his teammates, works hard, and he's definitely still young, but I hear a lot of people claim he just needs to start in order to really show what he can do, or that Nate is too hard on him and has destroyed his confidence. Firstly, he should be showing the coaching staff what he can do in practice, if he isn't getting the job done there, he doesn't deserve to move up the depth chart, and secondly the assertion that he's so mentally fragile he can't take criticism or a "glare" from his head coach tells me that he aint cut out to run a Nate McMillan offense.

Anyway, I feel like I'm ranting now.

I do hope guys like McBob and Green get some more floor time as the season progresses; I'd like to see what they are capable of and see if they might fill a role on this team next year (especially Josh, who looks like he really has a nose for the ball).

Public Defender · 02-14-2008, 09:08 PM

Strategy should remain the same: put the best players on the floor and see how they do. If Roy is injured, then fine, let him heal until he's better. Same with Aldridge. It's already what the team is doing with James Jones. But "saving" a player for next season? That's ridiculous. The only way for players to learn what it's like to play an 82-game NBA season, is to play one, or really, more than one. To be clear: if playing means risking permanent injury to Roy or Aldridge, then by all means, sit them. But if they're good to go, then play them, and play games to win them.

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