2013-2014 NBA Season

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I watch way more NBA than I should. Portland is much better than you think. Most people have no idea how good their starting 5 is right now.

Here is my take on Portland, and I watch a ton of NBA.....

Aldridge is what he is. The difference is this year he is having a little better year. He cant be a title teams best player. No way. Every legit team has a good matchup against him IMO. Houston can throw Howard. Clippers can play Griffin. Golden St can throw Lee or Bogut. Your team can play Ibaka. Spurs Duncan. Miami Bosh and Indiana West. He is a matchup nightmare for no one.
Honestly, Im not sure he can even be the second best player on an NBA Championship team.

I dont like Lillard much. He is a 41% shooter. He is 6'3 and does not rebound much and he averages 2.5 turnovers a game. He really takes about as many bad shots as anyone.

Batum and Matthews are both nice players. They can play on almost every team, but no stars. Honestly this team feels a lot like the last few Denver teams. Gaudy regular season record and no threat at all in the playoffs. I mean you can argue they have a combined 1 star between Lillard and Aldridge.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Here is my take on Portland, and I watch a ton of NBA.....

Aldridge is what he is. The difference is this year he is having a little better year. He cant be a title teams best player. No way. Every legit team has a good matchup against him IMO. Houston can throw Howard. Clippers can play Griffin. Golden St can throw Lee or Bogut. Your team can play Ibaka. Spurs Duncan. Miami Bosh and Indiana West. He is a matchup nightmare for no one.
Honestly, Im not sure he can even be the second best player on an NBA Championship team.

I dont like Lillard much. He is a 41% shooter. He is 6'3 and does not rebound much and he averages 2.5 turnovers a game. He really takes about as many bad shots as anyone.

Batum and Matthews are both nice players. They can play on almost every team, but no stars. Honestly this team feels a lot like the last few Denver teams. Gaudy regular season record and no threat at all in the playoffs. I mean you can argue they have a combined 1 star between Lillard and Aldridge.

You should audition for First Take.

[Cannon Shell]

Portland is good but they have 2 real issues that don't have any easy solutions. As CJ said the starting 5 is strong but the bench is a pretty big drop off at every position. They cant afford any injuries at all. Plus that bench is almost all young guys with little experience. The only veteran bench players that they have are PG's and Dorrell Wright. They essentially have no front court players with any playoff experience.

The other issue is that they have problems getting defensive stops and don't create many turnovers/easy transition baskets. Outside of trading for Asik I don't know how this will change.

I liked Portland more than most people coming into this season but they may be a bit overrated as a deep run playoff team. Their best players (Lillard, Mathews and Aldrich) are all having career years. Can Lillard and Mathews continue to shoot 43% and 44% on 3 point shots as season progresses and their leg get tired? Can they find enough points on nights that the 3 point shots aren't falling? Can their starters all avoid injury? Can any of the bench players step up?

I think they will win a series and probably get knocked off 2nd round but if they can keep the core intact and add possibly one impact guy and find a player among the younger bench guys they will be tough the next few years

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Portland is good but they have 2 real issues that don't have any easy solutions. As CJ said the starting 5 is strong but the bench is a pretty big drop off at every position. They cant afford any injuries at all. Plus that bench is almost all young guys with little experience. The only veteran bench players that they have are PG's and Dorrell Wright. They essentially have no front court players with any playoff experience.

The other issue is that they have problems getting defensive stops and don't create many turnovers/easy transition baskets. Outside of trading for Asik I don't know how this will change.

I liked Portland more than most people coming into this season but they may be a bit overrated as a deep run playoff team. Their best players (Lillard, Mathews and Aldrich) are all having career years. Can Lillard and Mathews continue to shoot 43% and 44% on 3 point shots as season progresses and their leg get tired? Can they find enough points on nights that the 3 point shots aren't falling? Can their starters all avoid injury? Can any of the bench players step up?

I think they will win a series and probably get knocked off 2nd round but if they can keep the core intact and add possibly one impact guy and find a player among the younger bench guys they will be tough the next few years

Chuck what good team does not have a good starting 5? I would take Golden St or Houstons starting 5 all day over Portland. I would also take OKC and the Clippers. Maybe I would take Portlands over San Antonio, but w/ Leonard being a huge wild card, Im not so sure. As for the last paragraph.... What teams are not lined up to be good for the next few years?? OKC is. Golden St and Houston are both going to be good. I dont see how Portland jumps any of these teams? Is it true they are trading Batum and Aldridge for Melo? If so that would be a total disaster. Melo is a ball hog gunner no defense disaster. Its funny I get bashed for bashing Melo, I used to like him. I grew, I understand the game better. Every team this man plays on is better when he is gone. I cant wait to see where he goes in 6 months. Rumor is the Lakers. What a joke that would be, plus if Kevin Love is smart he stays awak in 2015 if Melo is there.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Is it true they are trading Batum and Aldridge for Melo?

Are you high? Seriously...where do you get this stuff?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

Are you high? Seriously...where do you get this stuff?

um I hate Melo. Im not saying I would do it. First take discussed it last week.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

um I hate Melo. Im not saying I would do it. First take discussed it last week.

I'm sure Olshey won't either.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The other issue is that they have problems getting defensive stops and don't create many turnovers/easy transition baskets. Outside of trading for Asik I don't know how this will change.

I think they will win a series and probably get knocked off 2nd round but if they can keep the core intact and add possibly one impact guy and find a player among the younger bench guys they will be tough the next few years

You're right regarding the defense...9 straight games opponents have scored 104 or more. The problem with the Blazers right now is they're just trying to outscore opponents...the defense is terrible. In the beginning of the year they were defending and trying to score within the offense. Asik would be a good addition, depending on what they had to give up to get him.

Winning a series in the playoffs would be a great accomplishment for this team. Obviously they are outperforming everyone's expectations so far this season, but they aren't far off from being a real legitimate contender out West...give Olshey another offseason.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

You're right regarding the defense. The problem with the Blazers right now is they're just trying to outscore opponents...the defense is terrible. In the beginning of the year they were defending and trying to score within the offense. Asik would be a good addition, depending on what they had to give up to get him.

Winning a series in the playoffs would be a great accomplishment for this team. Obviously they are outperforming everyone's expectations so far this season, but they aren't far off from being a real legitimate contender out West...give Olshey another offseason.

If they are a top 4 seed they can win a series, but is that even a lock? I dont think it is. They have a 4.5 game cushion now, but dont you expect Houston, LA and GS to make a push? I do.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

If they are a top 4 seed they can win a series, but is that even a lock? I dont think it is. They have a 4.5 game cushion now, but dont you expect Houston, LA and GS to make a push? I do.

All those early season close wins are starting to even out now, so things will be tightening up in the standings. Before the season started I pegged the Blazers as the 7 seed out West, right now I believe they finish as a top 4 seed. I don't know, all those teams you mentioned have holes...I don't trust Golden State healthwise.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

All those early season close wins are starting to even out now, so things will be tightening up in the standings. Before the season started I pegged the Blazers as the 7 seed out West, right now I believe they finish as a top 4 seed. I don't know, all those teams you mentioned have holes...I don't trust Golden State healthwise.

I know I might overrate GS, I just keep thinking they will go on a big run and they might be on it right now. I know I definitely underrated Portland. I did not expect this from them.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

You should audition for First Take.

I think they do a decent job. On my days off, I like to watch it. Especially NBA talk.