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Building a succesful team

It seems everybody and their mother thinks the Blazer's  should be trading Zach and Jack.  I just don't see it.

A good team has a rotation, not just five starters.  That means about eight rotation players and then five or six guys to fill the hole if one of those eight goes down with an injury (and are content with that role). This is what makes successful teams.

Our eight would come from the group
jack, sergio, roy, martell, zach, aldridge, the #1 pick (I'm assuming Oden), outlaw and udoka (the latter two, if they are resigned).  Sure there is room to upgrade this group but it must be in a balanced way to make a successful team.

For the bigs, a 3-man rotation is ideal as the 4-5  spots offer 96 minutes total giving each player 32 minutes each.  That is good number to stick to over the long haul of the season.  I think it would be awesome to have a 3-man rotation with zach, aldridge, and oden...there would be no letting up of pressure in the second unit.  It also give versality in scoring (zach & aldridge) or defense(aldridge & oden) or both (zach & oden) for what ever the sitution in the game dictates.  Or backup bigs are then Joel and in a pinch Outlaw.

If we trade away Zach for a premier SF (sorry there is now way we trade an established 20&10 guy for a rookie, that's just stupid), then we need another big to complete the rotation unless you think Aldridge, Oden  and Pryz (or Raef) are a sufficient rotation.  Hey I like Joel, but I can't see him and Oden on the floor together. Therefore another PF will also be needed. Joel and Raef make great reserve in case of injury players.

For the backcourt players, you want five guys that are flexible so that different strengths are available with differing 3-man combos. I'd want Jack, Sergio, Roy, Outlaw and Udoka. I'd have  to leave Martell as the odd man out for injury relief  or sparse minutes in blowouts (with Blazers winning of course). Jones and Dickau would make up the remainder of the backup crew.

Notice it is safer to have 3 PGs, in case that one goes down you still have left to rotate. Jack is a very servicable PG after his 2nd season. He was about average among starting points.  Sure he came from a draft class with two premier points, but name that last good point in another draft class who is established.  PGs take longer than any other position to blossom (4 years on average). Jack is well ahead of the curve and only getting better. We'd be foolish to let him go even with Sergio.  I see the possibility of a great 3 guard rotation with Roy, Jack and Sergio.  

That leaves two rotation men for SF. It'd be better is one of those could play some minutes at SG.  Take you pick Outlaw for O or Udoka for D. Martell would have to spell these guys in case of injury as the backup until he establishes himself on the court.

This is what I beleive KP is going to try and build.  However due to the teams' young age it is not clear who are longterm keepers and who will be happy on the reserve crew (players either on the downside or up-and-coming side of their careers).  These are the roles that need to be filled.  The blazers biggest weakness is the 3.  If you trade away a mainstay like Jack or Zach to upgrade the 3, the drop at one or four should be bigger than the gain at the 3.

Sorry for the longwindedness, (that's why I love reading Dave'S Blog), but please for the love of god no more posts about trading Zach for a rookie 3 as an upgrade or Jack just so we can gamble on Conley.

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A summary
The 8-man rotation guys:
Guards: Roy, Jack, Sergio
Swingmen: Outlaw, Udoka
Frontcourt: Zach, Aldridge, Oden

The relief crew for injury replacement or for minutes during blowouts to develope:
PG: Dickau
Swingmen: Jones, Martell
Bigs: Joel, Raef

That leaves Miles as a spot filler who is not going anywhere.

I love hearing trade but let's give trade's that fit by replacing players in the above framework.

by NWfan on Jun 1, 2007 9:56 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Would Outlaw make an effective backup PF?
If so, trade Zach for the best small forward you can get and move Outlaw into Zbo's spot on the rotation.

by Dior Aranel on Jun 1, 2007 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i like what KP is thinking
and that's simply acquire talent. Because honestly we don't have alot, but it's improving. If we just acquire pure talent, we can always mold into something later.
Welcome Greg Oden

by junit3123 on Jun 1, 2007 10:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Good thoughts
Everybody wants to trade, trade, trade instead of building by aquiring young talent and developing it.  Martell has been a disappointment so far but he still could blossom,  Outlaw can become more consistent, and Jack is solid.  

Championship teams benefit from playing together over a long period of time.  They develop a core and then add usually only one, maybe two key pieces that push them over the top.  We are still putting the core together and Zach could be the bargaining chip that brings in the final piece next year or the year after.  

I think the Blazers will hold onto Zach for another year unless they get what they think is the perfect trade.

Your scenario wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen.

by tssbro on Jun 1, 2007 11:25 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

at the end of the day
i guarantee you guys that with oden or durant coming that zbo,outlaw,martell,jack,dickau wiil not be on the roster opening night.why because with a core of potentially 3 cap players who're going to get paid,those other guys are not going to get paid with p.allen signature on it period. so like i told mr.mastermind yesterday you guys should figuring out.you guys are real funny like i've been saying you guys don't know a real star if he was right in front of you guys.it's time to win know portland get use to it.you guys are to use to mediocrity now you can think big.damn you guys are funny veteran "role players" not mediocre bench guys that we passed on the likes of j.howard ,m.daniels,d.willaims,c.paul to say others and also don't forget the all forgettable 2004 draft the likes of telfair you guys called him bassy he's soon to be out of the nba,kryhapa soon to be out of the nba,monia he could'nt get back to the kremlin fast enough and the biggest piece of human feces mr.ha he's should be shinning shoes by now in downtown seoul..all of that drek and we could've ha al jefferson..great drafting j.nash we love yah baby you moron...

by fatty on Jun 2, 2007 11:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Trading Zbo is common sense.
    You trade Zbo this summer for several reasons.
1. His value will never be higher than now.
   If he stays, it's only a matter of time before
   another incident. A leopard does not change
   it's spots, and Zbo is from the ghetto.
   Strip clubbing, street racing, dog fighting,
   mini gang posse, gun toteing, skank swapping,
   etc, etc, etc. Why would he change now ?
2. With GO and LMA, you have two young players
   who need touches to improve their post games
   and Zbo is not going to be happy with a
   reduced role. Nate and staff will want a
   more balanced attack and will insist on ball
   movement. It will only be a matter of time
   before Zbo complains and demands a trade. Then
   KP will have to work from a position of
   weakness.
3. Zack will always be a horrible defender. You
   cannot be a championship contender with a
   ole' defender. If he puts up 25 with 5 TO's,
   while giving up 30, it's not a gain.
4. Zach is a Black Hole. Yes, he's a fantastic
   post player/shooter, but a very poor passer.
   This stops movement of the ball and people.
   Players start standing around. Need proof ?
   I have every game on tape for the last 25 yrs,
   and you won't find the Spurs/Suns/Pistons
   standing around or not moving the ball.
5. Arguing with the referees was a hallmark of the
   Sheed & Mousey teams, and where did that get
   us? Zbo had one or two episodes a game where
   he's arguing a call at one end, while all the
   rest are at the other end of the court. Do you
   want that kind of example for our young kids?
   Roy argued the least of anyone last year, and
   he probably had the most to complain about.
   Let Nate/Staff work the refs !
              It's GO time !
   

by walkoff41 on Jun 2, 2007 1:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It's GO time...
I don't know if you originated that or not but it's a great slogan ( providing of course that we get GO).
"...though you may fail...aim at something high." Henry David Thoreau

by Dr Dave on Jun 2, 2007 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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