Will Nuggets trade affect Blazers' playoff hopes?

by SandbergOnSports on Nov 3, 2008 9:12 PM PST

I'm suprised there hasn't been a lengthy discussion on this topic yet. but I wanted to gage the reactions of my fellow Blazer fans to see how today's trade sending Iverson to the Pistons and Billups to the Nuggets will affect the NW division standings.

Obviously, the first reaction will be that the Nuggets traded one of the league's best scorers, and will therefore be more limited offensively. You can't replace the scoring of an Allen Iverson. From that standpoint, it would seem like the Nuggets would be weaker.

However, they got a solid poing guard in return, one who doesn't demand 30 shots a game like Iverson. Granted, Billups is definitely a scorer, but does is presence ease things for Denver and allow Carmelo Anthony to be the focal point? I suspect that there won't be any confusion about whose team it is, and there wont be any fighting for shots. 'Melo will be the main guy, with Billups running point and providing scoring here and there to back things up.

Before the season, most people had the Northwest division being won by Utah, with Portland second and Denver third. Does this trade change things? Is Denver any better, and if so, does it hurt the Blazers' playoff hopes?

Or, will nothing happen? Is it simply inconsequential in regards to the Blazers?

Personally, I think the Blazers still take second in the NW, with Denver finishing at about 10th in the West.

Any thoughts?

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If Greg Oden misses any more games

or doesnt have any sort of expected impact in the games he plays, then yes we will be doomed

"All our holes," says shooting guard Brandon Roy, a surprise All-Star last year in his second season, "are holes that Greg is going to plug."

by bowdown on Nov 3, 2008 9:17 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

not necessarily

we were in the hunt last year without him…i’d like to think that our core has gotten better due to 1 more year of experience, and we already have 2 other first round lotto picks that we added to the team. it may not be a lock this year, but i still like our chances.

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Nov 3, 2008 9:28 PM PST up reply actions

we were still 9 games behind

dont forget the 13 game win streak which i totally think was a very rare but fun experience. if it wasnt for the streak we should had been around 37 38 wins

"All our holes," says shooting guard Brandon Roy, a surprise All-Star last year in his second season, "are holes that Greg is going to plug."

by bowdown on Nov 3, 2008 9:47 PM PST up reply actions

or lower :P

"All our holes," says shooting guard Brandon Roy, a surprise All-Star last year in his second season, "are holes that Greg is going to plug."

by bowdown on Nov 3, 2008 9:48 PM PST up reply actions

ahem

We have only ONE other lotto pick. Rudy and Nic were both drafted in the mid to late twenties. Lotto picks are only picks 1-15

We cannot put up with this flagrant lack of accountability anymore.

by MT Suit on Nov 3, 2008 9:48 PM PST up reply actions

rudy

rudy would have been considered a lotto pick had GMs felt he would play in the nba. you cant tell me that with his skillset he wouldnt have been chosen in the top 15 in this years draft.

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Nov 3, 2008 9:51 PM PST up reply actions

i think he would've gone to the knicks instead of gali..oh i have no idea how to spell that guys name

remember, remember the fifth of November

by Zaron5551 on Nov 3, 2008 10:20 PM PST up reply actions

i can picture that.

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Nov 3, 2008 10:59 PM PST up reply actions

Lets do the math:

41 games last year + Improved players in Roy, LA, Webster, Outlaw, & Sergio + No Jarret Jack – James Jones + Rudy Fernandez + Nic Batum = 5-10 game improvement IMO.

That’s with no Greg Oden in the equation.

I think Denver only improves if they get BOTH Billups & McDeyess. If no McDeyess, I consider it not impacting their chances success – good or bad. McD is saying that he’s expecting to re-sign with Detroit. Should make for some good drama.

when i get sad, i stop being sad & become awesome again. true story.

by Net Ranger on Nov 4, 2008 12:19 AM PST up reply actions

Lets do the math/budget for Denver

Net worth as of last season: 50-32 (.610)

Assets: Billups + more playing time for a happy J.R. Smith (new contract, very good stats and PER at the end of last season) + all the shots Melo wants + Renaldo Balkman (one of the few Knicks who cared) + Chris Andersen + Cheikh Samb + maybe McDyess + a $10 M trade exception

Liabilities: Allen Iverson + Marcus Camby + Eduardo Najera + Yakhouba Diawara + Bobby Jones + Taurean Green

Mhm, are they honestly a lot worse than last year with that setup? I suppose their defense won’t be better (and it was horrible last season), though some Nuggets fans even argue Nene is the better player on the center position. I think it will be quite a fight that could come down to the last games in April.

by Norsktroll on Nov 4, 2008 12:38 AM PST up reply actions

Karl was just on with Dan Patrick

he said they emphasized defense during camp and it’s improved but their offense has been “behind” George expect CB will help get the other players involved. The absense of AI will provide more minutes for their young players, etc

When the TBs pass the Nugs in the standings and stay above them for awhile maybe we can all relax…until then, it’s all spec re: who will have the best W-L record

by two4larue on Nov 4, 2008 1:34 PM PST up reply actions

poor t green lol

honor terry porter

by Ben Golliver on Nov 4, 2008 3:51 PM PST up reply actions

He seems to be doing ok in Spain

Stats. More playing time than Petteri.

by Norsktroll on Nov 4, 2008 4:22 PM PST up reply actions

There is a fanpost right below this one.

If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of them.-Charles Barkley

by Winchester on Nov 3, 2008 9:20 PM PST reply actions

no kidding

I’m suprised there hasn’t been a lengthy discussion on this topic yet.

Other than the fanpost below, probably 2 or 3 fanshots, and the Junk Drawer I’m sure. But other than that, you are correct. ;)

by shralpster on Nov 3, 2008 10:18 PM PST up reply actions

OK my bad

Reading the fanpost titles didn’t give me an accurate reading of the subject. But my point is still valid…how does this trade specifically affect the Blazers?

The inbound to McGinnis, drives, stops, pumps, shoots, short, no good...AND THE GAME IS OVER! ~ Bill Schonely

by SandbergOnSports on Nov 3, 2008 10:53 PM PST up reply actions

that had

me laughing out loud as soon as I read it. (the line you quoted from the OP)

by usmcr3049 on Nov 4, 2008 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

much better title

than the other one. the other title reminds me of joe bidens speech about how the next president will be tested.

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Nov 3, 2008 9:27 PM PST reply actions

I'm gonna go out on a limb here...

and predict that the Blazers get number 1 in the NW division. How do you like dem apples?

by blazerbeliever on Nov 3, 2008 10:23 PM PST reply actions

I don't care what the Nuggets do

If the Blazers don’t play better, they won’t win 41 games. Another 13 game winning streak is unlikely.

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO

by blzrfan on Nov 3, 2008 11:18 PM PST reply actions

We control our own destiny

We can compete with any team in this league. Regardless of what other teams do, we just need to take care of our own business. If we can play to our potential, we’ll make the playoffs. If we screw around, then we’ll miss out. It’s that simple I think.

Can I buy you a fish sandwich?

by silkybrown on Nov 3, 2008 11:56 PM PST reply actions

No

Denver isn’t dramtically improved, I don’t buy that for a second. Either the Blazers improve and they’ll go, or they keep playing like lost children and they won’t.

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Nov 4, 2008 7:54 AM PST reply actions

Well

Obviously I think you pay attention to what other teams are doing but ultimately you simply try to build the best team you can and put the best team you can on the floor. Is Denver better? That’s going to be hard to gauge because the improvement if any is going to be based I think on a potentially better chemistry.

The recent past has had The Blazers, like most everyone, really struggle to stop Iverson. Part of me is glad he’s back East. Billups is a great player but he was surrounded with great talent in Detroit, Just have to see how he fits in in Denver. I’m sure Denvers logic was that Billups would offer better chemistry with Anthony and perhaps better leadership as a whole. Neither move for either team I think changes the ultimate level of what they might be able to achieve. What I mean by that is I don’t see Championship Banners for either Denver or Detroit.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Nov 4, 2008 8:15 AM PST reply actions

Hmm..

I don’t know why people seem to think Denver improving suddenly dashes our playoff hopes. There are plenty of other teams that are shaky and that could drop out of the playoff picture. Dallas hasn’t looked great so far. San Antonio, though you never want to count them out, are terribly thin. The Suns, too, will be hurting when Shaq takes his customary 20-30 games off.

We don’t need Denver to fail for us to succeed.

by Krivicide on Nov 4, 2008 9:08 AM PST reply actions