Wow, talk about fire and ice

by blazerbeliever97504 on Dec 22, 2009 9:13 PM PST

I sit here thinking about how to open this post and i am just shocked. Nic, Rudy, Patty, Oden, Trout, Pendy, now Joel. Seven players on a typically 12-15 player squad, injured. Thats a 45- 65% injury percentage depending on the players under contract.

I fully understand each and everyone of us gets this and knows it all to well. My point is not to rub salt in the wounds but to say that even though we have been (is decimated the right word?) KILLED by injury we still are in the hunt of the playoff race,(to this point) and we should keep in mind that two years ago it was a major achievement to go .500.

The Fire is that we won in dallas, this, for us, just don't happen but through all the adversity, injury, etc, we actually won in one of, if not THE hardest place for us to play. Roy is starting a string of games/ performances we have maybe never seen from a SG (Clyde is his only rival) ever. 23pts 6ast 3reb 4stl 1blk in 41 mins, on 7-19 shooting. Not the best Shooting % but ill take that stat line from my two guard every day of the week. Given his body of work over the last week or two this stat line is stellar.

The ice is the most obvious and glareing negative that could be from this game save for(a theoretical) LMA or Roy going down with the same type injury. Obviously i mean Joel being done for the year........let me pause and say, i am a Blazer fan, a Seahawk fan, and a Charter Cable Employee, All of these things have something in common........Paul Allen, his situation, along with our injuries, the Seahawk injuries, and other things seem to paint a picture of bad fortune that at this juncture seems epic.

However, in my opinion we have alot to be thankful for....Roy, LMA, Bayless......we have alot of hope....Miller, Webster, and any trade that brings a big man. We have a few spots of need even though half our roster is gone for the year. Those spots being Center,(obviously) Back-up PF, Starting SF,(ours continues to be one of the worst in the league)and starting PG.(platooning is never good)

Lets talk now about what we can do to make our situation better. What things can we do? What trades make sense? (i apologize if this impedes on the trade drawer) Just where the hell, in your guys' opinion do we go from here? I, for the life of me cant see a solution to get out of the hole we are in. This may have been somewhat random but i just cant rationalize our situation and i invite my fellow Bedgers to help me analyze our current situation.

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Honestly...

My buddy Jon suggested we ride out the season playing smaller lineups. While I partially agree, we also have our overseas boys (Kopponen, Freeland, Claver, etc.) that maybe the team will explore bringing over. I think to endure a trade could simply be a temporary fix; in other words, guys that we may not need (too much skill set overlap?) when our injured eventually return. Just my 2 cents. Anyone else?

"I struggle, sitting on my hands"--Kevin Pritchard

by patrickroy on Dec 22, 2009 9:23 PM PST reply actions

I think we soldier on with what we have

And try and win as many games as possible. Only Joel and Greg are done for the year, the rest of our team is coming back.

We’ll have to learn how to play defense without a dominant shot-blocking, rebounding big man to get our backs. Aldridge will have post plays and touches galore to show what he’s worth. Our rookies will develop, and we’ll get an idea what we have in Bayless. Nate will have to get creative in rotations and matchups to stay competitive.

All of those things are going to make us a better team again next year, when we have our guys healthy again. That’s why this season isn’t a bust for us; it’s a chance for our guys to scrap, claw, and find ways to win. This season is about grit and determination.

If you ever hear of someone punching out a girl scout and stealing her Samoas, it was me
- Mortimer

by Clevelander among roses on Dec 22, 2009 9:24 PM PST reply actions

we have never been with out both our centers......

with our current make-up. To be honest i cant remeber a successful team that has no true center. Correct me if im wrong.

by blazerbeliever97504 on Dec 22, 2009 9:26 PM PST up reply actions

Plz dont say phnx

by blazerbeliever97504 on Dec 22, 2009 9:27 PM PST up reply actions

Houston, this year

Phoenix, this year and every year before Shaq. Detroit won a championship with the Ben Wallace roaming the middle, and he was 6’9; I don’t consider him a true center

Aldridge is 6-11, he was considered a forward-center prospect out of college. I don’t think we’re going to compete for an NBA championship this year without Greg and Joel, but I do think we can improve as a team and make the playoffs, perhaps even win a series. I certainly don’t think that we make any drastic moves based on our situation, or at least nothing that gives us a lesser chance of winning in the future, like giving up our Euros/draft picks for a 1 year rent-a-player, or something like that.

If you ever hear of someone punching out a girl scout and stealing her Samoas, it was me
- Mortimer

by Clevelander among roses on Dec 22, 2009 9:55 PM PST up reply actions

rebounding

Portland is going to have a tough time getting stops without Przy, the team’s biggest advantage last year has turned into their greatest weakness. They might as well put a welcome mat out in the lane because there’s no legitimate shotblocker, either

It’s been awhile since before Joel, but those teams with Z-bo in the middle offered up the “Twinkie” defense and that’s right where the Blazers are back to, unless KP can catch lightning in a bottle and find another Przybilla out there

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 22, 2009 10:06 PM PST up reply actions

We have never been without both our centers

So what? We’ve played line-ups without either Joel or Greg in them, and been effective. It’s not a preference to be forced into it, but that’s the situation, so that’s what we’ll do.

If you ever hear of someone punching out a girl scout and stealing her Samoas, it was me
- Mortimer

by Clevelander among roses on Dec 22, 2009 9:59 PM PST up reply actions

Thats the dilema,

what to do from here? trade or ride it out?

by blazerbeliever97504 on Dec 22, 2009 9:24 PM PST reply actions

well.

plus, who do we trade for

by blazerbeliever97504 on Dec 22, 2009 9:24 PM PST reply actions

KP will say calm waters

and he’ll try like heck to not get poached in a desperation trade

no Blazer under 25 years old should be dealt, the “window” has closed and won’t be reopened for another year or two

Target: look for a younger backup PF/C to team with Greg, since it looks like Joel will be out beyond next fall. Pendergraph is back but he won’t be nearly enough

Deal from depth, that means either Blake or Miller. Bayless is ready for more PT, Rudy will be back and Mills can fill in when needed. No sudden moves, but plan to deal one of the veteran PGs before the deadline. Add Outlaw to the deal if his salary helps bring back the right combination of young talent.

For goodness sake don’t run Brandon and LMA into the ground to finish 7/8…why potentially shorten their careers for a lost season?

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 22, 2009 9:34 PM PST reply actions 2 recs