Risk missing the playoffs?

by 7677maniac on Jun 16, 2009 1:40 PM PDT

It seems that this years draft for the Blazer's depends on what the team plans to do in terms of player development, especially in regards to Bayless, Batum, and Oden.

If the Blazers want to concentrate on improving the game of these players they might not want to move anybody until sometime into the season. The Magic showed what happens when a player's game is immature: a team can't win it all.

It seems to me that these players should start and prove themselves as starters in the league, even if it means that the Blazers may miss the playoffs.

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I think that is an awesome idea for a team that is rebuilding.

A team with 20 wins, 30 or possibly even 40. At 54 wins, I think the time for that has passed for the Blazers. That said, Batum and Oden did have starting roles for a chunk of this last season. Not because it was given to them, but because they earned it. Although Batum moreso than Oden. Bayless didn’t earn it. Which is a surprise, because we hear how hard he works. He may very well earn it this next season coming up. And if he does, that is great news for the Blazers, because that means that he is better than our Starting PG instead of us just hoping that someday he might be.

By the way, welcome to Blazers’ Edge! Feel free to jump in on any conversation that is already going. It’s always good to hear another voice out there. If you want some guidelines, click the “New to Blazers’ Edge?” link in my signature line for some tips on how this site works, and how the community functions. Again, good to have you here!

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by T Darkstar on Jun 16, 2009 1:50 PM PDT reply actions

Why they should risk missing the playoffs.

If you aren’t sold on those players, then why play them in the first place.

Can’t get better just practicing.

Finally, it may increase the value of those players.

What’s Portland going to do just let money sit on the bench?

by 7677maniac on Jun 16, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

a few million dollars on the bench is nothing

fans don’t come to see a 54 win team playing their backups in starting roles just to develop them. Teams make money by winning games and getting deep in the playoffs. There isn’t much that could quickly turn fans against a franchise and cost the owner a lot of money, but purposely not playing the best lineups would be one of them.

It’s not smart financially. It’s not smart in basketball terms.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Jun 16, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

couldn't of said it better myself rec

forward is the only direction we should be trying to move

That's right, that's a picture of me with my new bff Joel Przybilla. He said my Billy Idol Karaoke was spot on.

by svlittle on Jun 16, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Not too much of a surprise that Bayless couldn't do it.

Since we do all hear that no one works harder than Sergio.. right?

by staylost on Jun 16, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I wonder what % of NBA players...

Have had someone say that he is the hardest working player in the league, that so and so has ever met, or anything like that.

The Princess of Blazersedge

by Zaig on Jun 17, 2009 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Missing the playoffs is not an option this season.

by MiledAnimal on Jun 16, 2009 2:01 PM PDT reply actions

no way, no how

the championship is our grind

That's right, that's a picture of me with my new bff Joel Przybilla. He said my Billy Idol Karaoke was spot on.

by svlittle on Jun 16, 2009 2:06 PM PDT reply actions

There's no way the same group of players would miss the playoffs next year.

We’ll make them either way, unless we make some really awful trade.

by pualo on Jun 16, 2009 3:30 PM PDT reply actions

Where is the risk?

The risk is putting Oden in the low post and let him develop his skills on offense. Howard showed that delaying development only leads to disappointment. Making the playoffs isn’t the goal, winning the championship is. Oden getting big minutes while he learns to score will make the offense less efficient and the Blazer’s will win fewer games. But the upside is the greater diversity of the Blazer attack as Oden (and other players) develop. If the team won’t take that risk then I think it invalidates KP talent evaluation process.

by 7677maniac on Jun 16, 2009 3:36 PM PDT reply actions

I think everyone grasps the argument

You are suggesting Oden needs big minutes a game. I think most people here would agree that games that Oden plays 30+ minutes, we are going to be an improved team over when he doesn’t. Oden tended not to get yanked from games because of mistakes; it was mostly because of foul trouble and sometimes because he was gassed. If we had played Oden 15-18 mins for the first half of most games last season, at halftime he would have averaged around 5 fouls.

I do believe part of creating a winning culture is rewarding your players when they do what it takes to win. If Bayless wants minutes, he needs to improve his skills and help this team win games. I think your point is valid when you talk about hte players we are anchored to (Oden is good example.) However, you have to decide where to draw the line on who gets preferences for future development. It can’t be everyone (for example, if we drafted a project player this year at #24)

Gimmicks don't make dynasties

by WarEaglePDX on Jun 17, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't understand this post?!?

Batum started and Oden played some big minutes last year and we won 54 games…so how would continuing to play them result in us missing the playoffs? The only one in question is Bayless and he may be moved this summer. Batum and Oden are big parts of our future and will continue to play, but they’ve already done that and we were the 4th seed in the West, so I don’t see how continuing to do so would have us dropping out all together.

by rip_city_swagger on Jun 16, 2009 3:55 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Its a valid question.

Even though Batum, and Oden played significant minutes, Nate never really tried to develop them on the offense end; and kept them in a rather limited role. Playing Joel, and Outway may have made Portland better at that particular moment, but in the end Portland would benefit by playing Oden and Batum more, because they have much more upside.

by MotoMan045 on Jun 16, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I am with you on this...

I don’t see the “big risk” except maybe with Bayless but there is a good chance he is ready to take on a bigger role next year. If it really would cost them the playoffs, I don’t think you play your young guys just to develop them. But I don’t think this is our situation. I think management has to decide whether these particular guys will become champions (in a couple of years) as constituted, or do they need a better balance of veterans and young guys to best utilize the talent they choose to keep. If they stand pat, the playoffs are not guaranteed but I don’t see them falling out of the hunt.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Jun 16, 2009 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions

post v pic and roll

Oden developing a low post game is going to take some sacrifice by the Blazers. It’s difficult to see if Oden has the necessary touch around the basket to be a steady offensive presence in the paint.

Offensively Oden is one dimensional: jump and catch a pass out of the pic and roll.

Defensively too, Oden has to understand NBA offenses and penetrators bettor to be consistent. Can’t see him developing in two to three years if all you ask of him is rebounding and stuffing.

by 7677maniac on Jun 17, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Oden

Oden needs to come to camp in better shape than last season and he’ll get all the opportunity to develop he can handle. Like I said before, stamina/playing shape and discipline (staying out of foul trouble) are his first two concerns. I really don’t think the biggest obstacle for Oden last year was his role in the offense or how we used him. It was him recovering from injury, learning the NBA (and the refs) and his conditioning. When we can rely on him to play 30+ mins a game without constantly getting into foul trouble, than the next step will be to determine how best to utilize his talents.

Gimmicks don't make dynasties

by WarEaglePDX on Jun 17, 2009 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions

The other issue is

you don’t put that kind of pressure on young guys for no reason. The fanbase will demand another 50-60 win team and a run in the playoffs. If it doesn’t happen blame will fall somewhere and it will include guys who didn’t perform well even if they weren’t ready. Do we really need to force Oden, Batum and Bayless into starting roles when none of them are fully ready (batum did an excellent job despite that)? The fans aren’t going to tolerate a huge dropoff in wins for the sake of developing players that will get developed anyway. All this would do is make next season a disappointment and cause fans to dislike our young guys for failing even though they were put in an difficult situation.

Plus, plenty of teams develop young talent without giving them starters minutes.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Jun 16, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions