problem is that the rest of the big players in the west got much stronger. Playing in the regular season is a lot different than playing in the playoffs and this team hasnt fixed their major hole. Unless Oden turns into a Shaq like force title hopes are drying up quickly. Come on KP go get Harris or Paul

I agree with most of your takes…love the comment about Batum being the lovechild of Prince and Pippen.

Two points of contention I would like to bring up -

1) Martell does not have incredible upside. He has two bad feet, a good jumper, and a fragile psyche. I think Martell has the potential to be an average SF in the NBA, which isn’t a bad thing considering he has some qualities the Blazers covet. I don’t think he has enough varied skills (i.e.dribbling, passing, lateral quickness on defense) to have great upside.

2) I think it is important to make a distinction between scorers and playmakers, at least from my point of view. Portland has plenty of scorers, but relatively few playmakers. Scorers would be players that once they are put in the right position, can put the ball in the hoop with incredibly efficiency. They are the end to the means. Outlaw, Rudy, Webster, Blake,…all these guys can knock down jumpers when open. They are great at finishing the play.

Playmakers would be the ballhandlers who set these guys up to score. The means to the end. We have Roy and to a limited degree LMA and that’s it for the players that can create shots for other players. Rudy, Outlaw, Blake…they can’t beat their guy off the dribble and setup teammates consistently.

Even though our scorers didn’t play particularly well, I believe our lack of playmakers really hurt the Blazers in the playoffs. Like or dislike the contract, Hedu would have fit that bill perfectly for the Blazers.

I would argue that derek fisher is more of an inside threat than you give him credit for. He is not great in that category, but he is certainly better than blake. He attempts to break down the defense more often and doesn’t completely suck at taking it to the rim.

I love blake. I really don’t see too much wrong with his play. Steve concerns me in two areas of play and I believe the majority agree. He is an average defender and he lacks the gusto to take it to the rim and finish. The latter being my biggest concern.

I can’t see hinrich blowing us away when guarding the likes of paul, williams, parker, ellis, and others, although he might be a slight upgrade. Blakes inability to break down the defense and create for himself and his teammates is his greatest weakness. We went after Turk with the intention to add a third scorer. We reportedly failed. So I want our next move, and third scorer to be our point guard. It makes sense, to me, that the point would be the next logical scorer behind Roy and LA. The 1 is just that, the 1. He, being the point, brings the ball up the court, applies pressure through the pick and roll, and most importantly puts pressure on the opposing teams big men. Yao never got called for fouls against our point guards.

Blake is a great teammate on the court and a person off the court. Yet he remains just a good player on the court. His deficiencies on the offensive side of the ball made me cringe. He has the ball in his hands. Our intention with Turk was to make him the point-forward in late game situations along side roy and aldridge. Blake was in that position last year and as of right now is in that same position. If Turk is really gone than we need to add another piece to the puzzle. I believe that we need a third scorer for those late game situations. Roy is bogged down.Thus point guard is the place we upgrade.

Miller is that man. He can score and create. He is still available and I believe cheaper than Turk.

I agree whole heartedly, especially about Adam Morrison and Derek Fisher. I think Andre Miller and Chris Anderson would be great fits to what we already have, that is unless by some chance we could acquire Devin Harris, I like Sessions as well albeit he is only a 2nd year player but the guy has tremendous scoring ability and upside and imo would compliment B Roy well and coincide with our championship window. Let’s not panic Blazer maniacs! expect big things from this young and talented team. How many of you honestly saw us winning 54 games last year? The problem is that we exceeded expectations so drastically that everybody forgot how young and inexperienced we are and that we weren’t suppose to be there anyway. I think this same team we have (even after losing Frye and Sergio) can still be even better. Alot better. Dont under estimate the true greatness of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Our 4 rookies last season will be savages this season, Write that down!!! Go Blazers!!!!

I have a similar take on things.

    I agree. Roy and Aldridge are both very young. Everybody on this team is young, they possess good characters, and have an abundance of unharnessed talent. It’s amazing. The rookies… It’s very cool to think about.

were not on the teams in the way of the Blazers for a ring. Those teams are still the Spurs, Lakers and now the Nuggets. Facing Artest and Kobe will even be harder for Roy than going up against Shane and Artest because of how much effort he will have to use in guarding one of them. With no one else to create for this team how can they possibly compete with teams like the Lakers and avoid a repeat of their performance in last season’s playoffs?

that Bayless wasnt given a chance to develop more last year. If we are going with Bayless and Blake we’re essentially having a rookie at back up pg. I guess thats the price you pay for wanting to win.

I think most people here still feel generally optimistic – there’s just concern because at this point our cap space is ‘use it or lose it’ due to LMA and Broy’s extensions.

Also, I agree we probably need an upgrade at PG – but it’s okay to wait a year and see if Bayless pans out. KP & co really believe in him. I’d be okay with something like Blake + Outlaw for Hinrich, because that would be an upgrade, but would still give Bayless the opportunity for increasing minutes and possibly starting in a few years.

I think Martell has less potential then you say, and Batum has more. I think we have at least future starting SF covered even if Webster doesn’t return well, and if he does we’re set for that position.

The Blazers still need a back up power forward and IMO Antonio McDyess is that player that they need at that spot. And McDyess is a very good Vet.
Mark ‘Dyess’ down for a double-double each night. After re-joining Detroit mid-season, the polite veteran posted a workmanlike 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. McDyess could replace Yao in Houston, where he, coincidentally, has his off-season home. But if KP can Make him an offer and let him know Portland is where he needs to be if he wants a RING. The Blazers need McDyess as their back up power forward/Center

with this post and BBK, why fix anything? We won 54 games with the youngest team and 4 rookies. The Blazers have the talent, all they need is the experience. Next year we will see a marked improvement by everyone. Give them time to mature and develop.

My concern now is because we went after Turk, we have Rudy, Batum, Webster, Outlaw all PO’d about the lack of loyalty the Blazer mangement showed to them. The coaches and KP were all talking about believing in them and going to war with them in the playoffs, and then they try to replace them the first chance they get in the off season. Welcome to the Blazer family.

We need a back up banger for PF and C. Although, I would like to see what Pendergraph can do. From what I have seen of him on film, I think he would do fine. I would be happy just going into the season with who we have, and using “Peppermint” Patty to spice things up as the #3 PG.