Reality Check - Your Portland Trailblazers 2010-2011

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 7:58 PM PDT

What has happened to the optimism on this site? We've been mucking about in the sewage waters of glass-half full all last season. We only got 50 wins even though half our team was out with injuries. And the politics and he-said-she-said of the Tom Penn/KP/PA saga of epic weirdness. I get it, all right I GET IT.

But let's have a moment to reflect on your Portland Trailblazers for the year 2010-2011. As long as the genetically engineered robotic zombie apocalypse doesn't happen until 2012 I believe we have, gasp, with no trades at all, a very respectable team.

With all the talk of these "superteams" with lebron and wade and zombie john stockton what I see is a very bizarre chemistry experiment. The l*kers are probably still the biggest threat since Jackson came back. So after the Jump, I present the Blazersedge Nation to your 2010-2011 Portland Trailblazers...

Center:

Power Forward:

Small Forward:

Shooting Guard:

Point Guard:

** unsigned rookie

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Comments

optimism ftw

you spelled nicolas’ name wrong

Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
marty>babbitt

by thomasikehara on Jul 4, 2010 8:08 PM PDT reply actions

thanks

updated

Geriatric Dunk Squad!
1/4/10 - Juwan Howard dunks on Chris Kaman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTkOqDgLb6s
3/7/10 - Andre Miller Tomahawk jams on the Denver Nuggets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-JVgm7F1QA
4/12/10 - Marcus Camby drops 30 and 13 on OKC to cement 50 wins. http://www.nba.com/blazers/media/camby_chant_041310.mp3

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Making our PF look pretty thin there

Though Camby, Pendergraph and Cunningham can all fill minutes there.

by Sir.Ludo on Jul 4, 2010 8:21 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I did notice that as well

MLE? Any rumors sound fun?

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Shifting Cunningham to PF helps.

That’s where he played most of last season anyway. It would also show why the Blazers are after SFs this offseason.

by poster on Jul 5, 2010 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Looks good, but not good enough

I don’t want to win 55 games and go home in the 1st or 2nd round, which I fear this team left unaltered would bring. I don’t like being a pessimist but there are certain dynamics of NBA title winners that ours is currently lacking, namely a true 2nd star to couple with a hopefully healthy Roy. Hell even Kobe needed Gasol to get back to winning rings. Do we really think we are going to do the same with one star and a bunch of nice players? We should all remember how the “too deep” vs “two deep series” turns out.

If we can really turn a bunch of our good but not great players into 1 superstar you just got to do it. I am glad we have all of these “assets” which can be moved into something bigger, that’s the real reason teams on the rise should initially stockpile them. Boston did this a few years back and got some hardware and came damn close again this year, I’d be damn satisfied with that type of result, wouldn’t we all honestly?

by ebnerblazer on Jul 4, 2010 8:36 PM PDT reply actions

pistons dominated the lakers, blazers were a quarter away in '00

We should all remember how the "too deep" vs "two deep series" turns out.

Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
marty>babbitt

by thomasikehara on Jul 4, 2010 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions

One anomaly and one close but no cigar instance does not refute the larger point

Two + star teams win titles while teams that are deep while lacking true stars do not (as a rule). Roy is still <Kobe as much as this pains me to say, so to essentially be on level footing with LA we need someone whose skill level (not necessarily same position) needs to be > than Gasol. LA had arguably the two best players on the court in the Finals and it paid off. Star treatment whistles just being one of many obvious advantages.

by ebnerblazer on Jul 4, 2010 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not going to jump on the "first round and out" bandwagon with this team

Not till I see another year with Greg in the playoffs. I have a hard time labeling the team anything until I see the entire team in action. Houston caught us when we were shy on vets and experience. Phoenix caught us when we were hurt and we still gave them a run for their money – right before they rolled the spurs and took the champs to game 6.
I think we would all love to see a move made to get another star, however I look at this roster and I see four potential all stars this season. I’ll take 4 all stars over two superstars. Kobe and Gasol still need Odom, Bynum and Fish.
And for everyone who thinks we are spinning our wheels till we land CP3/Harris/DWill/etc., take a look who the starting PG for the L*kers is. Dre > Fish…..just sayin.

by dirtboydave on Jul 4, 2010 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

It does not have to be a PG but...

I still am convinced that 4 good players does not beat 2 great ones in the NBA. The NBA has pretty much always been about stars, more so than other sports really. We like to believe that the team first concept is a winner, but reality is that Jordan and Kobe both could be called ball hogs but certainly well decorated ones.

by ebnerblazer on Jul 4, 2010 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions

#52

by Jeffe Portland on Jul 5, 2010 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions

The "Star" thing is overated . . .

so I believe it all resides with GO coming back healthy. If GO can play a full
season at the level of fall of 2009, he’s a top five center in the league. Big rebounding,
great defense/inside physicality and a low post threat to free our shooters and slashers.
Most would agree Smooth is just on the outside of All-Star, but he is a very athletic looooong
runner who can stick the 18-20 footer and score with his back to the basket. If you suppliment
those guys with Batum (wing D, very good spot up 3 and improving slasher), Camby
(Excellent rebounding, great weak side shot blocking & high BBIQ) and BRex ( Hard driving
slasher, improving jump shooter and D) to Roy & Miller, you have the makings of a championship contender. There are plenty of pieces, we just need good health and time to
help the team come together !

GO BLAZERS !!

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jul 5, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I wish that were true

Since if true this would have helped the Blazers win more titles over the years. However, just go back and look at the teams who have actually won titles and you will find that in nearly all cases they were teams with multiple stars, and not just a team of bunch of good players. A few good players can buy you a star though so we still have hope with the core of this team.

by ebnerblazer on Jul 5, 2010 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I was dissapointed to see cunningham's highlight was from college

until I realized who he was dunking on. Hate me some Durant for all the wrong reasons.
Nice post. Love the optimisim and the video compilation. I think this site could use a few more posts like this regarding our current roster to drowned out all the posts and shots about the roster we don’t have.

by dirtboydave on Jul 4, 2010 9:16 PM PDT reply actions

You've got 16 players.

one has to go….

Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.

by jenstcy on Jul 4, 2010 9:21 PM PDT reply actions

I don't see howard coming back

but what does that do for our backup PF? I guess fill with camby, pendergraph or cunningham but maybe they will still move rudy?

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Camby will play a lot of backup PF

He can play and fit perfectly with Oden and LMA alike; maybe even better than LMA can fit with Oden (at least initially).

Dante can be a good backup PF as well.

I think Batum, against certain spread 4s, and maybe even Babbitt (though who knows, really) would be better options than Juwan as well.

We got options!

Morty Day McGilliguddy.

#52

by Mortimer on Jul 5, 2010 5:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I was sorry to see 3M go !

I’m concerned about Batum’s shoulder/ fragility. Yes, he’s looooong and
talented, but sometimes those guys don’t hold up to the physicality of the NBA.
Martel was much more physically able to deal with the Melo/LBJ/Artest’s of the
NBA than Batum. I really think this trade is going to come back to haunt the Blazers,
as Martell was coming into his own on Defense, improving as a slasher to go with
his outside shooting. I just hope Dante can keep improving to give us that physical
defender at the 3 by learning to move his feet. The body and desire is there, but
quickness is required to slow the big scorers on the wing.

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jul 5, 2010 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I bet Juwan is more likely to return than Diener.

CKTK: A music blog. We write about what we want to write about.

#14

by Mr. Knox on Jul 6, 2010 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I love me some Trailblazers

This would be a great team to watch and root for. (Although it does have 16 players, which is one too many, meaning a trade or a pass on Juwan, or waivers.)

But a lot of fans, and most fans here, want more. I would like 1) a banger PF and 2) a knock-down three point shooting veteran, to round out the roster, please.

Although one more non-L#ker all-star is always welcome.

In KP I trusted!

by LaoTzu on Jul 4, 2010 9:24 PM PDT reply actions

Dujuan Blair would have been nice

but that seems to be the whole to fill…

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Well said. I'm starting to give up hope that we land a major impact player because I don't think my social life can handle any more obsessing about it.

Reality check ftw.

"What people need to know is that those pictures were taken a year and a half ago, and I've grown since then." - Greg Oden

by dario argento on Jul 4, 2010 9:37 PM PDT reply actions

where is travis diener???

Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
marty>babbitt

by thomasikehara on Jul 4, 2010 9:50 PM PDT reply actions

being digested.

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Jul 4, 2010 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

updated

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Why aren't my links working?

just curious…

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 9:52 PM PDT reply actions

fixed

by Eat Politicians on Jul 4, 2010 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Will Juwan and Travis still be under contract when the season starts?

by jigglyai on Jul 5, 2010 12:17 AM PDT reply actions

Juwan as a coach?

It’s still a contract.

by ORDucktape on Jul 5, 2010 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions

no

and nor will patty,

Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
marty>babbitt

by thomasikehara on Jul 5, 2010 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Reality Check duly appreciated.

I feel good about the coming season.

by panfolk on Jul 5, 2010 2:32 AM PDT reply actions

I suppose the good thing about this off season is the player movement is all in the East

We don’t have to worry about a West team getting Lebron. That alone gives me a positive outlook on the season.

"In fact you might say that Ugly is the Blazers' secret weapon this year."
-Dave
As for the Blazers...They are officially the NBA equivalent of a movie serial killer
-basketbawful

by Magnum on Jul 5, 2010 5:33 AM PDT reply actions

And even with the fat stupid dumb Lakers winning the title again

They aren’t really that great of a team, and the West is wide open. Depending on how free agency shakes out, the whole league could be wide open. The recent finals was one of the weakest finals teams in the history of the galaxy.

First and foremost we need Oden healthy, followed by Roy, and hopefully we can make some smart signings/trades this offseason to shore up our various needs. Despite a rough year, we’re still a very young and promising team.

Morty

#52

by Mortimer on Jul 5, 2010 5:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Swearing is prohibited on this site !!!

You wrote a nasty curse word in your title ! Please be more
careful in the future !

Sincerely,
Walkoff

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jul 5, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Just imagine the stress

of being one of the teams with a lot of cap space. Their fans must have their teeth chattering, their eyes staring off into empty space while they white knuckle their coffee cups.
We’ve got nearly the whole package in my opinion. Maybe a good role player and some teamwork away.

by Jeffe Portland on Jul 5, 2010 8:44 AM PDT reply actions

eh... as much as i love juwan howard around this team

i dont see him coming back, i can positively say most of us dont see him coming back, travis diener, i liked him college but not in the pros. the guy is a third string point on any team

chad kho

by chadkho on Jul 5, 2010 11:51 AM PDT reply actions

i don't figure he will

but imagine if we make a movie it will be for a backup PF…Cunningham is a smidge undersized for PF but it can get some minutes there (I like him better at SF)…I wish pendergraph could move down to PF, but the team seems to think he’s a Center. And of course Camby can do some minutes there, but hopefully we don’t lean on him too much, I want him healthy at center…So yeah, I’m assuming we don’t resign Howard, I’m just not sure what they plan on doing to fill that spot…

by Eat Politicians on Jul 5, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions

i dont see a problem with this team

i think for a young team player development counts for a lot, as opposed to a older veteran where u know what u are getting. everyone from broy and younger can still show improvement and as an example take a look at the OKC thunder, barely any changes to their roster from lottery team to 50 win team.

by Yawnie on Jul 5, 2010 3:24 PM PDT reply actions