Effort?

I know its early to jump the shark on this version of the Portland Trail Blazers but it seems to me at this point the team is playing lackadaisical, they dont have that mind set that they need to win every game, maybe they do as this is an outside perspective but there have been instances this season of a lack of effort, a lack of wanting. Certain games and certain parts of games that desire to win does show through- playing the Thunder in OKC or beating the Lakers in the RG but outside of a few performances like these the team is playing like it doesn't want to be considered an upper echelon team. If thats the case, it bothers me that they are on the same course as the Blazer teams of the last few years- make the playoffs yay! and then get bounced in the first round and in the meantime we only play 8 guys on the roster close to 40 minutes and by the time the playoffs do come they are to gassed to do anything in them anyway. With a better crop of players available in this years draft, is it really worth it to make the playoffs as a lower seed and if the level of play and effort maintains get bounced and have another bad 1st round draft choice? I question the effort and the desire and if its not there, why put up with another charade of a playoff team. I will support the Blazers every single night and every game but something needs to change if the Blazers have any hope of getting out of the first round and at this point even to the playoffs. Whether thats a trade, before the deadline or during the draft to move up something needs to happen. The blame cant solely fall on the players or the coaches but I do think Coach Nate McMillan needs to start trusting his young guys. Sole blame for the lack of development of our younger players over the years falls on him. Effort and Desire falls on the players. How is Portland supposed to find its fabled PGOTF if our rookies and young guys are playing 4-5 minutes a night. You look at guys like Darren Collison, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Jeremy Lin, Ty Lawson, etc. Guys like this are good and getting better with play time. With all this I once again say- as a team/organization where is the effort?