The Official Playoffs Thread

[REDDzone]

ridiculous claims deserve to be repeatedly made fun of

I'm down for some fun poking, but sometimes its like damn, you're nothing without the guy that you apparently have so much disdain for.

[Neapolitan Buck]

I'll be most amused if a team that McGrady is on makes it into the second round when he's injured.

Also, I think a Redd for McGrady trade is a bad idea as Redd will likely end up playing most of next season whereas McGrady will obviously end up injured. Better a full season of Redd than 1/2 with T-Mac.

But better 1/2 season of McGrady than 3 full seasons of Redd.

How much McGrady games have you seen this year?

[paulpressey25]

You guys beat me to the Portland joke.

Maybe those guys could have used RJ.......but as their posters said here at the deadline, better to wait a year or two for when Batum, Outlaw, Rudy, Bayless, Oden, Jerome Kersey and Steve Colter simultaneously turn into all-stars. That will be their window.

[Ayt]

Its sad you guys are mocking a team like Portland considering how bright their future is. They could get swept in the 1st round and it wouldn't matter.

Who on their roster has even played in the playoffs? They are a young team getting their feet wet. Their window isn't now. They didn't need a very average, declining SF to put them over the top.

[paulpressey25]

Its sad you guys are mocking a team like Portland considering how bright their future is. They could get swept in the 1st round and it wouldn't matter.

Eh, I think those guys and Pritchard asked for a bit of mocking with the attitude they've had.

Their future could be great, but if Oden doesn't develop they could also be the 2003-2008 Chicago Bulls that everyone thought would blow up with scads of young talent, but in reality didn't until they added an all-world player in Derrick Rose along with a couple veterans in Miller and Salmons.

[Ayt]

Its sad you guys are mocking a team like Portland considering how bright their future is. They could get swept in the 1st round and it wouldn't matter.

Eh, I think those guys and Pritchard asked for a bit of mocking with the attitude they've had.

Their future could be great, but if Oden doesn't develop they could also be the 2003-2008 Chicago Bulls that everyone thought would blow up with scads of young talent, but in reality didn't until they added an all-world player in Derrick Rose along with a couple veterans in Miller and Salmons.

Did the Bulls have a player anywhere close to Roy? Did they even have a player as good as Aldridge?

Even if you are right (and you aren't ), the great player they need to add sure as hell isn't a guy like RJ. And if they truly do need to add a great vet, they don't know that yet and it didn't need to happen this year when they are still figuring out what exactly they have.

They just won more games than we've won in 23 seasons led by a bunch of young guys that have never even been on a team above .500 before. They shouldn't be in a huge hurry to rock the boat until they know if it is truly needed.

[europa]

ridiculous claims deserve to be repeatedly made fun of

I'm down for some fun poking, but sometimes its like damn, you're nothing without the guy that you apparently have so much disdain for.

The funny thing is they can't see how sad their obsession is. Plenty of people make statements in this forum, but the amount of time some people spend talking about me - and often misquoting me - is beyond ridiculous.

In any event, I don't recall ever saying Luke Ridnour was an impact starter on a playoff team. Of course, the fact is - as you pointed out - he was for one season with the Sonics. So there's nothing ridiculous about a statement of fact.

Anyway, the three things that jumped out at me watching the Blazers last night were how badly they could have used a better SF, a proven No. 2 scorer and better depth at PG. Perhaps Ridnour couldn't have helped with the last one but there's no question in my mind RJ could've helped with the first two.

Now it's just one game and maybe we won't see any of those issues again. But in Game 1, they were quite glaring in my opinion.

[paulpressey25]

Did the Bulls have a player anywhere close to Roy? Did they even have a player as good as Aldridge?

Roy--no.

I understand the point about waiting. No question Portland needs playoff experience and will be better for it. I just think at some point you have to look back on those Bulls teams and realize they kept accumulating all these young guys and not getting to where they wanted to go. The Bulls plan was a complete failure save for getting lucky as hell in winning the lotto when a true star was there at #1 for them.

Bringing in a veteran can accelerate the process. Maybe you get to round two and learn more than dropping out in round one. During one of Portland's last go-arounds at this, they brought in Buck Williams and he took over the team although he wasn't their best player. Trading Raef and Outlaw for RJ would have been a no brainer move for them. No brainer. And we would have done that deal in a split second.

That team has zero money concerns. In that deal you are giving up the inferior player in Outlaw for a guy who could bring a lot of stability to your squad. And it isn't like RJ will make them "too good" in that they still need to accumulate high draft picks. They don't.

Pritchard outsmarted himself on that one.

[europa]

Jefferson for Oberto/Bowen, fill in the rest. It just makes so much sense for both sides. Jefferson gives them the third scorer they need with Manu in serious question.

I agree it makes sense and I think the Spurs will show interest in RJ again this summer. He's a good fit for them and that's another team that can't afford to lose time with the window closing on Duncan. He's still a great player but how many more seasons will he have to help them win a title? That's a fair question. RJ gives them a quality player to not only help their process but protect them should Ginobli suffer another injury.

Anybody remember how much money the Bucks would save in a deal with the Spurs involving RJ and having Bowen be included? I think GAD listed the amount at one time but I don't recall the exact number.

[jerrod]

ridiculous claims deserve to be repeatedly made fun of

I'm down for some fun poking, but sometimes its like damn, you're nothing without the guy that you apparently have so much disdain for.

The funny thing is they can't see how sad their obsession is. Plenty of people make statements in this forum, but the amount of time some people spend talking about me - and often misquoting me - is beyond ridiculous.

there aren't too many people that make claims like you do. that should tell you something.

[power4wardjinx]

The Blazers centers have good work ethic. Other than that, they look like a shooting guard-based team that will do well to get it back the Rose garden for a game 5. They're overmatched at every position in this series, with the exception of their shooting guards who've got two of the best defenders in the league draped all over them.

[europa]

there aren't too many people that make claims like you do. that should tell you something.

You're kidding, right? This entire forum is filled with people who make claims, yourself included. The fact you just ignored that should tell you something.

Look, I can take a shot just like anyone else when it's all done in fun. But the obsession (and that's the only word that describes it accurately) some people have with what I say (or what they think I've said) is nothing short of bizarre.

It's not that hard to just let things go. Believe me, plenty of things get said in this forum that I may shake my head at but I don't feel compelled to talk about all the time. It's not a difficult decision to make.

[europa]

The Blazers centers have good work ethic. Other than that, they look like a shooting guard-based team that will do well to get it back the Rose garden for a game 5. They're overmatched at every position in this series, with the exception of their shooting guards who've got two of the best defenders in the league draped all over them.

I think the key to their team becoming a title contender is tied entirely to Oden's development. I think they need to badly upgrade their SF and PG situations but even if they do that, I think it still comes down to Oden. If he becomes a great player, I think they can contend. If he doesn't, I think they fall short.

[power4wardjinx]

In that deal you are giving up the inferior player in Outlaw for a guy who could bring a lot of stability to your squad. And it isn't like RJ will make them "too good" in that they still need to accumulate high draft picks. They don't.

Pritchard outsmarted himself on that one.

Why again do the Bucks make a deal for an inferior player so they have the cap space to sign Charlie V? No, the Bucks wouldn't have made that trade. Bo Outlaw, maybe, Travis Outlaw, no way. The worst thing the Bucks can do is panic and get stuck with guys who don't fit the program. That's the Bucks' problem. Compounding that problem by trading a guy the coach wants for two guys the coach doesn't want is the last thing we need.

[europa]

I think there's an excellent chance the Bucks and Blazers make a deal if Pritchard hadn't gotten greedy and demanded Sessions be part of the trade. Both teams appeared to want what the other had to offer and I believe some variation of RJ for Raef/Outlaw gets done. But like Press said, Pritchard outsmarted himself. For at least one game in this year's playoff, that decision didn't look like the correct one.

[power4wardjinx]

I think the key to their team becoming a title contender is tied entirely to Oden's development. I think they need to badly upgrade their SF and PG situations but even if they do that, I think it still comes down to Oden. If he becomes a great player, I think they can contend. If he doesn't, I think they fall short.

That's true. They don't look so hot at PF either. Scola's going to have a lot of fun in this series. Maybe Paxson wasn't so wrong in more or less trading LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas.

[paulpressey25]

No, the Bucks wouldn't have made that trade. Bo Outlaw, maybe, Travis Outlaw, no way.

Hammond admitted that he might have traded RJ for cap space to Cleveland, but for the fact it made his stomach turn. He then said he tried with Portland, but Portland also wanted another asset in return.

The cap space isn't just about "Charlie V". RJ is a nice player, but he'll make $14 and $15 million the next two years. That money means the difference between Charlie V plus Ersan, plus maybe Ramon, plus the next two draft picks, plus maybe even trying to toss an MLE offer at some other player.

This team loses massive flexibility and will be in luxury tax hell next summer as well. And what if RJ tears a hamstring in the third game next season? As with Redd this year, you've got your whole cap situation tied up with an aging player who if he get's injured, your season is done. Finished. And your future is compromised as well because you couldn't afford young guys like CV, Ersan and even Alexander to step in during the injury void.

You know I'd much rather dump Redd. But that isn't an option right now. Outlaw and $10 million of cap space would have been a great return.

[europa]

I like Aldridge and I think they're fine at PF. It was his first playoff game so it's understandable if things didn't go well for him. I think the glaring issues are at PG and SF and they need Oden to become a dynamic player at C.

[paulpressey25]

I think the glaring issues are at PG and SF and they need Oden to become a dynamic player at C.

And I'm not sure Oden is going to become that guy. I thought Paul was jumping the gun on him a few months ago, but the more I watch, the more I see "Bogut". i.e. a player who can be pretty good, but isn't a 6-8 time all-star player like most expected.

I'm whining on the RJ trade from our perspective, but again, there was zero downside for Pritchard to make the Raef/Outlaw for RJ trade, other than money which Paul Allen has plenty of.

[power4wardjinx]

I think there's an excellent chance the Bucks and Blazers make a deal if Pritchard hadn't gotten greedy and demanded Sessions be part of the trade. Both teams appeared to want what the other had to offer and I believe some variation of RJ for Raef/Outlaw gets done. But like Press said, Pritchard outsmarted himself. For at least one game in this year's playoff, that decision didn't look like the correct one.

In other words, Skiles likes his players better than Portlands. He wasn't wrong.