Game 57: Portland vs New York 2:00pm Root, Root+

[Dame Lizard]

I can't be angry or upset about the win. Yes, losses would be ideal, but we've got a real tough schedule coming up that I can't imagine us winning any for the next week or two.. and honestly, they played real hard and they're fun to watch. I hope karma gives us one for being competitive.

Agreed.

I was happy with us losing for the tank, but it was fun watching the team dig in and claw back the win.

[The Sebastian Express]

What a great loss by New Orleans and a great win by the Spurs!

[PDXKnight]

What a great loss by New Orleans and a great win by the Spurs!

How ironic would it be if no gets us the number 5 pick and we win tons of games?

[Norm2953]

That's an upcoming team (Spurs) but I'm glad CJ played well. Not likely either Portland or Pelicans would
get out of the play-in games so we should have two FRP in this upcoming draft.

Team still needs to find out about themselves in the remaining games of the season. Likely Simons and Dame
will be the storylines for Portland this summer. It'll be interesting to see the market for Dame if Portland
decides to listen to offers if Simons continues to blow up in the remaining games of the season.

[The Sebastian Express]

I don't think we'll win a ton of games. Look at our upcoming schedule (I'll put my predictions in parentheses).

@ Bucks (L)
@Memphis (L)
vs GS (L)
vs Denver (L)
@ Suns (L)
@Wolves (L)
@Wolves again (L)
@ Utah (L)
vs Washington (W)
@Atl (L)
@ NY (L)
@Brooklyn (L)
@ Indiana (W)
@ Detroit (W)
vs SA (L)
vs Houston (w)
vs HOuston (W) again, yes
vs OKC (tossup)
vs NO (L)
@ SA (L)
@SA again (L)
@OKC (L)
@ NO (L)
@ Dallas (L)
vs Utah (tossup, last game of the season, they could be sitting people though tipoff time is to be decided)

At best I see only six more wins for us this season, and I think it might be less. Like I'm not 100% confident on the Indiana or Washington wins.

[JasonStern]

Cronin: Jeezus, Billups. You had one job!

Billups: The corpse of Kemba Walker put up 23 points in 26 minutes! It's not like I am not trying!

[DusterBuster]

I’m a full believer in lottery karma. Let the chips fall where they may, just play hard and have fun.

Hart and Winslow feel like guys that could stick for awhile beyond this last half season. Who knows tho.

[DusterBuster]

I don't think we'll win a ton of games. Look at our upcoming schedule (I'll put my predictions in parentheses).

@ Bucks (L)
@Memphis (L)
vs GS (L)
vs Denver (L)
@ Suns (L)
@Wolves (L)
@Wolves again (L)
@ Utah (L)
vs Washington (W)
@Atl (L)
@ NY (L)
@Brooklyn (L)
@ Indiana (W)
@ Detroit (W)
vs SA (L)
vs Houston (w)
vs HOuston (W) again, yes
vs OKC (tossup)
vs NO (L)
@ SA (L)
@SA again (L)
@OKC (L)
@ NO (L)
@ Dallas (L)
vs Utah (tossup, last game of the season, they could be sitting people though tipoff time is to be decided)

At best I see only six more wins for us this season, and I think it might be less. Like I'm not 100% confident on the Indiana or Washington wins.

We’ll see. The one thing this team has in its favor is no team will now how to scout for it. They turned over half the roster at the deadline and they have a ton of guys who are young, athletic and have nothing to lose… so we will see…

[PDXKnight]

I don't think we'll win a ton of games. Look at our upcoming schedule (I'll put my predictions in parentheses).

@ Bucks (L)
@Memphis (L)
vs GS (L)
vs Denver (L)
@ Suns (L)
@Wolves (L)
@Wolves again (L)
@ Utah (L)
vs Washington (W)
@Atl (L)
@ NY (L)
@Brooklyn (L)
@ Indiana (W)
@ Detroit (W)
vs SA (L)
vs Houston (w)
vs HOuston (W) again, yes
vs OKC (tossup)
vs NO (L)
@ SA (L)
@SA again (L)
@OKC (L)
@ NO (L)
@ Dallas (L)
vs Utah (tossup, last game of the season, they could be sitting people though tipoff time is to be decided)

At best I see only six more wins for us this season, and I think it might be less. Like I'm not 100% confident on the Indiana or Washington wins.

Pels have a pretty hard schedule too. I think we get some decent picks if portland can just do its job and lose.

[m0ng0]

Most enjoyable game in months!! These kids are fighting. They were down 20 something and scrapping. Ant and Nurk are balling! Hart, Winslow look like keepers, Hughes had some moments,. Would be nice to get a look at Keon...

[monopoman]

These young guys really putting it all out there, the more I watch Anfernee the more I see a Lillard type player in him. He may not be as boisterous as Lillard can be at times but when Lillard was 22 he didn't really celebrate much. This kid is the same way he starts wrecking a team and a lot of times you can't even tell if he is having fun out there.

Josh Hart is a pleasant surprise really like the game he is showing and Winslow also looks like a pretty good pickup.

[Roy The Natural]

These young guys really putting it all out there, the more I watch Anfernee the more I see a Lillard type player in him. He may not be as boisterous as Lillard can be at times but when Lillard was 22 he didn't really celebrate much. This kid is the same way he starts wrecking a team and a lot of times you can't even tell if he is having fun out there.

Josh Hart is a pleasant surprise really like the game he is showing and Winslow also looks like a pretty good pickup.

Simons is fun... needs to figure out a way to draw more fouls though.. to bolster his ability to impact the game when his shot is off.

[GEE]

I’m a full believer in lottery karma. Let the chips fall where they may, just play hard and have fun.

Hart and Winslow feel like guys that could stick for awhile beyond this last half season. Who knows tho.

I am too. I also don't recall Portland ever being a team to "TANK", including back in '07. That year I think we had the 8th best chance and got the #1. Those ping-pong balls are funny like that sometimes. I just pray for 2 picks in the top-10 range, when those balls get poured in. Then, like you said... KARMA.

As for the game, I've liked Winslow since seeing him play college, and should thrive with a good coach that will re-engage him, when needed. Hart I knew little about, but remembered him a bit from the Lakers. He has definitely matured since. Both guys are definite keepers IMO, no doubt!

I think scouting, and the means($) to do so, will be very important going forward. If we luck out just a little, could have two great picks this year to add to what looks like an already solid core of young players, plus Dame.

I'm also beginning to drool at the thought of the post-Dame era, adding whatever massive haul that he might bring. I'm also starting to envision the possibility of Dame choosing to retire early, if it ever did come down to him leaving Portland. Regardless, he will continue to lose value and relevancy, as long as he's a Blazer, and I still think that it would really be his best move, for his own legacy, to join up with another super-player on a super-team, so he can go get that ring. I think he wants to badly, but since he has clowned people for doing such, and not remaining loyal to the team that drafted him, he's painted himself into a corner. But nothing a good PR team can't fix. If the Blazer Brass extends him to that monster deal, he will instantly become untradeable IMO. It's also starting to feel kinda Kobe-like, with his' last years, where you want to move on, but have a legend that you can't dishonor. Tough situation.

[red_power]

Hopefully, a huge losing streak during the road trip is coming guys.

[Pattycakes]

I’m a full believer in lottery karma. Let the chips fall where they may, just play hard and have fun.

Hart and Winslow feel like guys that could stick for awhile beyond this last half season. Who knows tho.

I am too. I also don't recall Portland ever being a team to "TANK", including back in '07. That year I think we had the 8th best chance and got the #1. Those ping-pong balls are funny like that sometimes. I just pray for 2 picks in the top-10 range, when those balls get poured in. Then, like you said... KARMA.

As for the game, I've liked Winslow since seeing him play college, and should thrive with a good coach that will re-engage him, when needed. Hart I knew little about, but remembered him a bit from the Lakers. He has definitely matured since. Both guys are definite keepers IMO, no doubt!

I think scouting, and the means($) to do so, will be very important going forward. If we luck out just a little, could have two great picks this year to add to what looks like an already solid core of young players, plus Dame.

I'm also beginning to drool at the thought of the post-Dame era, adding whatever massive haul that he might bring. I'm also starting to envision the possibility of Dame choosing to retire early, if it ever did come down to him leaving Portland. Regardless, he will continue to lose value and relevancy, as long as he's a Blazer, and I still think that it would really be his best move, for his own legacy, to join up with another super-player on a super-team, so he can go get that ring. I think he wants to badly, but since he has clowned people for doing such, and not remaining loyal to the team that drafted him, he's painted himself into a corner. But nothing a good PR team can't fix. If the Blazer Brass extends him to that monster deal, he will instantly become untradeable IMO. It's also starting to feel kinda Kobe-like, with his' last years, where you want to move on, but have a legend that you can't dishonor. Tough situation.

Two lotto picks would go a long way for me to feel better about the Powell trade. Like legit 180 for me lol

[Tim Lehrbach]

I'm also beginning to drool at the thought of the post-Dame era, adding whatever massive haul that he might bring.

I'm actually not sure he brings a massive haul, now that Philly has shipped Simmons and picks for Harden and Golden State has used the three lotto picks they might have offered over the past couple of years to bring Dame home. There aren't a lot of teams out there right now that are gunning for playoff success, can match salaries without gutting their roster, and have pieces a rebuilding team covets.

I started a thread at the T&T Board to resume the discussion on trading Lillard. I know that's not the friendliest place to the Blazers or us fans, but I'll be interested to see what others come up with.

[JasonStern]

I also don't recall Portland ever being a team to "TANK", including back in '07.

Kevin Pritchard went 5-22 as an interim coach in 2004-05. That was definitely a late season tank job. Luckily, the tank job gave Portland the chance to draft their choice of Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I also don't recall Portland ever being a team to "TANK", including back in '07.

Kevin Pritchard went 5-22 as an interim coach in 2004-05. That was definitely a late season tank job. Luckily, the tank job gave Portland the chance to draft their choice of Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

I was all aboard the Deron Williams train and somewhat disappointed that we traded down until I learned we'd stolen Jarrett Jack later in the draft. "And we get Martell too?! What a day!"

[JasonStern]

I also don't recall Portland ever being a team to "TANK", including back in '07.

Kevin Pritchard went 5-22 as an interim coach in 2004-05. That was definitely a late season tank job. Luckily, the tank job gave Portland the chance to draft their choice of Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

I was all aboard the Deron Williams train and somewhat disappointed that we traded down until I learned we'd stolen Jarrett Jack later in the draft. "And we get Martell too?! What a day!"

Didn't like the pick. Some high school kid out of Seattle? Vulcan meddling.
To be fair, I think I had the same opinion of Brandon Roy. Another kid out of Seattle? Vulcan meddling.
And I was excited that we drafted John Collins, only to find out we drafted Zach Collins. Some Gonzaga bench player. Vulcan meddling.
And I did the same with CJ Elleby. Another kid out of Washington? Vulcan meddling.

But I got why the Blazers didn't draft Paul or Williams despite them being the best players available. They had:

THE KING OF FLAIR
NO ONE CAN COMPARE
TO SEBASTIAN TELFAIR

I swear I cringed every time Mike Rice would say that.

[JasonStern]

I was super high on Jerryd Bayless, though. I lurked RealGM for a few years prior to signing up. But then someone posted something so stupid and wrong about Bayless that I had to finally sign up to correct them. Funny in hindsight.