Game 12: Portland vs New Orleans 5:00pm Root,Root+

[BlazersBroncos]

Damn Case... That is two of the best posts ever from you. I think you are seeing the Game within the Game. I'm tempted to start a thread about it, because the inner-workings and brilliance of Chauncey and Cronin are there to see... if one looks hard enough and doesn't have a blind man-love for Dame.

This is not load management we are seeing folks. It's development and building of a roster. It's been going on since Stotts and Olshey were sent packing, and it continues today. Remember that we routinely rested guys last year while claiming a minor injury, but it's bigger than that...

What Chauncey did was put Simons in a pressure cooker: No Dame, No Keon & No GP2... It was all on him! Sure he got help from Winslow & Watford in that Draymond role, but that will be a regular helping hand going forward and nothing out of the ordinary. The "injuries" to Dame, Nurkic, Keon & Sharpe provides a class session for the development of Simons mostly, but also Little who had yet to regain full confidence. He looked much better in this game. Walker's minutes also became important along with Eubanks. Chauncey put alot of pressure on the guys that did suit up, and they very-much did not disappoint. Great Win!

Finally... what was also painfully obvious to me, as I applied my TIN-FOIL cap... This game showed C.B. & Cronin what this team looks like without Nukic or Dame. Now if one could imagine the product of what we saw last night (in it's infancy), plus Sharpe, plus the return from a potential blockbuster trade should they want to trade Dame and/or Nukic at some point, for whatever reason:

Simons / Keon
Hart / GP2
Sharpe / Little
Grant / Winslow
Eubanks / Watford

I would gladly consider adding a future pick or two along with Dame and/or Nukic, considering what the roster could look like post-trade. Would it give us a better chance at a title? I say it absolutely does, but I'm still holding out TRUE HOPE, that Dame and Nurkic can make the necessary changes/improvements, but I also strongly believe that Cronin and Chauncey have contingency plans in place.

Its mind boggling that even with the way this team has played so far this season you are still talking about trading Dame. Its not just Billups and Cronin that have endeavored to rebuild the culture and identity of this team - Dame has been there the whole time with just as much influence.

Ant also isnt close to Dame, not this year and likely not ever. Dame has only 5% more usage so far this season but is posting far better advanced and raw statistics by a mile.

Dame isnt going anywhere. The idea we sat him to see how the team can perform without him so we can trade him is flat earth level lunacy. Come on bro.

[Goldbum]

I don't think it's crazy to think about the post Dame Era. I do think there is 0.00 chance they move either he or Nurkic this season. However should Shaedon develop enough nothing is guaranteed next season. I also think it's okay to ponder a Hart trade with GP2 coming back and Josh's impending free agency. Having said that I would be perfectly fine with us running it back if Jody is willing to pay to keep the band together

[Case2012]

We're 6-0 with Dame playing, in not suggesting we trade Dame at all. I'm saying the opposite that if he's healthy he should play every game because this team really needs his offense at times. We're top 5 in defense, and if Dame plays more our offense should improve from 15th to top 10. With gp coming back we'll probably improve our defense even more.

You can already see Dames efficiency climbing with all these new guys able to draw the defense away from him. Look at ant's efficiency after getting doubled non stop with Dame out. We're so close to fully unlocking this teams potential, we just have to stay healthy.
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As a off note, has anybody seen what OG is doing this year defensively? Can you imagine what we'd look like with him on this roster?

[BlazersBroncos]

We're 6-0 with Dame playing, in not suggesting we trade Dame at all. I'm saying the opposite that if he's healthy he should play every game because this team really needs his offense at times. We're top 5 in defense, and if Dame plays more our offense should improve from 15th to top 10. With gp coming back we'll probably improve our defense even more.

You can already see Dames efficiency climbing with all these new guys able to draw the defense away from him. Look at ant's efficiency after getting doubled non stop with Dame out. We're so close to fully unlocking this teams potential, we just have to stay healthy.
.
As a off note, has anybody seen what OG is doing this year defensively? Can you imagine what we'd look like with him on this roster?

I think we may have a team with enough depth that we can sit Dame against poor teams. I am not a fan of load management, but I also understand it. Dame is coming off the biggest injury of his career, he just had another injury within like 6 games of the season starting and he is 32 (Not super old, certainly not athlete young). I think sitting Dame at times and making other guys take leadership roles on the court, or be put in situations that normally they would not be in, is potentially good for overall team chemistry and development. As others have said, Pops did this with Duncan, Manu and Parker for years. Then Leonard took it to a level that is bad for the game.

Dame is going to have say if he sits out, and he has earned the right to sit if he wants IMO.

As for OG, ya dude has been a beast. But I think Sharpe gives us more of what we need now and in the future honestly. To think it likely would have cost Hart, Sharpe and a future pick to get OG - no way from me. I love the product we have right now, its such a fun squad to watch I cant even think of any trade ideas at this point in the year. I am just loving this ride so far.

[monopoman]

There is no way the FO trades Dame in the near future, he is still showing that he is a very good player. He has been a bit rusty coming back this season, but he can still score at a high level and is a very solid distributor. I also can't imagine his value that we see off the court, I think a big part of the development of guys like Simons is partly because of Dame.

Personally I want to see him retire a Blazer, unless some can't turn it down deal comes around having him play every game as a Blazer would be a huge win for the Blazers.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Dame is going to be the proud dad who raised his kids right so they could hoist him on their shoulders with the chip they all won.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Did anyone else happen to notice the quick post game passing between Lillard and CJ? I expected them to stop and chat, but they simply said something for about a second and moved on to chat with others. I suppose I have unreal expectations, but that surprised me.

[Norm2953]

As I said, I'd like to see Dame in the next game with the blue collar lineup (Little, Watford, Grant, Winslow)
for the addition of the 240 lb Watford gives the team the necessary beef to match up against most teams
as long as Giannis or the like are not with the opposition. We would even see GP2 in with that blue collar
lineup for the team is very deep in the back court for Keon likely deserves some minutes but is buried in
Portland.

[Shem]

Watch on YouTube

[GEE]

Like the song from "Rocky"... Get-ting Stong-gaaaaaaaa! This was the bigger point I was trying to make. This game against the Pels, made our team much better overall due to not playing Dame and Nurkic. It was meant to be a positive note. I was in no way advocating for a Dame trade, but merely showing that Chauncey and Cronin did in fact, get to see what this team is without the two (and three counting Sharpe). The pressure being put on Simons, and the growth he achieved in last game as a result, was the main point.

I've been saying (and even did so in this last post) that the best case scenario is that Dame and Nurkic remain in Portland and are part of a Championship, but what I don't think is that Chauncey, Cronin and Jody would pass up the opportunity to win that Championship, because the cost was trading Dame. Win it all with him if you can, but if you can't...

Also wanted to peak the interest of those that love the name on the front of the jersey(BLAZERS) more than any name on the back of one(LILLARD/ROY/DREXLER). Question: What kind of player could I be targeting, if I had a trade package to offer in Dame/Nukic/One of our Wings and a FRP? My thinking is just about anyone, including Durant. Obviously looking ahead to next year's roster overall, as trade restrictions exist, I think next year will be our year to win it all, with or without Dame and Nurkic. Also, with all of the choices to make on several others like Grant, Hart, Winslow and what to do with next year's FRP... we could role most of it all back again, but the roster could look much different come this time, next year. UNFINISHED.

[Norm2953]

Ideally, the type of player that would help the most is a healthy Anthony Davis