RealGM

Since it was very close, anything could have contributed to the result. My picks for the two most signifgicant are:

1. Kanter, Anthony, and McCullom having significantly abnormal bad games, in descending order. Powell was not at his own norm, but not significantly below it. Lillard's abnormally positive games (both ways, btw) were almost enough to compensate, but not quite.

2. The Blazers had the 4th best winning percentage in clutch games during the season. Yet they were the worst during the playoff season. Three of the four losses came during clutch time--the shooting went south, the turnovers were abnormally high, the opponent shooting went off the board, etc. A very good clutch time team was horrible in the clutch in the playoffs.

Improvement depends upon knowing what happened and then how it happened. What caused number 1 and number 2? I have yet to read anything really digging into these questions factually.

Short answer; MVP played like the MVP and scrub guards went off against POR perimeter defense

JRoy wrote:Short answer; MVP played like the MVP and scrub guards went off against POR perimeter defense

Ok, but with performances closer to their norms, the scrub guards of the Nuggets would not have mattered. Besides weren't the Nuggets something like 13-5 with Murray on injured list? Maybe not such scrubs, at least for a short spell.

The deeper, more talented team won.

Their best player is better than our best player. Their second best player was out and their 3rd best player played better than our 2nd best player. And their role players are better.

It wasnt ever as close as we thought it would be.

What happened in the playoffs is that Portland played a 7 man rotation with four guys 6-3 and Melo
leaving Nurk and Roco to do all the physical jobs needed for the team to win. They got eaten alive by
the Monte Morris' and JaMychal Green's of the world. Team needed some blue collar, journeyman
type of role players to beat the Nuggets

Blazers weren't out talented, but the fit/roster composition is nonsensical. A team starting 3 players 6'3" or smaller loses in the first round, and that is a surprise?

Blazers were out coached. Malone was better at making adjustments and rallying the troops.

Blazers players outside of Dame, Nurkić (limited due to physical reasons and facing Jokić/petty fouls), Melo (old, minimum player so keep expectations in check), and Simons (cheap rookie player, not a franchise saver) all underperformed.

I kept waiting for DJJ to get some minutes for it was clear Denver could send three guys to their offensive
board without fear of any Portland transition game for Dame/CJ had to play 40+ minutes/game and had to
pace themselves. Team needed to present some different looks for Denver to adjust to which is why Stotts
got fired.

Wow, I am mystified by some of these conclusions which simply are counter factual or totally driven by fantasy impressions.

whatever the reasons, Olshey wants everyone to know nothing was his fault

Wizenheimer wrote:whatever the reasons, Olshey wants everyone to know nothing was his fault

That guy is such a joke. Bad GM, worse person. Should have been fired in 2016.

Wizenheimer wrote:whatever the reasons, Olshey wants everyone to know nothing was his fault

Which is true, of course. Olshey's roster is perfect. No changes necessary.

Give the man a break. At least give him 6 seasons to prove the backcourt combination. Oh wait......