RealGM

Which team has a brighter future?

Both teams have a great outlook I would say the Lakers for this year and next then the Blazers will over take them. So short term lakers but Blazers overall.

lakers look good for about 5-7 years then its all blazers after that... I wouldnt be surprised in 4 years it will be lakers and portland for WCF champions.

spurs/suns/boston/detroit have to win it this or next year or they are done for awhile. Dallas if they trade harris for jason kidd then they are in it to win it this and maybe next year but after that its going to be lakers/portland.

why would the blazers take over them next year? lakers only have one player over 30, dfish.

The answer to this will be portland because everyone hates the Lakers.

dcash4 wrote:why would the blazers take over them next year? lakers only have one player over 30, dfish.

He was saying that it's not so much about the lakers getting worse because of age but about the blazers getting better because of experience.

sabi wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

He was saying that it's not so much about the lakers getting worse because of age but about the blazers getting better because of experience.

So your experience is going to be better than Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Lamar, and Farmar?

Patterns wrote:-= original quote snipped =-


So your experience is going to be better than Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Lamar, and Farmar?

it is possible we could get better more quickly and not need as much experience as the lakers to be able to beat them.

Clearly Portland has the brighter future, but right now and for a few more years the Lakers will be better.

sabi wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

it is possible we could get better more quickly and not need as much experience as the lakers to be able to beat them.

I'll take proven talent over possibility of portland players blossoming a 2nd time... Most players blossom their 2nd year and get better slowly after... very few players keep improving leaps and bounds year after year. It usually happens 2nd year and then its normal increase from there on out.

Lakers now and the future.

Portland!

I'll take lakers for the next 4 years and then I'll take Portland after that...

Of course you never know what will happen things may change dramatically...

Lakers have the brighter future because they have Kobe Bryant.

Portland is getting overrated like how the Bulls got overrated last year.

Then next year we'll overpay for a malcontent declining center! Oh gosh

I'll take the Lakers because they aren't as dependent on the development of young players which is never a sure thing.If the Blazers players get anywhere close to their projected levels then they will be better from 09-10.

Portland has a significant trading piece in LaFrentz's expiring contract($12 million) next season, and LA has Odom's $14 mil contract. However, the Blazers also have Steve Francis' $17 million contract coming off in 2009, leaving the Blazers with a good $10-12 mil below the cap. If Pritchard is shrewd like he has been over the past two years, the Blazers can possibly add one more significant piece to the Oden/Aldridge/ Roy puzzle either via trade or free agency.

Also, the Blazers' only glaring needs now are rebounding and interior defense, both problems which can be fixed with Oden's return.

One more for the Blazers: more youth, and potential talent. LA has Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, Odom, and Farmar. Blazers have more developing talent, in addition to the three already mentioned: Webster (21), Outlaw (23), Fernandez (22), Rodriguez (21), and still have all first round picks in the future.

The Lakers should be the better team the next two years. After that the two teams should be even for another two years. I can see Portland pulling away after that.

Patterns wrote:Portland is getting overrated like how the Bulls got overrated last year.

Exactly, the team is playing way over their heads and STILL can't crack the top 8 in the west currently. Everybody knows they'll burnout sometime soon, but props to them though for what they've accomplished so far this year