Game 50: Portland vs Utah 7:30pm SNW

[Norm2953]

I've appreciated the defensive energy from Ariza and Little who really seem to be so much like
Aminu and Harkless and the team might have an embarassment of riches if they get Nurk and
Zach back before the end of the season. Team has an above the basket piece they haven't had
at any point in a number of years with both Hassan and Little and if they can get these plays
in their attack, it will reduce the load on Dame.

Team however is still six games under .500 and we have to temper expectations. They still need
to fully evaluate the team and decide whats in the teams best interest. They will need to make
a final decision on Ariza, Hassan, and Melo and figure out the teams finances with the Dame/CJ
extensions looming on the horizon. Team still needs a 10 year solution to their problem they have
had at SF since Batum was traded.

[BlazersBroncos]

They will need to make
a final decision on Ariza, Hassan, and Melo and figure out the teams finances with the Dame/CJ
extensions looming on the horizon. Team still needs a 10 year solution to their problem they have
had at SF since Batum was traded.

I don't think your finding a better 10 year hope at SF than Little. He at least has shown activity on both sides of the ball, and physically your not finding a more gifted player.

Melo this summer will be interesting, even if he does truly want to return you don't know if he is going to gun for that MLE money or graciously take the BAE since he has made so much over his career. Ariza is a guy you keep around, his contract is only a year more and he is a clear plus on the court.

I would love to make a move for RoCo and still keep Ariza, create a team identity around stifling defense and Dame having huge usage. That's probably the best move going forward, and you would still have CJ and Melo as scorers.

[Wizenheimer]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/exc4yn/shooting_3784_440_from_30_feet_and_beyond_damian/?utm_content=title&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_name=d94fc3edb386485ebb4f5dc3a5eca7ff&utm_source=embedly&utm_term=exc4yn

[monopoman]

I've appreciated the defensive energy from Ariza and Little who really seem to be so much like
Aminu and Harkless and the team might have an embarassment of riches if they get Nurk and
Zach back before the end of the season. Team has an above the basket piece they haven't had
at any point in a number of years with both Hassan and Little and if they can get these plays
in their attack, it will reduce the load on Dame.

Team however is still six games under .500 and we have to temper expectations. They still need
to fully evaluate the team and decide whats in the teams best interest. They will need to make
a final decision on Ariza, Hassan, and Melo and figure out the teams finances with the Dame/CJ
extensions looming on the horizon. Team still needs a 10 year solution to their problem they have
had at SF since Batum was traded.

6 games under? They are 23-27 if they win 4 in a row they are at a .500 record exactly. Blazers remaining schedule is tied for the 8th easiest, with the Lakers for the remainder of the season. I think this team has an extremely legitimate shot at taking the 8th seed and a very small chance at the 7th or 6th if they really heat up.

****, every team with a weaker remaining SOS is in the East except the Clippers.

[zzaj]

They will need to make
a final decision on Ariza, Hassan, and Melo and figure out the teams finances with the Dame/CJ
extensions looming on the horizon. Team still needs a 10 year solution to their problem they have
had at SF since Batum was traded.

I don't think your finding a better 10 year hope at SF than Little. He at least has shown activity on both sides of the ball, and physically your not finding a more gifted player.

Melo this summer will be interesting, even if he does truly want to return you don't know if he is going to gun for that MLE money or graciously take the BAE since he has made so much over his career. Ariza is a guy you keep around, his contract is only a year more and he is a clear plus on the court.

I would love to make a move for RoCo and still keep Ariza, create a team identity around stifling defense and Dame having huge usage. That's probably the best move going forward, and you would still have CJ and Melo as scorers.

??? BB, you really think that?

Sure, he's active on both ends of the floor. But he's not a very good defender...I think a lot of people here are confusing "energy" with "skill", in regard to defense. He's 6'6" in shoes (granted, with a +7" wingspan) and was 224lbs at the combine. Add the fact that he's shooting 25% from 3pt land, and I think the chances of him being an energy role player for his whole career are better than becoming a valuable starter. I just don't see him being the guy that contains the big SF/PFs that are going to be in the POs during the next 10 years. Honestly, there are aspects of Hoard's game that I like better...

Little is on a rookie contract, so that alone gives him good value:production, but I feel like the Blazers could find a veteran player for the minimum that can do basically the same things as Little.

[Fitz303]

They will need to make
a final decision on Ariza, Hassan, and Melo and figure out the teams finances with the Dame/CJ
extensions looming on the horizon. Team still needs a 10 year solution to their problem they have
had at SF since Batum was traded.

I don't think your finding a better 10 year hope at SF than Little. He at least has shown activity on both sides of the ball, and physically your not finding a more gifted player.

Melo this summer will be interesting, even if he does truly want to return you don't know if he is going to gun for that MLE money or graciously take the BAE since he has made so much over his career. Ariza is a guy you keep around, his contract is only a year more and he is a clear plus on the court.

I would love to make a move for RoCo and still keep Ariza, create a team identity around stifling defense and Dame having huge usage. That's probably the best move going forward, and you would still have CJ and Melo as scorers.

??? BB, you really think that?

Sure, he's active on both ends of the floor. But he's not a very good defender...I think a lot of people here are confusing "energy" with "skill", in regard to defense. He's 6'6" in shoes (granted, with a +7" wingspan) and was 224lbs at the combine. Add the fact that he's shooting 25% from 3pt land, and I think the chances of him being an energy role player for his whole career are better than becoming a valuable starter. I just don't see him being the guy that contains the big SF/PFs that are going to be in the POs during the next 10 years. Honestly, there are aspects of Hoard's game that I like better...

Little is on a rookie contract, so that alone gives him good value:production, but I feel like the Blazers could find a veteran player for the minimum that can do basically the same things as Little.

While I'm not sure Little is the BEST hope that we have, he has shown potential, and is worth a long term look, barring some blockbuster wing trade that requires him to be included. While it's true that his 3pt average is currently 25% for the year, he's also a 19 year old rookie playing in his first half of an NBA season.

Before the new year (23 games), he averaged .167 from 3. Since January 1st (15 games), he's averaging .389 from 3. Likewise with FG%, he's gone from .400 before the new year, to .512 since. He's showing improvement in just about every aspect. He's ok on D. Better down low at the moment than he is on the perimeter, but he's showing flashes there. If he can be what Ariza is at SF, that would be a fantastic fit.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I wonder if Little is not more of a smaller, mobile PF than SF. I'm not sure he's quick enough to hang with the smaller, quicker players. He's young though so maybe I'm wrong.

[Moonbeam]

Regarding the playoffs, 538 has it as essentially a 2-team race for 8th place, giving Portland a 54% chance and New Orleans a 35% chance.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Maybe it's because I've not seen Zion yet, but I'm not sold on him or the Pelicans. Are the Spurs supposed to just fall out of the mix? That's not been their style for the past 30 years so I'm not sure why they would start now.

[d-train]

Team still needs a 10 year solution to their problem they have
had at SF since Batum was traded.

There are no 10 year solutions in the NBA. The Blazers are going to look for new 1-year solutions every year. Our big money is committed to Lillard, CJ, Collins, and Nurkic.

Edit: We might find another player worth big money from the draft or young players from the scrapheap if we get lucky.

[Roy The Natural]

Maybe it's because I've not seen Zion yet, but I'm not sold on him or the Pelicans. Are the Spurs supposed to just fall out of the mix? That's not been their style for the past 30 years so I'm not sure why they would start now.

Zion's cool. He's an offensive dynamo who's been a complete disaster on the defensive end. A bit like rookie Blake Griffin out there.

[Wizenheimer]

Zion's cool. He's an offensive dynamo who's been a complete disaster on the defensive end. A bit like rookie Blake Griffin out there.

good comp....including a major injury