The NBENFANT Thread (NBA): 2023-2024 Edition!

[JasonStern]

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[JasonStern]

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if anyone else is struggling with this, but with everything that’s been happening, I’ve had a pretty difficult time getting into this season...

Disinterest doesn't really describe it, but all of the allure of the offseason moves has worn off. Team definitely looks like first round fodder yet again despite replacing mid-level players with... Mid-level players.

Meanwhile many of the teams ahead of us seem to keep getting better, making that gap harder to close. I suppose a Lakers/Nets finals is best for the league, but that Nets team is really unlikeable. When you find yourself probably rooting for the Lakers - wow.

But it is still winter during a pandemic, so there really isn't much else to do.

[Wizenheimer]

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if anyone else is struggling with this, but with everything that’s been happening, I’ve had a pretty difficult time getting into this season...

you and I have disagreed a lot but not on this

I was a Blazer fan before they won the title in 1977. Back when they had Petrie and Wicks and were only on TV 10-12 times a year, at most. I was in Mac Court in Eugene in 1976 for an exhibition game the Blazers played. Moses Malone was a Blazer then and had a great game. I thought Portland could be a really good team that year but I sure didn't expect them to win the championship 8 months later

I was a fan when Walton left and Portland got Kevin Kunnert and Kermit Washington as compensation; thru all the lean years and 1st round exits between the championship and the rise of the Drexler-Porter-Adelman teams. I was part of Blazer mania even though I was rarely in Portland and only saw 3 or 4 games live

and even though I've hated most of Olshey's tenure, Ive been a big fan thru all the Dame years

but I'm the least invested in this season than I have been since the beginning. Already I have not watched 3 games this year because of apathy, and that's a first. I think it's probably Covid (my brother almost died and he's got some permanent damage from it); and it's never been more apparent how inconsequential an NBA season is. But It might be, in part, the treadmill I'm convinced the team is on. Certainly, Portland has done almost nothing so far to generate optimism. I mean, so far, the Roco/Jones pairing doesn't look any better than the Aminu/Harkless pairing, and may look worse. I anticipate a winning streak sometime this season; Dame always seems to go superstar for a stretch of games. That will gin up my interest a little.

but generally, I'm figuratively sitting on my hands waiting for the team to show me something to applaud and get me a little more focused on something trivial

[d-train]

It doesn't surprise me to hear from the critics and complainers after we lost Nurk and Zach again. Of course, the team's prospects looked better when it was expected we would have our center and PF. We should do better with Kanter and Giles than we did last year with just Hassan.

I have been a Blazers fan since I moved to Oregon in 1973. This year's team is a better team than most of the Blazers teams in that 48 years. In most years, the Blazers are mediocre or worse with no chance to beat the best teams. Blazers were only one of the best teams around a dozen times. More often, we were 1 or 2 pieces away from being one of the best teams.

Compared to history, this is a great time to be a Blazers fan. Or, you can be a fan because you enjoy the process of building a team as much as enjoying the finished product. Or, you can decide you rather be a fan than a naysayer. I like the process. I like the start, the middle, and the finish. I like the hard times and the good times. I suppose it's ok to just be a fan when Blazers are the best, but that's not me.

[JasonStern]

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[d-train]

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I tried to watch the Kenyon Martin interview. I need an interpreter.

[JasonStern]

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[DaVoiceMaster]

PER Rankings
CJ is #10 right now in the NBA
Kanter is #11 right now in the NBA
Lillard is #13 right now in the NBA

No other team has 2 players in the top 13, let alone 3 players. CJ and Lillard don't surprise me, but Kanter sure does. That or I just don't know what all goes into the PER rankings.

[JasonStern]

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It's cool, guys. We got Anfernee Simons backing up Dame.

[d-train]

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It's cool, guys. We got Anfernee Simons backing up Dame.

He fell down. CP3 missed an easy uncontested shot. Pritchard's hustle and anticipation right before he fell was excellent. He was tested and I would say he passed even though he fell down and gave an easy shot. But, I can't judge him on one play.

[JasonStern]

Run DMC?
Dame
Melo
Cousins
?

[d-train]

Run DMC?
Dame
Melo
Cousins
?

Can Melo and Cousins run? Maybe in the special Olympics they could be runners.

[JasonStern]

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[JasonStern]

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[DaVoiceMaster]

What's the typical timeline to return to the lineup once a player is cleared to practice? I'm guessing maybe 2 weeks?

[DaVoiceMaster]

Apparently Zach Collins is progressing nicely and could be back towards the end of the season or during the playoffs. If the Blazers do not make a trade before the deadline, Collins may be able to help the Blazers come playoff time, particularly against the Lakers and Anthony Davis.

[d-train]

Apparently Zach Collins is progressing nicely and could be back towards the end of the season or during the playoffs. If the Blazers do not make a trade before the deadline, Collins may be able to help the Blazers come playoff time, particularly against the Lakers and Anthony Davis.

It will be nice to have him back, but not until all caution is observed. He needs good health and some reps. I don't expect anything from him this year.

[JasonStern]

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[DaVoiceMaster]

Only one guy left. Now I'm not a fan of Collins, but it will be nice if the Blazers can get him back before the playoffs. They could use his defense and 6 fouls against Anthony Davis.

[JasonStern]

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