Now that we know that it will take more than LMA to build this team around, I think we can officially say that the Blazers miss Roy. It appears critical that we have someone on the team that can and wil ask for the ball and take the big shot (and make it more often than not). Since #7 is not going to walk trough that door, who do you think the Blazers can target as a replacement? I am open to any player in college or the NBA. Obviously this has to be realistic and not a video game situation so let LBJ and Durant stay on their repective teams.

My vote is for Austin Rivers of Duke, who a lot of draft experts predict will go in the 7 - 15 slot. I like his clutch shooting and think his game and certainly his mindset translate well to the NBA. Plus I'd love to have Doc Rivers replace coach Mac next year or the year after.

In the spirit of the entertaining but rather exhibition-like style of the upcoming NBA All-Star game. I want to know what your idas are to make it more competive while still keeping the fun factor. Obviously this is hypothetical, but honestly a lot of what we do here on BE is.

The thing I like most about the game in current form is the ability to have so many different player from all over the NBA come together and play in the game. Most of the time there is excitement and fun but very little competition until players realize in the 4th Quarter that they don't want to be seen as losers so then the real game starts.

I would use that but restructure the game to have 2 teams of 8 from each conference - 5 starters and 3 reserves, with 1 coach for each team (coaches selected by team record). Team A for both conferences would be voted in by the fans much like is done right now. Team B would be voted by coaches and players. I think this would give you a very interesting perspective as to who the coaches and players would consider the leaders of the teams.

It would set up a 3 game tournament where on Sunday, "Team A - West" plays "Team B - East" and following that game, "Team A - East" plays "Team B - West". The winners play the final game Monday night which gives the NBA 4 days of ratings.

This format would accomplish 5 things not done by the current All Star Game:

* It would allow more players more exposure and time for individual coaches and players.

* Competition gets ramped up huge as I guarantee Team B doesn't want to lose to Team A.

* The fan element gets spotlighted and really matters.

* We all get to see far more NBA ball at an elite level which I know I'd like a lot.

* More players get in with 32 vs. 24. This allows for more players who can be showcased.

OK that is my idea, what say you?

This thread is dedicated to #7 - "The Natural" Brandon Roy, who in my humble opinion did more than any player to better the team and it's reputation than any Blazer in 20 years.

Brandon's career has been cut short and it's possible had he continued to be healthy he would have been the organization's all-time greatest player. Brandon never quit and wanted the ball anytime the game was on the line.

I would say that his legacy will go down as the person that changed Portland's negative perception, and was the single most clutch player in Trailblazer history.

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In the spirit of Dave's list of biggest dissapointing Blazer acquisitions I figured I might as well post a question I’ve been mulling over for quite some time. Considering the state of our current team with this generation of Blazers - let's use the last 5 years:

If you were allowed one do-over, feasible trade, or different pick - what would it be?

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Every draft since 06 we have strutted around and puffed up our chest using terms like "Pitchslapped" or "Choified" or someother hillarious term for victory.

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As a fan it's easy to become passionate about a team, even infatuated, jaded, excited and all other sorts of adjectives one can recall. Most fans of the Portland Trailblazers emulate a bit of each of those emotions. And besides emotion what do we owe our illustrious team? Do we owe them anything more?

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Wait! Wait! Wait! OK this sounds ridiculous I know this, but hang with me before jumping down to the bottom to go all OregonLive on me...

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only New Jersey could make this trade! In a blockbuster trade:

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I keep hearing and feel that LaMarcus has a shot for the All-Star game, especially now that he has been the focal point of our Offense and in part our Defense since Brandon has gone on the IR.

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So my question my fellow BEdgers is simply: "if you promote Aldridge to the Center position (he has the best numbers there of any Blazer) who if you had unlimited money would you want as our new Power Forward?"

My personal thought was Kevin Love first but might have to reconsider if LA keeps banging the way he does. I think Boozer of last year would be fierce. Horford might also be a nice fit.

Anyhow, I'm leaving it up to you. Your thoughts below:

Lately all we hear is talk about getting free agents and before that about drafting franchise players. So I want to know if you believe that the Blazers as currently constructed (BRoy, LMA, Oden, McMillan) will win a title.

If not who would leave and who would stay?

If you said yes, do you think they will win multiple titles as constructed? The reason I mention multiple titles is that this seems to be the case in the NBA. In fact this has been the case for a long time in the NBA (only the NBA though, no other professional sports league).

Here is a list of all the teams that have won Championships over the last 40 years.

• 2010: Phil Jackson (L.A.)
• 2009: Phil Jackson (L.A.)
• 2008: Doc Rivers (Boston)
• 2007: Gregg Popovich (San Antonio)
• 2006: Pat Riley (Miami)
• 2005: Gregg Popovich (San Antonio)
• 2004: Larry Brown (Detroit)
• 2003: Gregg Popovich (San Antonio)
• 2002: Phil Jackson (L.A.)
• 2001: Phil Jackson (L.A.)
• 2000: Phil Jackson (L.A.)
• 1999: Gregg Popovich (San Antonio)
• 1998: Phil Jackson (Chicago)
• 1997: Phil Jackson (Chicago)
• 1996: Phil Jackson (Chicago)
• 1995: Rudy Tomjanovich (Houston)
• 1994: Rudy Tomjanovich (Houston)
• 1993: Phil Jackson (Chicago)
• 1992: Phil Jackson (Chicago)
• 1991: Phil Jackson (Chicago)
• 1990: Chuck Daly (Detroit)
• 1989: Chuck Daly (Detroit)
• 1988: Pat Riley (L.A. Lakers)
• 1987: Pat Riley (L.A. Lakers)
• 1986: K.C. Jones (Boston)
• 1985: Pat Riley (L.A. Lakers)
• 1984: K.C. Jones (Boston)

1984 is the year that David Stern took over as Commisioner of the NBA. He was proceeded by Larry O'Brien, who was preceeded by Walter Kennedy.

• 1983: Billy Cunningham (Phil.),
• 1982: Pat Riley (L.A. Lakers)
• 1981: Bill Fitch (Boston)
• 1980: Paul Westhead (L.A. Lakers)
• 1979: Lenny Wilkens (Seattle)
• 1978: Dick Motta (Washington)
• 1977: Jack Ramsay (Portland)
• 1976: Tom Heinsohn (Boston)
• 1975: Al Attles (Golden State)
• 1974: Tom Heinsohn (Boston)
• 1973: Red Holzman (New York)
• 1972: Bill Sharman (L.A. Lakers)
• 1971: Larry Costello (Milwaukee)
• 1970: Red Holzman (New York)

Now, considering the history since 1984, do you see "201?: Nate McMillan (Portland)" fitting in?

Poll

Will the Blazers win one or even multiple titles?

18%

No

51 votes

23%

Yes as currently constructed

67 votes

8%

Yes but we'll need to trade one of the Big 3

23 votes

16%

Yes but we'll need a new coach

45 votes

13%

Not while Stern is commissioner

37 votes

20%

Just get CP3 and forget about it!

58 votes

281 votes | Poll has closed

 

Hey Blazer fans, I am writing this on behalf of my Dad who has been telling me all year that the ISO play does not work in the NBA. I have always agreed with that statement and after watching it run all year by the Blazers and then in the Playoffs I am ready to boldy announce what he has been saying since last year: The ISO play does not work in the NBA! There are times to run it sure, but for long term success it does not work.

Before the Playoff's started my Dad and I were talking about the 3 teams that run the ISO consistantly, the Hawks, Cavs, and Blazers. He said. "we'll see how far they get with the ISO". I told him I thought we would run nore than just the ISO in the Playoffs. I was right-partially. However, I think that game 6 is a microcausm for the Blazers series with Phoenix. We seem to play so much better without the ISO in the game. In fact we actually tied up the game at one point without ISO. We actually came back by moving the ball, around screens around double and finding the open guy, then the second the game is tied Nate brings in Brandon, the ISO and the slowdown and offense stalls and  we get taken apart the last 7 minutes. I know that is harsh but it is basically what happened.

MY whole point here is that All 3 teams went down in this years playoff's to better TEAMS. The ISO actually destroys team basketball which is why it is so odd that the Blazers run such an offense.

My other point is that Mike Woodson has been fired, Mike Brown is essentially on his way out (last year's COY) and Nate is in the hotseat wondering how he can get out of the second round. Well with 1 all-star, 3 potential all-stars, 2 savvy veterans playing at the top of their game, and 4 players who have shown starting potential and brilliance, how can you even begin to think about running the offense around one guy? If it didn't work for Brown and LeBron it will not work for Nate and Roy.

I think that Nates record stands on its own so far but what he has not shown is his ability to develop a cohesive team out there. The way we came in to the season this year was ridiculous. We need to get the rotations established in the preseason (can you imagine a Phil Jackson or Popp coached team where the primary players did not know their roles?). We need to consistantly find Greg and Lamarcus. We need to have guys within easy kick out distance when a player gets doubled. Lastly, how many times have you seen Roy or LaMarcus get the ball and not have a cutter anywhere near them, not behind or to the side. How can they get the ball out effectively when they get doubled? You hardly ever see that with the teams that advance consistantly. Also maybe try a real pick and roll with LMA and Roy or Miller.

Poll

Will the Blazers shake up their offense next year?

45%

Yes

100 votes

54%

No

121 votes

221 votes | Poll has closed

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Hey there fellow BE'ers! I need some advice on how to watch the game tonight that the NBA is so generously broadcasting on NBATV. I live in Atlanta, have NBATV and NBA LeaguesPass but had to travel to Shreveport this week. The hotel Im staying at obviously does not have NBATV. I went online to check out my LP Broadband site and there are no more games being played this year!!! So what to do?I'd rather go online to watch the game but could try to go to a sportsbar if necessary. Any advice is appreciated. This is why I can't stand the NBA Cares program myself. Yeah right! NBA cares about $$$.

WOW!!!

I want to go on record to say that was the perfect game for Portland last night. I really appreciate how the NBA cares and tries to get the small town loveable Blazers to play harder and become a tougher minded team by encouraging the refs to officiate with such zeal! It realy is cool to have David Stern and the rest of the NBA officials on our side like that; I mean seriously what a perfect tune-up for the playoff's! So Blazers if you want more games like that one, all you need is the Lakers for 4 - 5 perfect games of hard knock officiating.

But when you think about it David Stern's NBA has always cared about the Blazers and small towns like that you know? Remember how all those calls went in the 4th quarter of Game 7 vs LA in the 2000 WCF? What about that perfect tune-up series against those upstart Bulls oh so many years ago- that was a perfectly called 4th Q' in game 6. What about vs the Pistons in Game 5 only 2 years before that one? Wait a second, what about Game 1 of our first round series against Houston just last year? Yep, perfect!!! Always caring that NBA!

I mean that is why I am such a fan of David Stern's NBA and the way it turns those small town boys into men. I mean they would never give that kind of favor and attention to teams from LA or Boston, or even some of the Superstars from smaller cities like OKC or Cleveland. But if you are an upstart from a small town, wow! That officiatng will turn any boy into a man!

So c'mon Blazers, buck up! because that Dallas game was just a preview of what to expect in the playoffs!

And when you can take all that extra encouragement from the officials and win games too, then you'll be ready!

GO Blazers!!!!

via media.oregonlive.com

Poll

Will the NBA officials ever stop giving Portland encouragement like they did against Dallas?

9%

Yes, and then we'll win it all!

8 votes

52%

No, and we'll win in spite of it!

46 votes

13%

No, that's the problem!

12 votes

25%

I can't take much more of this $@%#!!!

22 votes

88 votes | Poll has closed

 
When I look at the W-L column that Phoenix loss really damaged our chances of moving up. However that being said, I really want Dallas with the 6-7 seed. No difference to me which one we get if we get Dallas. LMA matches up nicely against big lanky PF's (20ppg/8.5rpg against Dallas this year) and they have no match for BRoy. Camby and Haywood neutralize one another. Dre matches up nicely against JKidd and of course Batman matches up well against Butler. I see Terry and Fernandez being the X factors if that series were to happen.

Lets hear what you think. Is there a better "realistic" matchup for our Blazers. Any more insight into this matchup?

 

Poll

Who would be the best matchup for the Blazers?

4%

L@kers

5 votes

88%

Mavs

94 votes

3%

Thuggets

4 votes

2%

Jazz

3 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed

 In looking at our schedule, I see that the Blazers (39-28) have 15 games left. Upon further inspection we have 7 games left against teams that have better records than the Blazers have. This leads me to think that if we beat the 8 teams that have worse records than we do and split the 7 games against teams with better records, that Blazers have a pretty good shot at 50 wins this season.

All that being said I think that we as fans (myself include) should get pretty excited about that record considering the plague of injuries that has befallen the Blazers this year. I feel that we are on the rise heading into the playoffs and generally good things happen to teams that are on the rise -playoff match-ups, confidence, individual player contributions, etc...

I for one am solidly behind this team as it makes it's final push and I hope that all my fellow Blazer fans will get behind them too. I have itpicked this team to death this year - coaching, player rotations and contributions, play style, etc.

I rally feel like Nate is trying very hard to carve out playing time to the players most deserving while giving Brandon,  LaMarcus, and Andre the keys to the Franchise. Also, I have been very critical of Nate this year and want to commend him on the win last night! Not his fault when players miss shots. That was a very well coached game by him and really it could not come at a better time! Also, kudos to BRoy for busting his A$$ to get us a win last night and just playing through what must be and exteremely painful injury!

OK, that's my say. Please have yours!

BTW... you should not miss the Magic/Bird documetary on HBO. Absolutely fantastic!!!

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Poll

Will the Portland Trailblazers reach 50 wins this season?

55%

Yes

100 votes

44%

No

81 votes

181 votes | Poll has closed

 

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