Throughout the history of the NBA draft there as been countless busts, and stars taken in the draft. Some stars have been taken as late as the late second round, whereas some busts, have been taken with the very first pick of the draft. Teams spend countless dollars on scouting, but still manage to miss out on talent, by either picking the wrong players or passing up the right ones. Even players like Ben Wallace, Wesley Matthews, and Udonis Haslem were passed up by nearly every team and became undrafted - only to have successful NBA careers. If all this money is spent on scouting by every team and this still happens, the question is why? Fans themselves seem to have a better idea of who to draft for "their" team than the team does. With all the information scouts have, wouldn't it seem that there would be be way less draft busts and better choices taken by NBA teams?

There are several things that scouts would evaluate a player by in no order.

1. Quantitative production: this is all the measurable stats that can be evaluated - such as points per game, assists, rebounds, etc. This can be a good indicator of how a player will do in the NBA, but does not prove that the player will do well in the NBA. A good example of a Productive College player who never could succeed at the NBA level is Adam Morrison. Taken as the 3rd overal pick in 2006, he is now completely out of the NBA despite his high level of production at Gonzaga University.

2. Qualitative production: this is much more of descriptive data that cannot nessesarily be measured in numbers. This is answering the question of how a player is producing. This is answering questions of how he gets his points (off the dribble vs catch and shoot). How he looks while playing (uncoordinated, etc.). Does he rely on his athleticism, height, or IQ to get his production. Typically scouts are more high on athetic players and those who can create their own shot than players who are strictly catch and shoot players, or players that are less athletic, even if they have the same level of qualitative production.

3. Level of competition: until recently almost all teams would never draft any players from small, low competition level schools. With players like Norris Cole and Kenneth Faried making a successful jump to the NBA, and Damian Lillard slated to be a lottery pick teams are putting this as a lower level priority when scouting players. It still does have a large effect on how high a player is taken. Many players are continually discounted because they play against weaker competition, which drops them in the draft - only to become better than many players drafted ahead of him (i.e. George Hill). Many scouts are split on just how the level of competition overseas compares to college, but it should be noted that foreign players may be even more difficult to scout as a result, often resulting in them being drafted lower than their production in the NBA dictates (i.e. Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka).

4. Age/experience: This has been of some controversy since the New CBA as many people would rather see players stay in college longer, which was unchanged in the New CBA. Many teams value age differently as you can see it one of two ways. 1) "this player is only 18, which means he has room to develop". (or) 2) this player is 18 years old, meaning he is much to young to play in a grown mans game and is too immature to succeed as a result. Now there is some truth to both statements, but are too big of generalizations to make concerning all incoming basketball players. As the case currently most college players who are drafted right after their freshmen year are actually drafted higher than those who are not, usually this is because they are just better basketball players, not just because they are young. However older players many times drop in the draft because teams feel like the player has no more room to develop. This is the case with Wesley Matthews as he was 23 years old at the time of the draft, which many scouts feel is a negative.

5. Potential: this is mostly based on sheer athleticism, and age. A player with injuries in the past also may have "potential" to be better over time. A good example of pure potential and little production is Andre Drummond. From looking at his stats alone you would think that would be a borderline second round pick, but his sheer size and athleticism for a big man is so rare and he is so young that many teams see him as the potential to be something great.

6. Intangibles: this really includes all the hidden aspects of a player that is not necessarily visible on the court all the time. This includes the character of a player from interviews. Leadership qualities. Family babasketball history. High Academic qualities, and awards/titles would also fit into this realm. The character of a player would fit under this as well. Many of these intangibles are not well known to the public, but it is something teams find out through interviews and workouts.

7. Durability: A player who is often injured throughout his college year will definitely hurt his position in the draft. Many times teams will take a risk often assuming that a player will be able to overcome injuries to become a star. Other players draft position will drop dramatically due to chronic injuries, like Blair from the Spurs.

With all of these variables you can see just how hard it can be to pick the best player at any given pick in the draft. Players who have been extremely productive in college does not garantee the same level of production in the NBA, just as the lack of production does not necesarily mean the same thing in the NBA. This is why it is so important to look at every single one of these areas in a player and not get hung up on one specific area of a players game. The Blazers went away from this model in the Jail Blazer era, disregarding the lack of character in a player for production. This is why it is so important to have an excellent scouting department as it will reap dividends in the end. All of these areas should be taken into account in comparison with the needs and culture your team has in order to make sure the player you draft will fit into your teams goals over time.

Blazers mid-season player report cards

PG: Raymond Felton. When Andre Miller was traded for Felton people assumed that they would see an improvement over Miller. Felton was suppose to be the outside shooter and floor spacer that the Blazers never had. Unfortunately Felton's shooting number are down all across the board and his turnovers are through the roof. He has gotten bad enough to see his minutes decrease and lose his starting job to Jamal Crawford. Felton has been one of the worst point guards in the league, especially since he was supposed to be an upgrade. Grade: D (By virtue of at least not being injured)

SG: Nicolas Batum. Batum gained a lot of experience overseas and it shows. He is better off the dribble and is an improved passer. He is less passive, and is not afraid to shoot anymore. He took over the starting shooting guard spot by virtue of inconsistent Matthews and Batum's better shooting percentages. The only downfall was Batum not getting an extension, meaning the Blazers will be matching other team's offers this offseason. The good news is Batum is 23 and has room to get better. Grade: B+ (mainly due to some lapses on defense and occasional bouts of passiveness)

SF: Gerald Wallace. Wallace has clearly been inconsistent. He excels in the open court, but when the game slows down he often differs or cannot finish. He has relied so much on his athleticism in the past that it easy to see why he is struggling. He will need to adapt his game in the future as he slows down. The Blazers need him to play his best more than ever. He scores an average of 10 more points a game in wins if that is evidence enough. If Wallace can string some good games together (especially on the road) the Blazers will win more. Grade B- (Blazers need consistency from Wallace and it is not happening.)

PF: Aldridge has turned into an amazing player who can score in a variety of ways. He can make it from almost anywhere on the floor and his post moves have turned into a thing of beauty. His defense has also improved. He does need to crash the boards more. He recognizes double teams way faster too. He has developed an up and under move to his repertoire. Aldridge still has some difficulty dribbling to the hoop, but he excels at so many other things that it does not matter. Grade A (no longer an all-star in the making!)

C: Marcus Camby is probably the most agile center for his age. The fact that he is still capable of pulling 20 rebounds down in a game is outstanding given his age. He does get beat more often than he used to on defense but his passing ability, rebounding, and court awareness makes him a good asset to have. The bad news is offensively he has virtually no game outside of his set shot and the occasional tip-in. His minutes have seen a decline due to his lack of offensive firepower and his age. Given how weak the center position is in the league he could be in the league for a while longer assuming he does not get injured. Grade B (age is catching up with him, and his offensive liabilities hurt the team)

Wesley Matthews. Don't let Matthews demotion fool you. He is still a very capable player. He has proven to be a streaky, albeit reliable three point shooter. His defense can be phenomenal at times. The problem is he can be very predictable. He can only accomplish straight line drives and has problems changing directions with the ball in his hands. Matthews could be better utilized coming off screens than trying to beat the guy guarding him. Matthews shooting touch comes and goes, and right now it is gone. Matthews would be better off exerting most of his energy playing defense as he has shown he can shut players down at times (Chris Paul). He has not really taken that step forward that many thought he would. Until he becomes better with the balls in his hands and can drive in and finish more consistently he is better served in a sixth man role. Grade B- (needs to improve dribbling skills and finish at the basket better)

Jamal Crawford is exactly what we thought he was. A shoot first guard who is streaky enough to shoot you in and out of games. Sometimes his play looks borderline erratic, but get him on the right day and there is no stopping him. He is one of the only players on the team who can create his own shot, it just does not always go in. His defense has actually been better than in years past, no doubt from pressure coming from the coach. Recently Crawford has been playing more point guard and proving he can distribute the ball better than Felton right now. His points are down from years past, but that is due mainly to playing less minutes. It will be interesting to see if he takes over the point guard spot for good or if the game against the Spurs was merely an aberration. Grade B (shooting percentages and team play need to improve)

Kurt Thomas. He knows all the veteran tricks. He is tough and has a good mid range shot. Players bite on his fake a lot. He is a good glue guy to have. He struggles to get rebounds due to his size. The coming of Joel Przybilla may cut into his time on the court. Grade B (limited offensive game, undersized, makes up for it with IQ)

Nolan Smith. He clearly has the IQ to play the game and could be a good backup point guard. His lack of athleticism may prevent him from becoming a starter. He knows how to distribute the ball and makes few mistakes, which is encouraging as a rookie. He may struggle to create his own shot, unlike in college, but he is smart enough to adjust and become a capable point guard. Grade B+ (lack of mistakes and mental lapses bode well for his future)

Elliot Williams. The best athlete on the team is Williams. He is quick, exudes confidence and has a decent stroke. Keep in mind he was slated to be a lottery pick before is injury in college. Once he improves his awareness and defense he could be a starter in this league. It is refreshing to see him play after having a procedure on both his knees. He may earn some minutes through the rest of the season. He is currently shooting 54 percent which is downright phenomenal for a guard. He reminds me the most like a young Jason Terry, hopefully his career turns out the same way. Grade B+ (his shooting ability and confidence are important in paving the way for Elliot's future)

Craig Smith. The rhino is known for putting his head down and charging to the basket. He is undersized though, which hurts him the most on defense as people shoot over him and as smaller guys blow past him. His rebounding though has suffered the most, which has caused his minutes to shrink even more throughout the season. He is a fun player to watch, but his physical limitations limit his play. Grade B- (Blazers need more rebounding, better defense from Smith if he wants to earn more minutes)

The rest. What to say that hasn't been said? Oden is still injured. Babbitt is the Chalupa man. Armon is the odd man out, and Chris Johnson is still skin and bones. Oh, and welcome back Joel! Keep in mind the Blazers will need to decide who to waive (Chris, Armon, Greg) in order to make room for Joel.

Coach's corner

Nate McMillan. Nate has resisted change as he was hesitant in starting Batum, and resisted calling out Felton. The bad execution late in games can be partially blamed on Nate. Nate could also open up his rotation more to Nolan and Elliot when the situation arises. Nate has dealt with a dearth of changes so that also needs to be taken into account, as well as the grueling schedule. In reality, at this point I don't see a better option than Nate (unless Phil Jackson, and Sloan come out of retirement). Nate does not deserve all the blame for some of the failures, but improvement from Nate is a pressing matter. Grade B- (Nate needs to take more control of some players like Crawford and less control over others like Batum)

Grades are based on pre-season expectations, and per-minute production. Not based on player comparisons.
What to expect in the rest of the season.

Blazers are on pace to win 36 games and have loss so many close games so far that you would have to figure that a few more close wins come their way for the second half of the season. Blazers also need to improve on the road in the second half of this season. Blazers are currently the eighth seed in the west, slated to play Oklahoma City in the playoffs. Every single game will matter though as Denver is going to get Danilo back from injury and Wilson Chandler back from China. Memphis is going to get Zach Randolph back, and Minnesota will only get better. The different seeds will be separated by a mere one or two games. If Felton improves from his work out this weekend, Joel comes back better than he left, Wallace plays consistently well, and no injuries occur, then the Blazers could string enough wins together to stay in the race. Blazers could finish as high a 3 seed or could miss out on the playoffs. My guess is that they get the 7 or 8 seed. Hopefully the Blazers are up to the challenge.

The coming of Joel Przybilla

Assuming Joel passes his physical he will be with the team for the rest of the season. Joel has lost a considerable amount of mobility over the past couple of year.However, he will probably be in better shape than when the Blazers last saw him because his knee his fully healed. He will most likely share back-up Center duties with Kurt Thomas depending on the match-up. Even now Joel brings rebounding, toughness, and some good screens to a team that could use all of those things. Joel's screens alone will help free-up the guards on the perimeter, and his toughness will help against teams trying to bully their way to a win. Make no mistake, Przybilla is not going to be a savior, or that missing piece, but he will improve a front line that is one injury away from a catastrophe. Joel brings more depth and size to a team that could use it the most.

A few years ago Jeff Pendergraph's season ending knee injury forced the Blazers into waiving him for a roster spot. This year Oden's surgery will leave the Blazers with a similar dilemma. The Blazers cannot apply for a disabled player exception as the deadline to apply for one has passed. Should the Blazers cut ties and waive him for a free agent (Patty Mills) or should the Blazers keep him for loyalty purposes?

Poll

What should the Blazers do with Greg Oden?

48%

Waive him now to bring in someone else

125 votes

33%

Keep him

87 votes

17%

Retire Already!

46 votes

258 votes | Poll has closed

The game vs OKC we witnessed a clearly bad call in which Aldridge was called for a goal tend when it was indeed a clean block. Currently in the NBA goaltending is not reviewable, and for good reason. Lets use a hypothetical scenerio in which goaltending is reviewable:

Team A goes for a shot and Team B gets called for a Goaltend. After reviewing the play the goaltend is overturned, but now you have a totally different problem of "who gets the ball". Do you reward the block by giving the ball to team B? Do you just make it a jump ball between the shooter of team A and the blocker from team B? Should the refs call goaltending after a rebound is secured to determine which team has possession of the ball? This would be the main problem with reviewing goaltending calls.

This is not the only solution though. As seen during the game there was only one referee that made the goaltending calll, even though he was 30 feet away. In this rule change any goal tending call made in the last two minutes can be overruled by the other refs. So in example of the game against OKC the other two refs can overule the call the ref 30 feet away made. This already happens with out of bounds plays and offensive vs defensive foul calls. If the other refs know that their fellow ref made a terrible call they should have the ability to meet together and over turn it if they know without a doubt he was wrong.

Traditionalists will say that this is a game ran by humans and that there is no way that we can overcome these errors. They say leave it "as is", it is just another part of the game.

What do you think?

Poll

What should the NBA do concerning Goaltending?

82%

Review it in the last 2 minutes of the game

72 votes

4%

Leave it as is

4 votes

12%

Let the other refs overturn it

11 votes

87 votes | Poll has closed

I decided to look into what exactly is the biggest predictor of a loss by the Blazers this season. Here are some outstanding figures to look at from the Blazer players in Win and Loss Splits.

Let's start with Camby

His numbers are not extremely different from wins and losses, but there are some number that show some minor differences. Bolded numbers show some differences.

By Result	GP	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
In wins	11	24.9	1.3-3.6	.350	0.0-0.0	.000	0.8-1.4	.600	2.7	8.4	11.1	2.8	1.9	0.8	2.5	1.6	3.4
In losses	6	20.8	1.0-3.2	.316	0.0-0.0	.000	0.3-0.7	.500	3.2	4.8	8.0	1.0	0.7	0.8	2.3	1.5	2.3

As you can see in wins he averages more minutes and rebounds and his assist numbers and blocks are considerably higher. While some people may say this is due to foul trouble this is not necessarily the case as his Personal Fouls are nearly identical. His point total is a little more in wins, but that is partially based off the 12 point outburst he had as well as playing more minutes. These difference are relatively small and may or may not contribute to actual wins.

Let's Move on to Lamarcus Aldridge. Again significant differences are bolded.

By Result	GP	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
In wins	12	35.6	9.3-18.3	.511	0.0-0.1	.000	4.7-6.1	.767	3.3	6.3	9.5	2.8	0.8	1.1	3.4	2.4	23.3
In losses	8	38.3	8.8-18.4	.476	0.1-0.4	.333	3.6-4.6	.784	3.1	4.8	7.9	2.9	0.6	1.1	3.1	1.6	21.3

The biggest surprise I found was that Aldridge has actually played fewer minutes in wins than losses and scores more points on average doing so. This can be attributed to blow outs that enabled Aldridge to play less minutes. The higher point total then shows that Aldridge's usage rate is higher, especially seeing his turnovers are higher. In conclusion involving Aldridge as much as possible in the smallest amount of time (increasing his usage rate) will help dictate wins for the Blazers, but there is still not drastic enough differences to infer that it will always result in wins.

Now Raymond Felton. Differences are bolded.

By Result	GP	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
In wins	12	32.9	3.8-10.3	.363	0.7-3.0	.222	1.8-2.4	.759	0.5	2.6	3.1	6.6	0.0	1.2	2.4	3.5	10.0
In losses	8	33.8	4.0-10.6	.376	0.6-3.8	.167	2.4-2.8	.864	0.1	1.3	1.4	6.8	0.5	1.3	2.4	2.0	11.0

Felton's minutes are identical in wins and losses which will help in seeing actual production in wins vs. Losses. The interesting thing is that Felton's points and Turnovers are not a predictor of Blazer wins at all. The only positive relationships between wins and losses is his rebounding and assists. Felton's assist total could also be directly correlated with pace. But in reality Felon's production on average has no influence on wins or losses. Update: Felton's minutes played have dropped from 34.3 to 32.9 as a result of Nolan Smith getting more minutes into the rotation. His assist numbers have also dropped since then.

Wesley Matthews. An X factor of sorts.

By Result	GP	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
In wins	12	33.8	5.3-12.1	.434	2.2-5.3	.406	2.7-3.0	.889	0.7	2.8	3.4	1.8	0.3	0.8	1.9	1.1	15.3
In losses	8	31.4	3.8-9.8	.385	1.1-4.4	..314	2.0-2.4	.842	0.8	2.0	2.8	1.0	0.0	1.9	2.4	1.0	10.9

Here is one of the most telling stats of any Blazer predicting wins and losses. Matthews shooting percentages and point total is higher by a significant amount in wins than losses. He also takes considerably more shots in wins too. If Matthews is shooting well chances of Blazers winning are considerably higher. His 3 point shooting numbers show a dramatic difference as Matthews hits almost double the amount of threes in wins than losses.

Gerald Wallace. The Number one difference between wins and losses.

By Result	GP	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
In wins	12	33.9	6.6-11.6	.568	0.8-2.5	.333	3.1-4.3	.725	1.3	5.8	7.1	2.2	0.6	1.4	2.8	1.5	17.1
In losses	7	34.4	3.0-9.6	.313	0.3-2.3	.125	1.3-2.5	.500	1.6	5.3	6.9	2.3	0.4	1.7	2.4	2.7	7.4

Looking at Wallace's numbers looks like two separate players. His shooting percentages are nearly double in wins, and he takes an average of three more shots a game. All adding up to an eleven point difference between wins and losses. Also of note is in losses Wallace turns the ball over almost twice as much in losses. If Wallace is doing good it is almost a certainty that Blazers will be in position to win.

Nicolas Batum

By Result	GP	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
In wins	12	22.3	2.8-7.3	.386	1.1-2.9	.371	3.0-3.4	.878	1.3	2.7	3.9	0.6	0.7	0.6	1.2	1.2	9.8
In losses	8	28.5	4.5-9.5	.474	1.5-3.8	.400	2.9-3.6	.793	1.8	2.9	4.6	1.5	1.0	0.8	2.5	1.0	13.4

Batum's numbers are better across the board in losses due to more playing as a direct result from Gerald Wallace's productivity. If Wallace is not doing good Batum Will try to pick up the slack, but it has not been good enough to get a win for the Blazers. Batum needs to be more aggressive and not be afraid to take more shots and get more involved with passing the ball.

Jamal Crawford

By Result	GP	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
In wins	12	23.7	4.0-10.8	.369	1.0-3.4	.293	2.9-3.1	.946	0.1	1.7	1.8	3.8	0.2	.9	1.5	1.5	11.9
In losses	8	26.3	5.3-14.9	.353	1.8-5.1	.341	2.7-2.9	.955	0.3	2.0	2.3	3.4	0.1	.9	1.5	2.6	14.9

Crawford's numbers are very similar across the board too, although so far this season he has had to put the Blazers on his back if nothing else comes along, which is why he has scored more in losses. If no one will score for the Blazers Crawford is fine taking up the scoring role for the Blazers. Unfortunately the Blazer's have fallen short when he has done that. Update: Crawford's shooting percentages have all gone up about 20%, a good sign of things to come?

The rest of the bench's production is similar between wins and losses.

In Conclusion

The two biggest differences between wins and losses is the production of Gerald Wallace and Wesley Matthews. If they both are shooting better and getting more involved than chances are the Blazers will put themselves in a position to win. Unfortunately Wallace and Matthews seem like they are only capable of doing this at home. Hopefully they will be able to shoot better on the upcoming road trip.

This team is a compilation of active Players who went to school in the Northwest, or grew up in the Northwest, or was born in the Northwest.

PG: Luke Ridnour. Mario Chalmers (AK), Aaron Brooks. Nate Robinson. Isaiah Thomas. Avery Bradley

SG. Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Rodney Stuckey, Klay Thompson, Ronnie Brewer, Brandon Roy*,

SF. Mike Dunleavy, Quincy Pondexter, Martell Webster, Terrence Williams, Austin Daye, Ime Udoka, Josh Davis

PF. Kevin Love, Carlos Boozer (AK), Marvin Williams, Brian Scalabrine, Jon Brockman

C. Spencer Hawes, Ronny Turiaf

What do you think? Let Me know if I missed any.

_______________________________________________________________________

Potential 2012 draftees

Terrence Ross (SG), Tony Wroten Jr. (PG), Terrance Jones(PF), Robert Sacre (PF/C), Abdul Gaddy (PG), Mike Moser (PF)

Starting Lineup
PG. Raymond Felton
Strengths:
A capable pick and role operator
Pushes tempo, excels as an open court passer
Not afraid to attack the basket
Above average defense
Above average, albeit streaky outside shooter
Weaknesses
Conditioning, weight issues need resolve
Can get caught overplaying passing lanes and the ball, causing him to lose his defensive assignment occasionally
Low volume scorer

Summary
While Raymond Felton may not be the dream point guard for the Blazers he is an improvement over Andre Miller. Felton will prove to be a more effective floor spacer and will push the tempo of the team on offense. He is a better defender than Andre Miller as well. Felton will not throw as many alley-oops as Miller, or rebound as much, but Felton's fast paced styled mixed with his floor spacing abilities make him a better fit for the personnel that the Blazers have currently.

Future Prognosis (2012 free agent)
If Felton plays himself into shape and proves that he can run the team efficiently with good defense and low turnovers the Blazers may indeed offer him a contract if nothing else comes their way (a la Deron, or Steve Nash). The worst case is if Felton leaves and the Blazers are left picking up the pieces with no viable replacement. Whether Felton will return or not will be much more clear as his play will dictate just how valuable he is to the team. Therefore the jury is still out on Felton's future as a Blazer.

SG. Wesley Matthews
Strengths:
Capable defender
Above average outside shot
Fast first step
Volume scorer (averaged a point every 2 min)
Draws fouls regularly
Weaknesses
Cannot shoot off the dribble
Does not see the floor well
Poor mid range shooter (27percent)
Does not do anything spectacular
Little contribution in rebounds or assists

Summary
Originally signed as the bench player as insurance behind Roy, he has now been pushed up to the starting role due to Roy's departure. Matthews works best with teammates that can find him cutting down the lane or kicking out the basketball for an open 3. His straight line drives are not a thing of beauty as he uses his body to create space instead of dribbling the ball, but by doing so he is able to draw fouls. He is an effective scorer, but it all hinges on how good his teammates are around him.

Future Prognosis (signed through 2014)
While contractually Wesley seems set with the Blazers for a while, it does not mean that he will be with the Blazers or be starting for the Blazers throughout his whole tenure of his contract. Wesley could easily be traded for the right price, especially if a future draft pick is able to fulfill the SG spot better than Matthews. The organization however seems fairly high enough on Matthews that his contract will most likely be played all the way through with the Blazers unless another opportunity presents itself.

SF. Gerald Wallace
Strengths:
Super athletic
Can play both forward positions
Excels in open court, fast paced style
Excellent rebounder
Excellent defender
Weakness:
Below average outside shooting

Summary
Gerald Wallace is the Blazer's best defender, both as an on ball defender and on rotations. He plays 100 percent on both sides of the ball. He works best in the power forward position as his skills are much better utilized there. He cannot create his own shot off the dribble and works best as a slasher. He will need to learn new ways to score as his athletic abilities start to dwindle. Wallace will benefit a lot more this season with a faster tempo and teaming up with Raymond Felton again, when he had his last all-star appearance.

Future Prognosis (player option 2012)
I hate to say it, but I don't see a way in which Wallace stays unless the Blazers feel they can make a deep run in the playoffs this year. Wallace knows the sooner he gets another long contract the better as there looks to be a quite a few teams with cap space willing to spend. Wallace will look at other options and see if he can earn more money than he is getting now (9.5 mil), if so he is gone. Also if the Blazers have any inkling that Wallace will exercise his player option he will most undoubtedly be traded before the trade deadline for at least a few first round picks or a big man. Either way Wallace tenure as a Blazer will most certainly come to a close, whether it is after this season or the next.

PF. Lamarcus Aldridge
Strengths:
Can shoot from anywhere, in a variety of ways
Has an unblockable shot due to a high release
Can play both the Forward and Center Position
Very mobile
Extremely low turnover rate
Plays pick and roll well, resulting in countless alley-oops
Weaknesses
Sometimes settles for jump shots
Sometimes gets caught trying to force things in a double team
Could use some work on the left hand

Summary
Aldridge had a break out year last year thanks to his aggressiveness towards the basket. His combination of height, strength, mobility and shooting touch makes him nearly impossible to stop. People tend to overlook his good defense as the Blazers allowed over 5 points less with him in the lineup. Also the Blazers best point differential came with Aldridge at Center. With Felton at the helm you won't see as many alley-oops but that won't stop Aldridge from being an All-star this year.

Future Prognosis (signed through 2014)
Aldridge is here to stay as a Blazer as long as he wants to. Make no mistake, the Blazers would be left with a bunch of above average players without him. Barring an injury or a trade for Dwight Howard in return (unlikely), Aldridge is here to stay as long as he wants to. Being the kind of person Aldridge is and the new extension rules in the CBA it is likely that we won't be seeing Aldridge leaving the Blazers for a very long time.

C. Marcus Camby
Strength
Good interior defender
Extremely good rebounder and shot blocker
Good passer for a big man
Mobility a plus for a center
Weakness
Not very strong
Horrid offensive game
Injury history
Does not defend outside of paint

Summary
Marcus Camby's talents have taken a noticeable dip as he has aged, but his interior defense still makes him a valuable commodity. Chances are he gets injured again, but when he is on the floor he does the little things that no other big men want to do. He will scrap on the floor for a loose ball and rebound any chance he can get, but his offense is so bad that in the fourth quarter he does not get as much playing time as Aldridge moves over to Center. Look for more of the same from Camby, including injuries along the way.

Future Prognosis (2012 free agent)
Marcus Camby is a big expiring contract that can be used as a trade chip, but it is unlikely that they get any takers, as there will be a plethora of teams still under the cap in 2012. The Blazers may be forced to re-resign him if they are left with nothing else, but it is unlikely as they will use their money to sign a more capable big man (Hibbert, Lopez, McGee, etc). It would not be surprising to see Camby leave to go play play for a contender (Heat, Lakers, Celtics) for a small contract, but it would not be surprising to see Camby stay for a couple more years either - given the price is right.

Reserves

PG, SG. Jamal Crawford
Strengths
Extreme good ball handling
Can create his own shot and shoot off the dribble - instant offense
Good passer, when motivated to do so
Good at drawing fouls
Good jump shooter
Weaknesses
Defense
Over dribbles
Poor rebounder
Streaky shooter at times

Summary
Jamal Crawford is instant offense, but not just because he can get a shot off against anybody, but because he can also create opportunities for other teammates. In the past Crawford has been asked to be a scorer, but his role on the Blazers may change to be more of a distributor if Felton fails to show his worth as the starting point guard. While in the past Crawford has been a poor defender, he is likely to step up at least to some degree as he knows his playing time depends on it. The Blazers are going to ask a lot out of Crawford this year in a shortened schedule. Jamal Crawford won't disappoint.

Future prognosis (player option 2012)
Crawford wanted the flexibility to choose what he wanted to do after this this year, mainly because there will be more teams buying next season. Crawford has said that if this team goes deep in the playoffs he would most likely come back. The Blazers would love for Crawford to stay for the rest of his career if possible, but if Crawford gets bigger offers he may leave after this year. Lets hope that does not happen.

SF, PF. Nicolas Batum
Strengths
Defense, especially on the perimeter
Good three point shot
Very fast, very tall
Weaknesses
Lack of Strength

Back to the basket game

Trouble Creating his own shot

Summary
Batum has had a very successful offseason playing in Europe. He won player of the week honors twice and showed improvement with the ball in his hands. His ball handling has improved and he is becoming more assertive as he becomes more confident in his basketball skills. The problem is he does not get very many plays run for him in a Blazers uniform. That may change some this year, but there has been little evidence to suggest that the Blazers are going to utilize him differently than they have in the past. It is easy to forget that he just turned 23 years old, with plenty of time for more improvement. If the improvement continues look for him to be a force to be reckoned with in his prime.

Future prognosis (free agent 2012)
The Blazers see Batum as a cornerstones for their future. While the organization may be a little too optimistic about Batum's future, he is still a good investment to build around as long as they don't overpay him. Look for him the get a three to four year extension by the deadline of January 25.

SG. Elliot Williams
Strengths
Super athletic
Decent handling
Projected to be a solid defender based on size and athleticism
Only 22 years old
Weaknesses
Unknown commodity
Not known as a good jump shooter

Summary
Elliot Williams is somewhat of a wild card as he has yet to play in a regular season game due to a knee injury last year. He looks fully healed from his knee now, as evident from his solid showing this preseason. At only 22 years old he is sure to improve and make an impact on this roster in the future, the question is how much of an impact?

Future prognosis (team option for 2013-14 season)
Williams looks to have a fairly high ceiling, and if he improves enough he could be an integral piece to the roster in the future. His play and improvement will dictate just how much the Blazers want to invest into him going forward.

PG. Nolan Smith
Strengths
High basketball IQ
Good pick and roll operator
Solid outside shot
Good size for point
Weaknesses
Not much upside
May struggle to get to the rim at the NBA level
May not be fast enough to defend other quick guards

Summary
Nolan Smith had a solid campaign at Duke, but subpar athleticism may hurt him at one of the most athletic positions in the NBA. He does not project to ever be a starter unless he becomes a lot better with the ball in his hands and a proven defender. Smith could prove to be a solid backup, but given his current skill set it will be hard for him to compete against other starting point guards in this point guard driven NBA era.

Prognosis (team option 2013)
If Nolan Smith gains a niche within the team, or defies expectations and becomes a solid starting point guard he could very well be here to stay with the Blazers. However most bench players can get easily tossed aside if the asking price is too high or if they find another team that offers them more incentives. That being said it is much too early to tell if or how Nolan Smith fits into the Blazers plan.

PF. Craig Smith
Strengths
Good finisher around the rim
Can shoot floaters
Weaknesses
Short, and not very well conditioned
Does not rebound
Not a very effective shooter outside of 15 feet

Summary
Craig Smith is a solid bench player, but nothing more than that. He is very crafty around the rim, as he shot over 55 percent around the rim throughout his career. He is an average defender, but is overmatched against most power forwards. He won't get that many minutes in the rotation unless an injury from other teammates dictates it. He is a good body to have around that won't hurt you, as long as you use him in the right situations.

Future Prognosis (signed through 2012 season BAE)
Most likely Craig Smith will live out his contract and the Blazers will let him go. He is not good enough to stick with a team for a long period of time. He could be used as a filler in a trade down the road as well, but most likely Smith is not in the long term plans as a Blazers.

C. Chris Johnson
Strengths
Good shot blocker, above average rebounder
Good pick and roll defender
Very mobile
Weaknesses
Offensive game is horrid
No strength, gets pushed around easily
Fouls a lot
Turnover prone

Summary
Chris Johnson became a fan favorite with his impressive blocks against Dallas during the playoffs. He is a very good pick and roll defender, and can rebound fairly well. His foul rate is very high though because he goes for a block every time. His offense is virtually non existent, his shots come from offensive boards or an occasional layup. In reality the closest comparison is a poor man's Marcus Camby.

Future Prognosis (free agent in 2012)
If Johnson shows he can compete on a high level with other big men he could be a good backup center, but other teams seem to also be high on Chris Johnson (Celtics). Given how high teams are on big men through the league he may get a higher offer from other teams that the Blazers don't want to compete with. He could also be a candidate that could be used in a trade as a filler. Blazers could let him go next year as they will have more cap space to get something better than him in free agency, but never count him out to re-sign either.

PF/C. Kurt Thomas
Strengths
Sets good picks
Smart defender
Nice mid range shot
Good Basketball IQ
Weaknesses
Age (39)
Easily outmanned against big men
Slow
Little offensive game

Summary
Kurt Thomas is a very good pickup for Portland as he will provide depth at the PF/C position that won't hurt you. He does not take shots he knows he will miss and is a good team defender that is not afraid to take a charge. His good screens will help set up teammates for open looks. It is a low risk, low reward signing that will help bolster the team's depth.

Future prognosis (partially guaranteed in 2012)
The Blazers got Kurt Thomas by offering some guaranteed money for next season. This was the only way the Blazers could get Thomas to leave Chicago. If Thomas turns out to be of no help to the Blazers they can easily waive him before next season. But at age 39 Kurt Thomas is at the end of his career.

SF/PF. Luke Babbitt
Strengths
Hmmm
Weaknesses
Too small for a Power Foward, too slow for a Small Forward
His shot has not translated to the NBA level
A defensive liability

Summary
Poor Luke Babbitt. He is a shooter who can't shoot, and he can't defend - at least at the NBA level. In the d-league he tore it up, but when it comes to the NBA it does not work for him. Hopefully he shows some signs of improvement that can warrant more playing time, as of now it does not look he will get much playing time if he can be a positive force on the court.

Future Prognosis (team option 2013)
Unfortunately Babbitt's play makes it appear he will be long gone when his contract expires. The Blazers hoped for great things from Luke Babbitt, but he just does not fit with this team. Sorry Babbitt, you will either be traded or let go when your contract expires.

PG. Armon Johnson
Strengths
Good defense
Decent ball handler
Can drive effectively
Weaknesses
Poor outside shot
Turnover prone
Poor finisher
Weak right hand

Summary
Armon Johnson is a very skilled defender, but on offense he has a difficult time seeing the floor and running an offense. He can drive fairly well, but most of the time he drives right into a defender and will get caught up in traffic. He could develop into a solid backup option at point guard, but it looks like Nolan Smith has already taken that role.

Future Prognosis (2012 Free agent)
After this season it would be surprising to see Armon as a part of the Blazers for a few reasons: Nolan Smith is clearly a more capable point guard than Armon Johnson, and Johnson has not proven to be an effective point guard at all. This will most likely be the last season Armon will be a Blazer.

C. Greg Oden
Strengths
Dominant post player
Good defensively
Fairly mobile for a guy his size
Weaknesses
Injury Prone
Foul and turn over prone due mainly to being uncoordinated
Needs improvement with footwork in the post

Summary
A healthy Greg Oden would have had a few all-stars by now. That is just how good he could be. Knee injuries have derailed his career so far. A healthy Oden would easily be a top 5 center in the league and possibly the second best one behind Dwight Howard. This is what makes Oden's injuries all the more sad for the Blazers as he would most certainly boost the Blazers into contenders. The hope currently is that he comes back in time for the playoffs.

Future prognosis (free agent in 2012)
The Blazers are in a tough position. They could let Oden go, only to see him become dominant for another team (Jermaine O' Neal), or could keep him long term in hopes than he can put one healthy season together (Bill Walton). The hope is the Oden will come back at least part of this season and make it easier on the Blazers to sign Oden long term, unless Oden wants to leave. If Oden wants to leave there is no stopping him. In reality it is Oden's decision, but it is clear that the organization still has Oden in their plans for the future. After all Oden is only 23.

Team Overview
The Blazers this year are in a state of flux. They are most certainly good enough to to get to the playoffs, but looks like they could easily get bounced out of the first round if the matchup does not favor them. Despite the front court helped signed in the offseason the center position remains the weakest. The Blazers may win many games this season by running faster than everyone, but it won't help in the playoffs. The Blazers need a big man to anchor the interior defense like Tyson Chandler did for Dallas last year. If Oden comes back in time it could be a big help, but the Blazers should not rest all their hopes on Oden. The floor spacing and team chemistry will be the best seen in years due to the lack of iso and a point guard who can shoot outside. The Blazers are certainly deeper this year, but that does not always translate to more wins in the playoffs. It really hinges on how much the starters step up. If Aldridge plays his absolute best in the playoffs on both sides of the ball in the playoffs the Blazers will get out of the first round.

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Sound off on how good you see the Blazers this year. What seed do you see them taking this year? What do you envision the Blazers doing in the future?

Given the Bad news today about Brandon Roy and Greg Oden it leaves the Blazers in a bind. They built the organization based on the fact that they would have 3 cornerstones to build around for the foreseeable future. With Roy gone and Oden's play reduced to only hope again the Blazers are left with more questions than answers, that even the organization does not know how to answer. The question really is what do the Blazers do going forward.

It all starts with with Management

The first thing the Blazers need to accomplish is fixing the head of the team. The GM position has been vacant for some time now, and unless the position is filled the Blazers will look like a chicken with it's head cut off. Whether that means promoting Chad Buchanan, or finding another expirienced addition to add to Blazers management this should be the first move the Blazers make. If the Blazers want to entice free agents or make any wise trade moves, it looks way better on the part of the organization if they have a figure head to point to. The Blazers need to give the public a sense that they have a plan going forward. As of right now it seems chaotic at best.

Picking up the pieces

The Blazers still are essentially the same team as last year, plus the change to Raymond Felton and the additions of Nolan Smith and Elliot Williams (who did not play one game last year). Brandon Roy and Greg Oden hardly played last year so in reality you should not see a huge drop off in winning percentage. The rotation will change some as they try to work in Elliot Williams, Nolan Smith, as well as more minutes for Chris Johnson and Nicolas Batum. The biggest weakness will be the bench, and they will need to step up in this heavy schedule.

2012. Decision time

If Blazers are discontent with the team, they could essentially mail it in and bring in new pieces around Aldridge. Gerald Wallace will have a player option. Felton will be a free agent. Batum will be a free agent assuming he doesn't get an extension (unlikely). Oden will also be a free agent, and there has not been any indcation of Oden leaving or staying. Camby will be a free agent as well, as well as Roy's contract coming off the books. The best option really is for the Blazers to keep the pieces they have and add one to the mix. Let's face it Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams are off the table. If the Blazers are not content with Felton at the point Steve Nash could be had, but I doubt the Blazers want to get older at that position even if he is playing at level. The best piece that would fit is trying to make a run at Roy Hibbert, Brook Lopez, or Javale McGee. They are all very capable big men that will be restricted free agents and would help. The Blazers could look to give one of them a sizable offer, and still offer Oden an extension if they still have faith in him. Other pieces exist in free agency, but very little exist in the terms of big names that are likely to come to Portland. I would not look for the Blazers to blow the team up. but it makes sense to extend Batum, keep Felton and add one or two pieces that make the team substantially better, hopefully by adding a decent center.

During the most recent press conference Larry Miller addressed the need to add some another piece to the team in the form of a post player, either as a Center or Power Forward. At the moment the Blazers can only offer a mini mid-level exception, unless they amnesty Roy which could possibly permit them to use the full mid-level exception. This means guys like David West, Tyson Chandler, Marc Gacol, and Nene are out of the question. The Blazers are over the cap, meaning they are way down on the list of teams that can offer a contract to amnestied players. Most likely the Blazers want a banger down low, not a stretch player (a la Okur, Lewis). Here are a few players that fit this description and could be had for cheaper contracts.

Chuck Hayes Center 6-6 238lbs 28years old 2011 stats 7.9 ppg 8.1 Rpg .7 Bpg 1.1 Spg

Chuck Hayes may be small for a Center, but he is extremely good defensively in the post. He uses his lack of height as leverage against larger opponents, by getting at the ball and forcing steals. His biggest drawback is that he can't make anything but a layup. He is an above average rebounder and is very good at defending the pick and roll - something that the Blazers were very poor at doing last year. He doesn't know how to move with the ball in his hands, but is very good at moving without the ball, resulting in layups. Dont be surprised to see his shot get blocked though as he is one of the most blocked players in the league. While he did start for the Rockets last year, he is not a starting caliber center due to his lack of offensive moves and his lack of size. He would however be a nice piece for the Blazers to have playing off the bench, or inserting into the lineup given a favorable matchup. He could potentially be signed for the mini mid-level, especially if he wants to be with a playoff team, otherwise he could garner more than that from teams under the cap.

Carl Landry PF 6-9 248lbs 28years old 2011 stats 11.9ppg 4.6rpg .4bpg .6spg

If you want points off your bench, Carl Landry is your guy. If you want good defense, rebounding, and blocked shots then you should not touch him with a ten-foot pole. In reality Carl Landry is a great shooter around the rim, where he made it big in Houston. Since then he has taken less shots inside and rebounded less. If he returns to doing what he does best he could be more reliable. He is good at drawing fouls as well, but gives up length on defense. The Hornets may be forced to re-sign him anyway if David West leaves. Landry may try to look for a MLE from teams who hold scoring to a higher standard, and he may find it, but as a fairly one demential player, he is not worth that much. Hopefully the Blazers feel the same way.

Jeff Pendergraph PF 6-9 240lbs 24years old

Once a fan favorite who only has one year of NBA experience, a knee injury derailed him last season with the Blazers. The Blazers were forced to waive him in order to put someone healthy on the team. Pendergraph Is 100 percent, as seen recently by his play in Aldrige's charity game. Pendergraph has expressed his desire to come back to the Blazers, but he may not get anything more than a minimum contract offer. I doubt that Pendergraph would complain about that, as he just wants another chance to come back.

Joel Przybilla C 7-1 245lbs 32years old

At this point in his career Joel is more of a stopgap center than anything else. He never seemed to recover from his knee injury fully and lost what little mobility he had after that. He is an able post defender though and a capable rebounder. He has terrible handles, and has no post moves. He is however a great guy to have on a team for his size and his veteran presence. He has garnered interest from several teams, but Portland and Milwaukee are front runners as he has connections to both teams. He is a capable backup when healthy, but he is on the downside of his career.

Kwame Brown C 6-11 270lbs 29years old 2011 stats 7.9ppg 6.8rpg .6bpg

Known as one of the worst bust in NBA history. Kwame had somewhat of a better season with the Bobcats last season. Posting some of his best numbers in his career, can also be attributed to just how bad the Bobcats were last year. Brown is a decent pick and roll defender and is a decent rebounder, but is terrible on offense. He is a terrible foul shooter. He gets lost on the court, and cannot handle the ball at all. The Blazers may offer up a bone to him if they get desperate, let's just hope it does not come to that point.

Reggie Evans PF 11.5 Rpg
The only reason he is an option is because of his Rebounding ability and he can be had for cheap.

Samuel Dalembert and Kris Humphries are options as well, but unlikely as they would either be offered more money by their own teams, or go to a champion caliber team for cheap.

Other low cost options Aaron Gray, Glen Davis, Troy Murphy, Jeff Foster, Spencer Hawes, Kurt Thomas, Josh McRoberts

Using Gerald Wallace as a trade chip?

It is entirely possible that later down the road the Blazers could trade Wallace for a big man as Wallace's contract will expire and he has a player option in 2012. While Wallace is a good Piece to have his production can be more easily replaced with Batum (who will likely sign an extension), and the need for a productive center may outweigh the need for Wallace, especially if Greg Oden does not get healthy or stay with the Blazers.

With the Hornets being owned by the league, and the ownership in a flux the chances of Chris Paul staying with the Hornets is slim to none. While many people think Chris Paul will force a sign-and trade, it could be a PR nightmare for the league because they own the team. Being that the league would not want the Melo-drama to happen again it is more likely Chris Paul will be forced to leave via free agency. A sign and trade could conceivably happen if the Hornets feel like they can get something good in return. If Chris Paul really wants to play for a team over the cap, (I.e. Lakers) then he would have to force a trade, in reality a trade of that proportions would have to be one star player for Paul, or young players for him (I.e. Melo, Deron Williams trade). Asking for a trade is a short sighted thing to do. If Paul wants to go to a talented team it would be more wise to go via free agency.

There are several suitors that have enough cap space to sign Paul in 2012. The number one rumored destination that has been floated around is the Knicks. It is no secret that Carmelo has been trying to recruit Chris Paul to New York ever since he set foot there. The Knicks would have their own big three to compete against Miami's, and he would be in a much larger market. While this idea is certainly a good own, it leaves little room to sign anyone else, especially if the Knicks want a decent Center playing for them. The Nets may try to recruit Paul if Deron Williams decides to opt out. Other teams such as Indiana and the Kings have cap room that they may use to try and get Paul, but small market teams rarely get such star players through free agency.

There is one team that seems to be in the best situation to pick up Paul: the Los Angelos Clippers. Mainly regarded as the little brother to the Lakers they offer an enticing opportunity because of the location, their cap space, and the players that they already have. Already fueled by Blake Griffin and armed with over 30 million dollars in cap space in 2012, the Clippers have the ability to sign Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, and potentially keep Eric Gordon. The Clippers could potentially be The Big Four and over take the West as the number one team. While the Clippers have not had a lot of success in the past, this could be the chance to change that and become not only the best team in LA, but the best team in the whole league.

With the Hornets being owned by the league, and the ownership in a flux the chances of Chris Paul staying with the Hornets is slim to none. While many people think Chris Paul will force a sign-and trade, it could be a PR nightmare for the league because they own the team. Being that the league would not want the Melo-drama to happen again it is more likely Chris Paul will be forced to leave via free agency. A sign and trade could conceivably happen if the Hornets feel like they can get something good in return. If Chris Paul really wants to play for a team over the cap, (I.e. Lakers) then he would have to force a trade, in reality a trade of that proportions would have to be one star player for Paul, or young players for him (I.e. Melo, Deron Williams trade). Asking for a trade is a short sighted thing to do. If Paul wants to go to a talented team it would be more wise to go via free agency.

There are several suitors that have enough cap space to sign Paul in 2012. The number one rumored destination that has been floated around is the Knicks. It is no secret that Carmelo has been trying to recruit Chris Paul to New York ever since he set foot there. The Knicks would have their own big three to compete against Miami's, and he would be in a much larger market. While this idea is certainly a good own, it leaves little room to sign anyone else, especially if the Knicks want a decent Center playing for them. The Nets may try to recruit Paul if Deron Williams decides to opt out. Other teams such as Indiana and the Kings have cap room that they may use to try and get Paul, but small market teams rarely get such star players through free agency.

There is one team that seems to be in the best situation to pick up Paul: the Los Angelos Clippers. Mainly regarded as the little brother to the Lakers they offer an enticing opportunity because of the location, their cap space, and the players that they already have. Already fueled by Blake Griffin and armed with over 30 million dollars in cap space in 2012, the Clippers have the ability to sign Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, and potentially keep Eric Gordon. The Clippers could potentially be The Big Four and over take the West as the number one team. While the Clippers have not had a lot of success in the past, this could be the chance to change that and become not only the best team in LA, but the best team in the whole league.

Everyone pointed to the Blazers as being a bad shooting team outside the perimeter, blaming the losses that the Blazers have because of it.

In reality the Blazers could easily win games with the same play book as Memphis. Memphis, one of the worst 3 point shooting teams, still finds a way to win consistently against the top teams in the west by attacking the basket relentlessly and forcing turnovers.

Memphis just clinched the series only making one three pointer, but out scoring the spurs 62-38 in the paint and getting rebounds (42-32)

Memphis throughout this series took it to the spurs by attacking the basket relentlessly and capitalizing on the mistakes the spurs made.

Memphis is also smart enough to realize when they are shooting well enough outside to just attack the basket. Memphis only took 9 three pointers in the last game because they knew they were not shooting it well, while the Blazers will still bomb away the three pointers even if they clearly are not doing well that night making them.

 

Now the questions can be asked, why didn't the Blazers do this? Frankly fans are still trying to figure that out. Andre Miller could have easily posted up the guards more down low. Wesley Matthews is much stronger than anyone Dallas had on him, and Gerald Wallace didn't figure out how to do it until game 6, and Aldridge still settles for too many jump shots (one reason his free throw numbers are lower than Dirk's)

Another note is Memphis defense, even though Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are not known as elite defensive players, Memphis wins the defensive battle with communication. Rarely do Memphis guards get caught in picks because they are able to anticipate it because of communication and knowing their opponents play book.

The Memphis players also praised their coach for lighting a fire under them in half-time of game four. O.J. Mayo himself saying that Hollins got the players energized and wanting to go out and play (Memphis went on to rout the Spurs). While in no way i'm i saying Nate is a terrible coach, he could show more emotion, rarely do you see him trying to get the team fired up, and it almost seems as he gives up when the Blazers lose a lead as well.

In no way am I a Memphis fan, however they have played to their strengths effectively. Something the Blazers could not figure out how to do during the playoffs.

In conclusion

      If the Blazers are a poor outside shooting team, then don't shoot so many threes - score inside.

      Nate McMillan needs to get fired up

      Blazers need more depth (Memphis has a legitimate 9 man rotation, 10 if you were to count a healthy Rudy Gay)

While Memphis does have legitimately better post players down low. Blazers have better slashers who can attack the dribble down the lane, yet we rarely saw that happen on a consistent basis.

I know this has been looked at a little in the fan shots, but Andre Miller throughout his career has been a better 3 point shooter in the playoffs than in the regular season.

Here is the comparisons between the regular vs the playoffs throughout his career.

 

During Andre Miller's career in the regular season since 2003 (the first year he went to the playoffs) Andre Miller has had a brutal 3 point average of .167 percent made on threes. It can be noted that that percentage would probably be higher if you took out the shots taken at the end of the shot clock.

 

During Andre Miller's Career playoff games he has shot .353 percent on three pointers, most of which he has been wide open to shoot.

 

Also of note is that Miller is shooting a blistering .51 percent overall on his shots in the playoffs, good for 2nd among Point Guards in the Playoffs, behind Chris Paul.

 

If only everyone else on the team were shooting as well as he is.

 I have to say I am looking forward to tonight's game because the starters are likely not playing much at all. It will be exciting to see what Rudy, Armon, Patty, Chris Johnson, Babbit, and Earl Barron can bring to the table with some extended minutes, hopefully it will give them some confidence going going forward.  We can see how much, or how little our bench players are capable of. I am hoping we can see some good play from them all tonight.

Signing Matthews to a Mid-Level exception was an exceptional moved that many experts thought was paying too high. However the Blazers knew who they were getting. After a few months of playing ball Wesley Matthews has proven these experts wrong as many  experts now admit that it was an amazing signing. Matthews is scoring an average of 16 points a game. Looking at other players who are the same position (SG) and have similar stats are gettin paid at least 9 million dollars. Jason Terry and Jason Richardson have similar stats yet both are get paid millions more than Matthews.  In my opinion it looks like the Blazers got the best signing of the year for the money. 

 

Trading Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, and couple 1st round picks is really one of the best trades, if not the best one of any team this season. 

Looking at other trades teams had to give alot of talent to get an all-star. 

New Jersey for example, gave up Devin Harris (a former all-star) and Derrick Favors (a rookie with ALOT of potential to be a future star)

Knicks gave up half of their starting lineup (Gallinari, Felton, Wilson Chandler) to get Billups and Melo

What did the Blazers give away to get a former all-star and all Defensive Player? Only bench players who didn't even average over 30 minutes a game between all of them. We didn't have to give up any future cornerstones like New York had to, and we didn't have to give away any promising young guys or starters (like batum or Oden). 

 

What do you think? How do these moves rank with other teams?

Poll

Did Blazers make the best signing and trade of the season? (considering how much they spent to get these assets)

77%

Heck yes!

320 votes

9%

No both deals can't compare to moves other teams made

39 votes

6%

Only signing Matthews was the best move

26 votes

7%

Only trade for Walllace was the best trade.

30 votes

415 votes | Poll has closed

There is only 20 games left in the season for the Blazers, and unfortunately it isn't going to be an easy one.

There are 20 games left in the season

of those 20, 15 of them are against .500 teams or above

Of the .500 teams it includes games @Orlando, @Miami, @Atlanta, vsDallas twice, LA home and away, spurs home and away, OKC home and away, @New Orleans

of those 15 games against .500+ teams 8 of them are on the road, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, LA, OKC, SAS, NO, Utah

the five games against under .500 teams is Charlotte, Golden State twice (home and away), Cleveland, and Washington.

In order to win 52 games as the blazers did last year they need 15 more wins. This we can say is going to be hard to accomplish, considering there is only 20 games left and the teams remaining that the Blazers will be playing.

So lets say the Blazers beat all the teams that have a worse record then they do, as a best case scenario. This would mean 8 wins (Charlotte, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Washington, GoldenState, Utah, Memphis, GoldenState)

This would bring the total to 43 wins, which would be 2 games over .500, lets say the Blazers also play well at home and win all of their home games against .500+ teams (unlikely) just as a best case scenario, that would give them five more wins to 48 wins at the most

So Realistically the Blazers are looking at winning at the most, 13 of their next 20 games at this rate of play and scheduling. Now this is only taking into account that static play that they have been playing.

The Good news is that we are not the only team with a difficult schedule going forward. New Orleans only has 6 road games left, however they also have 15 of their last 18 games against .500+ teams (granted it is still not as hard as the blazers). Denver has a pretty decent schedule (a couple games against sac, detroit, minnesota), Suns Have a decent schedule, (playing the clips twice, minnesota twice, sac once), Memphis schedule is a little more difficult, but still better than the Blazers.

How the standings  at the end of the season

1. San Antonio Spurs

2.Los Angelos Lakers

3.Dallas Mavericks

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

5. New Orleans

6. Denver Nuggets

7.Memphis Grizzles

8. Portland Trailblazers

If the Blazers get some chemistry going they could get some unexpected wins to move up a couple spots. Here is hoping we get some momentum going forward.

 

The Blazers just traded 2 first round picks, Joel, Marks, and Dante,  for a former all-star in Gerald Wallace. This trade increases the talent on the team, but creates more holes in the Roster that need to be filled.

As is here what the lineup looks like (Camby is still out.)

Starters

Aldridge - C

Batum - SF/PF

Wallace - PF/SF

Matthews - SG

Miller - PG

Now as a starting 5 this is pretty good, even when Camby comes back it will strengthen our front court and increase our talent on the bench. However our depth has been seriously compromised.

C/PF - Camby  (may start when healthy)

PF - ????? Luke Babbitt. (hope not)

SF - Rudy (although a more natural SG)

SG - Roy (May play some spot PG minutes)

PG - Mills (may see minutes diminish more with Roy back)

So as we can tell backup PF/C is our weakest link even more than it was before. Also Backup PG isn't that strong (no disrespect to Patty)

Being that the Blazers now have 13 roster spots full instead of the 15 beforehand. The search continues for a Backup PF/C as well as a Backup PG. 

The Blazers have 2 options to fill these needs.

1. Bring up D-league Players

2. Sign free agent veterans who will become bought out.

Because the players are looking to push through the playoffs it seems unlikely that they will bring in D-league players, unless they desperately want to save a little money.

It seems very likely the Blazers will look to sign two players who are going to be bought out in the future.

 Here is the main names floating around that could potentially be bought out or waived. (in no particular order)

T.J. Ford

Jason Kapono

Mike Bibby

Troy Murphy

Leon Powe

Eddy Curry

Jamario Moon

Joel Pryzibilla 

Sean Marks

Jered Jeffries

So who would you like to see the Blazers try and pickup if they are bought out?

The Blazers hope to get Roy back relatively soon, however the team is completely different than we saw with Brandon Roy. There is no more isolation plays up top, there is better clock management, more fast break points, and better defense.

When Roy comes back he will likely be eased into the Rotation, coming off the bench for 20-30 minutes. Andre Miller, Mattews, and Batum will see a dip in some minutes, but more than likely they shouldn't see a huge drop. Roy needs to realize that this isn't his team anymore, it is Aldridge's team first and foremost. Roy needs to play off Aldridge and Miller.

If Roy wants to fit with the team the way it is now he needs to play off the ball. It would be smart of him to become our primary knock down jump shooter, with Andre the cutter. It would benefit Roy's health and keep the chemistry going. Roy will have to learn how to play second fiddle to Aldridge first and foremost. Because of Roy coming off the bench he may have to learn how to command the second unit, which is a good thing, concerning there really isn't any defined leader for the bench.

The fact is when Roy comes back, it could make the blazers worse, or it could make them a lot better depending on how Roy decides to play WITH THE TEAM. 

 

The Fact is Roy's contract is not that tradable given his injuries, Roy will stay a Blazer for a while unless the right trade comes along, which is extremely unlikely.

 

MARCUS CAMBY

When Camby comes back it is likely he won't be 100% healthy, mainly given his age, and his reliance on athletic ability when it comes to rebounding and blocking ability. However a 75%-80% healthy Camby is still better than any center on the team, and still better than half of the centers in the league. Blazers interior defense will increase dramatically and the Blazers will get more second chance points because of him inside. The offense won't improve, and could drop a little, however his defense is too valuable to not have on the court. Hopefully Roy's offense (even if it is only 10 points) will help offset the lack of offense from Camby.

Camby helps every player on the team due to his passing ability as well. 

Camby is a player that many teams would like to have, however the Blazers need him more than ever given that they do not have any good centers' (sorry Joel). The only way the Blazers trade Camby is if they receive a young defensive center, which is very unlikely to happen.

 

Overall the blazers should improve dramatically just by having more bodies to shuffle around on the court. The Interior defense and passing from Camby and Roy's Shot (even if he is slow he can still shoot) should improve the Blazers by a few games after the All-Star Game.

What Are your thoughts?