2014-2015 NBA Season

[beanfigger]

I understand not trying to be a serious competitor in the east yet, and a lot of teams are in the same boat there, but longer-term I feel like the model of hoping some talented rookies come right on their own without trying to win any meaningful games over the first three or four years of their career may not be the best way for them to pan out.

Assuming the Magic, Bucks and Sixers all come good at similar points, I feel like the Bucks would be most dangerous in the playoffs because they've had that postseason experience and they will already have been geared towards trying to win. From the Magic's end, I feel like we've more or less got the core for the future now and it's now a case of letting them grow together. And while the process is going on, I still expect us to be irrelevant for the duration of LeBron's career and then some. It took the Spurs, Warriors and Hawks years to build the kind of chemistry they're thriving on now.

With all that said, I know posts like mine tend to look really short-sighted a year or two later on so I'm mentally preparing for the Sixers to get it all together and make me look silly. And it did occur to me afterwards that Hinkie is probably preparing to use some of those assets on veteran players in the next two or three seasons too (I think he'll need to).

Like I say, I'm a bit dubious of the process, but either way it'll be fun to watch over the next few years - especially when contrasted against other rebuilding sides (the Lakers don't count. I don't think those fans would know a rough patch if you beat them over the head with it). And people like you deserve props for sticking around when things are *ahem* tough.

Bucks may have postseason experience and may have already created a team that can play serious ball, but they are also getting fewer lottery picks over the next year or so as a result. Also, I want to stress that nobody is telling the coaches and players that they should not try to win. They play their hearts out every night, so I don't think you should be worried about them losing the will to try. They were in a ton of close games last season against some of the league's best teams. They just fell short without a go-to guy to finish games when needed. They have a better chance of finding that guy in the draft when they continue to rack up picks, high picks at that. They just need that one guy to take charge and make things look bright for the future, and the rest (including free agents with all their cap space) will come.

[redrum52]

The rich get richer. If they can fit LMA into their system, the Spurs are going to be a terror this season. And tbh I wouldn't mind seeing Duncan bow out with another ring.

I want him to be able to hang that 6th ring over Kobe.

Really though I'd like to see him go out with a win. Great player, great team and I like the way the organization has gone about building and developing their squad.

[Gordo52]

Would anyone be surprised if they won 3 of the next 5? I could also see Duncan playing at least 2 more seasons lol

Perfect offseason for the Spurs.... Warriors-Spurs games are gonna be fun.

Also love what the Bucks & Timberwolves have done... Two young franchises on the rise.

[Inqui]

Bucks may have postseason experience and may have already created a team that can play serious ball, but they are also getting fewer lottery picks over the next year or so as a result. Also, I want to stress that nobody is telling the coaches and players that they should not try to win. They play their hearts out every night, so I don't think you should be worried about them losing the will to try. They were in a ton of close games last season against some of the league's best teams. They just fell short without a go-to guy to finish games when needed. They have a better chance of finding that guy in the draft when they continue to rack up picks, high picks at that. They just need that one guy to take charge and make things look bright for the future, and the rest (including free agents with all their cap space) will come.

Yeah, you've got a point there. I just think it takes more than draft picks to rebuild a dynasty (and that's why I'm a bit disappointed with our own lack of activity in FA so far), but it'll all be interesting to follow.

[Inqui]

I want him to be able to hang that 6th ring over Kobe.

Really though I'd like to see him go out with a win. Great player, great team and I like the way the organization has gone about building and developing their squad.

Yeah, they're one of the classy organisations (though apparently their official forum is a cesspit that makes the Falcons forum look classy). Them and the Packers are really easy to root for, which isn't something you often say about winning franchises.

As for Kobe, well, there's a reason I agree it'd be magnificent to see Duncan nab that sixth ring.

[Inqui]

And in the news today, David West has opted out of a $12 million option with the Pacers for a one-year $1.5 million deal with, you guessed it, the Spurs. This is great to watch.

[DomMcRaven]

And in the news today, David West has opted out of a $12 million option with the Pacers for a one-year $1.5 million deal with, you guessed it, the Spurs. This is great to watch.

Spurs vs Warriors in the WCF should be an epic matchup.

[usmccharles]

last year when lebron went back to the Cavs, i said they would go to the finals, but they wouldnt win.  Said they would win it the following year, building chemistry and staying healthy.  hell, if they would of been healthy, i think it would be hard for anyone to argue against them beating the warriors. 

 

I think its gonna be warriors/spurs against the cavs this year. As long as Lebron is around, its hard to imagine his team not going to the finals.  Spurs are just insane,  they always just win with fundamentals.  TD will go down as a top ten player of all time, easily. 

[Mt. Crushmore]

Spurs will be scary good.  Them and Golden State will have an epic series.

[beanfigger]

Spurs will be scary good. Them and Golden State will have an epic series.

As much as I want this to happen, there's a part of me that kind of wants something else for the conference championship. I hate it sometimes when things are a foregone conclusion for several months and yet we still have to wait and hope against injuries. This is true in the NBA much more than any other major league.

[PurpleCity5]

Total D-Bag move by DeAndre. You can't get upset at the Clippers for trying hard to get back an important player for them. They must have been jumping for joy from resigning DeAndre. But I lost a bit of respect for DeAndre, (not that he would actually care) but the way he just spurned Dallas must be a tough pill to swallow for both the Mavs and their fans....Oh...and Mark Cuban totally has to feel embarrassed! He talked up DeAndre when he thought he was fully committed to Dallas only to see him leave. Not only that, but remember that $25,000 fine? He still has to pay that. Ugh, just awfully embarrassing for Mark Cuban.

[DomMcRaven]

Total D-Bag move by DeAndre. You can't get upset at the Clippers for trying hard to get back an important player for them. They must have been jumping for joy from resigning DeAndre. But I lost a bit of respect for DeAndre, (not that he would actually care) but the way he just spurned Dallas must be a tough pill to swallow for both the Mavs and their fans....Oh...and Mark Cuban totally has to feel embarrassed! He talked up DeAndre when he thought he was fully committed to Dallas only to see him leave. Not only that, but remember that $25,000 fine? He still has to pay that. Ugh, just awfully embarrassing for Mark Cuban.

DeAndre Jordan is overrated anyways. Take away his lob dunks and he isn't much. Even though he doesn't play for my Blazers anymore, I always thought Robin Lopez was better. Lopez doesn't necessarily need someone to set up his shot. Like Jordan, RoLo can also shot block and is a pretty good rim defender. Unlike Jordan, he can hit free throws. 

[stampedehero]

LMA in SA and he wants retired number 12.  I heard he will get it.  He should request gold threading around those numbers to meet his prince status.    

[stampedehero]

Spurs will be scary good.  Them and Golden State will have an epic series.

You picked the 2016 finals already?.

[stampedehero]

DeAndre Jordan is overrated anyways. Take away his lob dunks and he isn't much. Even though he doesn't play for my Blazers anymore, I always thought Robin Lopez was better. Lopez doesn't necessarily need someone to set up his shot. Like Jordan, RoLo can also shot block and is a pretty good rim defender. Unlike Jordan, he can hit free throws. 

Hey Dom....I agree. Robin is gone and actually went under the radar in the finals but he can service another team (NYK I believe)quite well in the 15-16 season.  

[stampedehero]

I want him to be able to hang that 6th ring over Kobe.

Really though I'd like to see him go out with a win. Great player, great team and I like the way the organization has gone about building and developing their squad.

Hey Red...Portland fans are sour on LMA but its' just business.  He will succeed in his State and carry them along with Leonard, Parker.  I see Duncan taking less minutes as Popovich can dictate game plans any way he chooses. LMA earning the thousands per minute and his peak will dictate more PT. .  

[stampedehero]

last year when lebron went back to the Cavs, i said they would go to the finals, but they wouldnt win.  Said they would win it the following year, building chemistry and staying healthy.  hell, if they would of been healthy, i think it would be hard for anyone to argue against them beating the warriors. 

 

I think its gonna be warriors/spurs against the cavs this year. As long as Lebron is around, its hard to imagine his team not going to the finals.  Spurs are just insane,  they always just win with fundamentals.  TD will go down as a top ten player of all time, easily. 

Yep.  TD is all class and when he goes into HOF, people know he was Never a street thug.

[redrum52]

Hey Red...Portland fans are sour on LMA but its' just business. He will succeed in his State and carry them along with Leonard, Parker. I see Duncan taking less minutes as Popovich can dictate game plans any way he chooses. LMA earning the thousands per minute and his peak will dictate more PT. .

With LA and West, it doesn't even matter when they rest Duncan now. You want to run small ball against then cool, and you make the mistake of a big lineup you're done. Western Playoffs going to be great with guys back healthy and the Spurs.

[Mt. Crushmore]

You picked the 2016 finals already?.

 

Spurs and Warriors look to be the class of the West at this point.  Obviously the 2 teams very well might not face each other in the playoffs, but if they did it would likely be great and the regular season games would as well.

[Inqui]

Spurs and Warriors look to be the class of the West at this point. Obviously the 2 teams very well might not face each other in the playoffs, but if they did it would likely be great and the regular season games would as well.

And the East is just a matter of where LeBron is. The Thunder might be smokies for the West if they can stay healthy, but at this point it looks like it's going through the Warriors or the Spurs.

[Mt. Crushmore]

76ers C Joel Embiid is going to undergo another foot surgery and is expected to miss the upcoming season.

[beanfigger]

76ers C Joel Embiid is going to undergo another foot surgery and is expected to miss the upcoming season.

Stop talking about it. I'm hoping if everyone shuts their mouths and stops mentioning his name, he will disappear completely, and it will be like it all never happened. He can just sit in basketball purgatory forever and play video games with Greg Oden.

[DomMcRaven]

Stop talking about it. I'm hoping if everyone shuts their mouths and stops mentioning his name, he will disappear completely, and it will be like it all never happened. He can just sit in basketball purgatory forever and play video games with Greg Oden.

See how we Blazers fans feel? If only we had KD.......

[Inqui]

See how we Blazers fans feel? If only we had KD.......

Or Michael Jordan.

[DomMcRaven]

Or Michael Jordan.

Don't get me started with that either. I hope we never get the #1 pick EVER AGAIN. Now speaking of picks, apparently we gave up a 2nd for Moe Harkless. How was he in Orlando?

[Inqui]

Don't get me started with that either. I hope we never get the #1 pick EVER AGAIN. Now speaking of picks, apparently we gave up a 2nd for Moe Harkless. How was he in Orlando?

We called him Moe Harmless. He's always had a nice offensive upside that he never really lived up to, but never been anything to write home about defensively. From Orlando's perspective, the trade was about him getting something instead of just cutting him after he got bogged down behind a string of other forwards. It's probably last chance saloon for him before he ends up playing for Townsville in the Australian league [Townsville is the Australian equivalent of Jacksonville if you were wondering, haha], but a change of scenery might be good for him.

 

Looks like you guys are preparing to blow it up for a year or two before coming back with a couple of solid young pieces around Lillard, so there's nothing to lose if he flames out, but if he gets it together he could become one of those surprising gems.

[DomMcRaven]

We called him Moe Harmless. He's always had a nice offensive upside that he never really lived up to, but never been anything to write home about defensively. From Orlando's perspective, the trade was about him getting something instead of just cutting him after he got bogged down behind a string of other forwards. It's probably last chance saloon for him before he ends up playing for Townsville in the Australian league [Townsville is the Australian equivalent of Jacksonville if you were wondering, haha], but a change of scenery might be good for him.

 

Looks like you guys are preparing to blow it up for a year or two before coming back with a couple of solid young pieces around Lillard, so there's nothing to lose if he flames out, but if he gets it together he could become one of those surprising gems.

Ah. Thanks for the insight. But that's basically the story of our offseason: a lot of young players with upside on low-risk, high reward contracts. I'm all for getting younger especially when there aren't that many veterans that are enticing to look at and possibly sign. Best case scenario we compete for the 8th spot (unlikely to get it though).

[Inqui]

Ah. Thanks for the insight. But that's basically the story of our offseason: a lot of young players with upside on low-risk, high reward contracts. I'm all for getting younger especially when there aren't that many veterans that are enticing to look at and possibly sign. Best case scenario we compete for the 8th spot (unlikely to get it though).

Looks like that pick is for 2020 and is 31-55 protected. Seems you guys more or less won that trade unless we were desperate for a salary dump I don't know about.

 

I saw a good piece saying you guys are probably looking at more or less tanking the next season or two away. Lillard on his own may not be enough to make the playoffs. But after a lottery pick (maybe two, considering next year's class is supposed to be pretty rubbish), he's still young enough to lead the side to big things again with a budding star in tow. Hell, in five years' time that might put you guys in better stead than us - depending on how things shake out.

 

Meanwhile, it's not a bad move to try and buy low (in Harkless' case, really low as it turns out) on overall disappointments or people who are buried on their old depth charts in case something pans out.

[DomMcRaven]

Looks like that pick is for 2020 and is 31-55 protected. Seems you guys more or less won that trade unless we were desperate for a salary dump I don't know about.

 

I saw a good piece saying you guys are probably looking at more or less tanking the next season or two away. Lillard on his own may not be enough to make the playoffs. But after a lottery pick (maybe two, considering next year's class is supposed to be pretty rubbish), he's still young enough to lead the side to big things again with a budding star in tow. Hell, in five years' time that might put you guys in better stead than us - depending on how things shake out.

 

Meanwhile, it's not a bad move to try and buy low (in Harkless' case, really low as it turns out) on overall disappointments or people who are buried on their old depth charts in case something pans out.

I've been hearing the same thing. From what I've heard, Harkless is on his way to Vegas to participate in the Summer League. I kinda hope we don't tank. I've never gotten excited over the NBA draft compared to the NFL draft. I'm viewing this season as just an extended preseason for us. That's how low my hopes are for this team at this moment. Free agency next year will be interesting. One can hope KD comes to Portland. One can hope. 

[Geving]