Like a lot of us, I watched the Miami Heat conduct a clinic on NBA basketball using the Blazers as guinea pigs. The only thing missing from what amounted to an execution was a cigarette and a blindfold. And Chris Bosh wasn’t even in town.
The Blazers aren’t the only team to be surgically disassembled by the Heat. It’s just that I can’t shake the feeling that Portland’s saddled with the Pacific Northwest’s version of the Sacramento Kings. The Blazers are less a team than a disorganized collection of talented, unmotivated players going through the motions. There’s no consistency, no emotion, no motivation, and, worst of all, no passion.
I’ll refrain from the “Geez, these guys are making millions….” argument, if only because it’s too easy. So far this season, I’ve paid $110 for two seats at two different games on the Rose Garden 200 level. On both nights, I saw more passion and hustle from the guy stalking the aisles selling cotton candy.
I understand that this is an unusual and difficult season for everyone in the NBA. The lockout, and the 66-games-in-125-days schedule has made for some truly awful basketball. This neither explains nor excuses the Blazers’ consistent inconsistency.
I have to wonder about a team that scores all of seven points in the first quarter in L.A. one night, then 24 hours later scores 41 in the first quarter against Atlanta in the Rose Garden. There’s no rational explanation for that sort of inconsistency. I understand having a bad day at the office, but if you or I have a bad day, we at least have the satisfaction of knowing that we showed up. There’s no excuse when you lose to the Washington Wizards at home. It’s a case of getting a role of stamps and mailing it in. The minimal effort on display that night has been the norm this season.
It’s not losing that bothers me, though victories are always appreciated. Sometimes you run into a team that gets on a roll and never lets up…like Miami. The Heat is a better team in virtually every phase of the game, and there’s no shame in losing to a better team. But when the Blazers spend 48 minutes collectively sleepwalking, the lack of effort and commitment is tough to stomach.
It seems the optimism the season began with was a mirage. Perhaps starting 7-2 and beating Oklahoma City on the road was a chimera. Nine games into the season, Blazers fans were thinking there might be hope for a team that lost Greg Oden (again) and Brandon Roy. Perhaps adversity would help create a sense of common purpose, an us-against-the-world mentality that could conquer all comers in spite of the long odds.
That was then….
Now, just past the midpoint of the season, it seems the true (lack of) character of the Blazers has come to the fore. The current roster’s shortcomings have been laid bare, and there’s no way to ignore what must seem obvious to even the most casual observer.
Sure, I was happy to see Joel Przybilla once again banging bodies in the paint. His toughness and professionalism are qualities the Blazers desperately need. That said, the Vanilla Gorilla’s presence is merely a Band-Aid covering a gaping wound.
Since we’re talking about Przybilla, we can focus on one of the Blazers’ biggest problems- a lack of an athletic center that can rebound and score. No one, least of all Przybilla, will deny that the Vanilla Gorilla’s best years are behind him. Watching him try to jump is painful, because his vertical jump is about the same as mine: six inches. Kurt Thomas adds toughness, but his age (39), prevents him from being a scoring threat or much of a presence on the boards. Craig Smith is a big body, which explains his nickname (“The Rhino”)…but like Thomas, he’s not going to score and he isn’t likely to pull in many rebounds. Marcus Camby possesses the most complete skill set of the lot, but age and injuries have taken their toll on him as well.
When only LaMarcus Aldridge and Camby can be counted on to rebound consistently, it puts enormous pressure on shooters. If a shooter knows that all he’s going to get is one-and-done…well, that’s not going to make scoring any easier, is it?
Point guard play is arguably the most pressing problem for the Blazers. Trading Andre Miller for Raymond Felton was supposed to make the Blazers younger and more athletic. Nice idea, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way. Felton’s play lacks confidence, and he’s unable to provide leadership or effectively run the offense. More often than not, Felton’s presence in the game goes unnoticed…not something you’d expect from a point guard, who by definition handles the basketball more than any other player.
Nolan Smith may have potential, but the problem at point guard is a problem crying for a resolution now. Jamal Crawford is a serviceable short-term solution, but playing him at the point means sacrificing some of his offense. And it’s not as if the Blazers are blessed with an abundance of consistent scoring threats.
This brings me to the next glaring hole in the roster- the lack of consistent, reliable shooters. Aldridge will get his points every night. Nicolas Batum continues to develop with each game, and he’s becoming Robin to Aldridge’s Batman. His move into the starting lineup has been a step in the right direction, but even Batman and Robin need a supporting cast.
Wesley Matthews’ shot (and his confidence) evidently didn’t get the memo advising the lockout had ended. If he can rediscover the consistent mid-range jump shot he had last year, it’s a weapon that prevents teams from clogging the middle. That alone would make the Blazers a more formidable and balanced team.
From where I sit, the only chance the Blazers have is to make significant moves prior to the trade deadline. With the current roster, this season can only continue to circle the drain. IF the Blazers make the playoffs- a very big “if” at this point- their odds of getting out of the first round are nonexistent.
Revamping the roster would stir things up. I don’t know how the Blazers can salvage their season with the current roster, which is less a team than 15 guys collecting paychecks. Nice work if you can get it, I suppose, but fans in Portland expect more than being subjected to the Sacramento Kings every night.
So what’s it going to be? Try to salvage the season by doing something bold? Or write it off by standing pat and waiting to take advantage of all those expiring contracts this summer? Making trades doesn’t guarantee a team that will create some havoc come the playoffs. Letting all those contracts expire is no guarantee of being able to sign top-flight free agent talent in the offseason. The average NBA player view Portland as a suburb of Irkutsk. If you’re a player looking for media exposure and endorsement deals, you’re probably not going to sign with the Blazers. That might change…if Blazers management displayed a commitment to doing what it takes to put together a championship-caliber team.
For now, the question is what to make of the rest of this season. The Blazers have until March 15th. How they answer the question will indicate whether they want to win now or mail in the rest of the season and look to the future.
Stay tuned….
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