There’s definitely more parity in the NBA now than at anytime I can remember. [In the 34 seasons that the NBA has selected three All-NBA Teams, there has never been a year where those 15 players come from 15 different teams. In fact, the last time every All-NBA selection came from a different team was 1973-74, when only 10 players were selected.](https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2544648). Meanwhile, [the Miami Heat are seeking to become the first No. 8 seed to win and NBA Championship](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/4-bulls-storylines-including-jimmy-butler-behind-2023-nba-finals?amp=). Did the Trailblazers make the right move tanking before the playoffs?
by collinmacfhearghuis
12 Comments
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Yes, because there’s no better way to add cheap talent than through the draft. We were undersized beyond a fault, allergic to rebounding and consistently bleeding points on the defensive end. This team had no chance to win a play-in game, considering that the FO repeatedly refused to upgrade our PF/C spot.
No way we get past the Thunder, much less the Lakers.
The outlook on this team is much higher with an additional top 3 pick (or trade) then hoping a team takes an Ant + 4 future firsts deal
I don’t remember the exact numbers, but I think we were out of the playoff picture before we even tanked. Maybe it was fighting for 10? The point is, for whatever reason, the team was playing worse than the sum of the parts. I don’t believe we would’ve made it past the play in.
Yes because both of those teams have better top end players than we do.
Lebron/AD and Jimmy/Bam are both better than Dame/???
I’d also argue they have better benches too
Yes. The Lakers and Heat have much better rosters than us and especially in the Heats case infinitely better coaches
Lakers have LeBron, AD, and a whole slew of excellent role players. Portland is not capable of making the kind of moves they did before the deadline, nor are we a desirable free agency destination.
The Heat have one of the GOAT coaches, one of the best leaders in Jimmy Butler, and a culture that elevates average players.
The only way we put a contending team together is through the draft, which is why we should stop fucking around and rebuild. We have a golden opportunity to put a promising young core together right now, and we may not get another chance for a long while.
The Lakers were a false 7 seed. They had a phenomenal deadline trade day. Dumped Westbrook, and got some shooting, size, and defense. Has they started the season with that roster, they could have been a top 3 seed.
I’m not a super high BBIQ NBA analyst or anything, but I absolutely do not see our team making it past the second round (if we were even able to get through the play in) this last year. We are not as cohesive a group as the Heat, and I don’t think we have the talent of the Lakers (god that hurts to say).
I think we’d have our moments where Dame refuses to let us lose, but I would predict either Dame getting injured or getting pissed off. Either one of those happens and our next season is in jeopardy, and for what? To say we made the playoffs without anything to show for it… again?
No. We did the correct thing by getting the pick. This team has been very bad under billups and I have zero faith he could win a series last year. On top of that our front court depth was a complete joke.
It was obviously the right move.
Post trade deadline, the Lakers were actually a really solid team. Miami had a better constructed roster than the Trail Blazers did. Portland PROBABLY coulda made the playoffs and then gotten beaten in the first round if we were lucky enough to make it out of the play in. Now we’re better off because we have the number 3 pick and a really good avenue to add high level talent to our roster for next season.