[LA12Participant]

 Let me start off by saying that as a Blazers fan, I fully expected them to probably be the worst team in the West. With that said, they’ve been a nice surprise. Even though they’ve been losing games they seem to put in real effort into each game. I don’t think that Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combo is going to just let this team lose games without a fight.

The Lakers however, wow. This team looks like it was built around Kobe to try to fight for the 8th seed and get Bryant one last playoff appearance. With Kobe not being Kobe though, they’re just flat out terrible. Randle’s been steadily performing, but Russel has been really disappointing. He was billed to be an amazing playmaker, but he’s put up a horrendous A/T ratio. He also sometimes just looks way too slow for a guard. Atleast he put up a pretty solid performance tonight.

So which team do you guys think has more potential moving forward? Outside of Lillard and CJ, I think everyone else is basically auditioning for a role on the team moving forward this year. On the Lakers side of things, I don’t expect to see any of the guys on the team (outside Randle, Clarkson and Russell) to be part of the future for this team. If they can get a top five pick this year and have atleast two of those four pieces (the trio I mentioned plus the pick) pan out into stars, they could have a bright future in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

[TRC1991Participant]

That’s what happenes when you pay the 400th best player in the NBA (Kobe) $25m/year 

[TRC1991Participant]

That’s what happenes when you pay the 400th best player in the NBA (Kobe) $25m/year 

[ballislyfe25Participant]

Russell’s play is really more a function of Scott’s offense/philosophy than him struggling. This team does not push the pace, spread the floor, or run high or side pick and rolls – all of which play into his strengths, especially as a playmaker. 

[ballislyfe25Participant]

Russell’s play is really more a function of Scott’s offense/philosophy than him struggling. This team does not push the pace, spread the floor, or run high or side pick and rolls – all of which play into his strengths, especially as a playmaker. 

[Greekballin]

 I can’t believe how slow Russel is.. don’t know why he had so much hype coming out of college really.. I didn’t take a look at him but how did the scout miss this? He’ll never have the lateral speed to defend NBA guards.. sorry.

[Greekballin]

 I can’t believe how slow Russel is.. don’t know why he had so much hype coming out of college really.. I didn’t take a look at him but how did the scout miss this? He’ll never have the lateral speed to defend NBA guards.. sorry.

[circumlocution75Participant]

 otherwise they lose it…. I really thought they might compete for that 8th seed…. But as far as Portland…. I really like how they responded to losing Aldridge…. They made some nice moves to bring in some young talent….. & so far they look like they have a good foundation on which to build….

[circumlocution75Participant]

 otherwise they lose it…. I really thought they might compete for that 8th seed…. But as far as Portland…. I really like how they responded to losing Aldridge…. They made some nice moves to bring in some young talent….. & so far they look like they have a good foundation on which to build….

[LA12Participant]

 I completely forgot it was a top three protected pick, I thought it was top five protected

[LA12Participant]

 I completely forgot it was a top three protected pick, I thought it was top five protected

[thetruth87Participant]

 As long as the Blazers draft well, spend their money on players who complement their core players, and keep Lillard and McCollum to build around I think they have the brighter future than the Lakers. But if the Lakers land Simmons in the draft, and fire Byron, and hire Luke Walton I could change my mind. I think D’Angelo Russell would thrive in a GS style offense that Walton would run. 

[thetruth87Participant]

 As long as the Blazers draft well, spend their money on players who complement their core players, and keep Lillard and McCollum to build around I think they have the brighter future than the Lakers. But if the Lakers land Simmons in the draft, and fire Byron, and hire Luke Walton I could change my mind. I think D’Angelo Russell would thrive in a GS style offense that Walton would run. 

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