For a team with so much talent, experts said the only thing that could hold them back was themselves. After-all, when you have 12 stars on a 12 man roster, egos play a big role. It seems the Blazers might just be coming apart. Teammates Rasheed Wallace and Detlef Schrempf were involved in a minor locker room scuffle earlier in the week, and Wallace's temper has been a big problem. It hasn't happened yet, but once Scottie starts whining, and Damon wants more playing time, and...
Cab, I agree, their main problem is too many stars and not enough role players. As much as Stoudamire is not that great of a player if he is the starting PG, the lack of minutes in the last quarter cannot be great for team harmony, the one position where the do have a solid back up is at PG (maybe also the 2 spot with Smith and wells-this is a good balance), and then dunleavy goes and plays the back-up anthony too much. But really it is up front they have their harmony problems with Sabonis, Grant, Wallace, Quit, and Shrimp all wanting minutes for 3 spots and poor Oneill getting none as a back-up to sabonis as grant gets those minutes or he will explode. Add to this wallace's temper which seemed to have improved till recently and this is just a powder keg waiting to explode. My guess is their will be a trade, maybe shrimp for draft picks and some bench wood.
I just don't see how that team could not make it to the Finals. Usually, you have to have the best player, which favors the Lakers or Spurs, but Portland is just unbelievably talented. Even without the best record, I see them going all the way. In comparing them to the Lakers, you have to look at the leadership and the defense. Grant, Pippen, and Wallace is just a great defensive combo, also Anthony. Who does LA have that's going to be a stopper on the defensive end? I'm not convinced that Bryant is better than Steve Smith at this stage. I don't know that LA has the teamwork to take out a team like Portland. I know this thread was started before Portland beat the Spurs last night, but you have to think they just hit a little funk there for a couple of games. They've played a ton of road games this year.
Anybody else find it just a little uplifting that Portland had not only one, but two (consecutive) chances to win the game against us and couldn't convert on either of them? They're very beatable. Damn near vulnerable if you can keep it close with them in the fourth quarter. [This message has been edited by AntiSonic (edited January 21, 2000).]
