Power Forward -vs- Point Guard

by silkybrown on May 12, 2008 12:37 AM PDT

One of the many things that stunk about Greg Oden being hurt is that we did not get a chance to see what both he and Lamarcus Aldridge could do together. Would they be able to run high-low offensive sets? Would they block shots like crazy? Maybe grab every rebound? Had we been able to see that, I think it might have drastically effected the kinds of topics and conversations we would be having about the Blazers and what pieces may or may not be missing from this team. I love the idea of Oden and LMA on our starting front-line, but I have some other thoughts too that will hopefully stir up some conversation.

I believe several fans on this site would like to see improvement from our point guard position. I know I would. I also think it is pretty safe to say that most of us believe LMA has a bright future in this league. Assuming he stays injury free.......he has all-star potential.

That being said, I want to present you with this question and scenario. Salary cap issues aside, if you had had to choose between having an all-star power forward on the current Blazer roster, or an all-star point guard on the current Blazer's roster, which one would you pick and why?

Would you rather have Lamarcus Aldridge and an average point guard like a Steve Blake in your starting 5, or would you rather have a Derron Williams type with an average power forward like Channing Frye in the starting 5, (with Outlaw coming in off the bench) ?

Consider the 2 possibilities:

PG - Blake SG - Roy C - Oden PF - ALL-STAR SF - Webster

Or..................

PG - ALL-STAR SG - Roy C - Oden PF - Frye SF - Webster

With the first line-up, the potential is there to have the best front-line in the NBA

With the second line-up, the potential is there to have the best backcourt duo in the NBA.

The possibility exists that Brandon Roy may be our point guard of the future. If that is the case, the whole point of this diary is worthless. Because of the success and improvement of Lamarcus, it's practically impossible right now for me to envision KP ever moving LMA. I mean, the guy made everybody who was crying about losing Zach Randolph's 20pts & 10reb (4 of which were from his own misses) shut up.

However, if we aren't making the kind of progress we think we ought to be in 2-3 years with the Oden/Aldridge duo, I would not be surprised if KP were to move LMA and pursue a BIG-Time point guard. Channing Frye is no LMA, but he is adequate enough. He still has quite a bit of upside too. Outlaw has shown he is in the league to stay too.

What are your thoughts? WWKPD? (What Would Kevin Pritchard Do?)

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Comments

I think you can´t compare those two line-up:

PG – Blake SG – Roy C – Oden PF – ALL-STAR SF – Webster and PG – ALL-STAR SG – Roy C – Oden PF – Frye SF – Webster.
Because Frye is a better player at PF than Blake at PG, so the second team doesn´t need great improvement but the first team needs it.

Since I know that you like the rice with milk, below the door I put a brick.

by amlmart1 on May 12, 2008 1:25 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

You tickle me

You’re all the way in Europe and know more about the Blazers than people who live in Portland. I’m glad you’re part of our ohana.

I agree about Frye. I think a season at power forward will show a dramatic increase in his production.

"Reality is for people who can't handle Blazers Edge." - MiledAnimal

by tominhawaii on May 12, 2008 1:56 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I´m trying to say something on topic.

Really difficult for me. Thanks for your support.

Before you criticize me think a bit.
You will have the double of motives.

by amlmart1 on May 13, 2008 5:12 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

That's what I'm hear for

We’re basically just a support group of Blazers fans. Sometimes we have good days, sometimes we have bad days, but we always have each other.

"Reality is for people who can't handle Blazers Edge." - MiledAnimal

by tominhawaii on May 13, 2008 9:36 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

There is a simpler way to put the question.

Would you trade Aldridge straight up for Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Devin Harris, the first pick in the draft (Derrick Rose) or any other PG?

I wouldn’t.

by timg56 on May 12, 2008 6:09 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

LMA for CP3?

Hell yeah, but it will never happen.

by LMA on May 12, 2008 7:22 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

If both Rose and LMA

were a certain thing to reach their full potential, I’d trade LMA for Rose. I don’t do the trade because Rose is far from being a sure thing.
And yeah, I’d trade LMA for CP3 or Deron.

by Falcao on May 12, 2008 7:50 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

What ever happened to loyalty?

This years roster was my favorite that I have ever watched (only watched b-ball from ‘97 on), and there is no team I’d rather see win a title than this one.

Can they do it w/ their current configuration? Maybe, but probably not without some improvement at the PG position, but you will never catch me saying “geez, I wish we had __ at PG instead of LMA next to Oden.”

LaMarcus has been a great player for us in his young career (and how can you not love that goofy run he does), and is still improving. We shouldn’t need a super-star PG to get us over the top, we just need another effective bit-guy like Blake.

by Devenex on May 12, 2008 8:32 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

So

you wouldn’t trade Roy for LBJ?

I’d do it in a heartbeat, although my heart would still be in pain.

by Falcao on May 12, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Most certainly not

LeBron is a great player, no doubt about that, but I just don’t really like the guy. He comes across as distant and arrogant, and not really much of a team guy. Too willing to sacrifice others for his own benefit as he pursues his goal of becoming a “global icon.”

Brandon is humble, easy-going, and the consummate team player, in addition to having All-Star talent. Also, we as fans have a certain connection with him (stronger in some than others) because he has been a Blazer for two years already.

by Diesel10 on May 13, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Agreed

I want to see THIS team improve and win. No need for trades when our players live up to their potential.

by Sabonis4Ever on May 12, 2008 1:56 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Trade him for

Paul, Williams or Rose? Probably. For Devin Harris? Hardly!

by TwoDeep on May 12, 2008 8:40 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Interesting thought

And i’d take CP. Why? Because I believe that Frye > blake in terms of position effectiveness. Frye can put up the big numbers and with Oden in, most likely will. This also clears room for a Bruiser behind him, which i like. The guard tandem of CP, Roy, Rudy would be amazing.

Aldridge will be an amazing player, but for me, he needs to develop that dominance mentality and desire to own the post. He doesn’t have that and that’s the difference. If he DID have that, then I would change my mind. I want more of a defensive orientation from him. I want more rebounding and more blocks and more inside scoring.

Maybe he’ll get that next year. If he had those things then no way on the trade.

Here's to being hated. Come on #1 pick!

by ratbastird on May 12, 2008 8:48 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

94% of you are nuts

That’s how many voted stay for Channing Frye on Olive. He played maybe 10 good games all year.

At most times he was terrible in every part of the game except taking 18-20 foot jumpshots of which we had little chance for an offensive rebound.

Rebounding terrible
Defense terrible
Shot Blocking hah
Passing nothing special
Fast Break meh
Intimidation hah
setting screens maybe average

Bloggins actually pretty good.

He is likeable and he can play back-up, but if he is a key player in our championship hopes…. he would be a glaring weakness.

I would rather stick with Blake & Aldrige. -Ken a fantastic infrequent poster pointed out in his recent fanpost that having an All Star point guard is not necessary to win it all & I agree with that.

by tweener on May 12, 2008 9:07 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

He is still young

Lets see how he plays at the 4 spot all year.

by Sabonis4Ever on May 12, 2008 1:57 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

You and Tweener both have good points...

However, I disagree with those that really think Channing playing at the 4 spot next season is going to set the world on fire. For every disadvantage he had playing at center because of being undersized, he should have had an advantage as well due to quickness (and hopefully more athleticism) Playing the 4 spot isn’t going to improve the fundamental parts of the game Tweener mentioned.

People have discussed how good Channing will be at the 4. My thought is this:

Channing Frye vs Travis Outlaw

1. Which is the better basketball player?
and/or
2. Who is the better back-up Power Forward?

I’d vote for Travis Outlaw every time.

Channing is young, but so is Travis. Travis can do about everything Channing can do and much much more. Travis has way more upside. That being said, I want to keep both of those guys. I want to see Travis Outlaw play well enough to get the back-up three spot minutes. That would give us great size on our front line for both the 1st and 2nd units…

Starters: C= 7’0” PF= 6’11” SF= 6’7”

Bench: C= 7’1” PF= 6’11” SF= 6’9”

Can I buy you a fish sandwich?

by silkybrown on May 12, 2008 4:44 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Ditto

"Reality is for people who can't handle Blazers Edge." - MiledAnimal

by tominhawaii on May 12, 2008 4:50 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I'm afraid I'd say all-star guards.

Look at who wins championships. The teams that have all-star (or super star) guards. There are a lot of teams with all-star power forwards that don’t go all the way. Toronto (Bosh), Memphis (Pau when he was there), Jazz (Booze, or Mail Man), Seatle (Good Year Kemp), Blazers (Sheed, Z-Bo), Dallas (Dirk), T-Wolves (Garnett years), Suns (Barkley, Amare) etc. Almost all of the teams I can remember had at least one if not both back court players all stars, or on the cusp of all stardomness. Guards create the shots for everyone else, or take the most shots because they have the ball most of the time.

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on May 12, 2008 9:28 AM PDT reply reply 0 recs

What point are you making?

The Jazz had Stockton and Deron Williams to team with Malone and Boozer. Dallas has had Nash, Harris and now Kidd. Seattle had Payton and the Suns have Nash (and before that Kevin Johnson). Even Toronto has Calderon, who so many here covet.

There are a lot of good teams that don’t go all the way every season. 29 of them in fact. Just saying some trite bs that you need an All-star point guard does not make it true. Who was the All-Star PG for the six Bulls teams that won? I’m trying to recall the All-Star PG that led Shaq and Kobe to those titles. And who was that all-time great PG who is Hall of Fame bound that started for Houston when they won? So the Spurs won last year with Tony Parker. But they also won with Avery Johnson. As much as I like the Lil’ General, I doubt anyone ever confused him with one of the all time greats at the position. In fact after Parker you have to go back almost 20 years to Isiah Thomas and the Pistons to find a team with a PG as the key player for a title winner.

We have a true gem in Aldridge. As impressive as Paul has been this year, anyone who lets their Paul love blind them to what we have is a fool. It’s like being married to the most wonderful woman in the world and coveting your neighbor’s wife, who is also wonderful and maybe dresses a bit flashier. Lets not forget that people around the league were saying Portland was team on the rise before we got the first pick and Oden. That was due to their evaluation of Aldridge and Roy. LaMarcus has done nothing this past season to make anyone think he’s going to be less than advertised. People, we have a guy that is likely going to challenge Amare and Dwight Howard as the best young PF in the game. In fact it won’t really be a contest, as those two guys are really centers.

by timg56 on May 12, 2008 1:26 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I think you missed his point.

He was just talking about guards in general, not specifically point guards. I believe he was essentially saying that every championship team has an all-star caliber playmaker on the perimeter, it could be a pg, sg, or a sf. I totally agree with that line of thinking. Look at the championship teams since Portland won it all:

2006-07 San Antonio Spurs - Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili
2005-06 Miami Heat - Dwyane Wade
2004-05 San Antonio Spurs - Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili
2003-04 Detroit Pistons - Chauncey Billups
2002-03 San Antonio Spurs - Tony Parker
2001-02 Los Angeles Lxkers - Kxbe
2000-01 Los Angeles Lxkers - Kxbe
1999-00 Los Angeles Lxkers - Kxbe
1998-99 San Antonio Spurs - Sean Elliot
1997-98 Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan
1996-97 Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan
1995-96 Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan
1994-95 Houston Rockets - Clyde Drexler
1993-94 Houston Rockets - Vernon Maxwell (I am reaching on this one)
1992-93 Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan
1991-92 Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan
1990-91 Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan
1989-90 Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars
1988-89 Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars
1987-88 Los Angeles Lxkers - Magic Johnson
1986-87 Los Angeles Lxkers - Magic Johnson
1985-86 Boston Celtics- Larry Bird
1984-85 Los Angeles Lxkers— Magic Johnson
1983-84 Boston Celtics - Larry Bird
1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers - Andrew Toney, Julius Erving
1981-82 Los Angeles Lxkers - Magic Johnson
1980-81 Boston Celtics - Larry Bird, Tiny Archibald
1979-80 Los Angeles Lxkers - Magic Johnson
1978-79 Seattle SuperSonics - Dennis Johnson, Gus Williams
1977-78 Washington Bullets— Bob Dandridge

Everyone on this list except Vernon Maxwell went to multiple all-star games, and were important pieces on their championship team. However, it would be easy to make a similar list highlighting how everyone of these teams also had a dominate big-man. So I submit that both an all star caliber post presence and an all star caliber ballhandler/playmaker are crucial to winning an NBA championship. Thats why I believe our rings are tied to Roy at this point. We have two bigs that can turn into beasts but only one guy that can control the ball out top, set something up, and then make it happen when its score or go home time….

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on May 12, 2008 2:38 PM PDT up reply reply 1 recs

Every team on that list for the last 10 years

had a dominant post player with Rasheed Wallace as the only possible exception (he is only sometimes a dominant post player). The premier guards of that era:

Vince Carter, Kobaby( without shaq ), T-mac, Kidd & Nash 0 titles.

So thank goodness we have both!!!!!!! Roy & Oden the cake and Aldridge is icing. Roy & Aldridge the cake and Oden is icing. Whatever Rudy or Cap Space gives us is a big fat cherry on top.

Yummy

by tweener on May 12, 2008 3:47 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

As I said in another diary

The argument can be made about not needing a great point guard to get a championship….However, if you look at the big majority of teams that were able to do it, they were able to do it because they had a big-time Hall of Fame player or players on their team. History shows we can get it done w/o a great PG, but we need to hope Oden will live up to his Hall of Fame billing that Mo Lucas has given him.

Can I buy you a fish sandwich?

by silkybrown on May 12, 2008 4:29 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

As tweener pointed out ....

With the exception of Jordan’s Bulls, every one of those teams had an All-Star center or PF.

There is no magic formula for putting together a championship team. If you are going to be forced to identify one element or position, center is probably it. The road to a title is perhaps a bit easier if you have an All-Star big man dominating down low.

The Blazers already have an All-Star guard. We have one big man who played on the sophmore All-Star squad and another who looks to be a potential All-Star, All this talk of needing to add more talent is so much fantasy league rubbish. Sure, fantasies may be fun to ponder, but they don’t get you anywhere. We have a first rate coach, we have a fair amount of young talent, we now have one of the sharpest front offices in the league and we even have what appears to be a good sized dollop of that key ingredient of championship teams – chemistry. Asking for more just doesn’t seem right when, as Blazer fans, we appear to be so blessed.

by timg56 on May 13, 2008 6:19 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs