Post-Draft Podcast

by Dave on Jun 27, 2008 6:50 PM PDT

Here is the draft review from Dawson, Holdahl, and Deckard in podcast form. There's some good evaluation and speculation there. Plus you will be treated to the hilarious spectacle of Casey Holdahl trying to get through an entire draft discussion without ever mentioning a single player or trade by name, per league requirements as a team employee. It's like one, giant game of "Taboo". And he never used the word "alleged" either! Priceless stuff.

Here's the link.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Who is the player Casey was talking about that we wanted instead of Batum?

He said another team took him, and that he was “european based” although maybe not actually european?

by pualo on Jun 27, 2008 4:11 PM PDT reply actions

Perhaps

Alexis Ajinca?

by Jason3123 on Jun 27, 2008 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Serge Ibaka

Seattle swiped him at 24. He’s from the Congo, but probably not coming over for a while. I think he’s signing a 4 year deal in Spain or something like that. Not sure, but I looked and he’s the only European based non-euro foreigner who went before our pick.

by goonerluke on Jun 30, 2008 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions

swiping the press pass for the playoffs????????????????????????

oh god i would cry

"Honor Terry Porter." Email me with your TP stories and memories.

by Ben Golliver on Jun 27, 2008 4:51 PM PDT reply actions

LOL

I was just teasing because I knew that would get you. Shout-out to Ben on the podcast.

—Dave

by Dave on Jun 27, 2008 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

(furiously looks at rose garden blueprints for unguarded backdoor entrances)

even thinking about the playoffs just sends the mind off into outer space…

i love the term “baby barbosa” jarryd “babyrosa” bayless … that needs to stick hard!

"Honor Terry Porter." Email me with your TP stories and memories.

by Ben Golliver on Jun 27, 2008 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions

These podcasts are awesome

This draft was impressive.. the next 12 months are going to be fascinating, we’ll be battling for the playoffs, the arrival of Oden and Rudy. Plus there will be at least 1 more trade, possibly more, so who knows. No more lottery picks via our own record though.

by Jason3123 on Jun 27, 2008 4:57 PM PDT reply actions

Nice job Dave

One thing though—Petteri Koponen’s name is pronounced PET-ery KOPE-oh-nen, not peh-TER-ee ku-POH-nen…stress the first syllable, not the second. I know a lot of Finnish people…. :)

by jamon51 on Jun 27, 2008 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

lol

by Jason3123 on Jun 27, 2008 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, same here...know quite a few Fins

They all say sowwwwna instead of sauna like normal people do.

And then aunt is “Awwwnt” instead of saying it like “ant”

And then Sausage and cheese is “Mukkada.”

It’s all weird and convoluted. Seriously.

How do I set my laser printer to stun?

by prezofdeath on Jun 30, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Another thing

Don’t think I’m just criticizing you, but there was one more thing that I disagree with. I do not think you need to move Steve Blake for a veteran leader point guard. Brandon Roy is the leader of this team. If you try to add a different leader you will mess with the chemistry. Steve Blake is perfect for this team-keep his mouth shut, do his job, knock down the open jumper, and not demand a ton of minutes. I don’t believe there is someone out there that would be a better fit. I think if we didn’t have Blake we would be trying to get him. Just moving him because he’s not a type-A aggressive point guard…that’s why we got Bayless-he’s that guy.

So trading Steve Blake for a veteran point guard = bad move, in my opinion.

by jamon51 on Jun 27, 2008 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

Boston coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised by the firing of Saunders.
"I don't understand it," Rivers said. "It makes coaching not fun."

by Dheepan on Jun 27, 2008 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions

+ another 1

How do I set my laser printer to stun?

by prezofdeath on Jun 30, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

You can critique and criticize all you want

Never worry about that. I enjoy being argued with and have no problem with ending up wrong sometimes. It would be a pretty poor podcast if nobody was inspired to debate about it.

I hear you on Blake. I’m so on the fence about him. On the one hand he’s everything you need really. He’s got a lot of nice tools and he doesn’t take away from anyone else’s game. On the other hand, even though he’s had more experience than most of our guys, he’s just not the older guy who will either play wise mentor or get the team in line. I know Roy is the leader, but I still feel the need for a Chauncey Billups type…NOT Billups himself, but just a guy who does what Billups does for the Pistons: keep everybody straight, be able to step up when things are going south, but otherwise just facilitate/orchestrate. I don’t feel Blake being able to command and assure, nor do I feel he’s able to step in and personally right things when they are falling apart. I think both will be necessary with this young team-even with Roy on board-as the competition and goals get more serious.

On the other hand guys like I just described aren’t easy to find. Some have the talent and "pop" but not the right demeanor. They have to be at the center of the show. Others have the demeanor but not the ability. It may well turn out, in practical terms, that Blake is better than anyone we could get.

The other thing about Blake is his contract is structured to be disposable. I’m not saying we will dispose of him, but he’s definitely one of our flexibility pieces. Therefore I’m not planning on him long-term until and unless we actually re-sign him.

—Dave

by Dave on Jun 27, 2008 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Welll the thing is

As much as we speculate on things like toughness and our needs for leadership, at this point it’s all speculation.

If you think about it, how many games have the Blazers looked shell-shocked and disoriented last season? Even if we got behind by 20 points you could count on the Blazers mounting a comeback no matter who the competition was, to me that speaks volumes about toughness and leadership. Conversely, how many big leads have we blown and then went on to lose the game? I think overall, we are team that possesses great mental fortitude. I think at BEdge we often mistakenly pair our lack of experience with lack of leadership.

So far the Blazers have risen to the challenges in front of them.

Now there really hasn’t been a moment where the Blazers have had tremendous pressure, but next year in the playoffs we’ll see how we fare. That type of environment is where we can best gauge our leadership, not based on just glancing over our roster age. Think about it really how many other teams would play hard in the end of the season just to get to .500, PDX isn’t a team that loses their focus easily. I think we can ostensibly pin that attitude and it’s accompanying success to the leadership of Roy, Nate, and Blake.

I don’t remember who said this but I think it was someone at ESPN (Chad Ford?), he said the Blazers were winning games like a steely veteran team, not a bunch of Sophomores. Time will tell but for me Steve Blake is a keeper.

Boston coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised by the firing of Saunders.
"I don't understand it," Rivers said. "It makes coaching not fun."

by Dheepan on Jun 27, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree with all of that

You have it 100% correct. The only thing I would add is if the Blazers have a chance to take a guy they know has already been tested they will probably make that move rather than waiting to see on Blake. In other words, time will tell on Blake but they may want someone that time doesn’t have to tell on in anticipation of facing the crucible of the playoffs this year.

This is not to say I’d be disappointed if we kept Steve or if he started.

—Dave

by Dave on Jun 27, 2008 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Right now I think Brandon Roy is your Chauncy Billups

He’s the guy that keeps everyone straight. Who said our straight keeper dude has to be 6’3’’ 204 pounds and walk, talk, and look like Chauncy? Roy plays Chauncy on this team. Even though Blake is our “point guard,” he’s like a Tayshaun Prince on this team—-he doesn’t really lead much. He’s just there and does his job.

And for the record, that’s good enough for me. I don’t want some hot dog comin’ in here and trying to lead when Brandon is obviously the leader of this team. I’ll let him keep everyone straight.

How do I set my laser printer to stun?

by prezofdeath on Jun 30, 2008 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions

In two more years Rpy will be that Billups type guy.

by raoulduke on Jun 29, 2008 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions

The NBA draft

The only place where heterosexual men can say things like

“I really love his body”
or
“He’s got really great length”
and
“He’s got a really great package”

Without a hint of hesitation.

Boston coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised by the firing of Saunders.
"I don't understand it," Rivers said. "It makes coaching not fun."

by Dheepan on Jun 27, 2008 8:39 PM PDT reply actions

Don't forget

“He can really explode”

by Jason3123 on Jun 28, 2008 12:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Quick

I’m about to listen to the podcast now, but first I had to mention how I fell over in my chair while listening to Jason Quick at around 5:30pm over at The Fan (no M’s, yes!). He made it sound like the Blazers had a serious shot at getting Deron Williams next summer (but not Chris Paul), or possibly someone (he didn’t say who), who would put the Blazers over the top, as in not only a championship contender but a DYNASTY, and he said that Paul Allen’s deep pockets would be a huge factor in this (I assume this means throwing huge coin at FA’s and/or utilizing our window of massive cap room, then signing all of our critical players to max deals).

I assumed that Portland had zero shot at Paul or Williams because they couldn’t offer as much due to their RFA status. But, what do I know. And Quick sounded like the cat who ate the canary, like something huge is going down but he can’t say what it is.

Just wondering if anyone else heard this, or other speculation that is going on in the way of veterans or other trade maneuvers, either this summer or next summer.

I’m excited but also a bit concerned, as we know what happened the last time serious chemistry experiments occurred over at One Center Court.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Jun 27, 2008 9:05 PM PDT reply actions