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Temporary Post: Dave Chat

Since I'm driving home after the recapping of the game Sunday evening and since that will take all night long, I am trying to stay up as late as humanly possible tonight, the better to sleep in and thus stay awake all night tomorrow.  I am doing some writing, but in order to keep extra-alert I'm opening up this little chat post.  I will keep the comment section open on my computer so it updates regularly.  If there's anything you'd like to chat about, feel free to lodge a comment.  If there's no response at all that's cool too.  It's likely this thread will be deleted when I finally do head to bed anyway.

--Dave

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Well...

I just got back from seeing the new Batman movie. I generally hate to see a movie during its first blush of popularity (and this movie’s blush is a healthy shade of crimson at that), but my brothers dragged me along. It’s pretty darn dark (hence the name, I guess), but exceptionally well done. Certainly makes the sting of Heath Ledger’s unfortunate demise more acute.

Speaking of Dark Knight, how about that Jarryd Bayless coming to the rescue? From goat to glory in two quarters flat.

by ChrisB803 on Jul 20, 2008 1:59 AM PDT   0 recs

Yah

Some concerns about how or whether he’ll be able to adapt to a point guard role, but no concerns about his ability to put the ball and his head down and make stuff happen offensively. That was among the more impressive displays I’ve seen at Summer League ever.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

My thoughts on that...

Essentially on this team Jerryd is Kobe Bryant before the Lakers picked up Gasol for a used socket set and Phil Jackson’s sixth grade gym shorts. The talent he’s surrounded with here pretty much negates his ability to truly demonstrate if he has sufficient PG skills to at least man the helm for short stretches. Last night we saw the same sort of reaction Kobe would have had when the game was on the line and no one else was responding.

You’re right about him being a head-down sort of scorer though, although last night I saw a lot more versatility. You mentioned he seems like a slow starter, but we’ve said the same things about Brandon Roy. The thing is that Roy isn’t a slow starter, it’s just that defenses are geared to stop him, and it takes him a while to figure out his attack. Perhaps that’s what we’re seeing with Jerryd in SL, since all the teams are basing their defenses around trying to stop him (and failing – miserably).

by ChrisB803 on Jul 20, 2008 2:06 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's possible

but there were a couple times Bayless had options to pass during the game tonight-good options, and not during his critical scoring run either-that he just didn’t see. I don’t doubt he can adjust his game somewhat based on the guys he’s playing with, but when you compare him side-by-side to a natural PG like Koponen the differences are pretty evident.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah

I saw that too. Koponen sees the angles on the floor. It’s like Jerryd can only see the crossword puzzle one direction at a time and Peteri is seeing it both ways. That may change as Jerryd becomes more comfortable with his teammates, or when he has better options to pass too. Aside from his lack of court vision, I think we’re also seeing someone who REALLY wants to win, and who REALLY knows that he’s the best player on the floor for his team. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts when there are three or four other players on the floor he has to acquiesce to. (Yes, I fit in ‘acquiesce’ at 2:13 in the morning. You’re welcome Dave)

by ChrisB803 on Jul 20, 2008 2:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed about Jerryd's passion and toughness

One of the things we’ll talk about more next week is that I don’t necessarily want the Blazers monkeying with Jerry’d game too much in the early going, trying to make him into something he’s not naturally. Players get ruined that way. There’s plenty of time to see if he’s a long-term solution at the point. For now let him come off the bench and score.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:16 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Do you see..

he and Outlaw being able to share the ball enough to be happy? We have to assume in the second unit Jerryd is going to be playing in the backcourt with either Rudy or Brandon, then there’s Outlaw doing his own head-down thing. Is Jerryd going to be happy deferring (which is the word I should have used, instead of ‘acquiescing’) to the players ahead of him in the rotation?

Does he have a choice?

by ChrisB803 on Jul 20, 2008 2:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

There are PLENTY of shots to be had

on that second unit. The pace should be a little quicker than last season. Plus that group needed scoring SOOOO badly. I think there will be room for Rudy and Bayless both. Jack is gone. Blake doesn’t need to shoot unless it’s an open, stand-still three off the pass. Frye…meh. Joel better not touch the ball if it’s not an offensive rebound. Granted Bayless won’t be able to tear it up like he did tonight, but he’ll be able to get shots up in the minutes he does get.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And if Bayless truly ends up sucking as a playmaker

And being somewhere around Jack’s level, then Rudy will hopefully be good enough to get everyone the ball (and get his own as well).

At least we can be reasonably assured Bayless can SCORE, which on a team like ours where we don’t need much else, that’s nice.

by Mortimer on Jul 20, 2008 2:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll be happy...

If Bayless passes the ball to his teammates more than the other guys. That much at least will be an improvement over Jack…

(too soon again?)

by ChrisB803 on Jul 20, 2008 2:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think

Bayless will have a selfishness problem. I just wonder how much he will see the passing angles or consider them practical.

I will tell you right now that he gets about 2.5 good games in the NBA before opposing teams back off of him a step and dare him to shoot or pass. He needs to be able to do both.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:34 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

(Crossing fingers)

Well, before I had any clue we’d be able to get a dude like Bayless and only Rudy and Oden were being added, I felt we were set. Rudy seems to be a good playmaker, and I hope he continues to be that way in the NBA.

So if Bayless is limited, I’ll still lean back when my hands on my head and a piece of straw in my mouth and watch the sun set over other team’s chances at winning while blowing into my whiskey jug in my jug band.

by Mortimer on Jul 20, 2008 2:36 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This is true

I was happy with our team before bayless. Even as an upgraded JJ, I’m happy. I would like him to be able to develop into the point though. Otherwise we’re still weak at that position.

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Jul 20, 2008 11:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm betting...

that he never will be a pass-first type of point guard (duh), but if the Blazers keep their core guys together long enough within a year or two he’ll be good enough to keep defenders honest.

And, even though they were generally awful, the commentators of last night’s game were at least right in stating that Jerryd, at least most of the time, likely won’t have to be a true point guard, he’ll just have to see enough to make it where teams can’t double him all the time and not have to worry about him finding the man they’re sagging off of.

by ChrisB803 on Jul 20, 2008 2:37 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Blazer coaches

will work on that shot form and technique and I expect within a year he will be deadly from outside.

by OrygunRod on Jul 20, 2008 1:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think

you’re wrong on Frye.

We’ll see.

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Jul 20, 2008 11:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I am in the neighborhood for a flux capicator

I’d like to revisit 77’.

know of anywhere I can get one?

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:02 AM PDT   0 recs

Try Tom Peterson's

He has everything.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Tom Peterson

Never ages.

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:06 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

People said the same thing...

...about Dick Clark, and then all of a sudden his age caught up to him in one swift stroke…

(too soon?)

by ChrisB803 on Jul 20, 2008 2:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

semi too soon

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

he died?

I thought he was a robot and couldn’t. Maybe his power supply shut down and wiped the memory card clean?

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Jul 20, 2008 11:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I miss

Portland Wrestling and those old Tom Peterson owl ads.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Knock knock knock. Wake up! Waaaaake up!

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jul 20, 2008 2:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whooo! Whooo!

He’s doing it again.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

to a HAPPY day.

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Jul 20, 2008 11:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

dave

i was born n raised in NE Portland, Grant high grad. I always had love for my team and despised anyone who talked trash on them just because they smoked dope in a hummer, carried dope into an airport, held a large stash of dope in the house…etc.

The list is long and well documented, but I could always focus on the basketball and even the worst of our players attitude-wise could be lovable and huggable at times. We started chanting “Sheed!” before Detroit did. The best thing Bonzi ever did was that huge one-handed tip dunk—c’mon you know the one.

When I worked hawking foam fingers at the rose garden I remember meeting Bonzi’s mom. She was pretty tiny but very kind and had a twinkle in her eye. She BOUGHT a Bonzi jersey-tee shirt and program and said she couldn’t wait to see her son play.

The point of all this is, there are some great memories and moments in this team’s past that are often forgotten because they are considered the “dark years” or the “jailblazer” era. Being a homer and huge all round fan of Blazer basketball, I would never admit to being down on my team. I would never forgot the way I felt at the end of the 3rd quarter against LA in LA in that fated game 7. We were killin’ son. Without those heartbreakers, today’s squad wouldn’t be the same. I think it’s in spite of those crazy times that this basketball loving, basketball-knowing city became so riled that the universe just decided to give us more hope for the future than any other team.

So I beg you Dave and everyone else, don’t hate on the dark years because we needed them. What’s your fav dark year moment? Perhaps you could thread a compilation in tribute of the past and bury the hatchet once and for all. If this team were to go on and win a championship(s), the memoir’s happy ending will definitely better from our traumatizing hubris. Let’s not forget that part of of the story or we won’t tell it right. There’s my 18 cents. Love yall. PTOWN!

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:10 AM PDT   0 recs

I'm a Grant alum also.

There were some nice memories from the dark years but the problem was you were always waiting for the other shoe to drop. You could never enjoy things for long before somebody would spit or throw a towel or race cars or whatever.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yeh u started writing for miss stautz or what

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The guy who taught me grammar

was Mr. Connover, who sadly died of a heart attack at Grant not long after I graduated.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

condolences

were u pre or post terrell brandon?

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

thats pretty cool

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

don't lie

and sat it was a friend, we know it was you. Best I played with personally was thomas gardner, that guy could ball

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

sick

i unfortunately was pretty much during tom curtis

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yah

I was there when those State Championship banners were getting hung.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

well

we won the state competition for constitution team from Lincoln. Seriously tho we had no good squads, my homies played Lacrosse quite well…but it was Lacrosse

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

you lost me there

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I remember Lincoln always kicked butt at the Constitution team

That was the only stuff they won back in my day, except for the girl sports.

by Mortimer on Jul 20, 2008 2:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll see your Plessey vs. Ferguson

and raise you a Scopes Monkey!

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:32 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

my team was the first to beat lincoln

and we had some davis wright trumane guys helping us out. We got squashed in nationals, but U heard grant’s been “balling” constitutionally lately

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:34 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

back in my day

it was just us and the social studies teacher.
(and we walked uphill- BOTH WAYS- 5 miles to school everyday)

by Section323 on Jul 20, 2008 2:36 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You must have strong calfs.

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:37 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So Dave, you were there

when my High School (Sunset) beat your Grant team? That was a pretty funny thing for us as students, because our team was not particularly skilled, and most of the players were dumb as posts (and short, and white). Strange things happen in HS BBall, I guess.

by TheThinWhiteDuke on Jul 20, 2008 2:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Jeez

I want to Grant as well, class of ‘94.

by torsoheap on Jul 20, 2008 8:55 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I loved when

Shareef hit the game winning 3 at the buzzer against the Celtics, in a game where Telfair got his first meaningful action. I was there going nuts, and 2 Celtic fans were sitting in front of me and we were heckling eachother (lovingly) all game. When Shareef hit the shot, they quitely shrugged and shook my hand before slowly exiting.

Semi Post Dark Years, but still a good memory.

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

near sunrise...

or twilight depending

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So did Jarryd get a US Select invite??

I just read that it was Love and Lopez?

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:11 AM PDT   0 recs

Dear Dave,

What is your favorite Mariah Carey song and do you think you could beat up jscot?

--. --- | -... .-.. .- --.. . .-. ...

by tominhawaii on Jul 20, 2008 2:14 AM PDT   0 recs

JScot

has a lien on my house and photos of me listening to ABBA’s Greatest Hits, so I don’t think I’d beat him up.

My favorite Mariah song is definitely “Why That Itch So Much?”

That IS one of hers, right?

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Somewhere Mariah

Is sobbing into a 100 dollar bill.

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It must be a B side track

I have to head to work. If you folks are still here, I’ll come up with a real question in 40 minutes.

--. --- | -... .-.. .- --.. . .-. ...

by tominhawaii on Jul 20, 2008 2:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wait

that was a fake question?

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dear Tom

Which robot manufacturing plant were you constructed at?

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:15 AM PDT   0 recs

#137459

--. --- | -... .-.. .- --.. . .-. ...

by tominhawaii on Jul 20, 2008 2:15 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah cool

I think I got your rookie card then!

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:16 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You are so lucky...

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't get it signed

I got a Dave Fleming rookie card signed and I was told afterwards they are worth less when signed.

I said, huh? What what?

by Mortimer on Jul 20, 2008 2:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Tom never signs autographs anyway

I’ve asked him multiple times.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:25 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Just like Jose Canseco

Tom’s gonna come out with a book blasting Blazers Edge, blowing the lid off this place.

by Mortimer on Jul 20, 2008 2:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah crap...

Dave you are SO going to sell us out!

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I suspect he's taking performance-enhancing substances

Nobody can post that much with that kind of consistency of weirdness unless they are on the juice.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Robotic Steroids?

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So far we have established

Dave and Shwa went to the same highschool.

Dave was bros with Terrell Brandon.

Jarryd IS goign to US Select Team.

JScot has a Mafian strangle hold over Dave.

Tom Petereson is the man to see if you are interested in Time Travel.

Dave makes Mariah Carrey cry.

Tom is a Robot and his Rookie card is worth more unsigned.

Tom is also stingy with his signature.

Anything I missed?

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:26 AM PDT   0 recs

shwa loves dark years

"You can't buy your woman a watch because she got a clock on the stove."-Sir Charles Barkley

by shwa on Jul 20, 2008 2:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh yeah!

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I played pickup ball against Michael Doleac

And I must’ve played against Ime Udoka because I think we were in high school at the same time, and I played.

I do not remember him at all though.

Oh, and I’ve met Kenny Smith and Shaun Livingston. I even got to call Kenny “Jet”. I said “Hey Jett, have a great day” and he said “thanks bro” so we are good friends now.

by Mortimer on Jul 20, 2008 2:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The sneakers made it at least

His wife was very pretty.

by Mortimer on Jul 20, 2008 2:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Does that make him

A Sex Machine?

Vote Sam Bowie as Greatest "Other" Blazer Ever.

by Outlaw is Rejector on Jul 20, 2008 2:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I hear TominHawaii

is one of Shawn Kemp’s love children.

by Dave on Jul 20, 2008 2:31 AM PDT