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Assemble Your Own Blazer Team Day 2: The Power Forwards

Kitten_tiny by Dave on

Here is the second installment giving you the chance to build your own rotation of eight to suit up for the Blazers.  You can scroll down a couple posts to see day one, which covered the centers and explained the process.  To recap briefly:

  • You're choosing eight players, one each day, to make a team.
  • Each day involves a position and three choices, of which you must select one.  The players you pass over will not be available to re-draft later.  Choose them or lose them.
  • You get the benefit of that player as a Blazer as well as everything they did after in the league, no matter what team they later played for.  Build for long-term excellence or short-term rings as you prefer.
  • If the player you really want at the position isn't listed, don't worry.  You'll have a chance to add him later.
  • Keep track of your team.  At the end of the process you all can list your eight and explain why you built your team the way you did.
  • Clyde is injured and not playing.

Today we're looking at power forwards.  Your choices are:  Maurice Lucas, Buck Williams, or Zach Randolph.

Share in the comment section which guy you choose and why.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Maurice Lucas

The only 77er i like.

Roy4Ever

by Sabonis4Ever on Jul 29, 2008 11:21 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas! That guy was mean. I like mean.

whaa happen?

by Toby on Jul 29, 2008 11:21 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck Williams

Can’t beat Buck.

Kevin Pritchard is a 4.0 Draft Day Student

by rmcdougall on Jul 29, 2008 11:24 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Luke

The Full Meal Deal

by coastrider on Jul 29, 2008 11:33 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I wasn't alive in '77...

... so I’ll take Buck.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 29, 2008 11:34 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

No love for Zach?

I am shocked! Shocked!!

Kevin Pritchard is a 4.0 Draft Day Student

by rmcdougall on Jul 29, 2008 11:37 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Hmmm...

Luke was “great” and “nasty”
Buck was “great” and “humble”

Since I don’t see anyone else filling the role of enforcer, I’m going with Luke… but Buck is high on the list for those 6-8 spots.

by Gargen on Jul 29, 2008 11:38 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I think, by rule

You won’t be able to get him in those spots. That’s where we’ll see LMA or Sheed, maybe, but you won’t see the same player twice.

My team is Buck and Walton. Hopefully I can add Porter and Wallace, then Roy and LMA will round us out. I might take Pippen even, just to throw you all for a curve. We’ll see…

Kevin Pritchard is a 4.0 Draft Day Student

by rmcdougall on Jul 29, 2008 11:43 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If I get a chance

I am SO adding Chris Dudley. Sidney Wicks might be an interesting choice. Rod Strickland could make a great back up to TP.

And obviously, the sooner I can get Cliff on the team, the better.

Kevin Pritchard is a 4.0 Draft Day Student

by rmcdougall on Jul 29, 2008 11:47 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Indeed that is correct

As stated in the bullet points, the players you pass on won’t come back to you. That’s part of the decision-making process. Other players not yet listed will be available though. So, yes, ‘Sheed will show up later.

—Dave

by Dave on Jul 29, 2008 11:51 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Roger

I still make the same choice though. I’m just sad to see Buck go. :sniff:

by Gargen on Jul 30, 2008 11:54 AM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

man

i wish we were playing against other SB sites. I don’t really want to have to defend my choices against other Blazer teams.

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jul 30, 2008 12:08 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Buck.

Simply because I wasn’t alive to see Lucas in his prime, and Buck was my hero for a while due to his low-post wars with Karl Malone.

Jerry Sloan is a complete and total smeg head.

by GustyJ on Jul 29, 2008 11:44 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck

I don’t have the time to research lucas

"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein

by Garden of ODEN on Jul 29, 2008 11:50 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

This is just impossible.

Buck is a legend here for a reason. Great defense, rebounding, and FG%.
Lucas is a legend here for a reason. Great toughness, and had both defense and offense.

Wow. Tough one.

Lucas helped Walton get the team over the hump. The 90’s teams never got over the hump. All other things being equal, that’s the difference.

Lucas wins. I really like Buck too.

by Timmay! on Jul 30, 2008 12:06 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

+1

It hurts not picking Buck. Ultimately the deciding factor for me is that we don’t get his NJ years. I’m going with Luke.

by erastus25 on Jul 30, 2008 4:36 AM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

agreed

if we DID get those… yum.

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 30, 2008 1:18 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Buck

It’s really close between him and Luke though. So as a tie breaker, cool goggles win every time.

by coolguyrob on Jul 30, 2008 12:16 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Can I pick "Not Z-Bo"?

This series of posts is just brutal!

I think I’ll have to take Buck – I have some good nostalgia of watching him play when I was like, six. I loved his goggles.

GO will be our enforcer, and Buck his right-hand man; between the two of them, there will be nary a rebound pulled down by our opponents!

Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.

"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Nicolas Batum

by rockingharder on Jul 30, 2008 12:22 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Hard pick

Buck Williams is probably one of my favorite Blazer PF’s of all time. Intangibles is a term that get’s thrown around too much but Buck did bring a lot of positive “intangibles” to the game. That being said, since I picked Sabonis as my Center, I think I’m forced to go with Lucas. Actually you couldn’t lose with either of those guys, but I want to pair Sabonis’s passing with Lucas’s toughness. Sorry Buck….trust me it was a hard, hard choice.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Jul 30, 2008 12:26 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck Williams

I’ll agree with Krang, though, that you can’t go wrong either way. As long as you don’t pick Zach, of course.

"I love this game!" -Moonbeam, from 'Rollerball' right before he was knocked into a permanent coma

by -ken on Jul 30, 2008 3:00 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucus

............... as much as i love lucus and his toughness i feel you go by the numbers and be the longevity buck williams takes tip, but in the end lucus had some better years and had that mean attitude of not taking anybody’s crap! he is more of a scorer and that mean streak is unbeatable! Plus he doesnt blow up into a blimp like buck williams did!

by Trail Ducker on Jul 30, 2008 3:03 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Luke

Bucks best years were before Portland. So I go with LUCAS.

by oldbaum on Jul 30, 2008 3:40 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Power Forwards

Buck Williams: Consistent, tough, talented, and dedicated to making the rest of the team better.

If you say "basically" at the beginning of a sentence, you probably also put ketchup on everything you eat.

by CosmoPlavix on Jul 30, 2008 5:08 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

Since I picked Walton and we need an enforcer, tough guy, rebounder, take no prisoners leader, Lucas is the man. Plus if Walton named one of his sons after him that shows the respect for him as a person and a ballplayer. While I greatly love Buck, Lucas’ offensive game was a little more rounded and opposing teams won’t be able to leave Luke alone as they could with Buck at times.

by blazermaniac32 on Jul 30, 2008 6:32 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

The Bull

Crap, I’m picking the 77 team. First Walton and now Lucas. I’m showing my geezer tendency to think things were better way back when. Nothing against Buck though wispy memory gives me the impression that he had chances to do just a little bit more to put them over the top but he came up short, a missed free throw here, a missed loose ball there… Still, a very good man to have on the team.

And Lucas probably would’ve taken Jordan out of the series on one of those stylish floating drives to the basket. “Ooooh, hard but clean foul! Has Michael bit his tongue off?”

I’m very confident that’s the last of the 70’s players though I would maybe slide Sidney Wicks on as the 8th player simply because he was on the first team I ever followed – his senior year at UCLA – for nostalgic purposes only.

Team LJ thus far: Walton, Lucas.

P.S. Why were we only given two choices?

Free Joel Freeland! (with the purchase of 1 Wafer)

by LaughingJon on Jul 30, 2008 6:48 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Luke!

“and I’m the dark side of the force…”

Ball Don't Lie

by bothteamsplayedhard on Jul 30, 2008 6:52 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck

He provided the toughness that seems to be so important in the league.

I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.

by mg32 on Jul 30, 2008 6:56 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck

As stated by so many people, I wasn’t alive to see Lucas in his prime, but I grew up watching Buck play and I loved his style. So far I have Oden and Buck, man can my team rebound!!!!

by TGreen on Jul 30, 2008 7:08 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

I think he’s a better fit inside with Oden, who I picked at C

by ranma on Jul 30, 2008 7:14 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

Buck Williams was my favorite player on those finals Blazers teams, but Maurice Lucas was awesome and I have to pick him.

by zach2046 on Jul 30, 2008 7:35 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Give me Buck

With the second pick in the 2008 Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Team Draft, I’ll take Buck Williams, all-star, from the University of Maryland, who owned Karl Malone. Lucas was a great player, but only great through stories from my dad, never saw him play. And Zach is just a joke.

by Ralley Monkey on Jul 30, 2008 7:39 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck Williams

I love Buck, but I would’ve chosen Sheed in a heartbeat if he was an option.

by OURVYDAS on Jul 30, 2008 7:52 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck Williams

Admittedly a biased selection – I didn’t become a Blazer fan until they traded for Buck, my favorite player of all time.

by timg56 on Jul 30, 2008 7:52 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Mo Luke

If you never watched him play, you have no idea.

Scoring, rebounding, toughness – the complete package. Buck is a good choice, but doesn’t quite reach the scoring and toughness level that Lucas does.

Koponen - PG of the future. Book it.

by Blazerholic on Jul 30, 2008 8:12 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

For his toughness. Hopefully it’ll rub off on LMA so he doesn’t look as soft as Gasol in the finals.

If you're paddling upstream in a canoe and a wheel falls off, how many pancakes fit in a doghouse? None! Ice cream has no bones!

by Arby on Jul 30, 2008 8:14 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

But I’d take Buck Williams equally easily. I guess I’d say, other teams had to be afraid of the ‘76-’77 Blazers because of Walton-Lucas. They were going to be outmuscled, outrebounded and outrun, no two ways about it. Williams was just steady and made the rest of the team better in a hundred ways. His influence was subtler but also just as strong.

Hmm, I foresee a front line of Walton-Lucas-Kersey on my team. Scary!

by jtanzer on Jul 30, 2008 8:30 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Why no Sheed?

He should at least be an option…

If you're paddling upstream in a canoe and a wheel falls off, how many pancakes fit in a doghouse? None! Ice cream has no bones!

by Arby on Jul 30, 2008 8:32 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

what about Rasheed

I like Buck, respect Lucas, and Zach was a work horse. For me there is no more dominant, entertaining and likeable PF than Rasheed during his good years.

THE Poobah of Prognostication

by CBASS on Jul 30, 2008 8:37 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I've watched them both.

I think Buck worked harder so he’s my choice.

I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I

by TwoDeep on Jul 30, 2008 8:39 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Easy choice....

Zach Randolph… he’s a force and a leader!

by KJ_DA_MAN on Jul 30, 2008 9:09 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

in stats

anyways.

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 30, 2008 1:21 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Buck

This is hard and I wish I had seen The Enforcer play. That said, when the Trailblazers played Utah, I never watched the perimeter, I watched Buck and Malone throwing elbows and battling for position under the basket. That was war!

by TLF_Big_Papi on Jul 30, 2008 9:24 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I'll take a side of Lucas

To go with Mr Oden in my frontcourt. I can’t say I’ve ever seen any of these guys games excepting Zach…and he’s right out. Therefore, I d rather go wtih the guy known as the enforcer; who had enforacbly better stats in his blazer days (than Buck).

PS I’ll admit that I didn’t start watching th NBA until the 1992-1993 season and at that time I was a washingtonian so I loved me some Mr. Sonic.

by NWfan on Jul 30, 2008 9:39 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

Love having the enforcer there in his prime beside GO.

by BlazersAx on Jul 30, 2008 9:51 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

I picked Sabonis, and so I feel like I need more of a scorer. Sabonis could score, but wouldn’t be our first option. Buck didn’t much provide scoring, and Lucas doesn’t strike me as a scorer, but he did average a bit more ppg than Williams. All Z-bo does is score, however the only thing that doesn’t get sucked into that black hole of a player is the cancer he spreads in the locker room. Therefore, Mo Lucas it is.

by MavetheGreat on Jul 30, 2008 10:19 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck Williams

My favorite moment in Blazers basketball (since I’ve been alive) is Buck Williams holding on to the rebound then throwing it into the air to take the Western Conference Finals from Phoenix in 1990. If for no other reason I’ve got to take him, but there are other reasons, his toughness, his no-nonsense fouls, his ability to glue the team together, his lock down defense in a period when PF dominated the block. This man is the reason people talk about intangibles and his shine almost impossible to see on a stat sheet.

This by the way is really really fun, I’ve got Walton and WIlliams on the same team?? Awesomeness.

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jul 30, 2008 10:44 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck Williams

Because this fractured team that will consist of three generations of Blazers will need Buck to tie them together.

Lucas was a close second because I had a superball (bouncy rubber thingy) with his face inside it. He was my favorite Blazer at the time, because although I was kinda young to enjoy the team and the championship, they called him Luke and that was enough for me.

by lukeyhere on Jul 30, 2008 11:16 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

With these options - Buck, but my age is a factor

I don’t really remember Mo Lucas’s game, so it is hard for me to know how he would fit in. I loved how Buck brought a new level of focus and determination to the entire team and with all-time great talent around him, that is what would probably be most important here.

I agree with Pheesh that I would take Sheed over Zach in an instant.

I’d also take LMA over Zach, and believe he has the talent to be in consideration with Buck and Mo if he can improve his rebounding and get more consistent on offense. I think he should be a better fit with Oden’s power and D, while Mo and Buck would fit better with Walton’s skill.

With Sabonis, I’d take Buck, for his ability to move without the ball and sneak up on people.

by hoopla-pdx on Jul 30, 2008 11:31 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I think KP agrees

I think KP chose LMA over Zach too.

Free Joel Freeland! (with the purchase of 1 Wafer)

by LaughingJon on Jul 30, 2008 11:52 AM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Luke made the mold Buck came from

Lucas was / is was the prototype PF and set the bar for Buck (and Karl Malone).

Stat-wise, they are quite similar – blocks, TO are a wash, Buck shot better from the field, but not as well from the line. The key differences are Buck rebounded a bit better for his career, but didn’t have as many assists. Career scoring is close, but, given the rules, we need to throw out Buck’s NJ days (where he was even better than he was as a Blazer) – that makes it an even easier choice for me.

I saw Buck play quite a bit, Luke not so much. But like someone said above, if you never saw Luke play – you have no idea. He was da MAN!

by 2forLaRue on Jul 30, 2008 11:36 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Buck is my Power Forward

I choose Buck if for no other reason than, familiarity coupled with his performance. From reading the other posts to this topic, I’m inclined to think Lucas is as good or better of a choice, but I never saw him play, whereas I watched Buck during my formulative Blazer obsession years. Rasheed’s production is nice, but too inconsistent along with the attitude he brought to the locker room. Buck was a pillar of stability and down-in-the-trenches warfare that the current Blazers team could use.

by MrGrinch on Jul 30, 2008 11:46 AM PDT reply reply   0 recs

and think how awesome it will

be to have Buck Williams (the bashing, rip your guts out, type player) and rasheed wallace (the finesse player) backing each other up

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jul 30, 2008 12:07 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I suspect

that LMA and Rasheed will be going head to head. That will be one of the toughest decisions for me. If Roy goes against drexler… that’ll be tough too although I believe I know who i’ll pick.

then again, I thought williams would get the nod over lucas when i first looked at my options.

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 30, 2008 1:27 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Nobody get's

to pick the Glide, according to Dave, which is too bad. Why can’t we all just have him on our team instead?

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jul 30, 2008 1:40 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

He's hurt

so he wouldn’t do any good on our teams

by jamon51 on Jul 30, 2008 1:51 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

+1

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jul 30, 2008 2:18 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Buck, no doubt

Mean, nasty attitude AND an offensive game. A team leader, a guy who will get the rebound, no matter who he has to go through to do so. Played great D and could hit an open jumpshot.
Buck has all the positives of the other two guys, and none of the negatives.
This choice shouldn’t even be debatable. Buck was and is my favorite Blazer of all time.
And any warm feeling I have for Sam Bowie comes directly because he was the guy who got us Buck.

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." -Gandhi
"Throw Thag, throw. Throw throw throw throw throw throw"- Far Side

by TheThinWhiteDuke on Jul 30, 2008 12:06 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Maurice Lucas

Buck is a little too small today for a PF, and came to Portland only half-way through his career. Lucas gives me 14 seasons (as opposed to 8.5) if I get everything he did afterwards. That longevity rivals the one and only Dikembe. As for Zach, I just don’t want him on my team even anymore even if he still might have a very productive career.

Odenied: Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Jul 30, 2008 12:18 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

I counted 12

I think you included the split season with NJ and the total in your count. I almost did that too because the layout is freaking confusing!!!

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 30, 2008 1:13 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Thanks

Yeah, I saw that after I posted. Still, he gives more production.

Odenied: Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Aug 1, 2008 12:01 PM PDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Mo Luke

This was also a very difficult choice. For me though it came down to 3 things: memories of the Championship (I’m old enough), Lukes reputation as an enforcer type, and his production stayed higher, longer from when he became a Blazer until the end of his career.

Oh, and one more thing – he is still a Blazer!

LMA's reign as "LaMonster of the Low Post" has just begun!

by LaMarvelous on Jul 30, 2008 12:24 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Easier than I thought

After comparing stats:

Zach is out. why? It doesn’t show up on the stats, but because he’s the black hole and doesn’t play defense.

Williams is out… wait… what?

Longevity:
Williams has 8 years as a blazer.
Lucas has played 12 years as a blazer (availability wise)

Health wise:
Williams is also HEALTHY during those 8 years.
Lucas seemed to average about 68 games or so. 14 games a year missed.

Stats:
Lucas dominated scoring, rebounding, assists, FT’s (GOTTA MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS)

Attitude:
Lucas gives me some attitude. I like that. He’s my official attitude guy.

Who do I pick?

LUCAS

I really thought I’d be going with Williams, but received him with only about four good years left and then he only played four more years. Lucas had more than that and was pretty strong.

My team so far:

C: Greg Oden
PF: Maurice Lucas

I’ll want Lucas to play back-up and Aldridge to take starting position. That’ll offset his injuries.

I’m a liking my team. Keep them coming!!!

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 30, 2008 1:13 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Time Vault

You know what Dave?

12 years from now, we should pull these teams together as a fantasy team and play head to head! It’ll be cool to see, statwise, who was right!!!

Actually… waiting 5-6 years should do it. We’ll be able to DEFINITELY see player/talent trend by then.

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 30, 2008 1:16 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Maurice Lucas

I hate to go with just the 77 team but it WAS a championship team, after all.

My team:
C: Walton
PF: Lucas

by jamon51 on Jul 30, 2008 1:53 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Williams

I wasn’t the biggest fan of his (not saying he wasn’t great but everybody has personal tastes, and he was a bit under-sized in my opinion and maybe not flashy enough …), but I’ve never seen Lucas play and Randolph is just my MOSTED HATED BLAZER EVER !!!

by Blenzer on Jul 30, 2008 3:14 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

No way I can pass on Lucas

He was a 20 and 11 guy his first season with the blazers and he is/was a true enforcer to boot.

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Jul 30, 2008 4:12 PM PDT reply reply   0 recs

Lucas

Enforcer… it was close between him and ZBO though. I t