Big 3 in 2012?

by courtsideerrandboy on Aug 22, 2008 11:53 AM PDT

I've been thinking about having some Blazers on the Olympic team in London 2012. I was thinking by then Oden and Roy will be obvious choices. Roy said in studio on 95.5 the Game (Audio titled "Joy of Roy") that he would want to do it, even at the cost of summer rest. I'm also wondering if by that time LMA could be the type of big man wanted on the team?

With Oden and Roy seemingly obvious choices and LMA a probability, I'm wondering how you all would feel about that prospect. The Olympics have been great, the coverage above average, and Costas...so good. Really missing NBC basketball and world series coverage about now. With that said, having our guys there would be truly amazing. Just look at how we followed Rudy through the middle of the night! The question though becomes, would we be fully behind it? Knowing the injuries of Oden and Roy and where we might be sitting in four summers...What if we're coming out of the finals and those guys had to go straight to the Olympics? It's an amzing possibility to have three Portlad players playing at once but there is that Blazer selfishness in the back of my mind wondering what the cost may be.

What are your feelings of this possibility? Would you go to London? Screw summer league, we're sending dave and Ben to the Olympics! Would you have all three jersey's? Or would it be cool to see 'em but you'd rather them stay here and rest?

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I'm there!

It’s that simple. I will be in London for that, no matter what.

by robrun2 on Aug 22, 2008 12:02 PM PDT reply actions

One of the benefits of this...

would be that the chemistry is pre-built as they’ll all play together anyway. I would love to see it and quite honestly I’d be honored as a Blazer fan to have one guy (let alone 3)make Team USA.

I don’t have the link, but there’s been some writings out lately about how summer-rest- being-beneficial is a myth… physically anyway.

Blazers Edge... the blog that works.

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Aug 22, 2008 12:03 PM PDT reply actions

My take is that,

I would want them to be rested for the summer; however, its not like they would log regular season minutes if they played. What, like 20 min a game…. I think that I would be okay with that. Of course that doesn’t count practice and training, but still to have some of our guys represent the Blazers and our country…

by lethaldose on Aug 22, 2008 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions

weird

summer is when players can rest injuries, rest mentally, work at strengthening their bodies, plug holes in their game and add new moves. I imagine if they did nothing over the summer that would be detrimental, but I imagine the pros have a nice off season routine.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Aug 22, 2008 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd say...

they are all possibilities, with LA’s chances being much slimmer than the other two. Roy’s problem will be that Team USA’s current guards- DWill, CP3, Wade, etc. aren’t exactly old. He should absolutely be a candidate for the guard spot currently held by Kidd though.

Oden will have to fight for a spot with Howard, Bosh, Chandler and Bynum. He’s far from a lock, but you have to like his chances if he’s healthy.

LA’s going to have a tough road with all the young, talented forwards out there. I don’t see him making the squad.

I’d love to see our guys at the Olympics, but I’d be concerned about Oden and Roy given that they already have injury histories.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Aug 22, 2008 12:09 PM PDT reply actions

I'll feel better about it

if they’ve already won a couple of titles by then.

Asked his specialty in the kitchen, Oden paused and said, "Hamburger Helper and tuna fish."

by MiledAnimal on Aug 22, 2008 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions

You mean "when".

WHEN they’ve won a couple of titles by then.

=(_8c(|)

by QualityPie on Aug 22, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions

agreed

I think its possible we’ll have won 1 by then- I can’t see us having 2 by then though.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Aug 22, 2008 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Does the fact that LMA is on the "USA Select Team" carry any weight?

by noaher on Aug 22, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Jerry Colangelo has said it does

And I hope he continues to run this program.

Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."

by lee3022 on Aug 22, 2008 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions

right.

that was my point. i see lamarcus having as good a chance, actually a better chance, than roy or oden at this point, just based on the fact that he’s already in the pipeline.

The Dude abides

by noaher on Aug 22, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I disagree

I believe that LMA has a better shot than oden. Howard is the only traditional center type player on the team, and bosh has out played him. the international game is designed better for players that can run and shoot, LMA would do great at that. Also Oden will never play for the same reason that shaq never would think of competing ever, to protect his Knees. Odens knees may be ok but they will be sore at the end of the season and he will need a summer to recover,

by ifarr on Aug 22, 2008 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I disagree about Oden

It was consistently mentioned how undersized our squad was compared to many of the other national teams, and Oden would fill that void. Also, Oden as advertised should be able to get up and down the floor pretty well. I think Oden has a pretty good chance, if he wants to risk it, at the least as Howard’s back up.

Also, Shaq did play on the 1996 Gold medal olympic basketball team. Quality articles were hard to come by, but here’s one from wikipedia.

by Gelvalst on Aug 22, 2008 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions

NO way

Because, as Pritchard said in sports graffitti on wheels after work a coupel weeks ago, by the end of this year the big three will be the fab five.

Seriously, it sounded exactly like him, and then afterwards they mentioned they had had a secret special guest, or something like that.

by TimG on Aug 22, 2008 1:36 PM PDT reply actions

Go get me an $8 Michelob!!!!

by BlazerD on Aug 22, 2008 2:31 PM PDT reply actions

Coming right up sir...

Don’t worry…this one’s on the house my friend!

It puts the lotion on the skin...or else it gets the hose!

by courtsideerrandboy on Aug 22, 2008 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I would love it simply for the awesome recognition.

I mean, if the Blazers sends 3 players to the Olympics and the US team dominates the way the Dream Team and the current US team are doing, it would be an awesome piece of a legacy to remember in Portland. However, this only becomes a significant memory for the long-term if the Blazers have already won titles (I would say at least two).

If this is the case, it would provide wonderful recognition and memories for our dynasty.

"Jerryd is straight ahead at you. Rudy dips around. Jerryd is a rock. Rudy is the wind. Jerryd loves the ball in his hands. Rudy moves without it. Jerryd defends by getting up in your grill. Rudy plays the spaces in between. Jerryd has focused vision. Rudy sees all around him. Jerryd likes to score off of the dribble. Rudy can catch and shoot. Jerryd is aggressive. Rudy is sneaky. Jerryd will hit you hard. Rudy will annoy you until you hit him." -Dave

Word.

by joelor on Aug 22, 2008 3:24 PM PDT reply actions

Would love it as an American ...

Would be worried as a Blazer fan.

I don’t know if you can separate the two. It is what it is, and you can’t deny anyone a chance to represent their country.

"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez

by bfan on Aug 22, 2008 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

Does anyone remember

that after one Olympics (at least) the “dream team” really didn’t have great seasons? I think they’ve been working really hard this summer and will not get much rest before their fall training begins. (We know NO is going back early). I will watch the players with great interest.

I would really be concerned about Roy having an intense summer like that – esp. in the middle of our dynasty. No matter how well he is trained I don’t think his body is meant for that many games. And I have reservations (at the moment) about LMA and GO too. I know I’m being selfish, but I’d rather have them play healthy for a full season with the Blazers than be on the Olympic team and have 1-3 of them (and Rudy too) be worn out/injured before the season is over. Will watch Rudy carefully this season too.

by jorga on Aug 22, 2008 5:29 PM PDT reply actions

So.... the best Sergio will be back!

The Midnight Rambler

by amlmart1 on Aug 22, 2008 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1 :-)

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 23, 2008 2:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Consider how San Antonio felt today

After begging Manu not to play, SA watched as he re-injured his foot (or injured the other one?) in the USA game. Injuries are a problem because the FIBA game is so physical. There is always a risk that an opposing player takes a cheap shot at a knee.

by lee3022 on Aug 22, 2008 9:23 PM PDT reply actions