We are definatly not alone

by ptwnblzr on Aug 29, 2008 4:06 AM PDT Comment 25 comments

The Phoenix Suns have already/are showing up in droves, as many and as early as our guys. They are excited about Porter and a new defensive focus, and it looks like their getting their game faces on. Rookies and vets alike are allready practicing a 4 and a half weeks before training camp. Watch the vid. Check out the date.

How does this affect us?

Did we set a new pecident?

Does this increase the dificulty of a championship bid? Does this take away any advantage we might have had?

I'm going to keep an eye out for other teams coming in early, but if anybody has any news of other teams showin' up to put in the extra effort, please post any links or make a new fanpost. This type of effort from the opposition has a direct bearring on our prospects for success, I think, and I really want to know how some of you BEdge regulars perceive this or these events. Any insight welcome, and please add links to any stories of other teams adhering to the new standard. Please weigh in.

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copy cats...

Portland started the trend last year, some teams will copy them this year because they have an above avg year and exceeded all expectations. Not everyone will come in early, but a few teams looking for an extra edge will do it in hopes that they too can exceed expectations and have a better year than maybe they should.

by usmcr3049 on Aug 29, 2008 8:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Porter is a good couch

He’s about to be a great one. I’m happy for our beloved TP of course but also not thrilled that he’s leading one of the Western Conf enemies. They will be very good this year but they are aging and have little bench and I think SHAQ foo is about done. If I were phx I would… wait, what am I helping them for?

by Blazersaurus on Aug 29, 2008 8:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

I love TP, but I think he’s signed on with the Suns at the wrong time. They’re declining with age, and I hope he doesn’t pull the blame for their slippage.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Aug 29, 2008 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phoenix coming in a month early

means their guys are going to start breaking down a month earlier too. We can get away with it because we are so young (except Reaf and he is still enjoying his vacation).

by NWfan on Aug 29, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could be wrong

but I dont think that they will be the same run an gun team weve come to love, capable yeah, but not the focus. They dont have to be putting in rookie intence workouts to build confidence in the new schemes. working together to add a touch of crispness, a little stacato to their step shoudlnt take to much out of them, and if thier really was nothing left in the tank and nothing to fear, the standard would be set so far as mandatory retirement, or just not singing a player to put in work in their thirties. it happens all the time.

(our) great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit, our system of of credit is privately concentrated, the growth of our nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men... who necessarily, by very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom.

We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world - no government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men.

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 29, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have the same concern. They are used

to winning in Phoenix and now Porter has to remake an aging team.

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 Aug 29, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

totally agree...

Maybe he can stick it out for a few years with winning records and then move on before they really get blown up.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Aug 29, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or he's ahead of the curve for the rebuilding.

In two years, when Snaq’s hideous contract expires, and they reload around Amare, Barbosa and Diaw—
heck, if letting that fat contract expire puts ‘em under the cap, it WILL be that much ballyhoo’d 2010 offseason.
They may not make a run at LeBron, but there’s also guys like Wade and Bosh in that gang.

So, yeah: Porter may be part of the core they rebuild around.

=(_8c(|)

by QualityPie on Aug 29, 2008 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I stretched out on Porter lastnight and was watching some TV w/ my head on a throw-pillow when I fell right asleep. He is a good couch, it's true.

http://www.myspace.com/y5k

by Y5k on Aug 29, 2008 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i thought he was more of a love seat

with all this porter love going on.

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 Aug 29, 2008 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dang....I thought this was a post

about the X-Files

Styx -"I'm schizophrenic....and so am I"

by 92wastheyear on Aug 29, 2008 8:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Porter

is going to drive Defense and hardwork into the Phx players. But that makes me wonder if a bunch of run and gun 30 somethins can change their entire team concept in a matter of a couple months. I guess we shall see.

by bad karma on Aug 29, 2008 8:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pshh

Porter can’t even get his number retired and he thinks he’s going to get Shaq to workout in the off season. That guys is a dreamer.

The first day I ever met him he said: "Hi, I'm Ritchie White. I'm on probation."

by tominhawaii on Aug 29, 2008 8:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I see you are back

Do not worry about TP getting his number retired Tiha, it is going to happen. TP’s no Corky Calhoun, or Kermit Washington, or any other respected yet undeserving PTB legend- TP was the man. I dare you to beg differ. TP will get his jersey hung… BANK IT! As to washed up Shaq, its unfair to label TP a dreamer for trying to motivate that lackadaisical rapper….

I disagree with two things in your one sentence- 1. TP cant get his # retired—- Wrong. Just hasnt happened, yet; and 2. imparting fault on TPs behalf for not being able to motivate I already said his name once. Thats just plain wrong and you know it, nemesis.

*"Meow" --- my cat Bonzi quoting Shakespeare -- 'Expectation is the root of all heartache.'

I personally do not always approve of the things my cat wants posted but have to wonder after that #5 ranking if frankly we havent earned it.

by bow4meow on Aug 29, 2008 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Non-Sustainable Competitive Advantage

This is no different than any other business where one company does a relatively simple change to their process in order to gain an edge (say a new machine to put buttons on a shirt). Since it is easily replicated (competitors can buy the same machine), any advantage gained from the new machine will be nullified – keeping up with Jonses, if you will. Same with coming to camp early, in this case.

Now for Phoenix, they have no reason not to show up early. They have a new coach who brings a different style of play than D’Antoni had, you’re trying to get rookies involved, not to mention getting a greater cohesiveness with Shaq. And they don’t have the luxury of time we do. Not winning a championship in the next two years for the Blazers wouldn’t be a discouraging turn of events; for Phoenix, it’s pretty much Game Over.

by Furious Styles on Aug 29, 2008 8:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I thought it was game over last season honestly.

I love Terry Porter and I can’t blame him for taking that job but I don’t think he has a chance at sticking around PHX for very long. They’re not going to win more than they were before but the fans still have the same high expectations. He has no where to go but down from here (and at this point it seems inevitable) and unfortunately the first person to go is usually the coach…

Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely.

"He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors," Frye said after giving up his share to Oden in the workout.

by chrischa on Aug 29, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha

I just posted, basically the same thing……..good times, good times.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Aug 29, 2008 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The principal comes from politcs, and it's usually as a component of the logic of competition

Competing units acheive similarity. Losing units emulate winning units.

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Aug 29, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a hard time believing last years baby blazers were the first team to ever show up early

to practice. And I don’t have a link but I read in an article a ways back that New Jersey has BEEN practicing together. They even got Vince “50/50” Carter (because you have a 50 % chance of him actually showing up to play) to come out and practice with the new squad. Come to think of it, NJ might be as young if not younger than our blazers this year…so maybe its just something younger players have the desire/energy to do and the vets don’t want to look like complete malcontents so they get pulled in as well. Not to make it sound all negative or anything because I think its awesome that our guys are getting out there early but I just don’t think its that original.

Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely.

"He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors," Frye said after giving up his share to Oden in the workout.

by chrischa on Aug 29, 2008 9:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont really think its original

but im also well aware that its not been the rule for some time. Our surprise success last year isnt going to take anybody by surprise, and anybody wanting to seriously contend knows where the bar is so far as building team chemistry. I wouldnt count out shaq yet, like ive read elsware and we all know, he is still an unbelievably imposing force, give amari a defensive mindset, and that team could be rediculously relevent this year. I would have to say that although they are not expected to permorm as well this year as last, our own expectations were far exceded last year. Terry wont have to do much of anything but let nash have the reigns for the offence, that team is full of older highprofile players, they’ll know what to do, and many of them might want a ring and be aware of their pending departure from capacity.

This older team might be a little more suited to slowing down a little bit anyways, at least on the defensive end. They are still going to know how to score, they are still going to have amari, and nash. I just dont buy into the anti-hype about the suns falling off so hard with their new coach, whitch they seem quite happy with btw. yeah I know that they’re not gaing to say anything bad right away, unless its really bad, so we know that its at least amiable, but amari looks like hes buying something. an excuse. If the team can rally behind the idea that its been a lacking of defense thats been their undoing, that leaves room for their ego, its not my fault, it was the coaches, that leaves room to try hard again.

I think that if they come out and start winning a few games, that it will only builtd confidense and add fuel to a fire that could rage through the western conference. If they fall early, lets just say that hope can be fleeting, but if alous to build up, can add enormous amounts of strenght. its arguable whear ours has come from.

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 29, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're not

The clippers did it back in the day when bill Walton went to them and we got washington. They’re the first team that I know of that did it.

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 Aug 29, 2008 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The "Prime Time" Players

I have heard “Magic” gots ’em together early too.

"He doesn't let grass grow under his feet when there are points to be had." - Dave

by BlueBooYay on Aug 29, 2008 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It shows a little less individualism and an ethic we haven't seen in a while

I don’t think these teams are trying to make any particular statement, but showing up early to practice with your teammates shows something the NBAs been lacking for a while: aspirational morality (if we work, we get better, and it’s good to get better) and a higher preference for the team than the person (no beaches in maui for me, it’s off to practice and run).

Since Jordan, we’ve been stuck in the superstar mode, but the teamwork of the pistons, spurs demonstrated that teams without a Jordan or Shaq and Kobe, or Shaq and Wade could win. Like furious mentioned above, losers emulate winners (if they want to win). If you look around and find your team doesn’t have Jordan, and you want to win the championship, you realize it’s going to take excellent teamwork (plus some very good players). Getting in early just builds the bond, cripsynessness of the team. In other words, I’m hoping these instances increase because it means we might FINALLY be exiting the Superstar Era.

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Aug 29, 2008 12:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Did I miss Stern's resignation?

Becasue the whole superstar era is his handy work, and I don’t see it going away while Stern is in charge. Too many $$ to be made on that model, no matter how much it hurts the game.

by NWfan on Aug 29, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs