Roy defies definition

by HurraKane212 on Sep 25, 2008 5:40 AM PDT Comment 36 comments

http://slamonline.com/online/2008/09/slamonline-top-50-brandon-roy-no-28/

Brandon’s most complex mystery is what he does best. He is not a jack of a single trade, but a prodigy who can do it all well. Therein lies Brandon’s difference again – he has no flaw to hide. In a world of specialists, Brandon is undeniably old school. Teams today have set roles for nearly every player on its roster. Brandon acts all roles equally well. Today’s manifesto highlights strengths and avoids weaknesses. Brandon Roy is the student who gets an ‘A-‘ in every subject instead of mostly ‘B’s’ and an ‘A+.’

Brandon is unlike anyone in the NBA. It’s clear he cannot be grouped with the rest of the stars in the NBA. Nor should he. Brandon clearly is setting new standards. I thought a unique player like Brandon should have his own group – his own category. After exploring the wildest stretches of my imagination and turning the corners of my most abstract mental affiliations, I came up with nothing suiting. I slept on it, and it was obvious all along.

The category in which Brandon Roy fits perfectly is ‘Trailblazer.’

Give the whole thing a read. It's worth it.

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very interesting

A very interesting article.

by Gelvalst on Sep 25, 2008 6:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

After finishing the article

Still very good, but as your whole post is a quote (please tell us that) it really belongs in the fanshot section.

by Gelvalst on Sep 25, 2008 6:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Link to the article

Click here

Posting this up top for convenience. Carry on…

by Jumbo on Sep 25, 2008 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised to see him at 28th.

All homerism aside, I would really think he deserves top 20 at least. If he’s as good as even they’re saying (and he really does have no flaws in his respective game) he should have been higher. I guess we’ll have to wait and see who goes higher than him though.

by Bskey on Sep 25, 2008 7:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

All homerism aside... no playoff wins and only one all-star appearance.

Roy is just 24 years old, and with no playoff wins and only one all-star appearance his stock will easily rise. But accomplishments (not upside or potential) are the name of the game when it comes to Top Players… not top talents or best players under 25… but I digress….

28 is a great spot for him when you think about how many elite athletic ballers are in the NBA. And he is a youngster on a young team that still has to prove itself with the established battle-tested stars and teams that are in the playoffs every year. Roy has also battled injuries, although not serious, enough to put his long-term successes in slight question. But, this season will undoubtedly be a reckoning. The Blazers roster is loaded and Roy’s game and personality are EXACTLY WHAT LEADS THIS TEAM. And to me, that is all that matters, 28th now, maybe at the start of next season 18th or 12th?

After reading this article I got an idea for a new nickname. Brandon Roy is The Glitch, as in Neo from the Matrix. The Glitch, it can’t be controlled, stopped, or even understood, it just is. Roy is an all-around old-school baller with too many facets of game to prepare for.

by Portland Dynasty on Sep 25, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What you say is a valid point.

I would still expect him to be at least on the lower end of 20-30 though at least. There few players who are not considered specialists but rather good jack of all trades, Roy is one. I prefer players who get 20 points and 5 assists over 30 points and 1 assist. I suppose 28th is good for how long he’s been playing. I do expect his stock to rise in the coming years.

I honestly think if Roy was on a big market team and played flashy people would consider him better than they do now, even if his numbers were the same or less.

by Bskey on Sep 25, 2008 8:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Glitch doesn't really sound like his smooth style, but I like where you're headed

Maybe just call him Neo. Or for smoothness sake, Flow (yea that could get strange), The River, the even, the easy, sleeky, etc. Not sure why, but he sounds like a good, Big Easy.

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

by hobobob on Sep 26, 2008 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoops...

forgot about the fanshot thing

Blazer's fan since '84, Currently exiled in San Antonio

↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

by HurraKane212 on Sep 25, 2008 9:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone read the comments below?

They’re classic. Some dude’s on there claiming Rudy will take Roy’s spot mid-way through the season, that Ginobli is top 5 in the world, that Dirk makes the top five as well. He shuts out Wade, Lebron, Kobe, and Howard. CLASSIC

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

by hobobob on Sep 25, 2008 9:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My favorite commment was this

Sep.25 at 9:28 am
Lz – Cphfinest3 says:
Ryne; I like the write up and the placement of citizen Roy, big applause. But I have to point one thing out, you are very wrong in one sense, I quote: "his most unique attribute not only fails to stand-out, it doesn’t exist." Sorry my friend but imo you completely missed out on (I think everyone who’ve seen Roy play would agree)what Roy’s one unique attribute is. Namely his composure, when playing Roy is never stressed, never hurried, never hassled, never nervous, always calm, thoughtful, immaculate, precise, thorough, and controlled. Roy always play under this amazing composure, and that composure is his one unique attribute.
————————————————-

That about sums up Roy. Cool , calm and collectedly kicking your team’s butt with shot, after cross-over, after block down the stretch. The guy plays steady and then when the game is on the line, he just makes plays (on both ends of the court). Somebody needs to post a link to Roy’s video of game clinchers from his rookie year.

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

Close enough

this is not the video I was thinking of, but it make s the point all the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfj7UjdRUwg&feature=related

by NWfan on Sep 25, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And for those say Roy isn't going to be a great defender

there is this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD0so3gAQNI&feature=related

by NWfan on Sep 25, 2008 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

one more and I'll stop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jLpd2q9Pwo&feature=related

by NWfan on Sep 25, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was such a GREAT game

You can even see me in the last reply there. That block will define Roy for me for years. The guy was so focused. That’s what makes him great, his ability to just jump right into the zone.

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

by hobobob on Sep 26, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL What's with the Chinese commentary on the last one? Classic

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

by hobobob on Sep 26, 2008 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Immaculate?

Sometimes his beard can look scruffy, but with as much travelling as these guys do during the season, Brandon gets a “pass”

by two4larue on Sep 25, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That antonis fantonis guy makes my eyes bleed...

I like when a different spanish dude chimes in saying that gasol(31) being behind roy(28) is “incredible”. Antonis quickly agrees and adds that “Navarro is also better than Roy”….

LLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 25, 2008 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A homer is a homer

In any language.

I doubt they have seen Brandon Roy play much.

But hey, if Rudy ends up better or equal to Roy, that’s great! They got similar games that overlap, not contradict. They’ll go well together.

I just ignore nationalistic homers, just as I would a Minny-sota homer saying Foye is still the right pick for them.

Mortimero

by Mortimer on Sep 25, 2008 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If that happens that would be a tough call for Nate

Admitting that he obviously should start Rudy over Roy one day.

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 25, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That will never happen

Roy isn’t done improving. People (not you) said the same garbage after his rookie year. What you see is what you get. No way, he’s going to be even better this year and the year after.

ROY IS GOING TO BE GREAT

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Sep 25, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

?Como se dice, "homer" en espanol?

amlmart? Does it translate? ¿Los Españoles comprenden el significado de “Homer”?

Los Simpsons es grande in Espana, si?

Now the real qestion is does amlmart think Rudy is better than Roy??

(uh-oh)

The truth will come out!!

Either way we still love you amlmart. ;-)

The season cannot get here soon enough.

by SpyderRyder on Sep 26, 2008 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Simpsons are very well known in Spain and have a lot of fans.

- We don´t use any “Homer” in conversation as adjective. Sometimes it seems you use “homer” as home-loving, something you may translate as “casero” (fem: "casera").

- Rudy better than Roy?. I haven´t seen enough Roy, nor both in the same competition, so I can not give answer. Sometimes also there is not someone better than other but two great players. I hope so.

Hugs.

The Midnight Rambler. Born to make mistakes.

by amlmart1 on Sep 27, 2008 12:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough answer.

When the season comes out, go to www.channelsurfing.com and you can watch some Blazer games on your computer para gratis. A 7:00 game may be a little rough for you as that would be what, 3-4AM for you? but if there is a weekend game at 12 or 3 that would be a little more managable, timewise. I guess you stayed up pretty late anyways for the Oly BB games so you are used to that.

Either way it is great that we have both of them and I am looking forward to them playing together, much how like L* plays Fisher/Farmar (6’1-2, Kobe (6’6) and Vujacic (6’6) almost 20% of the time last year and we can run a very similar setup this year with Blake/Bayless (6’2-3) Roy (6’6) and Rudy (6’6).

In fact it is kinda scary how similar our teams are:

PG: Heady, steady vet: Blake/Fisher
PG2: Young gun from a pac-10 school: Farmar/Bayless
SG: All star do it all SG: K*be/Roy
PF: Jumpshooting, somewhat soft face up players: LMA/Gasol
C: Defensively dominant, efficient scoring big men: Oden/Bynum

I can see us using that combo a lot in Bayless/Rudy/Roy/LMA/Oden very versitile and dangerous, I cant wait.

The season cannot get here soon enough.

by SpyderRyder on Sep 27, 2008 2:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He defies definition - that's why he is 28, so in other words just average top 50 ;_)

His order in the top 50 and how he came to the conclusion might be debatable, but the article itself is really interesting. I noted that too, he does everything well but nothing outstanding (Josh Howard is similar in this regard for the small forward position). That makes him a highly interesting player in real life that every team would love to have. And a not so great one in video games, where specialties win.

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 25, 2008 10:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think what sets Roy apart

Is that ability to honestly take over a damn game in the 4th quarter.

There are other players like Roy who have good all-round skills, and no real weaknesses. But it’s that “IT” factor that seperates Roy to me, and makes him so good. How many 4th quarters did we come back from, and that he totally owned? As a 2nd year player, and even as a rookie?

Countless times, already. He does what we need, when we need it… and while it can be said that we’d like him to do that all game, the fact he elevates his game to another level in the 4th quarter makes me dream of how he’ll elevate his game in the playoffs.

When it matters, Roy matters more than most in the entire league. You can’t judge him by his nice all-round stats.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Sep 25, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Countless times?

Given that in two years he’s only had 168 games to play in, I think it could very well be counted. The number of times that Roy has taken over in the fourth quarter must be equal to or less than 168. I mean, there must have been a blow out or two along there somewhere. You know, when McRoberts got playing time last year.

Always exaggerating, that Mortimer.

(end sarcasm font)

One of Two Official Blazer's Edge Poets Laureate for the 2008-2009 Season

"In vino veritas." - Latin proverb
"Ich sitze hier und trinke mein gutes Wittenbergisch Bier und das Reich Gottes kommt von ganz alleine" - Martin Luther
"μηκέτι ὑδροπότει, ἀλλὰ οἴνῳ ὀλίγῳ χρῶ διὰ τὸν στόμαχον καὶ τὰς πυκνάς σου ἀσθενείας." - 1 Timothy 5:23

by T Darkstar on Sep 25, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last year Brandon produced 10.6 wins according to wages of wins

Which makes him the fifth best shooting guard in the league. Like all advanced stats WoW is a bit flawed, but this is one more indication that he is a top player even if his wins are not so “countless”. http://www.wagesofwins.com/15SG0708.html

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 25, 2008 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who on that list would you take over Roy right now?

Kobe and Wade, period.

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Sep 25, 2008 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You forgot Carlos Delfino

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Sep 25, 2008 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Like anyone can count that high

I don’t need some egghead spouting out made up numbers like “168”, whatever that means.

Roy has pretty much won every game he has ever played and that exact number could never be figured out by man… not with our current technology. Maybe some super intelligent race of Space Monkeys could contrapt a contraption that is capable of calculating massive, made up numbers, but guess what T Darkstar— we ain’t Space Monkeys, and until they take over our planet, our women, and our society, we ain’t ever gonna know how many games Roy has won.

Listen, you’re just speaking nonsense and it makes me feel bad for you.

Mort—!

by Mortimer on Sep 25, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I for one welcome our Space Monkey overlords

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 25, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

we ain’t Space Monkeys, and until they take over our planet, our women, and our society, we ain’t ever gonna know how many games Roy has won.

We will know, if you get my drift. This latest economic crisis? You got it. Space Monkeys.

One of Two Official Blazer's Edge Poets Laureate for the 2008-2009 Season

by T Darkstar on Sep 25, 2008 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"It ticks me off when aliens keep stealing our chicks."

—Duke Nukem

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Sep 25, 2008 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Roy is unique, but I do see other players in his category...

Players that I would put in a grouping with Brandon Roy are:

Paul Pierce and Rip Hamilton. Brandon Roy and those two champions are all Leaders, gutsy in the clutch, scorers at the big moment, crafty old-schooler facilitators, deceptive with their speed, and have solid all around basketball skills teamed with elite BB-IQ. The one thing Brandon isn’t yet is a Champion… all in due time!!!!

by Portland Dynasty on Sep 25, 2008 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pierce no, Hamilton -- actually pretty close match.

"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."

by timbo on Sep 28, 2008 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brandon's standout feature

… is the hypnosis play. “You are feeling sleepy. You are moving out of the way. When you wake up, your man will be at the rim and you will remember nothing.”

by Kaboomm on Sep 26, 2008 11:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs