Tuesday Discussion: Critical Pieces

He’s descent….but unless he gets more aggressive I don’t see the superstar title honestly…I would throw Bayless in that category before LaMarcus just by watching his face on the bench in Summer League. That dude has the look of a Superstar. Clearly his family was killed by a basketball Rim and the only way he can recover his honor is but constantly draining shots. He wants the ball at the end of the game…I don’t see that look with LaMarcus…I like him…I want to keep him…I just don’t think he’s the goto guy.

Roy by a mile and probobly Outlaw.

Long term, it will be Oden and probobly Bayless in a close call over Rudy. I hate Outlaw’s game (he seems to be a nice guy and he’s a very effective 6th man, I just hate his shot selection and inability to pass or dribble) and I don’t think any of the other guys are a lock to still be on the Blazers long term.

1. Oden. The Blazers were embarrassingly bad last year defending in the post whenever Joel wasn’t in the game. If Oden can be even half of the intimidator that everyone images he can be, it will have a gigantic impact.

2. Someone, anyone, who can step up and hit a 3. I think everyone saw what James Jones getting hot could do for the team, and I think it will be very critical to the team’s success to have a deadly long-range shooter. (Martell Webster, anyone?) But it’s far too early to say who will fill this role. I would like to see what Luke Jackson could do if given a chance, but I’m thinking his chances of making the team are diminishing with Frye’s injury as the temptation to keep another big man will be significant.

Superstar: Greg. If he doesn’t perform up to expectations, everything else we get from our other “stars” won’t be enough. Roy and LMA might be able to develop into a duo that guarantees for 50 wins, but they won’t win us the playoffs and finals alone. While I consider Roy a future star player, he doesn’t seem to have the superior talents of a dominant superstar who can score 30 to 50 points seemingly at will if needed, a la what a LeBron or Kobe can do. LaMarcus is a rich mans Jermaine O’Neal, but I have an even harder time picturing him as a “superstar” that other teams lose sleep over.

Everybody else (already on the roster): Rudy. He will be the closest thing to another star on this team, being able to destroy the opposition from outside and inside. The potential for a Kevin Martin type player is there, with some luck he might turn out to be a Ginobili type player. I might also have said Bayless, but right now I don’t have such a good feeling that he will reach his ultimate potential (ceiling: Gilbert Arenas).

In the upper tier I consider Brandon Roy to be our most critical player this year and well in to the future. Oden has that “larger than life” potential, but Roy is the cornerstone of this franchise. It all begins and ends with Roy on the court.

In the role player tier, I see Steve Blake as our most crucial player. My reasoning again revolves around Brandon Roy. If Steve Blake is able to increase his effectiveness this year then McMillan will be able to use Roy in different spots while also allowing Webster, Rudy, Outlaw, and Bayless to play their games. I see Blake as the foundation of the complimentary players, and even for the upper-tier players. He is more valuable and important than most people realize.

Only about five guys in a generation, to me, get that title.

Currently the guys out there, to me, are kobe, Lebron (possibly but not yet), Wade (possibly but not yet).

These guys play a top level game, can take control and will it. Shaq was on that list a few years ago, but he is definitely an ex super start now. KG is awesome but could never get his team to win.

Using that definition the only superstar I see is Oden. Roy may surprise me and so may Aldridge, but Oden is a definite superstar if he’s healthy.

Now who’s most important on the team? Oden and Roy.

Oden is the game changer. Game changers can’t do it alone (see shaqless kobe and kobe/wadeless shaq).

Roy is the leadership, heart, and direction and soul of the team. Oden is the game changer, but this is Roy’s team.

Aldridge is the last of the big three. The guy is going to be amazing. For those who doubt or knock him, last year was his first year where he was able to play outside the shadow of injury and Zach. He stepped up and took the challenge and THAT should tell you something. He works HARD and as he understands his roll in the post, he’ll just get better. I honestly believe that Aldridge is one of the unappreciated blazers and the least appreciated out of the big three. this is not a guy who should be overlooked. Call him KG, call him Sheed, call him Chris Bosh, but this guy has amazing skill and he’s the knock out punch to other teams that are teetering from the 1-2 of Oden and Roy.

Of course, there’s also Rudy who will lead the bench in demolishing other teams.

Travis will either make starter or vanish. This is the year for Travis and Webster to prove themselves because Rudy and Bayless will start to gobble time as will Frye.

I’d say that short term is dependent on LaMarcus and Martell. I don’t anticipate Oden being a true destroyer for a year or two, and without Roy we are a fraction of what we are, but Martell’s ability to keep the defense honest with that sweet deep shot of his and LaMarcus’ inside/outside game and ability to defend the whole length of the floor will propel us into the playoffs this year.

Long term, Oden and a decent, deep bench. Oden is obviously The One who will ultimately get ‘r dun again and again. I balked at naming one other individual because to me that bench could be a revolving door. We’re stacked right now with loads of talent, some may stay and some may go. We’ll acquire new studs through trades and the draft. All that matters is that we have 3, maybe 4 guys who are able and willing to come in and keep momentum. Whether those 3 or 4 guys is here yet…. ?

This year its Roy and Sergio/Bayless (whichever one ends up getting the minutes). We NEED good backup PG play this season to have sustained success. Roy will be huge as Aldridge and Oden adjust to playing together, and as Oden also adjusts to the NBA. Roy will be the only of our main three that can easily start out in his own groove.

In the future its Oden because he’s supposed to be the once in a generation player. Roy is unique, but there are always a lot of very talented wings in the league. Aldridge at best will be on par with Bosh, but Oden will be a beast that cannot be matched by any other player in the league. He’s supposed to be the guy that other coaches stay up late trying to build a defense against, only to have him eat their lunch. Of the ‘other’ category I’d say its Rudy in the future, because he is so naturally a team player. With Roy and Rudy being successful and so team oriented it should really help to limit any whining about roles and minutes from other players (or so I hope).

To win now or a championship, you need the game changer, as ratbastird said that is Oden. Losing BRoy would be a blow and take a while to recover from, but he could be replaced, maybe with a guy already on the roster. Same for LMA. Oden being the player he is projected to be, can be the centerpiece, BRoy and LMA would be a nice team and win regular season games, but not likely win in the playoffs, reminds me of TMac and Yao.

Of the others for the long-term (2-3 years out), one that is an offensive stud (Rudy), one a shut down defender (Batum – that is what KP drafted him for).

Let’s start with my two picks, and then we can get to the confusion. In the first group, it’s Brandon Roy, and in the next it’s Outlaw.

Let’s move on to my confusion. It seems to me that the majority of fans as well as media types continually evaluate Roy as if he has reached his potential. It was the same thing when he came out after college. “Yeah, he’s a good player, but player X (and a ton of others) all have much more upside.” Roy is still growing as a hoops player and will be for some time. Yet look at how good he is already and think for a minute just how good he can become. Imagine what he will do when he has a killer 3 (and he WILL have one soon). It’s like the Blazers have a coach on the floor. He’s the one who wlil nesure Greg Oden’s potential is maximized. He’s the one who will take the last second shot to win the game. Oden has GREAT potential, yet Roy still has untapped potential as well. It’s sure gonna be fun to watch it blossom.

Outlaw is critical in that he is/will be the primary option on the “second starting 5”. His performance will determine if our second unit blows out an opponent, or has to scratch and claw to win. He also simply has more tools than anyone in the second group, and is looking to make his mark on the league. Outlaw for 6th man of the year (hopefully)!

Singling out players on a team for special attention and status is destructive to the team. If this version of the Blazers is to succeed, it will happen because every guy checks his ego at the door. In the first place, I don’t see Aldridge as having exceptional drive or talent, Oden is a rookie with no proven experience, and Brandon is injury prone. The hype / marketing that supposedly raises them above their teammates is just a load of super-rich fertilizer.

Michael Jordan did not wear a championship ring until he learned to share the ball. Wilt Chamberlain was called a “superstar” but did not have the same success as Bill Russell, because the team around Chamberlain was not as cohesive as Russell’s Celtics. Allen Iverson is a “superstar,” but Paul Pierce is a champion.

This kind of topic is, I fear, just an attempt to rouse the drooling masses who don’t understand the game. It’s understandable that someone would use these tactics to try to sell tickets, but it’s a mistake to believe this phony blabbing. Anyone truly interested in seeing a championship team in Portland would talk about how the team will play defense as a unit, how the ball will be distributed evenly, and how all the men on the floor will have each other’s backs.

.

Are definite keepers,JB as well if he dosent have a Joe Johnson[I would rather be the man on a dog meat team than have a shot at a ring]tude

With that said as of right now its Brandon’s team. But more importantly that I don’t think this team would go very far without both Roy and Oden. Like all great teams there is more than one player that can carry the load, Thats why its a TEAM game. If you go “Kobe” on someone it might work for a while but the team suffers in the long run. He has gotten better at that understanding but still gives his team-mates the evil look in crucial times.

Back to the piont at hand, Brandon does the incrediable when you think there is no chance. His amazing skills and abilitys never cease to amaze me. I also think that Greg is going to blow my socks off (or at least the glass off the backboard). LMA has, like stated before, a Sheed like game. He will be the James Worthy on this team. An important piece to the puzzle but not needing the spotlight. He fills in the holes.

The bench is so hard to figure out at this point. Travis has the upper hand because of experiance. With Rudy and Bayless now on board and another year under Martell’s belt, we have a deep, versatile and dangerous bench.

With all that said we must remember that with all this firepower the scoring for the Blazers will increase but some players might not get as many points as last season.
And that is fine as long as we stay a team and not get caught up in how many points did I get. The starters need to come out and show the other team that they have no chance to keep up with us. Then the bench needs to come in and crush any hope of a breather. If we do this watch out!!!!

D Marty

Dominate means over match nearly all opponents substantially on both defense and offense.

Players who dominate the center position = 1-2 per decade. Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar, Ewing, Shaq, Olajuwon would fall into this category.

Players who dominate the PF position = 10 per decade. Worthy, Mikan, Unseld, Reed, Petit, Malone, McHale, Hayes, Cowens, Baylor, Barkley, LMA, Sheed, Jameson, Brand, Boozer, Nowitzki,

Players who dominate the wing position = 50 per decade. Jordon, Clyde, Dr J, Dominique, Pippen, Cunningham, Bird, Magic,

Players who dominate the point guard position = 10 per decade

Ergo Greg is our unique that others cannot match up to.He is most important this year and every year. We can likely never replace him.

We have a some good point guards and do not need to dominate there (especially if Roy plays there).

We have a top PF but could expect to acquire another in this decade.

We have a two or more top wings and could expect to acquire more in a decade.

As for role players I submit that Martell might become our most important role player. He has the body and the ability to dominate as a shooter and as a defender. Should he fulfill his promise he will be as important as Bruce Bowen is to SA. That lock-down defender is also more scarce in the NBA. I think we should expect nights when the defense has to win ball games and perimeter defense is our weakness (assuming our dominant center is dominant on defense as well). Roy is that the most important this year but with Rudy and Bayless here he might become replaceable.

The past two years have been the “perfect storm” in our drafts. But KP will likely continue to find players where others fail to value as highly. For all his immense skill acquiring another Greg Oden will be another 100,000 to one long shot.