You can have everything, but everything doesn't win it all

It figures to be the undercurrent of the Blazers season: Will players be willing to make individual sacrifices to help the team reach its potential?

[Steve] Smith was a central figure on the last Blazers teams to be faced with the same question.

In his first season, 1999-2000, the talent and depth blended nicely and nearly got the Blazers to the NBA Finals.

The next season, with even more elements added, it all exploded in one of the most inglorious late-season collapses in team history.

"These Blazers remind me so much of those teams," said Smith, a shooting guard who was the second leading scorer both seasons. "It was like we were a video game: We had three point guards, three shooting guards, three of everything. Defenders. Shooters. Experience. But the thing they need to understand: You can have everything, but everything doesn't win it all."

Playing as many as 10 players means fewer minutes, and probably fewer shots, for most players in the rotation. That can often spell trouble in a variety of ways: On court chemistry is tough to establish with so many players shuttling in and out; and unhappiness with statistics easily can erode the team concept.

"When you have a deep and talented roster, you are always putting out fires," [former Blazer coach Mike] Dunleavy said. "Every game, it was like, 'OK, who hasn't gotten their numbers in a while? Or is there anybody who is having an issue? Let's get that guy off tonight.'"

Still, McMillan said he agrees the key to success this season will be whether his players will buy into the team concept.

"That's always a challenge, always a concern," McMillan said. "The way I can manage that is to communicate. My door is always open, and the players know that. I can't help you unless you tell me what's bothering you."

What? Me worry? Thin the herd KP, show us that you're a better "chemistry major" than Trader Bob

over 2 years ago two4larue 7 comments 0 recs |

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Will players be willing to make individual sacrifices to help the team reach its potential?

Our team winning a championship will do more for our players individually than anything anyone of them can do for themselves. I just hope they all realize that.

ball does lie

by In Walks Rudy on Oct 25, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions

Another case here from Smitty as to why I think there will be a mid-season consolidation trade.

by dario argento on Oct 25, 2009 7:25 PM PDT reply actions

We aren't nearly as talented as that team, or at least we haven't been shown it yet.

*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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by staylost on Oct 25, 2009 8:22 PM PDT reply actions

Other than PG, the situation feels different

Joel seems alright with playing whatever role is given to him, unlike Dale Davis, and there is no JO, so ready at that point, waiting to take minutes away from who… Wallace? Sabonis? That was tricky.

And as close as the competition may be between Batum and Webster, both seem to have good “team first” attitudes which was never the case with Smith’s backup, Bonzi. Add to that the problem of Pippen probably being a more effective point than Damon or Strickland, both with fragile egos. God, poor Dunleavy.

I’m only guessing, but our players don’t seem to have quite the sense of entitlement, yet.

"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

by Honka Playboy on Oct 25, 2009 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions

That team was full of hired gunslingers

live young, die fast guys. This club is full of shop keepers and farmers; steady, industrious and persevering. There’s a qualitative difference biased to the side of character. This team has more than that one.

by oregonslee on Oct 25, 2009 8:48 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Thinning this heard is silly

The Blazers are only 3 deep at one position and even then, people hate Outlaw so much that they’d rather SF was only 2 deep. The Blazers aren’t even 2 deep at PF. Bayless can afford to spend another year on the bench. If the heard was thinned, there would be a dozen posts the next day saying KP is an idiot and the Blazers need more depth.

by tominhawaii on Oct 26, 2009 8:23 AM PDT reply actions

KP has already shown that he is a far better GM than Whitsitt

The 2000 team and the 2010 team are completely different in terms of chemistry. You had more talent on that team, but they obviously didn’t like eachother that much.

"I been ridin' the midnight train, got ice water in my veins." -Bob Dylan
"Sasha? That's a sissy name." -Mike Rice

by koyote on Oct 26, 2009 10:25 AM PDT reply actions