Blazer chemistry/culture KP???

by batumball on Feb 15, 2009 8:59 AM PST

I think I am not alone in my renewed interests in the PTB since the eradication of the "jailblazer era" The current youth, energy and spontenaiety on this team started with the drafting of Broy and LMA. As I watched the Stern All Star debacle last nite, I finally turned it off (and not just because of the Rudy discrimination). I see the current TB team as a nice mix of college and NBA. They are somewhat naive, yet pure in their love of the sport. An earlier post pointed out the absence of self mutilation of their bodies with tattoos and piercings and hair statements. The 2009 TB are all about the love of basketball. Though I understand this is a business and see the way Stern is trying to drive the NBA, I cast my vote to maintain the freshness and spirit of this team. Keep the Batum, Rudy, Bayless, Oden attitudes on the TB and let them grow and blend in the prior chemistry KP with Broy has started. Be patient with them as they have great potential. Be very mindful of imports(trades) that they do not carry the "NBA syndrome" as was shown this All-Star weekend. No wonder so many teams want to trade with us for players other than Raef.....what a great group!! be careful what you wish for

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I'm coming more and more

in line with this position. This is one of the most pleasant NBA teams I’ve ever seen – not soft, just good guys. Not much ego at all, it’s refreshing. From a basketball sense, of the “needs/areas for improvement” this team has (which I see as PG, SF, backup bruiser PF) only one of those (backup PF) seems incapable of being filled by one of the guys on the current roster. Plus, Maxiel/Millsap/Bass type backup PFs (which is what most of us seem to be clamoring for at that slot) are going to be available in the late 1st/2nd round of the draft, and there’s no GM in the league I trust more than KP as far as evaluating/projecting a prospect. I think if some other team offers a legit difference maker, we need to listen, but standing pat could (and likely will) be the right move. This has a chance to be a special group.

An admission: After the OKC game, I said some things. Stupid things. Things about Nate not knowing how to coach GO. It was only then I realized that I was in danger of becoming that which I most loathe - an uninformed, knee jerk fan who reacts to wins with wild delusions of championships and losses with trade and firing fodder. I will not be that fan. From this point on I will support the Blazers, the coaches and front office wholeheartedly, offering praise and criticism appropriate to the matter at hand. I will never again be "that guy".

Blazeaddict
2/9/2009

by blazeraddict on Feb 15, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions

Unfortunately there are many Blazer Fans accross the state are very happy with the players now....

But very upset with the business aspect of the Comcast Deal because they cannot watch the games and root for the team. Many fans are alienated by Vulcan and Paul Allen’s business team for the deal with Comcast and I think the fan Base would explode if a deal would just get done so that the Blazers would be free to watch all over Oregon. They would make a lot more revenue off of concessions and merchandise than what is being held back now for Comcra*!

by TheOdenator52 on Feb 15, 2009 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

ditto

by rburg on Feb 15, 2009 9:47 AM PST reply actions

I concure

I like this team as is with carefully added needs in the 9th-12th slot.

by Blazersaurus on Feb 15, 2009 9:56 AM PST reply actions

what he said.

me too.

Perfect practice makes perfect.

by Ojala John on Feb 15, 2009 10:24 AM PST reply actions

this culture b.s.

is all crapolla period,is just a bunch of clean*cut ballplayers reminds me of duke ewwww
were pricthard o.d. on too many nice guys compared to real ballers.you give me roy*rudy
and bayless.then you look to trade to get the franchise"b.roy"some real help in the starting line*up.you bring rudy*bayless*pryz off the bench just get the franchise"b.roy" some hardcore guys to win a title with book it !!!!

by fatty on Feb 15, 2009 10:34 AM PST reply actions

Be careful what you believe

No fans get close enough to these guys on a regular basis to honestly say they are good or clean or anything else. Anyway, deviance from the norm doesn’t exclude love of basketball. Lot’s of tough guys with deviant habits had good careers in the NBA. Chances are good though that most of these guys remember their dads and moms carrying a lunch bucket every day.

by oregonslee on Feb 15, 2009 11:15 AM PST up reply actions

Wow Fatty

Considering Coach K/Duke has a fistful of rings and a bunch of guys who are legitimately good people on and off the court, got degrees, etc., there are much worse fates that could befall the Blazers than becoming the “Duke of the NBA”. I’ll take the hatred that comes with the winning/having good dudes on the squad/etc. Full disclosure – I root against Duke in virtually every NCAA tourney, but if I had a son with major D1 game and Coach K came calling, there isn’t another place in the country (except maybe Stanford – great school) I’d rather have him play.

Blazeaddict
2/9/2009

by blazeraddict on Feb 15, 2009 12:42 PM PST up reply actions

degrees = good people

by tevisthe4th on Feb 15, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions

Shows a work ethic

Not saying only good folks get a degree, but if you’re a D1 basketball player at a power like Duke/UNC/etc., the opportunity is there to mail it in on the school front. Not a 100% basis for judging character, but it’s a good indicator that you can finish what you start, imo

Blazeaddict
2/9/2009

by blazeraddict on Feb 15, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

To your point

The idiots who mught have put us in Great Depression #2 have degrees, and lots of them, so like I said, it’s an indicator of a good trait, not proof

Blazeaddict
2/9/2009

by blazeraddict on Feb 15, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions

good point

Just a reminder: GWB has a BA from Yale and an MBA from Harvard. Yet he and his cronies nearly demolished our country with their idiotic economic policies and foreign policy.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

by vavoom on Feb 15, 2009 2:37 PM PST up reply actions

True, some people do manage to get aducated away from theirright wing fantasies

but we should never misunderestimate the damage that can be done by those who can’t.

by raoulduke on Feb 15, 2009 2:40 PM PST up reply actions

Yea

who would want to be like Duke? So many Final Fours and ’ships with all those NBA players… Obviously an “ewwwwww”

Give me a break.

by sPresley on Feb 15, 2009 5:24 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed.

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Feb 15, 2009 11:43 AM PST reply actions

IKE?

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH CHARACTER AND CULTURE BEING A HUGE PART ABOUT WHY I HAVE COME BACK TO THE BLAZERS. HOWEVER, I THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE ON THE ROSTER WHO WAS ACQUIRED TO BE A LOWPOST BANGER IN IKE DIOGU.

AT 6-9 250LBS AND 7-4 WINGSPAN HE HAS THE SIZE. HE AVERAGED 21PTS AND 9 BOARDS OVER 3 SEASONS (90+ STARTS) AT ASU. AT 25 IT WOULD SEEM HE HAS SEVERAL GOOD YEARS AHEAD.

I’LL ADMIT I HAVEN’T FOLLOWED HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER CLOSELY AND THE SCRUB MINUTES HE HAS GOTTEN WITH US HAS SHOWN ME VERY LITTLE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.

I ASK YOU ALL, WHY CAN’T HE BE AS GOOD AS A BRANDON BASS?

"CRUSH YOUR ENEMIES, SEE THEM DRIVEN BEFORE YOU, AND HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THEIR WOMEN." CONAN

by SELFDESTRUCTABLE on Feb 15, 2009 1:18 PM PST reply actions