The Season in Review: Joel Przybilla
by Dave on May 15, 2009 12:03 AM PDT
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PrintToday we look at one of the key, yet unsung, contributors to this year's run: Joel Anthony Przybilla.
If you haven't read the conversation guidelines for these threads, please take a look before commenting. That said, I doubt you'll need them for this thread.
Joel Przybilla's 2008-09 stats:
|
Statistic |
2008-2009 |
2007-2008 |
Net Change |
|
Games Played |
82 |
77 |
+5 |
|
Games Started |
43 |
67 |
-24 |
|
Minutes per Game |
23.8 |
23.6 |
+0.2 |
|
Points per Game |
5.5 |
4.8 |
+0.7 |
|
FG ATT per Game |
3.3 |
3.2 |
+0.1 |
|
Field Goal% |
62.5% |
57.6% |
+4.9% |
|
3PT ATT per Game |
0 |
0 |
--- |
|
Three-Point% |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
FT ATT per Game |
2.1 |
1.6 |
+0.5 |
|
Free Throw% |
66.3% |
68.0% |
-1.7% |
|
Off Rebs per Game |
2.5 |
2.5 |
-- |
|
Def Rebs per Game |
6.3 |
5.9 |
+0.4 |
|
TOT Rebs per Game |
8.7 |
8.4 |
+0.3 |
|
Assists |
0.3 |
0.4 |
-0.1 |
|
Steals |
0.4 |
0.2 |
+0.2 |
|
Blocks |
1.2 |
1.2 |
--- |
|
Turnovers |
1.0 |
1.2 |
-0.2 |
|
Personal Fouls |
2.6 |
3.0 |
-0.4 |
|
Effective FG% |
62.5% |
57.6% |
+4.9% |
|
True Shooting% |
65.2% |
61.1% |
+4.1% |
|
PER |
15.4 |
12.3 |
+3.1 |
|
Plus-Minus |
+3.61 |
-1.31 |
+4.92 |
It seems strange to begin a summation of Joel Przybilla's season with talk about offense, but clearly this is the area where Joel made the greatest strides this year. And by "greatest" I mean "phenomenal", at least when compared to his standard production. Up until this season Joel's offensive repertoire read like the natural ingredients list on a Twinkie. You can look, but you're not going to find much. Now all of a sudden he's throwing in short hooks, flipping dipsy-doodles, and catching in the lane for nice finishes. His field goal percentage went up 5% and his PER jumped 3 points from his offense alone.
What we have here is a great example of synergy. Offense feeds on offense. Did Joel benefit from the team's three-point threats? You bet he did. His hands didn't all of a sudden become supple as butter-soaked satin. (Please don't ask me how I know. About the satin, I mean., not Joel's hands. I'm going to move on now.) The distance shooters cleared traffic for him so he could see the ball, guide it into his mitts, and put on some semblance of a move afterwards. Did Joel also help the long-range bombers? You bet he did. He was more focused and more confident than we've ever seen him on that end of the court. He made himself available instead of shying away from the possession. He finished with authority, putting the ball home when he had the chance. Teams couldn't just leave him. That made the deep shooting easier. You have to credit Joel and his teammates for having confidence in themselves and each other and making this work. At 5.5 points per game he wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire. But he didn't have to. He did what he needed to and did it well.
In addition he gave us all of the Przybilla factors that we've come to love. He worked hard. He rebounded well. His defensive rebounding percentage was 33.1%, which means one out of every three defensive rebounds available when he was on the court went into his hands. With nine other guys on the floor that's not half bad. He blocked a few shots. He played good defense. He helped when his wings got into trouble. He set screens. He was the lunch-pail guy through and through.
Two factors stand out in his season.
First, Joel helped ameliorate the sting of Greg Oden's learning curve. Whether he started or came off the bench he became the Bactine every time we got rubbed raw by Greg's fouls or missed opportunities. The team won whether Oden was on or off, whether he played 30 minutes or 10. A significant slice of the credit goes to Joel. We would not have had 54 wins--maybe not even close to 54 wins--without him.
Second, Joel was the first guy in almost every stare-down the season brought. He wasn't afraid to badger opponents, stand up to their bullying, and bandy words that probably shouldn't have been caught by the camera. The fierce showdowns he had with the parade of people who put the ball in his face towards the end of the season were both humorous and important. It's crazy to think that the phrase, "Throw that ball at me again" repeated six times could mean something. But it did. If the Blazers are going to take crazy offense at little stuff you don't want to cross them with the big stuff. Joel's teammates don't always get that. He showed the way. When Rudy Fernandez got clubbed by Trevor Ariza in that fateful L*kers game somebody in purple and gold had to check on Rudy first. Everybody in scarlet and black was fixin' to kill somebody. Outside of Jarrett Jack we haven't seen that spirit around here for a while.
Even with the offensive tour de force the team scored better when Joel sat than when he played, to the tune of 4.2 points more per 100 possessions. But hold up, because the team allowed 10.1 fewer points per 100 possessions when Joel was in the game. You could fit the Love Boat, the Starship Enterprise, and Henry Abbott's paycheck in that gap with room left over. Effective field goal percentage allowed and opponent foul shots were way down with Przy in the game, defensive rebounding was way up. He may only affect the game in specific areas, but dang it...that game stays affected.
Joel is one of the few players on this team lacking for stuff to work on over the summer. Stay in shape. Continue practicing free throws and getting comfortable around the basket. Other than that, he just needs to be Joel.
Does all of this make Joel untradeable? Personally I don't think so. Joel was THE guy at center for the Blazers this year. He will probably be a critical guy at center again next year. You will never, ever be sorry he's on your team. Anytime, anywhere Joel can play for you. However this team's future still rests with Greg Oden. Somebody would have to make a hell of a deal to pry Joel away from the Blazers because they're going to have a hard time matching 54 wins, let alone exceeding that number, without him. But if a long-term impact player were available and Joel had to be included in the deal to make it happen, it's still a possibility. He is still heir to the limits he brought into the season and not even a banner year by most standards changes his basic make-up. A trade is not a strong possibility. It would shock the heck out of me. But it's there.
I'd be sad to see it happen though. I am comforted by the idea that if such a move were made it would be more likely to happen next year than this. We're almost certainly going into battle with Joel on our side next season. It remains to be seen (really being up to Oden) whether he's the starter again or a reserve but either way it's a comfort to have him.
How do you feel about Joel? How do his strengths and limitations balance out to you? Can you envision a team to whom he'd mean more than he means to the Blazers right now? How long will the marriage between Przy and Portland last? What would it take to pry him away if you were the GM?
See more stats at 82Games.com and Basketball-Reference.com.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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Give that man a lunch pail and a hard hat.
I love that guy. Not only the best backup center in the league, but probably one of the best period.
Question. Would you trade the best back-up center for a big upgrade at the point?
Pryz is awesome. There isn’t much to say that Dave didn’t cover, but Dave’s review got me thinking about the question above.
I’m not sure how to answer my own question. I think the teams highest priority is an upgrade at the point. I long for better defense and someone who can both penetrate and shoot. As important as that need is IMO, it would take a huge upgrade for me to pull the trigger. Having two top rebounding centers is almost as central to the teams current success as having Roy.
Good PGs are rare, good centers are even more rare. But getting a quality starter for a back-up is very tempting. How about the rest of you, what would it take to make you part with our beloved Pryz?
by upper left corner on May 15, 2009 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes.
But only if it was a BIG upgrade.
Roy is the best player in the world with the exception of Incarcerated Mike from Queensbridge .
by Nick Van Excellent on May 15, 2009 12:34 AM PDT up reply actions
PGs I would trade Pryzbilla for
Paul, Williams, Rondo, Billups, Parker, Harris, Rose, Stuckey, and Westbrook. Thats it as far as PGs go, and that is why it won’t happen.
Personally I hope we go after Hinrich this offseason but I would not be willing to give up Pryzbilla to get him.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 12:52 AM PDT up reply actions
I like your list....
…..and your cutoff point.
Hope the Bull’s brass is more reasonable than the fan crowd over at Blog-a-bull. Some crazy posts over there.
by upper left corner on May 15, 2009 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm not sold on Stuckey
Not sure about Westbrook either. He’s pretty raw on offense. Other than that, I guess if we had to include Przy…
I'd want to see a season of Bayless playing before I trade Joel for those two.
If it turns out Bayless is as good as hoped than we wouldn’t need either of those two.
You are correct about Bayless
And I am a Bayless believer, but it should be noted that Stuckey is the closest thing to an untouchable player in Detroit and Westbrook in a lot of ways looks like the second coming of Gary Payton. Bayless still has a long way to go, but like you I think he can get there.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 4:13 AM PDT up reply actions
No time
If they trade was offered now, it might not still be on the table a year later when we find out Bayless won’t work. (If he doesn’t.) If you had to trade now… I hate to say it, but I’d take the prover player. This takes Stuckey and Westbrook off my list of course. I seriously doubt any of these other guys are going to be ours for a combo of Blake/Billa/Sergio/Bayless/Outlaw/Picks.
I think you should have cut off after Rose
and I might not take Billups because he’s getting on in years plus he’s got a lot of playoff games under his belt too (good for leadership, bad for longevity).
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
I'd take Billups
VENTURA: It's drowning. It gives you the complete sensation that you are drowning. It is no good, because you -- I'll put it to you this way, you give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.
Paul, Williams, Parker, Harris is my list
but I don’t think we could get any of them for just Joel. It is unlikely we could not get any of them without giving up Roy, LMA, or Pryzbilla.
You are telling me you wouldn't trade Joel Pryzbilla for Derrick Rose?
Shocking, that is shocking
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 6:16 AM PDT up reply actions
It would be nice if we had a little less ...
wow and shocking thrown around. There is nothing shocking about a persons opinion of a particular player. Surprising maybe, but shocking? You end up placing an opinion on the relative worth of two basketball players on the same level as crashing planes into the World Trade Center.
hakkaa päälle !
I'm sorry to sound so abrasive
It is actually a quote from Gross Point Blank, a favorite movie of mine. I understand the obscurity of the quote though and understant why someone would get offended at it.
No passing up trading Pryzbilla for Rose would not be as shocking as a plane hitting the World Trade Center (also kind of abrasive) but I would like to hear more about why someone would not be interested in trading a back up center for the Rookie of the Year that plays the position we are weakest at. I guess it is my fault for not asking for clarification in a more respectful/clear manner.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 6:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Not offended at all.
Just find it a little tiring. Besides, I suck at recognizing lines from movies and songs. That little piece of information changes the perspective somewhat.
hakkaa päälle !
So you trade Pryz for an upgrade at point
What next? Now you’ve got a gaping hole at center. I, for one, am not willing to believe that Greg will be injury and foul free for 82 games next year and the year after. I think you would created a larger cavity at the center spot than you have at the point at the present time.
I think there are enough assets to upgrade at the point without getting rid of Pryz. I don’t think KP will be thinking about trading Pryz under any circumstances. Can anyone come up with the name of a backup center (who can play 24 minutes) that would be acceptable?
Regardless of Greg's foul and injury situation
having him there pretty much precludes any idea that there would be a “gaping hole” at center.
Not many teams have a real backup C
The issue being discussed is trading a backup for a starter. Yes, our bench becomes weaker, but when in really matters, the starters are much more important than the backup.
Granted, you’d want a nice improvement at the starter position or it wouldn’t be worth it, since we’d be losing a starter and a key backup. Either way, when you can replace backups for much better starters, go for it.
Personally, I don’t think a deal will come along that would allow for this replacement, so I think Przybilla stays,
Trade the Vanilla Gorilla?
That’s the best nickname we have… and one of the best in the league…
And if we’re trading a center for a pg, then we’re just creating another hole. It does no good to solve one problem by creating another one. Pryz is a rock, and unless you’ve got another rock waiting in the wings (and we don’t), you don’t trade your rock for a feather.
by Jackalope 66 on May 15, 2009 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
No.
I just wouldn’t do it. I think there are too many other ways to get a point guard and I’m not sure that what we need is an all-star point guard (aka a “big upgrade”). I think we need the Bruce Bowen of point guards — someone who can lock down the faster, aggresive PG’s while Roy and Bayless attack from the wing/combo spot.
Who would fit that bill and who/what do you think we’d have to give up to get them?
I love me some Joel Przybilla. The only way that he leaves Portland is in a deal for a franchise point guard… and there probably isn’t a franchise point available.
Led the league in rebounding percentage and provided toughness… is there anything more you can ask?
He’s still available for trade, though, because the Blazers will only be a dominant team if Greg Oden becomes a monster. Joel is great, and I hope the Blazers keep him around as the long-term backup.
draft rodrigue beaubois
I assume the Blazers would give him up for up-and-coming centers like Andris Biedrins, Brook Lopez and Marc Gasol, but that is theoretical in nature
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
Agreed. But I never understood that 'red ass' phrase.
Isn’t that the result of a spanking? Or do I just watch too much porn?
An interesting idea about what would it take to pry Joel away.
First I think every team that lacks a legitimate seven footer would value Joel more than we do (Detroit, Charlotte, Oklahoma City…).
Regardless I can’t think of a single team that would offer enough for us to trade Pryzbilla. Cablinasian is right that we would trade him for a franchise PG, there is little else I would be willing to trade Pryzbilla for.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 12:41 AM PDT reply actions
perhaps Miami and Toronto?
I don’t know what Miami is going to do with O’Neal and I think a tough center next to Bosh would work well for the Raptors.
Maybe the Spurs could use him next to Duncan?
There may be other teams to consider.
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
My point exactly
All those teams should value him more than we do, because they need a big man. And when our guys are healthy we have two of them.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 6:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Problem
Raptors have nothing we want
Heat have nothing we want
Spurs won’t give us Parker for Blake/Billa.
I really hope Joel retires a Blazer
have loved the guy since his first season with the team (a miserable one), i was at that game in 2005 at sacramento when he had 13 points, 21 boards and 8 blocks (including one, completely clean, that sent Darius Songaila off the court on a stretcher IIRC)
without him we’re nowhere near the team we were this year.
one of my favorite players
"When jumpers are outlawed only Outlaw will take jumpers"-LoadedOrygun
by DominicanAvenger on May 15, 2009 12:57 AM PDT reply actions
agreed...
If Oden turns out to be what I think he will, Then Joel would be the Perfect affordable backup. I bet he would love to finish out his career here in that role. I just like watching him work.
RoadBlazer
Dave - a suggestion
Minor request: It would be nice to see how much longer a guy’s contract is and how much he is owed each year on these recaps since it does play into a player’s value and trade talk.
I looked it up, and per HoopsHype, Joel is going to make $6.9M next year and has a player option for $7.4M the following year.
Joel sure seems like good insurance for a presumably-improving by inconsistent Greg Oden. I hope we can keep him longer and he is willing to play for a little less after his next two years in order to be part of our championship quest. He’ll be 30 this October.
put a body on 'em
Wrong Link
The stats link is directly to LaMarcus Aldridge’s stat page by the way. Tsk, tsk… copy and paste. ;-)
Your favorite Przy moment this year?
Mine was the just after the Minnesota game (I think) as the Blazers were walking to the tunnel CSN aired him yelling, “Good game MF’ers!” to some presumed hecklers in the stands.
That and facing up with Tyson Chandler
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
I think that was the game, when immediately following the incident
Joel looked up into the stands and there was his wife Nichole shaking her head no, no at him. I really chuckled over that. Here were twenty thousand fans yelling for Joel to go for blood, but all Joel could see was this diminutive gal sitting among the croud ( the most influential one of the entire twenty thousand) giving him hell for what he had done (concerned about how much money his actions would cost the family in fines). Priceless moment.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
Fines?
Wow, that sounds mercenary. Don’t you think she could just be shaking her head over unbecoming behaviour?
No, an article (I believe by Quick) pointed
out that it was indeed fines that she was concerned with (how much is that going to cost us?). A frugal little homemaker that Nicole.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
My bad (memory that is).
Thanks for the correction.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
I didn’t mean to sound snotty. Just reliving the memory of a fantastic moment. :)
draft rodrigue beaubois
by Cablinasian on May 17, 2009 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions
It was the last Memphis game
after they came back from 20 down or whatever. That was my favorite Joel moment too. I had to replay that part like ten times.
"We don't back down from nobody!!"
Can’t remember what altercation that was in reference to…really doesn’t matter though…it’s Joel’s mantra
1 more year
i think one year would be perfect. he played great and he clearly is favorable to guys. but after that is gregs time. plus, his contract is pretty hefty for a bench player. yes he is a bench player, especially if oden improves this offseason, mainly in the conditioning area.
so my 2 cents is keep 1 more year for oden to have a soft landing some games. then, after that year, let him loose. save money, draft a backup or acquire a cheaper one. then Let the CHampionships come rollin in when greg is in beast mode. i understand he means a lot to u people, but at some point u have to draw a line. the only way id keep him is if he were to take a hefty pay cut.
Personally I think KP will re-sign Joel for about what he is making now...
Maybe a little more, maybe a little less (due to the economy). But if you think that Pryzbilla is too expensive for a back up then don’t you think we should look to move him for a long term rotation player? One year of Greg getting bailed out by Pryzbilla, or X number of years of a quality SF or PG?
Personally I say keep Przbilla, and re-sign him.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 4:06 AM PDT up reply actions
7 million????
7 million….for Joel? why would u want u want to lock him up for multiple years at 7 mill per? first of all, hes not going to get that. shame on anyone who would give him it. he simply is not a guy that gives u 30-35 minutes per game. the reason i would just let him loose is because the backup center situaiton for this year is alarming. thats why id let him stay for one more just in case Oden still struggles for a little bit. which he wont. then after this year, when odens healthy and playing 30-37 minutes per game, u let him go because he becomes a guy playing like 20 minutes max. 7 million dollars, especially with the player joel is, is much too much. im not saying hes trash, but im just saying at some point u can have too much depth. yes i said it. the blazers have too much depth. as much as people say u win with depth, its simply not true. u win with the quality of ur starting 5. and by letting joel go, u would be able to use that money elsewhere to upgrade at PG/SF or use it in BRoys or Aldridges next contracts.
my remedy for the situation, if u think trading is better than just letting him go, is to deal with the wizards. many on the team have said we dont want anyone thats not blake griffin. so my proposal is to trade joel and bayless for their pick and etan thomas. etan thomas could fill a similar role to joel while u could use their high pick to draft ricky rubio or brandon jennings. im pretty sure their total salaries would be within 25 percent of each other so that works out. and i think both teams benefit. JaVale McGee is a young center that will need a break just like oden did. etan has been for whatever reason in a couple of spats with brendan haywood. so they have insurance for haywood just in case he hasnt recovered from his injury. they have bruiser, which they desperately need. they get their guy to contribute right away in pryz. then they get a great young talent in Bayless, whos actually been compared to Gilbert. then they dont have to pay a high salary to a high pick that they dont even want. and best of all both Etan and Pryz are expiring contracts.
no risk involved. recap: Joel and Bayless for Etan Thomas and Washington’s high pick. the more i think about the more i like it. u guys will probably disagree. as im thinking about it more, the wizards probably wouldnt do it because of they excess amount of Centers. but they didnt even give McGee a lot of minutes when they were terrible this year. maybe thats a sign. i dont know.
but ull have a good shot at jennings or Rubio. frankly i think Jennings is going to be an absolute star. moreso than Rubio, even tho he is more hyped. jennings would be perfect for a blazer team that needs a slasher as well as a guy that can make ALL THE PASSES. him on the blazers would be game over.
by saveourbluths on May 15, 2009 4:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow George Michael you are starting to sound like it is your money, just put in a couple of extra hours at the bananna stand ok
The NBA puts a premium on Bigs, and with good reason. I agree that the starter is most important, but starters especially Bigs have this problem where sometimes they get injured (Yao, Bynum, Garnet, even our own GO). When you loose a starter for a season or for the playoffs you won’t be saying, “We have way too much depth on this team!” You will be saying, “Thank God we have Joel Pryzbilla on this team.”
7 million dollars for a guy who was arguably the best rebounder in the NBA this year, a legitimate rim protector, and a team oriented guy willing to sit on the bench for a younger developing teamate… Oh yah, he’s worth 7 million a year.
As for you’re trade I think that depends on how good KP thinks those guys will be, I really have no idea. But from what I know about the value of top five picks, I wouldn’t expect the Wizards to be as fond of that trade as you are.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 6:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Saveourbluths...
I hope you don’t get offended at the George Michael comment I made in the post above. That was meant to be a joke in honor of your great handle. Just CMA because someone got offended at another attempt at humor I made in a different conversation.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 15, 2009 8:07 AM PDT up reply actions
In today's NBA
$7M a year for a center of Joel’s caliber is an absolute STEAL. One of the best overall rebounders, on a per minute basis, in the league.
It seems you don’t have much of an understanding of what other players are getting paid out there, because $7M is chump change in comparison.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
Im not trying
to be Joe Pro right now, but i know exactly what players are worth. 7 million dollars is surely not chump change. yea it is compared to like i dont know Kevin Garnett. or kobe. making more than 20 mill for both. but theyre superstars and they deserve it.
what it comes down to is the fandom’s emotional attachment to joel pryz. i have an emotional attachment to greg oden. for much better reason. i think hes going to be amazing. this year was not indicative of his talents. and when he does get to that point of beastness, which might not necessarily instantly next year but definitely the year after, u dont NEEEEEED joel pryzbilla. the GLARING weaknesses at other positions need to be addressed before u worry about who u have coming off the bench at center. this is why i want to let him go or trade em. u need to upgrade at PG, thats just a fact of life. i guess Batum has the caliber of being a good SF, so thats taken care of. if u get a great PG, in my opinion it wont matter who u ahve coming off the bench as long as he is serviceable.
imagine in a few years.
Some great PG (if we go with my trade idea, Jennings-studly)
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Oden
then u got Rudy, blake, and possibly Outlaw if he isnt traded or let go comin off the bench. basically all ud need are just fillers. Jeff adrien this year would be nice for some toughness at PF. maybe hansbrough. but at that point, from my vantage point, ud have a championship team. i know some in blazer nation are having some doubts about oden. and they might be warranted. and my plan completely hinges on his development. but if he does, its over. u spend the money that joel takes up on upgrading players that play many more minutes.
keeping pryz when the salary cap is actually DECREASING while u got oden in the wings is just stupid in my opinion. u gotta let em go. i know im getting repetitive, but its just what i think will amount to a championship at a much higher probability than being satisfied with ur PG situation.
by saveourbluths on May 15, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
We're one knee bump, ankle role, etc
away from having NO center if we stuck to your agenda. Oden needs to prove he can stay on the court for 30+ minutes before we go trading away one of our best assets. Your plan may work by the time Joel’s contract is up in 2011, but trading him now makes absolutely NO sense.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
Wiz Trade
Weird, someone asked me what it would take to get the Wizards’ (tentative) #2 pick the other day and I mooted that I doubt it could be done but that it might take something like #24 + Bayless + Przybilla for #2 + Etan Thomas. MIght pay to wait for the result of the lottery though right? Anything below #2 isn’t quite worth as much now is it?
When you say “let him go” I assume you mean trade rather than contract expiration? You don’t let a guy as valuable as Joel walk for nothing.
Joel is a building block we need as essential for 2 more years
and I hope 10 more. Think Deke. He is much of our heart and needs love to stay. If he can live with not starting he can bring a two-headed monster at center that is nearly impossible to stop. In addition Greg and Joel can learn to guard PFs and play together more next year while LA rests.
Joel is one of only a few players who you could count on the be there consistently game after game.
Joel got stronger as the season progressed. The wear of the season was less on him because of Greg and opponents seem to wilt while Joel blossomed. 82 games and 6 playoff games Joel was there.
How many times in crucial games did I grit my teeth as an opponent shot in crunch time and scream inwardly “Rebound Joel, Rebound!” and with relief he did!
"What's so interesting is that this team took on a dynamic that was very special. I don't think we as a group, in terms of management, coaches and players, realize what we did as a young team. We broke all the metrics. We broke all the molds. Our challenge is can we continue to do that. As young of a team with 54 wins, no issues off the court, phenomenal chemistry." - Kevin Pritchard
Once again, I completely agree with Dave's assessment
hard worker, reliable, tough, a player we would have missed severely if he wasn’t around. I voted Joel my most valuable player not named Roy when that poll came out earlier in the year.
I agree with Dave and many of the people in this thread. Joel isn’t quite untradeable, but it would take a big offer to pry him away. I don’t see that happening this offseason, however.
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
I'm biased.
I’ve been a Joel Pryzbilla fan for some time.
I spent a summer working in his hometown some years back, as well as a couple of years living elsewhere in Minnesota, so Joel has always had the homeboy appeal to me.
I appeciate guys that work hard, which Joel does in spades.
I appreciate players that show loyalty and want to play here. Joel did that.
I fell in love with Portland when I moved there (which is why I’ve kept my home there while working in Seattle) and like guys who also appreciate the city and the region.
I happen to be a fan of Joel’s game and think he still has room to grow. I still think he’s capable of averaging 10 points a game.
I predicted that Joel was not going to automatically concede the starting center spot and would in fact get his minutes even with Oden.
So when it comes to opinions on Joel Pryzbilla, mine are pretty slanted. I want to see him here for a long time.
hakkaa päälle !
by timg56 on May 15, 2009 6:46 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I share your Joel fondness
but your prediction
I predicted that Joel was not going to automatically concede the starting center spotwas an easy one to make as Joel himself stated the same well before last season began.
There are many reasons to retain Joel, but IMO by the far the most prevalent is that I view Greg Oden as anything but an ironman. He is needed for insurance.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
There goes Tokyo
I agree with all but the 10 pts. a game. It’s gonna take alot to get Pryz. away from portland.
One thing for Joel to work on this summer
Moving catch & shoot in the lane drills so he can kill on the pick & roll. Initially without any defenders (other than the pick victim) but eventually with someone like Banyo hitting him with the padded arm-clubs. I think given enough practice, Joel could develop softer, stickier hands (at least relative to his current Fists ‘O’ Stone™).
One MORE thing to work on for Joel
If Joel could shoot a jumper from the free throw line or even a little further out it would totally open the middle a little more for a better high-low game. I’m tired of seeing Joel have the ball at the free throw line and his man “checking” him from right below the rim because Joel is not a threat from there.
But I do have to say that I absolutely love Joel and his huge contribution to the team. He is completely a no-trade player in my book. Some of the proposed trades above are absurd, so grounding our projections in reality I say there’s no way we trade him.
don't forget
that he played the last 2/3 of the season with a broken wrist.
"I like whatever metric makes a Blazer look better." jonestr
Reporter: Four assists tonight too, Travis. You're starting to shed that idea that you're just a shooter. You're starting to pass the ball more too...
Travis: (Deadpans) Aw, I just got tired..
ruffin from ruffin leaves ruffin
you gotta have somethin…
Trade Joel?
I really don’t think this will happen in the next couple of years. IMO he is the 2nd MVP behind B-Roy right now. GO is too unreliable and without Joel, there would be a gaping hole at center. No way GO fills Joel’s shoes next season. Even IF we got the franchise PG for Joel, we’re not going to get very far with only 1 center in his 2nd year. Even if we got another backup center to GO, there isn’t anyone available that is even remotely close to what Joel can do. I guess I look at it from the point of what we get at the center position over 48 minutes? Without either Greg or Joel, that 48 minutes looks pretty weak. Insert another lesser backup into some of those minutes and it really goes south…
‘OK Nic, swag on out on ‘em!’
Bad things happen when players like Pryz get traded.
Remember Brian Grant? Trading him was the beginning of the end of a great Blazer team. Same thing with Ben Wallace and the Pistons.
The Basketball Gods no likey this kind of talk. The team’s had enough misfortune in recent years. Don’t jinx their resurgence.
by Benjamanic on May 15, 2009 10:03 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Well, I'm completely against
trading Joel for an overweight, overpaid coke-fiend like Kemp, for what that’s worth.
I love Pryzy
Blazers have to keep him (or someone like him) because he’s the only interior defender that understands help-defense.
First of all
Dave, were you doing this late at night? The total rebounds total is wrong, it is not adding up properly. Not meant to criticize, just popped out at me.
Second, with Pryz we have the best center tandem in the league. He brings the TOUGHNESS we lack badly, with other players. He is our enforcer. No way he goes anywhere, without bringing in one of the top 4 point guards in the league, and like has been mentioned, they are probably not available.
Besides, how many 7 footers do you know that drives that cool of a car?
Killer instinct. When you have your opponent down, you do not help them up. You step on their throat!!!!!!
by Misplaced Blazermaniac on May 15, 2009 10:16 AM PDT reply actions
Semantics.
Total Offensive Rebounds = 204, or 2.487 per game
Total Defensive Rebounds = 513, or 6.256 per game
2.487 rounds up to 2.5.
6.256 rounds up to 6.3.
8.743 rounds down to 8.7.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
only possible reason to let przy get away
would be if we could replace his low post efficiency with someone a lot cheaper and use him to get us a legitimate core role player at 1 or 3.. .
it is worth it to not ignore the possibility, but I don’t know who we could get to replace him. But how much money will we be able to be paying for the C position in two years considering where we may be with paying the G (Roy & Rudy and ) and F (Aldridge & Batum & ?) positions.. if there is a guy who can give Przy like efficiency at both ends, play 8mins or 25mins equally well if there is GO foul issues, and would cost us less than a MLE.. it’d be worth seeing if Przy could be a part of a trade to bring in the missing piece for the next decade.
"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum
Not anti-Joel any more
He’s still an offensive liability, and teams don’t bother defending him, but that has improved slightly. He’s shown glimpses of a post game this season, but then he fumbles a few inlet passes and it is off again.
What has really improved the last two seasons is that he stopped trying to block every shot and started defending/blocking out his man. That has been huge for the team, as he gets less fouls, less goal tending calls, and we get dunked on a lot less by drive and dish plays.
The defensive changes have made me happy to have him, but the offensive issues make it clear he needs to be a back-up. Other guys may not get that much better stats, but they make their team better because people guard them.
If you wonder about his trade/FA value, look at how highly Hasheem Thabeet gets drafted. He is only marginally better on offense, and will take years to get NBA defense down.
Joel was my 2nd place MVP of team this season.
He really stepped up his leadership this season. He should be co-captain next year.
Roy Tribute
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
Joel is absolutely necessary until Greg demonstrates that he can stay on the court 25+ minutes consistently
Until then and for a year afterward, we cannot do without Joel.
We can debate Greg’s potential until we’re blue in the face. Until Greg proves it on the court, it means nothing. Joel may not be the perfect “forever” center, but he’s the best “right now” center we could ask for!
All I can say about Joel
is I have his jersey and hope to wear to every Blazer game until he retires. I would be heart broken if he were traded. He is exactly my kind of basketball player. He knows his role, he performs his role admirably, he stands up for his team, and he never backs down from a challenge.
by BlazerFanFromDenver on May 15, 2009 4:33 PM PDT reply actions
Why didn't Joel get votes
for 6th man of the year? He wasn’t a starter most of the year and even if he didn’t score he was a crusher all season. You don’t get that kind of contribution from every big. Anyway, Joel’s a riot.
I don't think he was eligible
He started too many games I think. I could be wrong though.
He should have been on the All-Defensive team for sure.
"...we have so many experts who think that you have to play defense, you have to rebound, you have to be a possession coach, you have to execute. I just laugh. Explosive offense is not as intimidating as dominant defense. But it is scary when you don't know how to stop someone." - George Karl, Nuggets coach
You have to start less than 41 games, I believe.
draft rodrigue beaubois
by Cablinasian on May 17, 2009 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions
The Best Veteran the Blazers Could Ask For, At the Right Position.
What he means to this team is almost immeasurable. ATTITUDE. Being the guy to show the team how to be cannot be coached. After Roy, Przy was by far the most valuable asset on the team this year and last. NOT TRADABLE. In five years he will be a playoff hero
The Best Veteran the Blazers Could Ask For, At the Right Position.
What he means to this team is almost immeasurable. ATTITUDE. Being the guy to show the team how to be cannot be coached. After Roy, Przy was by far the most valuable asset on the team this year and last. NOT TRADABLE. In five years he will be a playoff hero
I thought Przybilla was superb last season. For my money, he was the second best player on the team. I thought his defense + rebounding were outstanding.
As for his future with the team, I think his importance decreases hugely as Oden takes control of the pivot. I’m not wild about Oden + Joel playing alongside one another so that will likely limit Joel’s minutes further. So I’d be open to trading him.
On another level, I think Joel deserves to be a starter somewhere else. I’d rather see him play 25-30 minutes on another team than 12-18 minutes here …. at least while his performance is at such a high level.
Great role players are HARDER to find than stars
This is a little-known fact. Scoring is actually just another role, and it’s easier to fill than some others. A guy like Przy, who does all the dirty work—with intelligence and heart—is worth his weight in gold.
Patience, Blazer fans: we’ll find our stinking starting point guard.
Oh, and by the way: I disagree with Dave’s suggestion that Joel doesn’t need to work on his game this off-season—that he’s reached his ceiling. Every season, Przy has shown growth, and I think we’ll see that continuing.
Here’s my bold prediction: a Przy baby jumper will debut this coming season. That would be huge.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Joel is the sucurity blanket for this team.
They might be able to go to sleep without him, but they have a much tougher time with nightmares. Give this team its “blanky” and they are a much better team.
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