Replacing James Jones

by Blaz06Draft on May 3, 2009 3:30 PM PDT

One Blazers achievement that no one seems to be mentioning is overcoming the loss of James Jones. Remember how important he was to the Blazers last year. We really didn't begin winning much until his knee healed. He was key in the 13 game streak. He provided that veteran savvy, as well as 3 point shooting.

We let Jones go. One of the concerns a lot of fans had this year was replacing his veteran savvy. Well, it looks like we did that during the regular season. And what's amazing is that we did it without Martell or Travis stepping into the starting SF role. We did it with a 19 year old rookie from France: Batum.

To me, this makes our season even all the more impressive. The savvy vet is let go to be replaced by the up and coming youngster, who gets a season ending injury and is replaced by a rookie, and an underaged rookie at that. Has the makings of an excuse for a significant tank job.

But we went the other way, played better than anyone expected. Way to go, Blazers!

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With the growth of the rest of the team

I don’t think this season had the makings of a tank job regardless of the absence of James Jones.

"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP

by Arby on May 3, 2009 3:40 PM PDT reply actions

He means this past season did have the excuse, I believe.

by staylost on May 3, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Batum didn't do it

Rudy was the three point specialist on this team. and Brandon and Travis both made significant improvements in their 3pt shooting.

How did Batum replace the savy vet? was he calling defensive plays or directing players where they should be playing, or improving spacing? no. it was Brandon and Steve and Joel being the vets telling Batum what to do.

This is the most illogical fanpost. Just because they both play SF Batum now becomes a savy vet? Batum still has a long way to go, lets not give him credit he doesnt deserve

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on May 3, 2009 3:55 PM PDT reply actions

Once again, I'm not sure, but I don't think he is saying that Batum is a savy vet,

but instead that an unexpected person won out our SF position and that the Blazers managed to improve despite that.

by staylost on May 3, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

thanks for interpreting

"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 May 3, 2009 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Trout's contibution to 3pt shooting

was to pull his toe behind the line

by NWfan on May 4, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions

So Blaz06Draft,

Do you feel like the Blazers played differently this year with the James Jones change? Was it visible that we stepped away from outside shots a little bit? Do you feel like youth and inexperience are overly represented on this team? Or are you happy with an unconventional squad that has really overachieved?

by staylost on May 3, 2009 4:03 PM PDT reply actions

I think Martell

coming back will be a lot like picking up a rich man’s James Jones.

by TheStones on May 3, 2009 4:06 PM PDT reply actions

To me, Martell Webster is the biggest "known unknown" on next year's roster.

by hotstuffdb22 on May 3, 2009 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Huge unknown factor

He could be the contributor that the team needs to help open up the offense. A line-up of Rudy, Roy and Web could stretch the defense, opening up the middle for Aldridge and Oden.

He could also struggle to wrestle the spot from Batum and not be effective coming off the bench.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on May 3, 2009 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I hadn't even considered that lineup.

Webster looked like a new man during the preseason. I have never seen him drive to the basket so much. It looked like he and Rudy really had a good connection.

Roy is the best player in the world with the exception of Incarcerated Mike from Queensbridge .

by Nick Van Excellent on May 3, 2009 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Indeed

Man was taking it to the hole!

The Kings have the best bench I’ve seen. There are easily 14 guys on this team good enough for every bench in the league. Now if we could only get some starters, I’d totally jizz in my pants.

Kings fan

by dyshooter182 on May 3, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions

who's scoring off the bench?

by svlittle on May 3, 2009 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I only meant as a line-up...

Nate could employ during a game, not as starters.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on May 4, 2009 12:56 AM PDT up reply actions

i have no idea how good martell will be now

ignacio

by ignacio on May 3, 2009 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions

thats why KP should have won exec of the year

Oden...Aldridge...Roy.....THE REAL BIG THREE

by CroRupt on May 3, 2009 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

nba=rigged

Oden...Aldridge...Roy.....THE REAL BIG THREE

by CroRupt on May 3, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

what kp has done in his moves want show for a 3 more years

face it, replacing Allen Iverson with Chauncy Billups was one of the best moves since Gasol to LA. ven better the Gasol because denver in one move got rid of a cancer effecting the attitude of the whole team with one of the best pg/team leaders we have seen in the last 15 years. If we had Chauncy we would b contending this year

by svlittle on May 3, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Probably true.

It’s not like Batum or Bayless are super obvious amazing draft picks. The Darius Miles thing sort of hurts his chances at getting any votes.

Roy is the best player in the world with the exception of Incarcerated Mike from Queensbridge .

by Nick Van Excellent on May 3, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Exec of the year is kinda a silly award anyways

I don’t think KP was even really considered, but that’s ok in a yearly award.

Good GMship is a year-after-year thing, not one splashy move like what Ainge did or the Denver dude did. Both guys made the splashy move that worked really well after years of BAD, even horrible moves.

I am 100% totally fine with KP not winning this award, since it wasn’t a one year thing he has been doing, and that means it’ll more likely keep up in quality.

I’m more annoyed Nate didn’t do as well in the COY contest, since no one except us thought we’d we 50+, tie for 2nd in the West, easily make the playoffs, and all without Oden doing really well. Nate deserves a lot of credit for that, and it seemed obvious to me. But, similar to the EOY, it’s kinda a lame award that is voted on politically and not really demonstrative of good coaching (plus it’s a cursed award, so now Van Gundy will get fired when they do bad in the playoffs because no one likes his high strung courtside demeanor).

No good GM’s work can be summed up in one year. It should be a 5 year award or sumthin’ ;-) (wink).

Mortimer

by Mortimer on May 3, 2009 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions

the spurs GM never won correct?

KP probably didn’t get votes bc Greg and BRex both had seasons that were below expectations.

I got 6 years of playoff blue balls going on, and I'm ready to release. GO BLAZERS. ~Mortimer

by Philthyanimal on May 3, 2009 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Eh we don't want Nate winning CoY anyway

The award’s cursed me thinks. Avery Johnson and Sam Mitchell got axed, D’Antoni “stepped down” and after that horrendous playoff performance by New Orleans, Byron Scott will most likely be next. Injuries or not, you simply do not lose by 58 at home in a crucial playoff game. The curse probably goes farther than that, and Pop and Jackson seem to be the only exceptions, so hopefully no CoY for Nate.

by Eventine on May 3, 2009 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions