A call for rationality

by mjm6783 on Jul 2, 2009 7:20 PM PDT

It's been an interesting period in Blazerland, to say the least. The rumors of the "Turkish player who shall not be named" and Rudy's future with the team are disconcerting to many fans, myself included. But perhaps now that we've argued and frothed and angrily typed until our hands are bloody, it could be time to step back and gain some perspective. I have a few points that I'd like everyone to remember.

1. We are the Portland Trailblazers. We have one of the best young cores in the league, in fact it's arguably one of the best young cores of the decade. We have Roy, Aldridge and Oden, three players who will be (or are) All Stars. None of that will change, regardless of the trades/signing/waiving which happens this off season.

2. We have KP. He's not omnipotent. He's not perfect. But he's got an amazing staff, a good nose for talent, and is extremely tuned into the players' moods and personalities. He will do what he thinks is best based on the information available. A lot of that information is not available to the public, and that means that the speculation and second guessing is uniformed at best, ignorant at worse.

3. Whatever happens in the off season, we will improve. I know that sounds overly optimistic, but with so many developing talents and a core which continues to improve it's chemistry, no single addition or subtraction is going to cause us to regress.

There are a lot more points to be made but they all come down to the same basic premise.

Everyone needs to relax.

I was confused by our draft picks. I am anti-Turkish player who shall not be named. Andre Miller is one of my least favorite options. But even if our picks flop, and we sign a terrible free agent, I will still be satisfied, knowing that we are making moves to try and get ourselves to the next level. That's what everyone wants, the fans, the players, the management, even the media.

So basically I guess I'm trying to say, we're all on the same team here folks. Discuss, debate, and dissent. But don't forget that the goal is always the same. No matter who ends up playing for us, once they suit up in the Black and Red, they are part of Blazermania.

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Timing..

perfect. I needed that breath of fresh air after all the hot stuffy air of the last few days.

Thanks,

RoadBlazer

by Roadblazer on Jul 2, 2009 7:31 PM PDT reply actions

If any of us were rational, we would not at this moment, be sitting in front of computers.

Behold – "I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their
parents the same,
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.

Creeds and schools in abeyance,
Retiring back a while sufficed at where they are, but never forgotten,
I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,
Nature without check without original energy."

It’s summer, I’m going outside….

by raoulduke on Jul 2, 2009 7:46 PM PDT reply actions

Walt Whitman...nice.

Have you heard that it was good to gain the day? I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won.

Blazers Prophecy.
3-5 championships in next decade.
You heard it here first.

by mjm6783 on Jul 2, 2009 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions

it's better to fail fabulously than succeed miserably

by cantdunk on Jul 2, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions

You Are So Right!

Great post. I been in a kinda funk, but I did have that thought myself a little while ago. Even though the turk wouldnt be my pick, once he is in our uniform, he is a BLAZER! And you are also right when you say that we are trying to get better and thats really all we as fans can ask or hope for. No one is perfect, not KP, not the Turk and not even Hinrich. The fact is we all should just sit back and enjoy this ride. Thanks for the perspective change mjm6783, I needed it.

by cavejunctionblazer on Jul 2, 2009 7:53 PM PDT reply actions

Fair enough, but...

I don’t actually believe point 3 to be necessarily true.

There have been many cases where a misstep in free agency has brought in someone whose talents and skills didn’t mesh well with the team’s needs and the end result has been south of treating water.

I don’t know that we’re courting any players that fit the bill in that regard, but I don’t think the collective anxiousness fans are feeling is unwarranted. Things can and do go wrong, and we feel we’re closing in on something many people have been waiting over 30 years for.

by baduk on Jul 2, 2009 9:49 PM PDT reply actions

I'm not at all happy with the idea of signing Turkoglu, but I'm making a conscious effort

to calm myself down and think about it from a broader perspective. I trust the management team and I know that Turk is a good player, I think my problem is messing with the chemistry the team already has established and disturbing the role players that show the most potential to be contributors in a run for the title. So I think my anxious state of mind stems from not wanting to disturb the cake before its done baking.

Point 3 is exactly why I don’t see this move as necessary. Hopefully it turns out for the best.

"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."

by Seijeff on Jul 2, 2009 11:09 PM PDT reply actions

If it makes you feel any better, another bit for you:

1. KP uses all sorts of proprietary statistics and if he’s chasing Turkoglu, he must see something he really likes. He is also a chemistry major… Don’t worry about the cake, the chef has it covered.

2. In my opinion, Turkoglu plays in “the Brandon Roy style” — a measured pace, deceptively quick to the rim and can get there when he decides he wants to. He is also not afraid to take big shots. Seems a good fit in terms of style of play.

My worries are about the team’s salary schedule and how things shake out cap-wise two or three years from now — but that’s why KP makes the big bucks and Paul Allen spends them…

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Jul 3, 2009 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Trusting PA, KP and Nate to make the right choices

Most every post talks about the core group, Roy, LMA, Oden. Lest we not forget about Joel. He is an anchor and a stud in the paint. The smirk on his face when going nose to nose against Shaq is priceless. I am sure as the old man at only 29, he is a valuable mentor to both LMA and Oden.

Messing with the teams chemistry needs to be a carefully considered ordeal. The amount of improvement that LMA made last season compared to the previous year was incredible. As was Roy. Oden being a rookie, time will tell. We can hope for the best.

Batuum will grow up a little more this next season and become better in the same way LMA did from his rookie year to current. I think Nic has the potential to shut down an opposing teams scorer much like Bowen has over his career.

Who knows with Webster as sitting out a year has positives and negatives. Rudy being a rookie will certainly advance his knowledge of the NBA game as the next season gets started.

The key is still the PG. Blake is good, “Grade B”, but there are few PGs in the game that are of the Chris Paul, Derron Williams type of calibur, “Grade A”. Harris in NJ has only 1 good season under his belt. Bayless being a rookie too has some things to learn. Namely relax and play rather than trying too hard and being out of control. Remember Billy Ray Bates? Spark plug guy but could also be a loose cannon.

If we can get a grade B+ or higher Veteran PG that can teach Bayless the ropes of playing in the NBA, we can match up very well with most anyone. I also believe we need to keep in mind that some of our younger players would still be in college if not entering themselves in the draft. The current Yahoo roster shows 4 guys that aren’t even of drink age as of yet. Oden just turned 21 last January.

The Blazers will improve all around and it will be a fun season.

Spike

by SpikeMurders on Jul 3, 2009 12:12 AM PDT reply actions