Interesting take. What are your thoughts?

by jwc94 on Jul 5, 2009 8:36 AM PDT Comment 15 comments

I found this article and, when I read the take on Brandon Roy, I really had to stop and think for a second about just how valid this writer's thoughts may be. http://www.hoopchill.com/2009/07/top-10-nba-players.html. And if the writer is correct, what are realistic expectations for this team this season when relying on the growth of LMA, Oden, Bayless, Rudy, Batum, and Martel?

Frankly, I love this team. They play with great heart and they play very hard. But aside from Roy, there is no consistent presence in the 10-deep. LMA is an awesome talent but he is very inconsistent. Batum is still a few years away from being what most of us think he can be and Blake is serviceable at best. This writer vastly underrates Joel but still, as great as Joel is defensively, his offense is putbacks for the most part.

Rudy and Travis are unknowns most nights. They can be great or they can be invisible. And Greg understandibly struggled mightily last season.

When taking all that into account, no matter what the upside may or may not be of some of the kids on this team, what Portland accomplished last season really falls back on Roy and on Nate. There just isn't really any other way to look at it. Of course on nights where LMA played closer to his ability level and when Rudy or Travis contributed at a rate closer to their true ability level Portland won easily. But that wouldn't get this team 54 wins if not for the remarkable abilities of Roy.

I know many here knock his defense but maybe they don't see what I see at crunch time. I remember Carmelo getting rejected by Roy to seal a game in 08-09 season and I remember several other one-on-one defensive plays by Roy at the end of games to seal victories. NBA is about "team" defense because no player can be stopped one-on-one for more than a possession here and there. As long as the point gaurd defense is weak, Portland will struggle in the playoffs because of breakdowns of their defense.

The more I think about it the more I tend to agree with the writer's sentiments of just how great Roy is in elevating this team to those heights before LMA completely arrives and before the emergence of Oden and/or Bayless as a true force.

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So let's go get a crazy baller to help him out

it doesn’t have to be the world’s best free agent, just a guy who can score 10-15 reliably and play 25-30 mistake free minutes; sounds like a Derek Fisher type.

by oregonslee on Jul 5, 2009 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

When was the last time Fisher average 10-15 point a game the entire season?

by Sungari on Jul 5, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So who then?

Share your thoughts.

by oregonslee on Jul 5, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fisher is a bad shooter (career 40%) and he’s 34 years old now. As mediocre as he was during the season, he played even worse during the playoffs

Devise Method

Founder of the "Crash Batumcoot" Movement.

by damir on Jul 5, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who said go get Fisher? Not me.

My point is we need a player who really helps us (maybe Hedo would have) but not necessarily the best free agent on the market. It’s a better use of cap space in the long run. By the way, Fisher is not a bad shooter and he singlr handedly won that game for the Lakers. Fisher’s had a great career but he’s not for us.

by oregonslee on Jul 5, 2009 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blazers needs?

The Blazers still need a back up power forward and IMO Antonio McDyess is that player that they need at that spot. And McDyess is a very good Vet.
Mark ‘Dyess’ down for a double-double each night. After re-joining Detroit mid-season, the polite veteran posted a workmanlike 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. McDyess could replace Yao in Houston, where he, coincidentally, has his off-season home. But if KP can Make him an offer and let him know Portland is where he needs to be if he wants a RING. The Blazers need McDyess as their back up power forward/Center. And he won’t cost as much as Lee and IMO you get the same thing from both players. And I like D.Harris better then A.Miller and that just MO

by billyjoejack on Jul 5, 2009 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You don't have to post this in every thread

We heard you the first time.

Duct tape makes you smart.

by TTRocks on Jul 5, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roy is great

and It wouldn’t be fair to Brandon to bring the team back “exactly” as it was constructed last year. He’s carried his teammates to their current level, and now it’s time to bring him some help. KP tried to add Hedo, but that didn’t work out. But that’s not a reason to stop trying to bring in another player who can also create for others

Who that may be I have no clue. Devin Harris would be awesome but he probably isn’t available. Andre MIller and Ramon sessions can penetrate but not shoot. Kirk Hinrich can shoot but isn’t known as a PG who “sets up” other players.

So, what we may be seeing with the (reported) pursuit of Lee is a compromise. Hedo would’ve pushed the “window” open a little earlier with his ball skills; Lee doesn’t seem like the right “fit” but he would be a great asset to have to facilitate a trade, later. Lamar Odom is unpopular in Portland, but he offers some of what Hedo brings and some of what Lee can do. I wouldn’t mind seeing KP outbid Kupchack for LO’s services, and something tells me Nate and Branson would appreciate some more veteran help, as well

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 5, 2009 12:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I get the positive aspect

of having david lee simply as a trading chip, or to make other players more expendable, but I dont think that lee would come here knowing that, as it stands now, he would be backing up LMA without much hope of getting minutes anywhere else. At this point unless KP has a lop-sided trade in the works I sure hope he is seriously considering bringing in LO. If KP, and more importantly BRoy feel that the point guards we have on the team right now are good enough to win a championship with then I am okay with waiting to see what Bayless can do. (Roy can handle the ball alot anyway) so aside from PG what everyone is clamoring for is a back up PF and an upgrade at SF. Lamar Odom can bring both of those things.
Blazers can play smaller lineups
Blake/Bayless
Roy
Webster or Rudy
LO
LMA
or they can play really big
Roy
Webster or Batum
LO
LMA
Oden
or many other lineup variations. I think LO gives us more flexability to play an “unconventional” lineup (with no true PG) he also adds more depth to the team making trades more stomachable.

by TheSportsPsychologist on Jul 5, 2009 12:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

but I dont think that lee would come here knowing that, as it stands now, he would be backing up LMA without much hope of getting minutes anywhere else.

If Portland makes the highest offer, are you saying that Lee will pass on all those millions just because he doesn’t see enough minutes in Portland?

That would be refreshing, actually

But in this economy? Not realistic. If Lee had a similar offer money-wise and it was from a weak team that had a hole at PF (OKC, anyone?) then I could see him choosing the Thunder. But this is “Hedo in reverse” and forgive me if I’m a little jaded re: pro athletes and their agents.following the events of this week. I suspect Lee will take the money and head west once he is “promised” that he will be given “every opportunity” to compete for PT in fall camp. (It’s not outright deception, it’s just business. And what athlete doesn’t like being presented with a “challenge” to prove himself to another coach?)

If those terms aren’t “good enough” for Lee, then I can certainly respect him for making the decision to “take less and be a starter” elsewhere. But it’s a little naive to expect he’ll quibble about minutes and throw away the chance of financial security, especially when there’s no guarantee that he’ll be playing “behind LMA” until the end of his NBA career. In 60+ days he could be moving along, again

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 5, 2009 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lee would be unwise to sign here

Where his minutes would be limited by having better players in front of him.

Plus, his status as a backup would make his value go down if we try to use him for deals.

by baduk on Jul 5, 2009 1:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

his status as a backup would make his value go down if we try to use him for deals

Why? Do you think NBA scouts and GMs don’t know what kind of player David Lee is, and would think “less” of him if he played fewer minutes for a better team? He might even enhance his value, if he comes into Portland with a great attitude and contributes without complaining about his role. Veteran teams like that kind of thing, and their scouts will be watching to see how he reacts to the situation.

The only thing that would reduce Lee’s trade value is an injury. Similar to Channing Frye, who hurt his ankle and lost his backup role last fall? (and no, I’m not comparing Lee to Frye, I know they’re apples-oranges as far as ability goes) I don’t think you can “take a pass” on Lee for fear that he’ll get injured after the deal is signed and before you can flip him for another need. (Otherwise, why make any athlete a multi-million dollar offer?)

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 5, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As for Blake, Pryzbilla, and Batum being scrubs...

Well, they are average NBA players, if you base your judgment on their production. Not everyone is going to be a star, and teams can have too many stars – they can’t all have the ball at once. Great teams have some glue guys, these guys could fill that role for the Blazers when they become a great team. That said Batum could become more than that in time.

by baduk on Jul 5, 2009 1:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

your making an argument for adding Lee

Even if you realize it…David would be an excellent role player. Yes, sometimes “backups” are overpaid (LaFrentz?) but the size of their contract doesn’t necessarily degrade the value they bring to the court. Maybe sportswriters and fans will question if the money could’ve been “better spent” elsewhere…but I’m sure the player’s coach doesn’t care. He’s just glad to have the talent

You might occasionally hear of some resentment from a teammate who is earning less money, but their “chance” at being rewarded will come at the end of their rookie contract, if they keep producing (I don’t think any of the Blazer players resented Raef for all the $$$ he was making, though they may have kidded him about it)

Everybody wants to play, I’m sure Lee is no exception. But everybody wants to get paid, too. And right now, the Blazers have the ability to make DLee a very wealthy man. Ask yourself, would you turn it down?

Really?

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 5, 2009 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hold on now

I’ve constantly heard that Lee would back up LA. That just doesnt seem right. First off Lee is a more productive player than LA. He might not be more skilled or have a higher upside, but no one out works him in a game, and Nate will fall in love with that.

Secondly I believe a starting lineup with Lee at the 3 would be amazing. Lee and LA are both versital enough to make that work.

I just dont like constantly hearing that Lee would be a backup PF. I dont know I may be wrong but I think Lee will have something to say about being in the starting lineup, more so than LA will.

That being said I dont think that Lee plays for Portland next year, he just isn’t what the team (local sports media and fans) is looking for. I dont know what the next move is, but if Sheed decides to play for the MLE and Ron Ron actually signs the LA contract, looks like the cards are just not lined up for KP. Too bad to, cause Portland is definately the big blind this hand.

by slurtis on Jul 5, 2009 4:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs