Keep the Young Talent and Develop it

by rborder1 on Jul 6, 2009 10:00 PM PDT

If you guys want to know what is a legit pathway by which the blazers might take, it would be to do what they have been doing the last 3+ years: Be Patient. Given the dynamics of the league, there stands to not be nearly as many really good teams in 3-4 years. Kobe will more than likely begin to decline in the next 3 years, and Pao is not getting any younger. The spurs and celtics have been riding the backs of many good vets into their mid 30's. Orlando will continue to be competitive. It is hard to see Miami or the Cavs both being able to please their stars, but people have been saying the same thing about LA with Kobe since Shaq left and he is still there. The Rockets have lost their top 3 players in the past 3 months. New Orleans and Utah are broke and looking to shed salaries. I can go on and on and on with this, but my point is that within 4 years, even as is, we will go to the finals.

I am going to break down what the stats are per 48 minutes for some of our young guys compared to some other great players at the same position in their rookie seasons:

In terms of SF, look at the stats here:
Pippen:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/scottie_pippen/career_stats.html

Per 48 is as such:

Pts: 16.33

Rebounds: 8.5

Steals: 1.3

Blocks: 1.3

Batum:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/nicolas_batum/career_stats.html

Points: 14.1

Rebounds: 7.3

Steals: 1.6

Blocks:1.3

It is scary to think about how much faster Frenchy would develop if Nate would just leave him in for 30+ minutes a game. Pippen also had a good 3 years in age/college experience before he started. He also was getting more minutes, which Batum is sure to get next season.

I can do the math for the next 2 young guys, but I think that if you guys just look at the MPG, you will see where I am coming from. If anyone would like to break it down, just go to http://www.basketball-reference.com/ and look up these players per 48 stats compared to our guys.

For Bayless, I would like to compare him to some other great speed PG's
Rod Strickland:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rod_strickland/index.html
Deron Williams
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/deron_williams/career_stats.html
Bayless:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jerryd_bayless/career_stats.html

For Oden, lets look at a few great centers:

Dwight Howard:

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dwight_howard/career_stats.html

All of those greats that are what many compare our talented two young players to did not light the world on fire at first, but given adequate minutes they developed into star players. Our two young studs just need to be thrown into the fire so that they can mess up and get better and improve. Players get better through playing time in real action faster than through practices. The only thing that I can see the Blazers doing in terms of adding a vet would be a good backup to help teach these guys without sucking their minutes, for instance a player to teach Oden how to position himself such as reaching up for blocks instead of out. Blazers fans, do not be worried if we make limited changes this off season, we will more than likely improve to 56-58 wins just through experience and the fact that the league will have more average to bad teams next year as many of the best players are starting to be concentrated on a smaller number of teams. Any thoughts?

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Comments

Bayless is not a PG

But I like the general theme. Don’t panic, KP.

by Frankrizzo on Jul 6, 2009 10:04 PM PDT reply actions

Bayless is a PG or he is a washout in the NBA. Bayless is not a washout in the NBA. Ergo, Bayless is a PG.

"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 6, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Turkish people only live to 33, on average

We woulda’ got salary relief from his eventual early death.

M—

by Mortimer on Jul 6, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions

That does make sense

See it is good to see someone who understands the fine dynamics of the salary insurance. Of course with our luck the Griz would sign him post-mortem and play him for 10 seconds of 10 games and throw 10 million a year back on for 3 more years.

by rborder1 on Jul 6, 2009 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

I agree with the general vibe of letting the cake bake which is permeating BEdge now,

but I wish all these “hold your horses” posts came BEFORE the Hedo nonsense and the trading frenzy. Now it just seems like these posts are popping up because nothing good is available in free agency and nobody is picking up KP’s trade request calls.

(note, I have always been on the side of “let the cake bake”)

"B-Roy is the best shooting guard I have played against"

-Ron Artest

by premthegrem on Jul 6, 2009 10:16 PM PDT reply actions

me too

by 7677maniac on Jul 6, 2009 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions

The first two years of the Hedo contract made gorgeous sense. The last 2 were terrifying...

"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 6, 2009 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Playing makes them more valuable too

Not only would more playing time give them the chance to get better, if we did decide to trade them they would have more value.

by 7677maniac on Jul 6, 2009 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

Have seen all the trade threads

Read the cards, stirred the tea leaves, tossed the bones on the table and even checked with the (Experts) in their wisdom. End result? Nothin here to see folks. The big Accident has happened and the mess has been cleaned up. Our team has plenty of room to grow, so let it grow. If a free agent we are interested in comes a calling, make an offer and let them decide if they want to play for the “Most exciting team for the next Decade”. It ain’t broke, why fix it?

If you have nothing constructive to say about someone, I prefer that you say nothing at all.

"If Jumping to conclusions, Kicking others when they do not do well and Launching into senseless tirades were Olympic Events, some people around here would be Medal Contenders". Me

by coastrider on Jul 6, 2009 10:39 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed and to keep with that theme

Add a Brandom Bass or Jason Maxiel to spell LA and trade Outlaw and Blake to get Rodney Stuckey at the point.

by Oldballer on Jul 6, 2009 10:52 PM PDT reply actions

At least 2000 minutes for Oden, at least 1500 minutes for Nic and Bayless should be the goal next year

If you want to trade our spare parts for Devin Harris, I have three quarters I would like to trade for your dollar

by Norsktroll on Jul 6, 2009 11:16 PM PDT reply actions

I really like those numbers

Playing ball is just like anything else in this world, the only way to get better is by doing. Nate is like that parent with 7 year old who is ready to lose their training wheels and he is scared to let them go out and mess up.

by rborder1 on Jul 7, 2009 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions

The Future

Bayless
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Oden

Everything else is unknown.

by blazeraider on Jul 6, 2009 11:58 PM PDT reply actions

We can't sit and wait for everyone else to get worse.

That is a prescription for spending years as a first round or second round and out play-off team. Yes, some teams get worse, but some get better, and a few get really good and win championships. Who expected Boston to win a championship before they suddenly got KG and RA? Yes, if we do nothing LMA will probably get even better, Nic will get better, Oden will get better, and Bayless may become a point guard. But unexpected things will also happen. Who expected Oden to miss a year? Or Martell to miss last year? How long will Oden’s or Roy’s knee’s last?

We must try to maximize our opportunities if and when we have them. This is the only time in probably the next decade we will be under the salary cap. We must take advantage of this opportunity. That doesn’t mean doing something stupid because we panic. It means doing something smart because it’s our time. Even in “real life”, as one grows older it’s the opportunities not taken that we regret the most, not the ones that didn’t turn out exactly as we hoped.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jul 7, 2009 2:01 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

"...as one grows older it’s the opportunities not taken that we regret the most, not the ones that didn’t turn out exactly as we hoped."

Word. Rec’d for that alone.

Duct tape makes you smart.

by TTRocks on Jul 7, 2009 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

by Net Ranger on Jul 7, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Excellent Post

I have been saying the same thing. Give this team some time.. it will not take long, and with a couple of minor additions, this team will be challenging for several years.

by Rick_D on Jul 7, 2009 2:26 PM PDT reply actions