Oregonian's Top Ten?

by EngineerScotty on Mar 21, 2010 11:53 AM PDT

The Oregonian today published players 11-15 of the 40 Blazers/40 years series, and Mychal the Mouth comes in at #11, followed by 'Sheed (#12), Bobby Gross (#13), Sidney Wicks (#14), and Lionel Hollins (#15).

So, whose in the Top 10? The "big names" not mentioned so far include, in rough chronological order

1) Petrie

2) Walton

3) Lucas

4) Paxson

5) Fat Lever

6) Clyde Drexler

7) Jerome Kersey

8) Terry Porter

9) Buck Williams

10) Clifford Robinson

11) Brandon Roy (notice the big gap between big names...)

12) Oden.

My suspicion is that Oden, despite all the press, hasn't made sufficient impact in a Blazer uniform to make the Top 10, so his exclusion to this point means he's not on the list altogether. Likewise for Fat Lever, who had a bright year as a Blazer, but spent the bulk of his career in Denver. So given that, we have a top 10--what's the order?

I'd say:

1) Walton

2) Drexler

3) Lucas

4) Roy--after only 4 years in the league, he's this high.

5) Porter

6) Petrie--would be higher if he hadn't gotten hurt

7) Williams

8) Paxson

9) Uncle Cliffy

10) Jerome--the only one in the Top 10 to never be an All-Star

Anyone wanna disagree?

For reference, the rest of the list after Hollins is Duck, Kiki, Pippen, Damon, Sabas, Z-Bo, Natt, Ramblin' Rod, Brian Grant, Lloyd Neal, Twardzik, Larry Steele, LMA, Kelvin Ransey, BRB, Ainge, Steve Johnson, Darnell, Johnny Davis, Bonzi, Kenny Carr, John Johnson, Steve Smith, Kermit, and Jim Barnett. The omission of Jerryd Bayless is a snub of the highest magnitude, BTW.. :)

Tweet Comment 34 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

How can you possible put Walton ahead of Drexler for "Blazer Career"?

Drexler had ten great years with the team 2 trips to the finals and a half dozen solid runs in the playoffs.

Walton had 1 2/3 seasons for the team.

Shooting Star vs Sun. It is pretty obvious which provided more total production. Clyde leads the franchise list in nearly a half dozen categories.

I don’t think this is even debatable, but I’m sure someone will try.

by upper left corner on Mar 21, 2010 12:16 PM PDT reply actions

.....not to mention that you totally stiffed Jerome

He is #1 in career rebounds.

by upper left corner on Mar 21, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions

mind you, his list is merely an opnion

And a good case can be made for Walton.. he brought us our only championship.

Lover of everything Batum.
#88

by RyanRTE on Mar 21, 2010 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

championship?

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Mar 21, 2010 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Precisely

"Their length," he said. "Aldridge is a tough matchup for us. Roy's a very talented ball player, an All-Star player. Miller is just an incredibly savvy point guard with what he's able to do out there on the floor. You throw in their shooters who have size and are able to see over things. They understand where they are as a ball club." - Kurt Rambis

by lee3022 on Mar 21, 2010 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions

We'll see what Quick and "the geezers" decide

it all depends on the criteria, is the 1977 championship worth more than 10 years of superstar play? I’d just say they’re 1A and 1B until Roy and Oden win a ring (or several) and then we’ll re-shuffle the deck in 10 years

I wonder how miffed Jaynes and Eggers are that they didn’t get invited to be on that panel?

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I was split on Walton vs Drexler

Obviously, these two are the top two Blazers, ever.

And regarding Kersey—sharp-eyed folks might notice that I ranked his backup during the early 90s (Cliffy) higher than him—that’s because Robinson had an overall better career, and was an overall better player. The highlights of Cliffy’s career came, obviously, when Kersey was long in the tooth, and the Blazers weren’t contenders—but if any guy is the prototype of the modern 4, it’s Robinson—who was widely derided as a tweener when he came out of U-Conn (and was drafted by the Blazers in the 2nd round).

And of course, he was in spirit the original Jail Blazer, so that’s worth something… :)

I am Spartacus and I approved this message

by EngineerScotty on Mar 21, 2010 12:44 PM PDT reply actions

I agree, Robinson > Kersey

Cliff was a much better individual defender and shooter than Jerome Crazy

When we had a fanpost about best Blazer lineup ever, I stuck Robinson in the middle of Porter-Drexler _ Lucas-Walton

Of course Roy will be on “Mount Rushmore” soon, but neither Clyde nor Brandon have the ability (or inclination) to defend SFs and I’m not a fan of 3-guard lineups as a cop-out (FWIW, Pippen didn’t play “SF” for the Blazers, either, so I gave the nod to Uncle Cliffy…he certainly deserves to be remembered for more than one dropped pass on a fast break that Porter screwed up)

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I can never forgive Cliffy for 1990

He will never be in any of my top 10 lists.

by jigglyai on Mar 21, 2010 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions

it was 1991

and Porter should’ve never shoveled that pass to Kersey. If Terry had fed Cliff with a diagonal lob a second earlier, you’d feel differently about Robinson’s legacy

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Coulda, shoulda, woulda

It came at a very impressionable moment in my life…that drop out of bounds will be forever burned in my memory.

by jigglyai on Mar 21, 2010 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I've never seen any of those guys in the top 10 play

They wouldn’t even make my list.

Andre Miller is an Anachronism

by tominhawaii on Mar 21, 2010 12:46 PM PDT reply actions

Tom's top 10:

1) Andre Miller
2) Andre Miler
3) Andre Miller
4) Andre Miller
5) Andre Miller
6) Andre Miller
7) Andre Miller
8) Andre Miller
9) Andre Miller
10) Travis Outlaw.

I am Spartacus and I approved this message

by EngineerScotty on Mar 21, 2010 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

That's my Death List

Andre Miller is an Anachronism

by tominhawaii on Mar 21, 2010 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Leave Outlaw alone jerk.

by Nick Van Excellent on Mar 21, 2010 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah I keep hoping to catch #4 at some point

by Sir.Ludo on Mar 21, 2010 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Paxson?

Isn’t he the GM of the Bulls? Maybe you can catch him in the draft.

Andre Miller is an Anachronism

by tominhawaii on Mar 21, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions

That is his brother John Paxson

Jim Paxson was the former Blazer 2 guard (was the starter when Clyde Drexler was drafted). Fantastic player who ran around like Rudy without the ball

Roybot: "Then he said "My girlfriend is from LA." to which I replied "Well then you need to find a new girlfriend."’

by 92wastheyear on Mar 21, 2010 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I figured I'd get that wrong

I know they were brothers, I just didn’t care to Google to see which one was a Blazer or GM.

Andre Miller is an Anachronism

by tominhawaii on Mar 21, 2010 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

kevin gamble should be #5

dinasour type of guys choir boys

by mittsabishy on Mar 21, 2010 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

Ronnie Murphy

Man, the Blazers made a mistake when they let him get away…

I am Spartacus and I approved this message

by EngineerScotty on Mar 21, 2010 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions

what, no love for

Walter “squeaky sneakers” Berry?

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I kinda liked Duckworth better

Roybot: "Then he said "My girlfriend is from LA." to which I replied "Well then you need to find a new girlfriend."’

by 92wastheyear on Mar 21, 2010 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions

no doubt

Bucky made lemonade out of the lemon (Berry = NCAA player of the year) that fell into his lap on draft day

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions

My top 10

Walton
Clyde
Brandon
Luke
TP
Pax
Petrie
Mercy
Cliff
Buck

Roybot: "Then he said "My girlfriend is from LA." to which I replied "Well then you need to find a new girlfriend."’

by 92wastheyear on Mar 21, 2010 3:06 PM PDT reply actions

10) Jerome—the only one in the Top 10 to never be an All-Star

Cliff Robinson made it to an all-star game?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robincl02.html

1994, I did not remember that. Well that seals it, Cliff has to be the Blazer’s #1 all-time SF, even though he could guard the 3-4-5 positions (6th man of he year, all-NBA defensive 2nd team, twice) Uncle Cliffy is keeping the “all-time best Blazer SF” chair warm for…Nic Batum

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 3:07 PM PDT reply actions

A Lot of that stuff happened after he left

besides I always thought of him as a stretch 4-5…not a sf. Kersey was our SF

Roybot: "Then he said "My girlfriend is from LA." to which I replied "Well then you need to find a new girlfriend."’

by 92wastheyear on Mar 21, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Cliff could defend SFs

I saw him completey shut down all-star SFs (like Mark Aguirre) in their prime

I can’t put Kersey, Gross or Pippen into the best Blazer starting 5. Playing Roy (or Drexler) out of position at the 3 would be more feasible, but it’s unnecessary to go “small” because Robinson could defend the SF position extremely well and spread the floor. His off the court issues were pretty tame, compared to all that came afterwards, so I won’t hold them (or that bad pass he dropped) against him

Uncle Cliffy is the best 6th man in Blazer history, so that’s probably his “all-time” role, but I’ll stick him in my “starting 5” because sometimes a team’s best players come in off the bench

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Of course

Cliff was also a monumental choker in the playoffs.

by jigglyai on Mar 21, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

there's plenty of "that" to go around, with this franchise

which is probably why most of the retired numbers are from the ’77 squad

If you’re looking for a playoff performer who never choked, look no further than Billy Ray

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Allthough Jerome was a better scorer in the playoffs than the regular season

for his prime years….87-88 thru 91-92 he raised his ppg from 16.2 in the reg season up to 18.98 in the playoffs

Roybot: "Then he said "My girlfriend is from LA." to which I replied "Well then you need to find a new girlfriend."’

by 92wastheyear on Mar 21, 2010 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not looking for scoring

in the middle of Porter-Drexler and Lucas-Walton I want a lock-down defender who can stretch the floor

Jerome was a scrappy rebounder and hustle player, but his outside shot was streaky and his lateral movement was…well, let’s just say he ran fast and jumped really high

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 21, 2010 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions

crazy that this

“all-time best Blazers SF” is going to be Nic Batum, barring some kind of catastrophe. I love, love love watching him and reminding myself that he just turned 21.

"One of the bright spots of the young season has been rookie point guard Jonny Flynn, whose name sounds like he should be the lead character in a Broadway Musical. "What are you doing here, Jonny Flynn?" "Why I'm here to court trouble, and woo a girl, and build the most fantastical contraption the world has ever seen!" -- Dave, Game 7 Blazers versus Timberwolves preview

by BlazersOrBust on Mar 21, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions