Blazer Chatter Thread: Most Inspirational Player

Seems to get along with everyone, works real hard, does whatever he’s asked to do and appears to be an all around great guy.

He didnt want to play this year, he is getting paid like crap (crap from NBA pay standards), yet he has shown up and hasnt been a problem since the season started. All the offseason turmoil is gone and he wasnt bitter about everything that was said about him. He is just playing.

Joel. No question for me. The Thrilla hasn’t been much more than a shadow of his former self most of the time, but he’s playing through the tough stuff and giving the Blazers all he has and is contributing to the efforts of keeping this ship going. Joel’s been through a lot in the last year, and it is inspirational to me to see how hard he’s worked so that he can contribute. Thanks Joel!

All season long. Sorry. I had to break out my loophole card.

Current players? Tied: LMA and Mattews

When Roy was playing, he was a loyal no. 2 pick-and-popper, though many criticized him for it. Now he’s leading the team with his inside game. He’s been the good soldier since entering the league, and with him in the spotlight, this is a good time to appreciate it.

Came from a small school and has scratch and clawed for playing time.

I say Wes Matthews for his relentless work ethic and drive. And, Andre Miller for his dependability and consistency.

especially 1 game after they laid an egg against the worst team in the west, by getting out hustled at both ends?

With all the bashing and all the pain and huge effort to recover from each of his knee injuries, Greg has hung in there and continued to insist that he will fulfill his promising potential. Greg has every reason to hang it up. He is paid over $20M so he likely does not need the money. He has been labeled a bust by nearly the entire media. He has been scorned for not being Kevin Durant.

Yes, Greg inspires me more than any other player. Perhaps it is being disabled myself that gives me the perspective on his attitude and courage. Perhaps it is my experience. But I am not wavering from this call.

He has put this entire franchise on his back. After all the criticism facing him, he has taken charge. In the face of family health issues, he has stepped up. He has gone from oft-overlooked second banana to franchise player and an all-star candidate. On top of that, he has remained humble.

He leads the team in minutes, and has responded to adverse conditions by assuming a vocal leadership role and CLUTCH play. What’s more inspiring than heroic play?

Matthews is second.

I wish my choice would be more popular but it I’m afraid it won’t be.

One thing about facing as much diverse adversity as this team has faced is that the scenario’s and opportunity for inspirational response increase. Lot’s of argueable choices. I agree with almost everyone’s choice…from their P.O.V.. This has been a Most Inspirational Team….but that isn’t an option….

I’m going with Brandon Roy. Even though I think the wheel is still in spin and the story is not completed. I’m going with Brandon Roy because since he became a Blazer he demonstrated great talent and a keen, keen competitive nature. Pre-Season he was slated to be our All-Star…our face of the franchise and team leader. His knee’s reached a tipping point, they in many ways betrayed him.

Many Blazer players have faced challenge and adversity. But nobody has fallen from a higher public and professional perch. Even Oden, who has faced incredible challenge and adversity, is only measured against the hype and hope of what he might of been or might still be…

Brandon has gone from being the guy Kobe Bryant said was the most difficult cover for himself….to the guy Ron Artest is saying “something isn’t right”.

I’m guessing my choice isn’t going to be too popular because a lot of fans have turned on Brandon. But even that is part of it….

In Brandons recent interview, it sounds like he is coming to terms with his personal reality. He sounds optimistic and as confident as I think someone dealing with the unknown can be.

As high a plateau as Brandon has fallen from, I think to not sound bitter, not reflect some negativity…is a very laudable state to be in.

Cynics will tell me he is making 85 million dollars. But I believe part of the reason Brandon was given that contract was that he sincerely was a player that loved to compete, that wanted to be a leader, that wanted success. For a person or player that cares? That makes his new reality that much more challenging.

Perhaps technically I’m being premature. We have yet to see Brandon return, the story is not finished. But given the reversal of fortune dealt Brandon Roy, his apparent positive attitude I think is very inspirational. So premature or not, I’m going with Brandon.

LaMarcus took a good hard look at his shortcomings and addressed them. Never in a million years did I think he’d assume a leadership role — I thought he’d always be content to sit back and let someone else take the reins. Joel and Patty have my admiration too, but they’re not exceeding expectations in the way that LaMarcus is.

Even if he’s having a crappy game, he’s still giving 100%. He also doesn’t make any excuses. If he has a great game he just chalks it up as that’s what he’s supposed to do. If he has a bad game he’ll give credit to the other team, and admit that he sucked. He doesn’t blame his team mates.

He was game enough to play along with trailblazers.tv in its quest for programming and it looked like he had no chance whatsoever of cracking the playing rotation in a contract year.

Thrown into the fray, he has performed admirably.

For becoming the beast I knew was in him.
Tone called it a few years ago- " Sheed from the shoulders down ".

New and slightly used coats can be dropped off at the Rose Garden and Fred Meyer stores.

Old but cool story about Wesley buying kids coats and shoes.

.. followed closely by just about every other Blazer

This year it’s been the whole team. At different times throughout the year someone different has stepped up.

This whole team is doing some pretty unimaginable things. But since we’ve seen it happen the last few years, I think we tend to forget how amazing it really is. To see so many of our top players go down and this team is only a few games off of where we were last year is astounding.

And you can’t forget the coaches too.

one of the players in the NBA playing the most minutes and just doing everything for this team. They are truly lost without him.

I gotta be honest, I’m not really inspired by anyone on this team. However, I’m easily most impressed by LA and the major strides he’s made this year.

that the most inspirational player was decided by the team’s players. It was who was most inspirational to them. We honestly don’t know the answer to that.

Nowadays fans look on it as most inspirational to the fans. I think both have value, but it should be defined as to which one we’re talking about. (Not that we can say who inspires Dre or Patty or Joel…)

I’ve rec’d a few comments above so I won’t repeat them, but I’m voting for the team. Each individual and collectively. “Team” also includes Nate … and Billy B. and the other coaches (since I don’t know how each has contributed). They make me proud to be a Blazer fan.

of how they came to work hard and get into the NBA, which all could be dubbed as “inspiring”. And it can be interpreted in different ways, as I agree with LaMarcus carrying the team, Patty the key in inspiring Rudy, and Wesley going from undrafted to starting are all significant stories. But I feel like personally, that it’s the collective team being hard workers and considerably grounded people off the court that is inspirational.

Even though journalists don’t get a vote —

@TurnerSportsPR: Barkley had Lamarcus Aldridge, Monta Ellis, Blake Griffin, among others on his All-Star reserve list

RT @krisk5: LaMarcus Aldridge makes 3 out of 4 of @DimeMag writers’ All-Star prediction lists: http://bit.ly/e3ZbjR