As some of you know, or all of you know, there has been this "stat" flying around. In fact it is not even a stat. It is a "fact". But it is a very mis-construed fact, which is being thrown in the faces of Blazer Nation in an irresponsible fashion.....
 
Fact: The Blazers are 22-11 without Brandon Roy playing, and the Blazers are 11-16 with Brandon Roy playing. Fair enough. Suprised? Not really. He wasn't near 100%, nor is he now. The question is: "Is he hurting the team, and should he even be playing?"............I know what some responses will be that "We need to find out what he is worth going forward, NOW, considering his lengthy contract and all". But lets assume that isn't part of your thought process. Lets assume that this year is the LAST year of Blazer basketball on the face of this planet, and you are shaping this team and the rotation for ONE last playoff run. Is he hurting the team? Better yet, is he B Roy, B Role, BeWare, or B in a funk?
 
So I went off on a tangent. All I really wanted to do was provide some data that makes me not worry about those records with and without Roy playing;
 
1. Of the 33 games Roy did not play in, The Blazers were in fact favored to win 23 of them. Our actual record was 22-11.
2. Of the 27 games Roy did play in, The Blazers were in fact favored to win 15 of them. Our actual record was 11-16.
3. Of the 33 games Roy did not play in, 15 were against opponents with a record of plus .500. 45% of the games.
4. Of the 27 games Roy did play in, 20 were against opponents with a record of plus .500. 74% of the games.
5. The Blazers went on 2 "long" winning streaks without Roy. One was 5 games, the other was 6 games. 2 of those 11 teams were plus .500, and we beat them both at home.
 
 
In conclusion, I would label Brandon as "B Role" right now. Our early season schedule was very tough. More road games, tougher road swings, better competition. Beginning about 20 games ago the schedule got very easy. We ripped off 12 out of 16, with only 4 games vs. above .500 competition, than we just played 4 home games vs. above .500 competition, and lost 3 of them. We lost them because everyone "relaxed" thinking Roy, Camby, and Wallace were going to save the day. Not the case.
 
 
What would you label him as?
 
 
 
Robby