Nice Guys....

by Krang on Jun 28, 2011 9:41 AM PDT

The recent flurry of interviews with Nolan Smith and Jon Diebler I was immediately struck by one reality. They both sounded like very intelligent, high character, "Nice Guys". Buchanan in his press conference interview went out of his way to attach that evaluation to Diebler and Smith. "They are what this franchise is all about". Well I just want to throw one idea out for discussion. Has the pendulum swung too far?

I lived as most of us have, through the Jail Blazer Era. It almost destroyed this franchise, and it wounded the relationship between this team and the majority of fans. I was happy to see this franchise embrace Character and Chemistry as factors in assembling a roster. I'm glad the Blazers look at the whole picture and do evaluate the character of a player when making roster decisions. BUT.....

Has the pendulum swung too far to the "Nice Guy" side? Are we passing on talent at the expense of making sure the prospect we obtain could usher at a wedding or baby sit our pets? Please, I'm NOT saying we go back to the mistakes of the past, but I am saying I don't necessarily feel every prospect The Blazers obtain must pass 28 layers of compatibility...and be everyone's favorite brother or uncle. Or have some heartwarming or heroic story of a character building moment in his past.

Is it time we embrace a little potential dysfunction? A little edge? The guy that's not afraid to break the bottle on the edge of the bar and start swinging it around?

Or am I totally off base here? Is the fear of the past, and the stories of the past enough for you to say...Nah...stay the course.

I'm not trashing either Diebler or Smith. They handled "interview day" great. But ultimately? As much as "Questionable Character" can distract a team or franchise...."Good Character" doesn't guarantee talent. Being a great guy...doesn't mean that person is necessarily going to be a great player.

When it boils down to it....my Personal Pendulum leans toward valuing character. Because I think it does matter. I think in those tough moments, in life or even in a game, when it really counts, The guy that is focused and has good character and mental strength will out perform the troubled individual.

But I can't help but wonder if The Blazers haven't reached a point where they are looking for Character Perfection at the expense of playing talent...and perhaps...just perhaps we need a better balance.

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Is there someone you feel we passed on for that reason?

I can’t think of anyone offhand

Me after hearing of a Rudy Hardwood Classic Jersey going for $45:"Take the "RNANDEZ" part off....and sew on a "LTON and you are good to go"."

by 92wastheyear on Jun 28, 2011 9:59 AM PDT reply actions

Nice guys are cool.

Even if they do finish last, I’d rather watch players I can respect as human beings (and who I wouldn’t mind my young son looking up to) than some bonehead with a fist full of rings.

Also, there’s a bit of a paradox at play in the bit of comic relief where you refer to “The guy that’s not afraid to break the bottle on the edge of the bar and start swinging it around?”
Seems to me that the guy swinging the broken bottle is almost certainly the most frightened guy in the place.

by VTDuck on Jun 28, 2011 10:00 AM PDT reply actions

Good question

I think the big takeaway from the Jail Blazer era was that the roster needs to be constructed with some semblence for how the pieces fit together, as opposed to just acquiring talent. I tend to line up with AK1984 in that it’s the on-court fit that matters (not off-court), but since players are human beings the two can’t be completely separated because people are more complicated creatures than robots. Players who get along off the court will tend to play well together on the court (all else being equal). Of course, a roster with all choir boys doesn’t seem like it would have enough edge to battle against the KGs of the world. But maybe that’s a misconception as well?

I think this is a really good question, though, and another reason that I’m glad I’m not the one making roster decisions.

by zbrum on Jun 28, 2011 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

we brought in Wallace, and he has braids, mullet, AND a headband. That’s good enough for me.

This team has plenty of tattoos, too. Granted they are tattoos of family members and/or religious symbols, they are still tattoos.

i like it here, there, everywhere.

by Name's Ash on Jun 28, 2011 10:15 AM PDT reply actions

I hear that Ray Felton has a tattoo that says:

“Don’t Snitch……when I take this cupcake”

Me after hearing of a Rudy Hardwood Classic Jersey going for $45:"Take the "RNANDEZ" part off....and sew on a "LTON and you are good to go"."

by 92wastheyear on Jun 28, 2011 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Felton also plays PG

with a bad ass, take no prisoners attitude.

He is built like a tank, he looks about 215, not 198. I worry that he could get too heavy though. In his Charlotte days, he was dunking in traffic from time to time, not so much with the Knicks and Denver.

I loved that about Dre, his ability to knocke people around, although he was a bit understated. I think Felton will be a bit more demonstrative, and will bring consistent intensity to the court.

by Rip City Reign on Jun 28, 2011 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Subconciously....

maybe the departure of Andre Miller is why I made this whole post. Andre wasn’t a “bad guy”…but he wasn’t a Picture Perfect, I’m always going to say the “right” thing guy either. And Andre was willing to embrace the dark side on the playing court when necessary.

I don’t think Character and Talent are mutually exclusive…the best have both. I think you can have good character and be an enforcer and tough…

But looking at our roster? Where’s that loose cannon? Where’s that guy that everyone is just a little scared of because they aren’t 100% sure what he might do?

Sometimes you need that edge…not sure we have it anymore…

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Jun 28, 2011 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions

No doubt we could use a guy like that

but I don’t think we should underestimate the ferocity and intensity that guys like Felton, Matthews, and Wallace play with. It’s a lot different than the Roy-Blake teams or Roy-Dre teams. It should rub off on Aldridge and we can see that swagger more consistently.

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Jun 28, 2011 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm going to have to go with Ash on this one

I still remember Wallace and Artest a hair’s breath from going at it. I just don’t think he’s really integrated with the team yet. Felton should help in that regard.

Portland could coast along with their superior talent and stay right with us. Now that Portland woke up, the hammer cometh down.

Bayless > Daffy Duck after 3 cans of rockstar

by Batumshakalaka on Jun 28, 2011 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I hear ya...

but I think that attitude will develop in some of our players. I see Batum, who has been criticized for disappearing, developing a mean streak (next time he dunks over Gasol, maybe he’ll only present one finger). LaMarcus is bound to start getting pissed about the lack of recognition. Armon has something to prove as well, and I expect him to start taking heads.

I’ve thought the same thing at times, and I wonder if that’s part of why the team passed on Blair.

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Jun 28, 2011 11:06 AM PDT reply actions

I love the WARRIORS we have on this team

Felton, Wallace, Matthews. Hopefully Aldridge, I know he’s got it in him. Sure we have “nice guys”…sure, culture is important. But don’t sleep on Nolan Smith’s competitiveness, and the biggest piece that we got on draft night is our new starting PG, and he is an absolute bulldog.

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Jun 28, 2011 11:08 AM PDT reply actions

Waaaaarriors--Come out and plaaaaaay!

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Jun 28, 2011 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I wouldn't mind getting another Joel.

A nice guy that also doesn’t take any crap.

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Jun 28, 2011 11:17 AM PDT reply actions

now that you mention it...

Chad Buchanan does look a bit like a an Eagle Scout.

by DefenderOfPants on Jun 28, 2011 1:26 PM PDT reply actions

Yes you are totally off base.

There weren’t many red flag personalities in this draft.
Last year there were, and look what happened when a team that had been drafting “good personalities” swayed from that mission statement.
The Pacers took Lance Stephenson, gambling that his physical gifts would outweigh his supposed attitude.
He celebrated that decision by athletically pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs.

Why bother drafting headcases when it’s hard enough to draft NBA level talent in the first place.

dinasour type of guys choir boys

by mittsabishy on Jun 28, 2011 3:05 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

i think we took dielber because he was the best shooting in the draft, and we need shooting

i think we took smith because we needed a backup poing guard, not because he is a super awesome dude.

Felton will make a lot of people have selective memory on their reaction to draft night

Trade for Iggy

by thomasikehara on Jun 28, 2011 4:14 PM PDT reply actions

also

did the the mavs have an edgy, loose cannon on their team, (maybe chandler, but his thing with joel happend 3 years ago)

or the heat, yeah people hate lebron, but has never gotten in trouble off or on the court.

bulls and thunder both have lots of high character guys.

Felton will make a lot of people have selective memory on their reaction to draft night

Trade for Iggy

by thomasikehara on Jun 28, 2011 4:17 PM PDT reply actions

i say, as long as he is not a murderer or the ruben patterson variety, i suppose i can deal with it--assuming he is good.

Felton will make a lot of people have selective memory on their reaction to draft night

Trade for Iggy

by thomasikehara on Jun 28, 2011 4:19 PM PDT reply actions

Tough, no nonsense, enforcer type does not have to equal "gangsta."

Classic example was Luke. Took no “stuff” from anyone. Stood up for team mates. Fouled hard when needed. He WAS the Enforcer. Off court he was the mildest big man I ever had the privilege of knowing. Great character. Nice guy.

As mentioned above, I feel Joel was much the same. Tough on court and soft off.

Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!

by blazerfrog on Jun 28, 2011 4:31 PM PDT reply actions

Bring Joel Back!

by Ragermack on Jun 28, 2011 6:33 PM PDT reply actions

No reason you can't have both - high character coupled with talent -

I want to root for players that represent good character – would rather do this then root for players who are overtly entitled and showing little respect of others or the law – wins and losses aren’t the end all.

by KevNW on Jun 28, 2011 11:55 PM PDT reply actions

I totally agree with that...

….and as the poster above pointed out…we have had players like Maurice Lucas, and IMO Buck Williams and Przybilla that demonstrated that very truth.

That’s why I ask has the Pendulum swung too far? Because the question I’m asking isn’t "Either Character…OR Thug….

The question I’m asking…is there a point where you are lending too much weight to your roster choices based on the potential player being a “Great Guy”?

Does every player have to have a perfectly spotless history? Does every player on the roster have to always say the right thing?

I’ve always kind of felt, that if you have a strong roster, a strong coach and good leadership…a team can take a risk on a player with a less than perfect personality or history.

I’m not asking for a defined problem…I’m just saying does every Blazer have to be Boyscout? Maybe the pendulum has swung too far…

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Jun 29, 2011 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions

blazers will place diebler overseas

for this season. best for him to get paid something anyway. he won’t even be around for training camp.

by shallwemaui on Jun 29, 2011 10:49 AM PDT reply actions

I think the team recognizes this.

I know that the gossip on draft day about Dre “being okay with losing” was unattributed, unsubstantiated, and unnecessary… and yet as soon as I heard that I felt there was some truth to it. Assuming this was part of their thinking on trading Dre, then I imagine that they’ve got some of the same concerns being raised here. They want to stick with high character guys, but there’s got to be intensity there to go with it. I think swapping Dre for Felton drives up out intensity levels.

LaMarcus? I think he’s shown a lot of growth in the toughness department over the last couple of seasons and I expect that to continue as he gets older.

Gerald Wallce? Um, I present exhibit A:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUMCNqhEXlE

Wes Matthews? Played 82 games, despite being on a bad ankle for half the season.

Chris Johnson? I present exhibit B:

While I wouldn’t want to put our boys up against a rabid pack of junkyard dogs, I think there’s more fight in this squad then we might see at first glance.

"You can pretty much flip a coin to see which Portland team will show up: the dark-horse world-beaters or the mixed-up eggbeaters" - Dave

by conspirator5 on Jun 29, 2011 3:52 PM PDT reply actions