Oregonlive "journalists" 2 new posts...same old drivel

by Odenrising on Feb 4, 2012 1:15 AM PST

Anyone reads Jason Quick's article comparing Miller and Felton. He speaks for the fans. Says we wish Andre was still here and Felton was not. Says the Trail Blazers got it wrong. Andre is a FABRIC of the Trail Blazers and Felton is a failure?

Anyone read Canzano's latest smear on Oden? He is worse than Bowie because Bowie played more games. Greg will never play again for the Blazers. Greg has taken money from the team and never earned it. Greg hasn't tried to do the right things or be a good team member?

Do either one of these guys EVER fact check themselves? It took Andre Miller an entire fall camp, full preseason and something along the lines of 20 regular season games before he beat out STEVE BLAKE for the starting point guard spot. It took another month or two for he and Brandon FREAKING Roy to learn to play together productively. Raymond Felton has had about 40 days to learn an entire new team and try to change said team from a snail to a jackrabbit almost single handed. How can anyone anywhere know with ANY certainty how Felton will work out with this team? Even given the limited time Felton has played with these guys we are already better at defending than with Miller on the floor. Anyone who has watched this team play should have reservations about how they are playing on the road but they are showing some signs of life. 10wins vs 1 loss at home and plenty of quality wins against playoff teams...No Jason lets throw Raymond Felton under the bus because Denver is in town tonight....Do me a favor Mr Quick stop insinuating MOST or All fans agree with you because they don't. At least not me!

Hey Canzano! Did you know that arthroscopic knee surgery is usually minor? Did you know that practically every player over 6-8 in the NBA ends up getting at least a couple in their career? Do you really think Oden hasn't worked harder than any other Blazer in the last 4 years? Do you really KNOW that Greg Oden doesn't want to play in Portland? I really hope Greg does come back and play for Portland. Not just for the fans and not just for himself, but to also make you have to apologize to him publicly. That's what you preach on your show right? Accountability? Because of the nature of your post you get to say I WAS RIGHT, if by some miracle you are. And IF you are wrong? Crickets and monday baby....unless you practice what you preach.

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I agree with you on the clown's article.

But I think Quick’s was one of his best and he’s got it right. Felon will never be Andre Miller. I WOULD UNDO THAT TRADE IN A HEARTBEAT. Miller makes players better. Felon hasn’t found Lamarcus for a lob yet this season, but yet our center seems to find him at least once a game. Old school smarts beats out put your head down and drive every time, especially when you dribble it off you foot.

"Per John Hollingers twitter - Over the final 12:45 of today's game, Brandon Roy's PER was 84.98" GM 4 vs Mavs

by blazinagain on Feb 4, 2012 2:39 AM PST reply actions 3 recs

typos courtesy of stupid smart phone.

"Per John Hollingers twitter - Over the final 12:45 of today's game, Brandon Roy's PER was 84.98" GM 4 vs Mavs

by blazinagain on Feb 4, 2012 2:41 AM PST up reply actions

Miller makes players better.

Yeah, you can see how LA’s game has fallen off dramatically this year without Miller.

LA is averaging 15% more points per minute, shooting a higher percentage, and 10% more rebounds per minute this year than last. Those all exceed the increased pace this year (which itself is because of Felton replacing Miller).

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 4, 2012 1:49 PM PST up reply actions

The change in pace has nothing to do with the change at point guard.

The change in pace has entirely to do with a change in coaching philosophy.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 4, 2012 6:16 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

In all fairness, Miller did steal a few rebounds from LaMarcus,

and how many of those 52 points he scored against Dallas should have been passed off to LA. I guess the absence of a certain Mr. Roy could be one reason for Alrdridge’s improved numbers.

by simoninaustralia on Feb 4, 2012 9:22 PM PST up reply actions

Yep, Nate upped the tempo.

Blunts and cupcakes...Bumble Bee's secret weapon.

by Wotan on Feb 5, 2012 12:11 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah, the switch was of Nate's doing.

I’m still pretty stunned that he did it, too.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 5, 2012 3:29 AM PST up reply actions

He wouldn't have done it with Miller. He did it because that's the way Felton plays.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 5, 2012 1:57 PM PST up reply actions

Losing Roy also played a part.

But I’m saying Felton can’t play any other style so Nate had no choice.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 5, 2012 1:59 PM PST up reply actions

But Ray Felton played slow for Larry Brown, so that's not entirely true.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 5, 2012 8:56 PM PST up reply actions

Played for Larry Brown

EXPLODED for D’antoni

I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Sean in Vancouver on Feb 7, 2012 9:50 PM PST up reply actions

And came falling back to earth for George Karl.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 8, 2012 2:37 AM PST up reply actions

And the change in coaching philosophy is due to Felton replacing Miller.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 5, 2012 1:56 PM PST up reply actions

Can't tell for sure, but I think it had more to do with B-Roy retiring.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 5, 2012 8:55 PM PST up reply actions

Nate McMillan said specifically

the pace is dictated by the guards, and that’s why they are playing faster this year.

by bengance on Feb 6, 2012 7:49 AM PST up reply actions

And Nate's not the sharpest tool in the shed, either.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 8, 2012 2:38 AM PST up reply actions

I don't know that we can judge a person's IQ from little snippets we hear post game.

One way or another. I’m still confused why folks were infatuated with that snooty baseball manager LaRussa or whatever? I don’t keep up much with the sport but he seemed to just project that he was a maestro and so people just took his word on it.

Basketball’s a pretty simple game really and I think often when coaches preach really simple fundamentals it just makes them sound less intelligent than they might be.

by Z-Bones on Feb 11, 2012 12:34 AM PST up reply actions

On the topic of Tony LaRussa, people definitely overrate the importance of a manager.

In reality, they’re rather meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Unlike in football and basketball, there’s little coaching that goes on in baseball at the major league level.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 11, 2012 11:27 PM PST up reply actions

And I might argue that even NBA and NFL coaches are often overrated....

BATUUUUM SHAKALAKA!

by Z-Bones on Feb 20, 2012 2:20 PM PST up reply actions

It's

Moot. Nate didn’t want miller. Never liked him. This is the team Nate wanted. Though acting gm will take the hit. Weirdly the issue continues to a pg coach not understanding pg play.

by Cabbol on Feb 4, 2012 7:39 AM PST reply actions

I agree with both articles

by Cjones10 on Feb 4, 2012 9:55 AM PST reply actions

I do too

I do think that Felton deserves a bit more patience as he didn’t have a lot of time to get adjusted before the season started and he obviously cares about doing better or he wouldn’t have hired a shooting coach on his own to get better. That being said, I still miss Miller and everyone seems to forget that before he came he was actually playing faster (not Nash fast but faster) and had to slow it down to fit with the Blazers more. He probably wouldve welcomed a little more freedom.

The Oden thing, well, it is what it is and Canzano just isn’t beating around the bush about it, not that he ever beats around the bush though.

Quick and Canzano are hit and miss, sometimes they write things that I agree with, sometimes things that are actually poignant and sometimes they go way off the deep end and disgust me. It’s what they do …

by somanluna1 on Feb 5, 2012 10:39 PM PST up reply actions

you're not allowed to agree with both articles

you can pick one to like and hate the other or hate them both and that’s it

by blazerblaze on Feb 9, 2012 2:20 PM PST up reply actions

I agree with both of your points, whole heartedly, and I'm in the silent majority.

Dre is a beast, he’s been my favorite Point Guard for years and years. Felton is also a beast, and he is a guy who can fit better into the dynamic of this team.

Oden has worked his tail off. He deserves a chance to play, and I hope it is here. For people saying that it is time to cut ties with the guy, I have to say, as long as there is a chance he’ll play for you, you take it 100% of the time. I am as tired of waiting as anyone else, but I mean, c’mon, he is Greg Oden. Give him two healthy seasons, and he’s the best center in the league.

"Brandon Roy has done this before."

by sabonis11 on Feb 4, 2012 10:52 AM PST reply actions

I hate the argument that he's taken all this money from the team

MANAGEMENT GAVE HIM THAT MONEY WILLINGLY YOU NITWITS! He didn’t take anything they weren’t willing to give him! Is he supposed to rehab for free? Nobody in any job is going to do that.

I also think if Greg retires or goes somewhere else as a FA Canzano will quickly turn it into a situation where the “fans didn’t support him” or “he wants to go to a big market, cause Portland is too Podunk for such a big personality”, and will probably add that he just always wanted Greg to succeed. It’s just a waste of an article from a news perspective, but from a John Canzano cult of personality perspective it’s right in line with what we’ve come to expect.

I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain_4.html#ixzz1IE4sPu16

by Tyler Durrden on Feb 5, 2012 7:56 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah, "taking money"

As a slur is a stupid slur, if indeed Canzano made it. (I won’t read his articles.) Didn’t Oden’s camp willingly back down from a bigger offer to his current $1+ deal? (Paul Allen probably uses Kleenex made from $1 million-dollar bills.)

You can rationally make the argument, without personal attacks on Oden, that it was a worse draft pick than Bowie, just because the Blazers traded Bowie for Buck Williams and there’s a good chance Oden will never have that kind of value. But that is just sheer bad luck. Oden’s no J.R. Rider or Darius Miles who doesn’t care, he’s a guy whose body is betraying him.

I agree 100% on what Canzano’s future columns might look like on the subject. His columns when Oden was drafted were the purest sentimental swill — stuff like how dying people in nursing homes had their hearts lifted and the like. (About the time I stopped reading him.) He’s just a pot-stirrer for hire, and when he finally leaves town he’ll go somewhere else and pretend to be the passionate soul of the eternal fan for another team.

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Feb 10, 2012 10:07 AM PST up reply actions

I would have traded Nate before Miller.....

by blzrfan1938 on Feb 8, 2012 7:46 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

what is wierd to me

is this is not green.

by Berkeley on Feb 11, 2012 11:10 AM PST up reply actions

Dre was great for this team

That part of Quick’s article i agree with. But the negative shots at Felton were completely unfounded. He has barely had a chance to play with this team yet. Miller’s game also has issues. Can’t shoot outside. Not just as a cold streak like Felton has experienced, but as a rule Dre can’t shoot deep. Dre has trouble staying with other point guards. All point guards get burnt by each other as a rule. Dre has trouble staying with them on the perimeter at all. Those 34 year old legs just don’t keep up. I think by the end of the season the Felton/Dre trade will be an obvious win for the Blazers….time will tell.
Patience with Oden is well worth the risk, I agree. People tend to take his health issues personally. He is the type of player that can raise a team up if he can play at all…

by Odenrising on Feb 4, 2012 11:39 AM PST reply actions

Thank you

Thank you, Thank you. Oregonlive is a joke these days. Quick is one of the least knowledgable basketball reporters I have ever heard of and the Clown is just trying to stir the pot, anything for ratings.

by ripcitymilehigh on Feb 4, 2012 12:17 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Quick is a very good reporter

I completely agree with his take on Andre Miller and Felton.

by byronirvin on Feb 4, 2012 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Quick is one of the best

He has good inside takes in my opinion. I think he is very honest for the most part, he does throw in a little blazers love from time-to-time and show off his homerism, but I think it’s okay.

by Cjones10 on Feb 4, 2012 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

Quick's "Behind The Locker Room Door" series...

A few seasons back was some of the best beat reporting I’ve seen in a long time, in any locale or sport.

And the article you cite above struck me more as a tribute to a fan favorite player making his return than anything else. And on the surface it was a 1-for-1 PG trade, Miller-Felton comparisons are inevitable. Maybe the couple swipes against Felton were unnecessary, but he has looked pretty brutal this year.

Canzano is kind of a hack. As in – whether or not I agree with his rabble-rousing viewpoints, he’s just not a good writer. This article, I tend to agree with him.

by dulcamara on Feb 4, 2012 3:51 PM PST reply actions

Not trying to stir pot... just asking out of curiosity...

Has there been a kind of divorce between Bedge and Oregonian? I remember a few years back when Dave would share radio time with Quick. I used to see at least some links and nods to the Oregonian’s stuff even up to last year.

Lately, I’ve seen nothing and have even seen Quick taking shot at “some bloggers” and a few shots taken back from here.

In the interest of full disclosure, I long ago began ignoring the more hysterical reporting of Quick in favor of the more ironic and lighthearted reporting of Ben. I have long, long, LONG regarded Dave as the far superior columnist over Canzano, whose populist and yellow-press rantings I loathe.

But I did like seeing that those reporters existed with links from here (which is my primary new source). Has there been some kind of falling out or am I just imagining things?

Buck Williams for the hall of fame

by Phizbin on Feb 4, 2012 5:58 PM PST reply actions

the thing about trading for Felton is that it made sense

we can all sit here in hindsight and bemoan the fact he’s played poorly, or pretend that Andre Miller is a flawless PG who was just stellar during his time here…but that doesn’t change the fact that it didn’t hurt us in the big scheme of things, allowed us to take a flyer on a much younger PG who appeared to be at worst a small step backwards and at best a lateral move or a step forwards, and I don’t care what people say because JUST LIKE DRE when he got here, Raymond has not been given a fair shake by the fanbase.

"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 Feb 6, 2012 9:35 AM PST reply actions

nice comment, agreed.

it was a necessary trade in what could have possibly set us up nicely for the next few seasons. We could still benefit greatly if Felton starts fitting in seamlessly, though it’ll take some time before anyone can truly designate whether he should stay or go.

"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."

by thankyouforblaze on Feb 6, 2012 11:42 AM PST up reply actions

Actually,

I remember quite a few people, including myself, thinking that it was the wrong move at the time and nothing has changed my opinion since.

And I’d say Dre got a fair shake when he first got here as a sizeable amount of posters here were (justifiably) foaming at the mouth about Blake starting over Dre. Tominhawaii was the only one really that anti-Dre.

by caesar on Feb 9, 2012 10:31 AM PST up reply actions

sure

and those people were right. Just like people who wanted to draft Durant.

I never said no one opposed it, all I’m saying is that I think it was worth taking a shot because it doesn’t hurt us in the big picture.

And yes, a lot of people were anti-Dre at the outset

"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 Feb 9, 2012 11:17 AM PST up reply actions

Not a big fan of Felton's game - so far

But I think he is pressing a bit and our half court scheme has not helped him as well. He needs to take what the defense gives him and if he cannot penetrate, make the quick pass and go to space. Seems like he is a much better shooter when he gets the pass back for an OPEN jumper then when he just runs into people or takes contested shots. That said, he is similar to Dre in he is a warrior and brings the effort every night. Face it, compared to many other teams the Blazers would not be considered a tough, intimidating team -is why we shoot so poor close to the rim. We are too scared to take it strong to the rack. We have a funny team that our back court is more blue collar, and tough, and our front court is more finesse.

by T.O. on Feb 9, 2012 9:43 AM PST reply actions