Article on Sessions

[Idog1976]

I think that is the issue... But between Roy, Webster, Rudy, Blake, LMA, & Outlaw - Portland has enough players who have a decent outside shot to be able to afford to have a PG who doesn't.

I also think Sessions will dramatically improve his outside shooting this year. The last year at Nevada he shot around 38% from 3 and his first year with the Bucks he shot around 42% from three (granted it was only 17 games). He defenately has the ablity to be competent shooting from outside.

Totally agree. Glad to have you posting and joining in on the forum. I think Sessions can easily master the long distance shot so there must be SOMETHING we don't know about. Or KP is secretly maneuvering for him now.

You know come to think of it, the Bucks REALLY need a PF. Maybe that is why KP seems to be looking at PF's so he can get an S & T for Sessions. I seem to remember reading that KP was angling for Sessions and R Jeff at the deadline for RLEC but Milwaukee wouldn't bite. Anyone have a link for that? Or is that just the inhalants talking...again.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Judging by what Pritchard has said in a recent interview and Blazers' Scout Chad Buchanan says here (also here, where he says "There's a lot of point guards I liked in this draft but I just don't know if they were great fits for us but that will be very good players in this league"), the reason why Blazers' management is not interested in Sessions is two words: Brandon Roy. That frustrates me. Roy is actually a damn good player off the ball, whereas he just isn't that great of a creator. He's not as good as LeBron James, and look at how the Cavs struggled when their offense became "give the ball to James and spread the floor". But it seems like we're only interested in players who can complement Roy. What about Greg Oden? Can't we get a player who can get him the ball a bit more often than Blakey (or Roy-y, for that matter) manages? Doesn't the fact that Sessions is a very good pick and roll player count for something?

I get the feeling the Blazers think that Sessions=Sergio and they've given up on that route. Oddly the reason they seem to be sticking with Bayless is that he is not a creator. What seems to elude them (okay, it doesn't, they're smarter at this than me, but I'm in rant mode) is that he still needs the ball in his hands. He just isn't good at giving it up once it's there.

 

[illmatic99]

Oddly the reason they seem to be sticking with Bayless is that he is not a creator. What seems to elude them (okay, it doesn't, they're smarter at this than me, but I'm in rant mode) is that he still needs the ball in his hands. He just isn't good at giving it up once it's there.

That's actually some pretty good reasoning, but what do you make of the team vehemently pushing Bayless to be the distributor in summer league? Why bother with this chore if all they wish to do is make him the pseudo SG in a lineup with BRoy?

 

[Idog1976]

Judging by what Pritchard has said in a recent interview and Blazers' Scout Chad Buchanan says here (also here, where he says "There's a lot of point guards I liked in this draft but I just don't know if they were great fits for us but that will be very good players in this league"), the reason why Blazers' management is not interested in Sessions is two words: Brandon Roy. That frustrates me. Roy is actually a damn good player off the ball, whereas he just isn't that great of a creator. He's not as good as LeBron James, and look at how the Cavs struggled when their offense became "give the ball to James and spread the floor". But it seems like we're only interested in players who can complement Roy. What about Greg Oden? Can't we get a player who can get him the ball a bit more often than Blakey (or Roy-y, for that matter) manages? Doesn't the fact that Sessions is a very good pick and roll player count for something?

I get the feeling the Blazers think that Sessions=Sergio and they've given up on that route. Oddly the reason they seem to be sticking with Bayless is that he is not a creator. What seems to elude them (okay, it doesn't, they're smarter at this than me, but I'm in rant mode) is that he still needs the ball in his hands. He just isn't good at giving it up once it's there.

It's possible it's a smokescreen and they are aggressively pursuing him behind the scenes. We weren't open about our Bayless interest as an example of that behavior. I must admit I'm holding out hope for that. I too am sick of the "It's Brandon's team must fit players around Brandon" mentality. Especially since we aren't maxing his contract...it's fucking frustrating honestly. Also, Sessions is perfectly capable of learning the 3 ball fuck Rasheed Wallace did it at 6'11" no reason why Sessions can't.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That's actually some pretty good reasoning, but what do you make of the team vehemently pushing Bayless to be the distributor in summer league? Why bother with this chore if all they wish to do is make him the pseudo SG in a lineup with BRoy?

Dunno. Maybe it's an admission that Roy isn't a PG, and even if Bayless isn't, he needs at least to improve so that between them they average a PG.

Why I hate the idea of Roy as a PG:
1. He's not creative enough. He's great for a SG. But not for a PG.
2. He's so damn sloooooooooooow. He won't even run it up the floor. Zero fast break potential.

Meanwhile, when he and Paul were kicking ass in last year's all-star game, Paul had Roy SPRINTING down the court, and Roy went on a scoring tear.

I wonder: if N'Orleans offered Paul for a collection of Blazer youth (Rudy, Batum, Bayless, say - this is a fantasy, remember) if KP would turn it down because it's not a "good fit".

 

[Idog1976]

Dunno. Maybe it's an admission that Roy isn't a PG, and even if Bayless isn't, he needs at least to improve so that between them they average a PG.

Why I hate the idea of Roy as a PG:
1. He's not creative enough. He's great for a SG. But not for a PG.
2. He's so damn sloooooooooooow. He won't even run it up the floor. Zero fast break potential.

Meanwhile, when he and Paul were kicking ass in last year's all-star game, Paul had Roy SPRINTING down the court, and Roy went on a scoring tear.

I wonder: if N'Orleans offered Paul for a collection of Blazer youth (Rudy, Batum, Bayless, say - this is a fantasy, remember) if KP would turn it down because it's not a "good fit".

If that was ever leaked to the public I think there would be instant effigies of KP burned, torches and pitchforks, dogs and cats living together...MASS HYSTERIA.

So no I don't think KP is drinking his own that much, god I hope not.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Someone start a Sessions to Portland petition and we can all sign it and send it to the Blazers organization. I'm dead serious, if Sessions goes to another team I might lose faith in Pritchard. He is an ideal fit and it's a mystery as to why there isn't more talk about him.

 

[Idog1976]

Someone start a Sessions to Portland petition and we can all sign it and send it to the Blazers organization. I'm dead serious, if Sessions goes to another team I might lose faith in Pritchard. He is an ideal fit and it's a mystery as to why there isn't more talk about him.

Well the lack of talk is actually the biggest reason I hold out hope. Pritchard is notoriously secretive about deals he is working on and is even rumored to have backed out of deals that have been leaked. His strategy has long been create buzz about players you aren't interested in and then go for the guy you really want. I don't think that is the case with Hedo but I still am wondering why we went after Millsap as option #2. I'm pretty sure there is/was a trade involved either involving Boozer in a 3-way or for Joel or possibly even Aldridge although that seems unlikely. Given Pritchard's history silence is not a reason to assume their is no interest, in fact the more I hear about Portland pursuing guys the more certain I am that is not the case. Hedo was a signing not a trade so that is different. Contrariwise, Sessions would come to us in a sign and trade almost guaranteed as the Bucks would be fools to let talent walk instead of getting SOMETHING in return.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Judging by what Pritchard has said in a recent interview and Blazers' Scout Chad Buchanan says here (also here, where he says "There's a lot of point guards I liked in this draft but I just don't know if they were great fits for us but that will be very good players in this league"), the reason why Blazers' management is not interested in Sessions is two words: Brandon Roy. That frustrates me. Roy is actually a damn good player off the ball, whereas he just isn't that great of a creator. He's not as good as LeBron James, and look at how the Cavs struggled when their offense became "give the ball to James and spread the floor". But it seems like we're only interested in players who can complement Roy. What about Greg Oden? Can't we get a player who can get him the ball a bit more often than Blakey (or Roy-y, for that matter) manages? Doesn't the fact that Sessions is a very good pick and roll player count for something?

I get the feeling the Blazers think that Sessions=Sergio and they've given up on that route. Oddly the reason they seem to be sticking with Bayless is that he is not a creator. What seems to elude them (okay, it doesn't, they're smarter at this than me, but I'm in rant mode) is that he still needs the ball in his hands. He just isn't good at giving it up once it's there.

Well guess what Rasta, we've had numerous disagreements over the past year but I couldn't have said it better myself than you did with this post.

Not pursuing Sessions (even if it meant slightly overpaying for him) boggles the mind, granted they may fear Milwaukee matching them and they probably aren't willing to get shot down again in free agency and he doesn't fit the "we need veterans/tough guys" motto they've adopted for the summer, but if they want a good young point guard who has already demonstrated true creative abilities with the ball, great court vision and an attacking mentality, but just has the one black mark of not being able to hit the long ball then I've kind of given up hope that they really want a point guard at all to play alongside Brandon.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Well guess what Rasta, we've had numerous disagreements over the past year but I couldn't have said it better myself than you did with this post.

Thanks! Erm... I also like Trainspotting (the movie, at least).

 

[SpanishFly]

Well guess what Rasta, we've had numerous disagreements over the past year but I couldn't have said it better myself than you did with this post.

Not pursuing Sessions (even if it meant slightly overpaying for him) boggles the mind, granted they may fear Milwaukee matching them and they probably aren't willing to get shot down again in free agency and he doesn't fit the "we need veterans/tough guys" motto they've adopted for the summer, but if they want a good young point guard who has already demonstrated true creative abilities with the ball, great court vision and an attacking mentality, but just has the one black mark of not being able to hit the long ball then I've kind of given up hope that they really want a point guard at all to play alongside Brandon.

Amen guys! Sessions or Conley IMO would be great fits, with MIL now having Jennings if we offer the MLE with raises for 4 or 5 years they would very likely not match, KP? With the F are you doing?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Sure, but the total has to be 38.5 for 5. I just made it simple, without any raises. What did PP have in mind?

Basically the same thing. I suggested 5.5/6/8.5/9/9.5. Still comes out to the same total.

 

[B-Roy]

Man if you aren't 100% accurate on these forums your entire point is ignored. Fine Blake is awesome at the 3 ball. That still doesn't explain why we aren't going after Sessions when he is really only bad at three point shooting but is otherwise superior to all of our pg options.

I think it's obvious why, no? They want a point guard that can shoot threes.

 

[Idog1976]

I think it's obvious why, no? They want a point guard that can shoot threes.

Well that seems strange to me and I'll tell you why. Doesn't defense on opposing PG's matter due to both Roy not wanting to work hard on perimeter Defense and of course keeping Oden/LMA and our other bigs on the floor?

Sessions is already as good or better a defender then Blake and has a MUCH higher ceiling in that regard. Once you add all other PG skills you will see that other then 3pt shooting Sessions is better then Blake at every aspect. Seems downright crazy to me that they could be so narrow in their thinking especially since we are talking about the easiest skill to learn probably in the game of basketball.

 

[B-Roy]

Well that seems strange to me and I'll tell you why. Doesn't defense on opposing PG's matter due to both Roy not wanting to work hard on perimeter Defense and of course keeping Oden/LMA and our other bigs on the floor?

Sessions is already as good or better a defender then Blake and has a MUCH higher ceiling in that regard. Once you add all other PG skills you will see that other then 3pt shooting Sessions is better then Blake at every aspect. Seems downright crazy to me that they could be so narrow in their thinking especially since we are talking about the easiest skill to learn probably in the game of basketball.

Don't ask me why. Every indication from the FO states that 3PT shooting is crucial to Portland's PG role. I know it doesn't make sense when Sessions is a superior player to Blake, but we aren't so making the decisions, so .

 

[Idog1976]

Don't ask me why. Every indication from the FO states that 3PT shooting is crucial to Portland's PG role. I know it doesn't make sense when Sessions is a superior player to Blake, but we aren't so making the decisions, so .

I feel like the priority for a PG is ability to get Oden the ball in the post. It's insane to me that the FO's vision for Oden looks like a defensive presence / garbage man. He already is as polished as D-Ho on offense (not saying much) and could easily surpass him. With Yao possibly done I could see Oden becoming a top 5 offensive Center. That is of course only if we develop him and get him touches. I don't like this Oden as garbage man idea and I don't think he likes it either. I would have rather won 50 games last year and got Oden more touches. Games where Oden got touches he stayed in longer and appeared more focused on both ends. As Shaq once said "If you want him to guard the yard, you gotta feed the dog." Getting Oden the rock in the fucking post should be a real priority.