Camby a disappointment?

[Rastapopoulos]

What do people think of Camby so far? Yes, it's only been 6 games, and he got injured in one of them, but he hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire. I didn't expect him to score, but I expected more than 6.65 points per 48. And, watching the games, I haven't been overly impressed with his defense, supposedly his selling point. We're still a bit of a donut team, and it still seems like we're better with Howard, if only because he's got a reliable jumper (and he'll foul the fuck out of you if he feels like it).

Thoughts?

 

[THE HCP]

I love em! Weak side defensive help. Nice passing, veteran in the lockeroom. Good guy.

 

[Nate4Prez]

What do people think of Camby so far? Yes, it's only been 6 games, and he got injured in one of them, but he hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire. I didn't expect him to score, but I expected more than 6.65 points per 48. And, watching the games, I haven't been overly impressed with his defense, supposedly his selling point. We're still a bit of a donut team, and it still seems like we're better with Howard, if only because he's got a reliable jumper (and he'll foul the fuck out of you if he feels like it).

Thoughts?

Camby is unquestionably better than Howard. Would you question Joel over Howard? Joel has less offense than Camby but I would still take a healthy Joel over Howard any day. Our center position is not about scoring points, it's about boards and affecting shots. He is already a better option than Howard and the more time he gets on the floor with our guys he will improve his stats.

 

[Wheels]

exactly my thoughts on some others.. yeah he isnt Greg (when Greg is healthy) but he is significantly better than Howard in what he can offer us. So overall I am pleased.

 

[MIXUM]

I was gonna post this but i knew i would get shit. He has been very average to below average since arriving. He misses easy shots, his jumper isnt falling at all, and his blocking of shots has been greatly exaggerated.

So far Im not at all impressed. If Joel can come back healthy... we do not need camby imo.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I love em! Weak side defensive help. Nice passing, veteran in the lockeroom. Good guy.

Agree! And as time goes on he'll get more and more comfortable with Roy, Aldridge, and Batum.

 

[Wheels]

I was gonna post this but i knew i would get shit. He has been very average to below average since arriving. He misses easy shots, his jumper isnt falling at all, and his blocking of shots has been greatly exaggerated.

So far Im not at all impressed. If Joel can come back healthy... we do not need camby imo.

if Joel comes back healthy yes... Camby becomes irrelevant. But this was the best option for what we have now.

 

[LittleAlex]

Camby >>>> Howard.

 

[Wheels]

I was gonna post this but i knew i would get shit. He has been very average to below average since arriving. He misses easy shots, his jumper isnt falling at all, and his blocking of shots has been greatly exaggerated.

So far Im not at all impressed. If Joel can come back healthy... we do not need camby imo.

if Joel comes back healthy yes... Camby becomes irrelevant. But this was the best option for what we had available I would think.

 

[BBert]

He makes the ocassional big play on defense or rebounding or blocking a shot, but I've been disappointed with his defense plenty of other times as well. I've attributed some of those plays as learning and fitting in with the other players and the defensive scheme (IOW not always his fault). His offense not very good.

I'm not really 'disappointed' because so far he is exactly what I expected. I never bought into the hype that this was a slam dunk trade for the best defending rebounding shot blocking locker room saint glue guy in the league. I'm hopefully optimistic that he will contribute to any playoff success we have more than the two guys who went out. The fact is, we needed a center and it looks like was the best we could do, so I'll take it. But the level of hype for him coming in was bound to leave a lot of people disappointed.

 

[Minstrel]

I've always felt Camby was overrated, but I still liked the deal because I don't feel Portland gave up much that they'll miss and Camby, even if overrated, is superior to what Portland had at center with Oden and Przybilla injured.

His rebounding and defense have pretty much been on par with his norm. His offensive play (passing and scoring) is way down. His scoring efficiency is in the tank and his Assist Rate is half of what it was in LA. Right now, I'd chalk that up to small sample size...a few games isn't a good enough measure of a player's actual level. But at a descriptive level...Camby hasn't been very good so far in his Portland tenure. If he continues to play like this, I'll be disappointed.

 

[andalusian]

Before Camby - Portland #17 in defensive efficiency
After Camby - Portland #15 in defensive efficiency

Nice jump given the small number of games he played.

He is not going to set the world on fire - but he makes us better - and gives us another big that knows what he is doing and 6 fouls to use.

Better than nothing - and I do think that both Travis and Blake are missed - but given the injuries - this was a very good trade for this year.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think many of you underestimate how long it takes to "learn" how to play with new teammates. More than 5 games that is for sure. I see improvement each game with Camby as far as knowing what your teammate are going to do. (Offensively and Defensively) This is why makeing trades at the deadline do not always pan out. This year we had no choice. Last year we did.

 

[<-=*PdX*=->]

I don't think some of you are watching the same team I am, but we are much better when Camby is on the court. It isnt about the flash and scoring. He changes shots, creates fast breaks and does all the stuff that some of you fail to notice. You all go back to the box score and see Points, Rebounds, Assists and maybe Blocked Shots and base all your opinions on that... Ask any member of the Blazers or the opponents and you will hear how great he has been for the team...

 

[Nikolokolus]

I've been moderately pleased. I still think he and the team are working through a feeling out period, and I'm not sure his teammates understand how to play defense with him on the floor (I see a lot of guys expecting him to cover up for their lack of defense, and some late rotations when Camby goes for the blocked shot).

Give it another ten games and I think things will look a bit smoother (I hope), if not then it's no major loss if he doesn't mesh and walks in free agency.

 

[Sedatedfork]

I am pretty happy with his defense and rebounding (which is why he was sought by the Blazers in the first place). His offense is way below average. He has some okay high post passes, but I want to see him banging the boards not setting up the offense.

Overall he gets a B from me. If he would quit shooting the ball, I would be happier. A frontline of Camby, LMA, and Batum is a pretty good defensive frontline.

Was he worth losing Outlaw and Blake? Yes. Andre Miller is growing on me, so I think losing Blake is probably better for the team if it means that Miller plays more. It's show me time for Bayless. The 4th quarter offense looks pretty bad these days, and Outlaw could have been a big help there, but I have faith the Blazers will figure it out and I love the play of Batum.

 

[tlongII]

Didn't he have 18 boards one game?

 

[maxiep]

A good, solid B+ with an A for effort.

 

[bintim]

We don't have Joel and we don't have Greg. Canby is very serviceable at the position and was a good pickup IMHO. We weren't looking for a future all star, we just needed someone with some defensive skills at that position. His shooting and scoring are secondary to that.

 

[blazedanugz]

*edited*

 

[hasoos]

I am very happy with Camby. He wasn't expected to score, he was expected to block shots and rebound, and he has done that. Hell in the last game he got a hold of a few of Zbo's attempts, and that wouldn't have happened without him. Camby is a guy who is helping the team through some bad times. He didn't ask to be here.

 

[Foulzilla]

I've been happy enough. It takes time for a new teammate to assimilate. Particularly on the offensive end. I would think having played with Miller before would help the process, although the style in Portland is so different from when they played together in Denver that I guess it isn't much of a help.

The bottom line is that I think we needed rebounding help the most, and if there's one thing he does well, it's rebound. Therefore, unless he stops doing the one thing he's always done well, I'll remain happy.

 

[noknobs]

I don't think he's played very well compared to what he can do, and I still love him. Could be his sprain is still being a nuisance.

 

[HailBlazers]

A good, solid B+ with an A for effort.

This. The man is a hustla

 

[The Sebastian Express]

He's averaging 2.5 blocks in 28 minutes a game so I'm not sure how his blocking ability was greatly exaggerated - but that's some people for you.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

In his 6 games here, his Drtg has been 99, as compared to Howard's 108, so we are certainly better defensively when he's on the floor. However, his PER is 11.8 and his Ortg is an abysmal 87, so it's arguable that we're worse overall with Camby than with Howard.

Now, to be fair his first two games with us were losses to Boston and Utah, in which he went a combined 2-12, and he's certainly been better since. I think it's a bit early to evaluate him, since (as others have mentioned) it takes a while to gel with new teammates.

If his advanced stats haven't improved appreciably by the end of March, then I think we'll have ample reason to be concerned/disappointed.

 

[ehizzy3]

im pleased with camby

 

[hasoos]

He's averaging 2.5 blocks in 28 minutes a game so I'm not sure how his blocking ability was greatly exaggerated - but that's some people for you.

You know how it is. Because they are on the Blazers, they are somehow supposed to start playing better than they are.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Seriously? We play a great amount better with Camby on the floor instead of Howard. Howard is terrible at defense, terrible at rebounding. The only thing he has is that mid range jumper, which Camby has also been known for.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Seriously? We play a great amount better with Camby on the floor instead of Howard.

Defensively, yes. Offensively, we've been terrible so far with Camby on the floor.

Howard is terrible at defense, terrible at rebounding.

Howard is not as good as Camby in those areas, but to call him terrible is a gross overstatement.

The only thing he has is that mid range jumper, which Camby has also been known for.

Has been known for it in the past, but certainly not yet in the time since he's been here. Howard also does a better job of facilitating offense than Camby has (so far).

In general, most of what you've said here seems based on what Camby's done elsewhere, and we expected to see from him here, not what he's actually done as a Blazer.