Cheeks Challenges Blazers

[Trail_Blazer76]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When is enough enough?

For Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks, that time is right now.

After the Blazers dropped to 0-9 on the road this season with a 117-98 loss to Sacramento on Sunday at Arco Arena, Cheeks decided it was time to hold a lengthy meeting that he said was "absolutely" different from other postgames.

According to the players, Cheeks opened the meeting by saying he was tired of harping on the players about their responsibilities and that it was time for the players to be accountable for their play on the court. He then challenged the team leaders to take a more dominant role in directing the team.

After Cheeks' speech, each player -- locker by locker -- offered observations and suggestions about what has gone wrong with their 12-13 season.

"Sometimes, it's not the best thing to talk after a game because the emotions are high," Cheeks said. "But this was more about the 25 games we have played more than this game here. More than anything, I wanted to find out where we were mentally."</div>

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First trades, and now this. It's great to see that Cheeks is no longer trying to be a friend, but instead embracing his role as a coach. We have all the talent in the world, and he's goint to make sure that we continue of 22? year playoff streak. Any thoughts on the changes that the Blazers are making?

 

[mike18946]

This may not be the sole reason you are struggling of course but you need Derek Anderson back.The shooting guard spot is weak right now..You need a slasher/scorer to help win some games.When does he return?

 

[notmuchgame]

It's good they're trying something new. I mean, how much worse can it get? Anyways, I think the root of the Blazers problems on the court is their lack of a true point guard. I'm talking about a guy who can set the tempo by playing hard-nose defense. When Pip ran the team last year, they played pretty well and he isn't even a true point...

If they make a move, they should try and find a defensive minded pass first point (i.e. Eric Snow and Earl Watson type). Those guys are hard to find though...

 

[starman85]

I agree about Anderson, but overall the team needs to be shaken up some more. Like notmuchgame said, they need that pass first pg, which they lost in Antonio Daniels. They should try to package Stoudemire and Wallace and bring in some fresh blood. Isiah Thomas is looking to deal, and a veteran presence like KVH wouldn't be bad, especially if it brings Kurt Thomas and a guy like Howard Eisley. Eisley, Anderson, KVH, Randolph and Thomas isn't a bad lineup, and it would allow them to bring size in Davis off the bench.

But the approach Cheeks is taking is good, to hold guys accountable. Its just that when things like this usually happen, there's a shakeup that follows...

 

[~Fatality~]

Yeah, the Sg position is quite weak. Anderson is a good player.

But I like what Cheeks is trying to do. Basicly put up or shut up.

 

[Shapecity]

This was the right timing for Cheeks to speak up. He has had to deal with drama each season he has coached. The organization has finally decided to eleviate a majority of it, and allow Cheeks to finally take control over the players. The Blazers are a heckel and jeckel team thus far this season, with a strong home record (12-4) and winless on the road (0-9.) Cheeks has made a push for them to finish strong before the All Star Break. They have 27 games to get consistent and position themselves amongst the playoff teams out West. The Blazers need to resolve the Wallace situation first and foremost. Also they will have to deal with Zach Randolph's DUI case and solve the situation at PG.

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

I agree, the Wallace situation is our most obvious issue. The only problem is that we don't want to just give him away likw we did for Bonzi. Also, few teams are willing to put up with him. I don't see us making any trades for Wallace where we actually benefit, so I think that we should keep him.

This has been said many times, but if Sheed will put in more effort he and Randolph will be lethal.

 

[nikebasketball]

I'm happy to see Mo Cheeks standing up to the team.

Hopefully something will change for the better.

They DON"T need to deal away Rasheed or any other talented player.

We DO need Derek Anderson back very badly.

Through all of this I'm STILL a Blazers fan!

 

[mike18946]

Well since Cheeks said what he did they beat Dallas and now Wolves.Not bad...

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

I'm not really impressed by home wins, we always own the Rose Garden. If we have a .500 road record by the end of the year then I will be happy.

 

[Vintage]

The Blazers are in the midst of reducing payroll.

Which is why players like Daniels and Pippen were let go via FA. Which is also why their MLE wasn't used after Payton declined. They could have landed Stephen Jackson with the MLE, but chose not to use it after. Wouldn't Jackson be a help?

Portland is reducing payroll. I doubt a blockbuster trade will occur.

 

[ANiMuS]

Kemp's (whom I believe the Blazers are still paying), Davis's, and Sheed's contracts expire after this season. Resign Davis for a mid-level exception-amount (as opposed to the $10 million he gets now), and let Sheed walk. That's $35 million off your payroll. Stoudamire's contract expires after next season. Let him walk and you have another spare $15 million. At that point the Blazers will have more than enough money to sign the free agent of '05--Tracy McGrady. Well you probably won't get him, but you can definitely acquire something good with $20 million under the luxury tax. About the last thing you want to do right now is trade Sheed for another guy with a long-term contract (e.g. the Knicks's acquisition of Keith Van Horn). Only if a very good offer comes along should the Blazers take it, and that's not likely to happen for Sheed.