GREATEST BLAZER OF ALL TIME

[maxiep]

It's tough to debate between Clyde and Big Bill, because it's comparing 12 years of amazing play with a 1 1/2 year comet. I'll just say if Bill had different feet and ankles, this thread wouldn't exist because there wouldn't be a debate. However, there's only one reason Clyde isn't as well thought of as he should be--Michael Jordan. Still, that's one hell of a silver medal. Glide could do it all. Check his rebounding and assist stats. Look, I loves me some Brandon, but right now he's not even in the conversation.

 

[mgb]

Drexler also played in the same era as arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time..Billy wouldn't be bringing home any titles or MVPS with MJ around.
We probably have 2-3 rings if we had that team not in MJ's era.

Drexler is the greatest, Roy will eventually become the greatest.

I don't see how you can say they wold have won 2-3 if not for MJ. THey didn't even go 3 times. They didn't just lose to MJ. They lost to the pistons and LA which was the season they probably had there best chance, so you can't just say because of MJ. In all his years he did't match what Walton did in one. No MVP season or playoffs in all his years no championship or leading the league in two cats. And it's not like Walton didn't go against some of the best players. The Sixers had a MVP lineup. Walton easily.

Quick edit because I didn't see the Billy comment. I believe Walton could have got us a championship on the team with a different player than Drexler on the team, but of course that is easy to say either way which is why I wouldn't go there originally. I think part of the problem is you weren't there to see Walton play and go through a season following that team. You probably grew up with Drexler so you probably are partial to Drexler. I've been a fan since 74 and have seen both, though Walton was who I got my first taste of the Blazers.

 

[SnakeOiler]

Walton was as much a detriment as he was good. He ruined the blazers also. My vote goes to Maurice Lucas. Walton was a little better than average without mo.

 

[oldguy]

I'm asking out of curiosity, not picking shit..... How many voting for Clyde are old enough to have watched Big Red play? (and not as a little kid.)

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I'm asking out of curiosity, not picking shit..... How many voting for Clyde are old enough to have watched Big Red play? (and not as a little kid.)

I wasn't old enough to even see Clyde play. All I know is that my cat as a kid was named Clyde, so I liked him. I generally stay out of these conversations since I really have no say in it. It's like people my age (17) talking about Larry Bird and even MJ as their favorite players. They basically didn't see Bird play and can really only remember MJ on the Wizards.. which doesn't count.

 

[Paxil]

I watched Walton... he had an amazing year and 3/4 but other than that he was a disappointment. If not for a few bounces he wouldn't have a championship either... that takes a certain amount of luck. We could have had a championship in the Drexler era... the team was good enough... just didn't get that lightning strike.

 

[mgb]

A few bounces? I know that it's true you need some luck, but we won the finals in 6 games and swept LA in the WCF. I think also what is very important is how you perform in the finals, as I said the biggest stage in the NBA. Here are Waltons finals stats.

Walton was named 1977 NBA Finals MVP, averaging 18.5 points, 19.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.

Sure he had a shorten career here because of injures, but when he was here he dominated like no other Blazers.

 

[BenDavis503]

1) Bill Shonely

2) Both TP and Roy were/are more clutch than Drexler, but Drexler was/is a much better all-around player than the other two. In mind eyes, Roy will have to improve his reboundering and assists to get into Drexler's neighborhood, and I doubt he will (being a 2-1 instead of a 2-3)

3) I've always found it silly to compare players who play drastically different positions.

I was going to say "How can you say Roy needs to improve his RPG and APG before he can catch Clyde." then I went and looked up his stats.

I had no idea how many assists Clyde had!!!! He averaged 8 APG in his 3rd year!!! Basically his entire career he averaged more APG than Roy so far. Damn! Rebounds too! He averaged 10 RPG and 8 APG in 1988-89 !!! I never knew that! Almost a triple double every game!!

 

[Denny Crane]

Assuming best player who played any time for the Blazers, not based on their play as Blazers:

1) Walton (not even close)
2) Pippen
3) Sabonis

Sabonis was a hell of a player even after suffering a severe achilles tendon injury. I saw him play before that, and if he weren't injured and played in the NBA his entire career, we'd be talking about him and Wilt and Kareem as the top 3 of all time.

 

[mgb]

Assuming best player who played any time for the Blazers, not based on their play as Blazers:

1) Walton (not even close)
2) Pippen
3) Sabonis

Sabonis was a hell of a player even after suffering a severe achilles tendon injury. I saw him play before that, and if he weren't injured and played in the NBA his entire career, we'd be talking about him and Wilt and Kareem as the top 3 of all time.

I would limit it players drafted by Portland or at least played their rookie NBA season with Portland which includes Sabonis. If we included any player that played for Portland then since it is the Greatest Blazer of all time I think you would have to include how they played with Portland. JMO Except for Walton being the best that's a fact. heh

But it is nice to hear a outsiders opinion

 

[Denny Crane]

I would limit it players drafted by Portland or at least played their rookie NBA season with Portland which includes Sabonis. If we included any player that played for Portland then since it is the Greatest Blazer of all time I think you would have to include how they played with Portland. JMO Except for Walton being the best that's a fact. heh

But it is nice to hear a outsiders opinion

Sabonis might have been a 30 PPG / 20 RPG guy in the NBA in his prime, uninjured.

 

[mgb]

Sabonis might have been a 30 PPG / 20 RPG guy in the NBA in his prime, uninjured.

He might of. I mean I agree we got a diluted Sabonis. I think those numbers is a bit extreme. How many centers have got those numbers? 20/15 would be pretty dominate.

Edit

I decided to do a search to see what was the best scoring/rebounding center average ever in the NBA. What I came up with was this: Wilt the Stilt averaged 24.3 points, 23.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game.

I got this from a page that rated the best 10 centers ever. Walton was rated #7 of the top ten ever. Pretty good considering his injuries.

BILL WALTON

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (1974-1978), San Diego Clippers (1979-1980, 1982-1984), Los Angeles Clippers (1984-1985), Boston Celtics (1985-1987)
Titles: 2 (1977, 1986)

Honors: Two-time All-Star; Finals MVP (1977), MVP (1978), Sixth Man of the Year (1986), Hall of Fame

The player: Still the greatest passing big man the game has seen. His combination of passing, passion and fundamentals elevated his teammates and the league.

Injuries hampered his career, but when he was healthy he was fantastically deadly. He gave defenses every reason to double-team him, but punished them for doing so better than anyone. His selflessness helped the Blazers win their only title.

There quite simply haven't been many better at making others better.

 

[Denny Crane]

He might of. I mean I agree we got a diluted Sabonis. I think those numbers is a bit extreme. How many centers have got those numbers? 20/15 would be pretty dominate.

Edit

I decided to do a search to see what was the best scoring/rebounding center average ever in the NBA. What I came up with was this: Wilt the Stilt averaged 24.3 points, 23.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game.

I got this from a page that rated the best 10 centers ever. Walton was rated #7 of the top ten ever. Pretty good considering his injuries.

Look at Sabonis' stats. Around 15/10 in 20 minutes (I exaggerate a tad), and that is with missing a ton of games and limping around. He was 31 years old as a rookie for the Blazers when he was putting up those stats in such limited minutes. As a younger guy, he'd have doubled those numbers.

I'm not saying he'd have been 30/20 for his career, just for a number of seasons during it.

 

[mgb]

Look at Sabonis' stats. Around 15/10 in 20 minutes (I exaggerate a tad), and that is with missing a ton of games and limping around. He was 31 years old as a rookie for the Blazers when he was putting up those stats in such limited minutes. As a younger guy, he'd have doubled those numbers.

I'm not saying he'd have been 30/20 for his career, just for a number of seasons during it.

The only year he average 16 points and ten rebounds he played 32 mins a game and played 73 games. Career he was 12 points and 7.3 rebounds in 25 mins. I would have loved to have got him here when he was young and he might have finish being one of the best centers ever. Unfortunately we'll never know. Don't get me wrong I do like Sabonis a lot, but I just don't think he'd get better numbers than Wilts best year. Mainly I though the stats you stated was what I was disagreeing with.

Sabonis stats

I'm a little surprise he didn't have better assists averages considering how good of a passer he was.

 

[Natebishop3]

Moses Malone would rate up there if we had actually held onto him.

 

[kobe23]

Why are you guys forgetting about players like Brian Grant, Rasheed Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal LOL!!!!!!!!

 

[mgb]

Why are you guys forgetting about players like Brian Grant, Rasheed Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal LOL!!!!!!!!

We are talking about the greatest. O'Neal might have been up there if we hadn't traded him. Wallace might have been up there if had he had a different mentality. I like Grant a lot, but I wouldn't put him in the greatest level.

 

[BenDavis503]

If Sabonis was so good at passing, why did he only have 2 assists per game?