If Roy has played his last game as a Blazer

[SlyPokerDog]

is his body of work large enough and good enough here to retire his number?

Based on the standards the Blazers have used in the past I'd have to say yes.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I say hell no.

Portland has retired too many numbers as is. The only numbers that should be retired are Walton and Drexler.....MAYBE Lucas. That's it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I say hell no.

Portland has retired too many numbers as is. The only numbers that should be retired are Walton and Drexler.....MAYBE Lucas. That's it.

I agree that the standard used to retire numbers by the Blazers in the past have been way too low but Roy was a better player then half those up there.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Just because the organization made a mistake and retired the numbers of a lot of the 77 team doesn't mean they are justified in retiriing Roy's number now. The only two jerseys that legimately deserve to be retired are Drexler and Walton.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Did they retire Jim Paxsons number? He was a multiple time all-star in Portland.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Did they retire Jim Paxsons number? He was a multiple time all-star in Portland.

Exactly. No

 

[Masbee]

I agree that the standard used to retire numbers by the Blazers in the past have been way too low but Roy was a better player then half those up there.

I agree as well, the Blazers have been adsurdly loose with their numbers retired criteria.

Based on old criteria, Roy should have his number retired.

Based on a more traditional, and sensible criteria - NO.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

After Drexler and Walton isn't Roy the 3rd or 4th greatest Blazer ever?

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

One could/should argue that Petrie, Lucas, Paxson, Porter, and Buck would all be in the mix with Walton and Drexler for "greatest" title.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Using the standard of our past, yes, Roy should have #7 in the rafters someday. No street names please.

 

[Nikolokolus]

After Drexler and Walton isn't Roy the 3rd or 4th greatest Blazer ever?

No. I'd rank Porter ahead of him and Lucas for what he accomplished. Roy is in a class with Paxson and Vandeweghe however.

 

[Rhal]

For game 4 of the Dallas series yea.

In all seriousness we have retired to many jerseys and Roy deserves to be in the rafters more then a few of the ones hanging up but we have retired to many for not very good reasons, so if you just look at his basketball resume for u then I think the answer is no. If you take into account that he almost single handily changed the reputation of the blazers and took us out of a dark period in Blazers history, then that has more weight then his ROY 3 All-star appearances, All NBA third team, all NBA second team.

 

[Draco]

Cliff Robinson was our leading scorer on multiple teams that made the playoffs and lost in the first round. I'd never consider him close to worthy of getting his numbe retired. It's not Cliffs fault he hit his prime following a period of title runs but Roy hit his prime after the dark years.

Too bad we can't unretire some of those old players, I mean Larry Steele? Change them to being part of the "Wall of Honored Champions" somewhere in a corner so it looks ok PR wise.

Absolutely no to Roy being retired; he had an all-star season leading the team to 41-41 followed by one complete season where he carried the team but the result was a dissapointing first round exit. You shouldn't get your number retired from great play in only a single losing playoff series.

 

[MARIS61]

No.

 

[anonymous gambler]

I'd say yes, with a slight hesitation given the short time he played for us- but he was our best player for 4 years and led us out of the woods back into being a good team.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

he is more than a player, he was a shining bastion of light leading us out of the depths of the fireswamp

he made everyone proud to be a blazer fan again, that counts for alot id say

i say yes

 

[magnifier661]

Damn right you retire his number! End of story!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So far it appears that it's 50-50 on whether to retire Roy's number so if that is how the majority of fans feel the Blazers will retire his number eventually.

 

[BBert]

No.

Edit: In fact, the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it sounds.

 

[Minstrel]

No. I agree with those who say only Walton and Dexler should have their numbers retired by the Blazers.

 

[PapaG]

I think Roy's jersey should be burned as the opening ceremony when the flame outside the RG finally comes back.

Roy has been a pox to the Blazers. A POX, I tell you!

 

[magnifier661]

No. I agree with those who say only Walton and Dexler should have their numbers retired by the Blazers.

Why Walton? Because he gave us our only title? Other than that, he only played 4 seasons as a Blazer, with his last season being an injury riddled one at that.

Roy has given us 5 years of heart and dedication. I don't remember any other Blazer having more epic shots than what Roy did, and that includes the likes of Drexler and Walton.

So as funny as anyone thinks about the "retiring of the number", but is alright with Walton; whom played on our team for less years than Roy; I think that's just as funny.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Walton and Drexler made the top 50 player list of all time. Retire their Jersey's. and take all the others down. Create some sort of "wall of fame " for all the others. They should be honored, but not retired.

I would put Roy up there with Lucas and Porter. One of the Blazers best of all time, but not retired jersey status. Yet.............

 

[PapaG]

Walton and Drexler made the top 50 player list of all time. Retire their Jersey's. and take all the others down. Create some sort of "wall of fame " for all the others. They should be honored, but not retired.

I would put Roy up there with Lucas and Porter. One of the Blazers best of all time, but not retired jersey status. Yet.............

Walton shouldn't have, IMO, and wouldn't be there on an updated list. As mush as I love Bill, that was a sentimental placement, because Walton had 1.5 years of absolute greatness in the NBA, and that's it. Plus, his best PER season was barely better than Roy's, and Walton's Ortg was fairly terrible. I'd add that he only put up a sub-20 PER in the title playoff run, but ... OK, I will add it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Walton shouldn't have, IMO, and wouldn't be there on an updated list. As mush as I love Bill, that was a sentimental placement, because Walton had 1.5 years of absolute greatness in the NBA, and that's it. Plus, his best PER season was barely better than Roy's, and Walton's Ortg was fairly terrible. I'd add that he only put up a sub-20 PER in the title playoff run, but ... OK, I will add it.

But in the history of the NBA Walton was one of the 50 best players to have ever played the game.

 

[PapaG]

But in the history of the NBA Walton was one of the 50 best players to have ever played the game.

According to a vote of people in the mid-'90s. I don't think he sniffs the list at this point, and I think a player like Pippen, who was criticized at the time for being on the list, would rise in the minds of people who really know the game.

 

[STOMP]

One could/should argue that Petrie, Lucas, Paxson, Porter, and Buck would all be in the mix with Walton and Drexler for "greatest" title.

that person would be wrong

Walton was one of the most brilliant players I've ever seen. Sure his career was short, but when right he was dominant at a level none of those others approached. Then add in the title.

Drexler... I rest my case

I'm with the only Drexler and Walton should have their numbers retired crowd

STOMP

 

[Minstrel]

Why Walton? Because he gave us our only title? Other than that, he only played 4 seasons as a Blazer, with his last season being an injury riddled one at that.

Roy has given us 5 years of heart and dedication. I don't remember any other Blazer having more epic shots than what Roy did, and that includes the likes of Drexler and Walton.

Sure, I can see that perspective, but I think there's something to be said for impact on the game. Walton made an impact on the game and is pretty embedded in the history of the NBA, in a way that Roy is not (IMO). Sure, part of that is leading a not-very-loaded Portland team to a title, but it's also the fact that he was an incredibly unique player. A center who could pass like a point guard, who could both play in the post and shoot...who could anchor a defense and start a break or lead a break or finish a break. It's very impressive. Roy was a star, but not a unique star. I think Walton burned brighter than Roy and was a more memorable part of the NBA and the Blazers.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[jlprk]

I'm with those who said that Bonzi was as good a scorer as Roy, and played physically bigger. Retire his number before Roy's. Roy = Bonzi at the right time and place.

 

[magnifier661]

Sure, I can see that perspective, but I think there's something to be said for impact on the game. Walton made an impact on the game and is pretty embedded in the history of the NBA, in a way that Roy is not (IMO). Sure, part of that is leading a not-very-loaded Portland team to a title, but it's also the fact that he was an incredibly unique player. A center who could pass like a point guard, who could both play in the post and shoot...who could anchor a defense and start a break or lead a break or finish a break. It's very impressive. Roy was a star, but not a unique star. I think Walton burned brighter than Roy and was a more memorable part of the NBA and the Blazers.

Just my opinion, of course.

I could see your point 100%. And Walton did have an amazing skill. I think I disagree about Roy not being a unique player in the league. He, in my opinion, was one of the most unique players in his prime. I think the thing that bothers me was the timeline of Walton and being exhaulted to a retired number. Most of his career was played on other teams.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/waltobi01.html

And to really look into it, statistically Roy has done more for the team. I'm not knocking Walton at all. But if some people laugh at Roy's number being retired, then in the same thread say that Walton deserves to, makes me laugh.