Crimson the Cat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2008
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I don't understand the panic. There were those that freaked, and are still freaking, when we traded away Zach Randolph, when the team drafted relative unknowns/unpopulars, when we stuck with our over-achieving vets, or when we used spending money last summer on Miller. Everything turned out positive, didn't it?
Sending out Randolph did bring back Rudy Fernandez and open up a starting position for Aldridge.
Seriously, not many can find fault now with the drafting of Batum, Fernandez, Bayless, Cunningham, and Rodriguez (which brought us Pendergraph).
Whether we like it or not, the bottom line is important to Paul Allen now. Players that produce well at a low cost are going to be critical to the team's future successes IMO. Realizing that our mature/maturing young players and particular vets - Blake, Przybilla, and Howard - can overachieve in our team's system and bring back more bang for Allen's bucks, produced three straight successful seasons while keeping salaries inline, spending money for Allen in the draft and last summer. I don't think many could have foreseen Blake's solid seasons in 05/06 or last year; how valuable Przybilla could become; the consistency and clutch performances of Travis Outlaw; and that our rookies could come in and make the adjustment to the NBA so quick.
The blank check that was RLEC got passed around a lot this summer. In the end it found its way to Andre Miller. That too looked like a mistake, but it's beginning not to. Miller wasn't as high profile as a few of the other possibilities, but I believe these other possibilities would have come with large issues (loss of our young talents, too massive of contracts, poor chemistry). After 38 games, its appearing that Miller and Roy can coexist. As a bonus, Steve Blake's services and contract aren't needed anymore and should recycle into yet another asset. Also, Miller's contract is so reasonable and short that come next season, that too, might be turned around into something shiny and new. RLEC lives!
What I respect about KP and the rest of the brain trust is that they're not trying to make the most popular decisions. They're trying to make the best decisions for the franchise, considering both short and long term results. Those decisions in the end always translate to some fairly impressive ends. Despite all the naysayers, youth, and adversity, the Portland Trail Blazers keep plugging along. 32 victories (an 11-win increase) and ROY for Roy in 2007. 41 victories (a nine-win increase), an All-Star selection, and the best up-and-coming team in 2008. 54 victories (a 13-win increase and tied for second most wins in the West) and a return to the Playoffs.
Why should this year be any different? We're on pace to match the same amount of wins as last year, but with massively more injuries. Massively. So, instead of sweating how we'll overcome the loss of our bigs or how we'll manage to squeeze in all our wings and point guards, just relax and know that we will overcome all this shit. We always do. The players that Pritchard target are somehow prepared to thrive when the shit hits the fans. They've either gone to college for all four years, had mucho international competition experience, or were born with an uncanny amount of poise running through their veins.
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
Sending out Randolph did bring back Rudy Fernandez and open up a starting position for Aldridge.
Seriously, not many can find fault now with the drafting of Batum, Fernandez, Bayless, Cunningham, and Rodriguez (which brought us Pendergraph).
Whether we like it or not, the bottom line is important to Paul Allen now. Players that produce well at a low cost are going to be critical to the team's future successes IMO. Realizing that our mature/maturing young players and particular vets - Blake, Przybilla, and Howard - can overachieve in our team's system and bring back more bang for Allen's bucks, produced three straight successful seasons while keeping salaries inline, spending money for Allen in the draft and last summer. I don't think many could have foreseen Blake's solid seasons in 05/06 or last year; how valuable Przybilla could become; the consistency and clutch performances of Travis Outlaw; and that our rookies could come in and make the adjustment to the NBA so quick.
The blank check that was RLEC got passed around a lot this summer. In the end it found its way to Andre Miller. That too looked like a mistake, but it's beginning not to. Miller wasn't as high profile as a few of the other possibilities, but I believe these other possibilities would have come with large issues (loss of our young talents, too massive of contracts, poor chemistry). After 38 games, its appearing that Miller and Roy can coexist. As a bonus, Steve Blake's services and contract aren't needed anymore and should recycle into yet another asset. Also, Miller's contract is so reasonable and short that come next season, that too, might be turned around into something shiny and new. RLEC lives!
What I respect about KP and the rest of the brain trust is that they're not trying to make the most popular decisions. They're trying to make the best decisions for the franchise, considering both short and long term results. Those decisions in the end always translate to some fairly impressive ends. Despite all the naysayers, youth, and adversity, the Portland Trail Blazers keep plugging along. 32 victories (an 11-win increase) and ROY for Roy in 2007. 41 victories (a nine-win increase), an All-Star selection, and the best up-and-coming team in 2008. 54 victories (a 13-win increase and tied for second most wins in the West) and a return to the Playoffs.
Why should this year be any different? We're on pace to match the same amount of wins as last year, but with massively more injuries. Massively. So, instead of sweating how we'll overcome the loss of our bigs or how we'll manage to squeeze in all our wings and point guards, just relax and know that we will overcome all this shit. We always do. The players that Pritchard target are somehow prepared to thrive when the shit hits the fans. They've either gone to college for all four years, had mucho international competition experience, or were born with an uncanny amount of poise running through their veins.
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
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