LA not playing for Team USA

[Bob Dobalina]

How much of your own money would you risk for the sake of US basketball patriotism, out of curiosity?

Assuming I was invited to actually MAKE A DIFFERENCE by participating? I'd take vacation without pay.

 

[Minstrel]

Assuming I was invited to actually MAKE A DIFFERENCE by participating? I'd take vacation without pay.

Even if it could damage or end future earnings? Further, from Paul Allen's perspective, he has a lot of money tied up in Aldridge. If Aldridge's career, or even a season or two, were derailed, he'd lose quite a lot of money.

This isn't a question of helping the US in WWII. It's just a basketball exhibition.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

I don't mean it as a screw the US. I love my country. I just don't see playing an olympic sport as some patriotic duty. Especially when you are paid to play elsewhere. I don't get this big sense of pride seeing our overpaid professional athletes win gold medals, and start chanting to myself USA. USA. I don't. Sorry. My basketball pecking order starts with the TrailBlazers, not Team USA. That's where my priority is at. And that's where I want my players' priorities at. Not with Team Spain. Team France. Team England. or Team USA.

This makes more sense than your previous post. You don't equate participating in the Olympics with patriotism. I do. I mean I understand the risk, but if Kobe, lebon, etc can take that chance... And they made no bones it was for the U.S. Personally I HATED when the US was not dominating the International scene any longer in hoop. Was very happy to see our pro's felt the same way.

 

[B-Roy]

Even if it could damage or end future earnings? Further, from Paul Allen's perspective, he has a lot of money tied up in Aldridge. If Aldridge's career, or even a season or two, were derailed, he'd lose quite a lot of money.

This isn't a question of helping the US in WWII. It's just a basketball exhibition.

But basketball is srs bsness

 

[RR7]

And then they bailed on it this season. NONE of the members are coming back. I don't think it was patriotism. Just the attention on a personal level they can get from bringing Team USA back. And once it got "back" they all quit on it. How patriotic. Like fighting on Normandy, and then heading back home from a job well done?

 

[Bob Dobalina]

Even if it could damage or end future earnings? Further, from Paul Allen's perspective, he has a lot of money tied up in Aldridge. If Aldridge's career, or even a season or two, were derailed, he'd lose quite a lot of money.

This isn't a question of helping the US in WWII. It's just a basketball exhibition.

Am I coming off THAT seriously? I know message boards can sometimes screw up what I actually mean. I'm not some SUPER patriot. I just don't think the "might get injured" excuse is much of an excuse. That's all.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

And then they bailed on it this season. NONE of the members are coming back. I don't think it was patriotism. Just the attention on a personal level they can get from bringing Team USA back. And once it got "back" they all quit on it. How patriotic. Like fighting on Normandy, and then heading back home from a job well done?

Honestly, I think doing it one time is enough.

 

[RR7]

So you don't have to be too patriotic, just a little bit? Shouldn't they just have the heart to do it for love of country? Why is once enough?

 

[Minstrel]

Am I coming off THAT seriously? I know message boards can sometimes screw up what I actually mean. I'm not some SUPER patriot. I just don't think the "might get injured" excuse is much of an excuse. That's all.

Hmm. I don't know whether or not I'm misunderstanding you. I'm saying that risk of injury is a pretty serious thing for someone who's entire livelihood is based on their physical well-being (and also important for anyone financing that athlete)....that seems far, far more important than sports patriotism.

 

[RISE WITH IT]

If you think LMA is the problem with this team you are wrong. He is playing in a offense that doesn't play to his strengths (running the floor; starting offense early to take advantage of defense) and he hasn't had a consistent big man to help him with the double team. Before you complain, try to think of how fucked we would be without him(tyrus thomas).

 

[Idog1976]

Yes we all know how much playing for your national team helped Rudy over the summer. Hell that was my biggest complaint. The Euro guys play all year round and don't have time to work on their game. I would much rather have LMA working out every day on his weaknesses than playing for Team USA.

Good points and hopefully this is what LMA is doing right now.

 

[Idog1976]

If you think LMA is the problem with this team you are wrong. He is playing in a offense that doesn't play to his strengths (running the floor; starting offense early to take advantage of defense) and he hasn't had a consistent big man to help him with the double team. Before you complain, try to think of how fucked we would be without him(tyrus thomas).

I agree Aldridge isn't used as well as he could be. I wish we had Adelman as our coach, or Poppovich, or a fountain of youth Jack Ramsey or a few other names one could throw out. I still don't get why we went away from LMA rolling hook across the middle. During the 2008/09 season that was by far our most deadly play.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

LeSigh'

 

[Pinwheel1]

I agree Aldridge isn't used as well as he could be. I wish we had Adelman as our coach, or Poppovich, or a fountain of youth Jack Ramsey or a few other names one could throw out. I still don't get why we went away from LMA rolling hook across the middle. During the 2008/09 season that was by far our most deadly play.

That is specifically one area that I hope he is working on this summer. 1000 hooks a day. That hook shot needs to be "money". He seems to flick it up instead of confidently shooting it. It always seems to bounce around the rim and either rolls in or out. If he can just master that this summer I would be thrilled. He gets it off very easily. He just needs to perfect it!

 

[RR7]

I saw that rolling hook quite often last season. I don't think we went away from it. More than likely, other teams realised if he was making a move, that was the only one he had, and gameplanned to deny it.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think we stopped feeding him the ball after he missed one, or even forgot about him when he was hot

 

[Bob Dobalina]

Hmm. I don't know whether or not I'm misunderstanding you. I'm saying that risk of injury is a pretty serious thing for someone who's entire livelihood is based on their physical well-being (and also important for anyone financing that athlete)....that seems far, far more important than sports patriotism.

Question for you. If LMA makes the All-Star team, should he decline the invite?

 

[RISE WITH IT]

Question for you. If LMA makes the All-Star team, should he decline the invite?

totally different.

 

[RR7]

Question for you. If LMA makes the All-Star team, should he decline the invite?

Pretty certain in the NBA, you can't decline without facing a fine.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

Pretty certain in the NBA, you can't decline without facing a fine.

You can if "hurt".

 

[RR7]

Well, if he's hurt, then I'd want him declining, sure. If he fakes an inury, he's likely to get a fine. S o now, you're asking him to pay to skip an event. Totally different. And, he'd still have to show up and take part in the festivities, just not play.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

Well, if he's hurt, then I'd want him declining, sure. If he fakes an inury, he's likely to get a fine. S o now, you're asking him to pay to skip an event. Totally different. And, he'd still have to show up and take part in the festivities, just not play.

Ok For the sake of argument then. Let's assume he has the option to decline without penalty.

 

[RR7]

Ok For the sake of argument then. Let's assume he has the option to decline without penalty.

That's not an option, though, so why even enter it into the discussion? What if he was allowed to collect his check, but never show up to any regular season games? Should he? Pointless. He can decline the Team USA invite. He did. I'm happy, because he plays for my team, and as a season ticket holder, I pay to see Blazers games. If he gets hurt playing for team USA, I don't get some money back, and I also don't get tickets to see him play for Team USA.

 

[RISE WITH IT]

All-star game doesn't matter, can't get injured doing this...

[video=youtube;kmbh7pqYFDw]

 

[Bob Dobalina]

All-star game doesn't matter, can't get injured doing this...

[video=youtube;kmbh7pqYFDw]

That made me laugh. Repped.

 

[Minstrel]

Question for you. If LMA makes the All-Star team, should he decline the invite?

My understanding is that the All-Star game, like pre-season games, are part of his contractual obligation...part of what he's being paid for. If he made a non-NBA All-Star game, I'd be perfectly fine with him declining to reduce the amount of competitive basketball he plays for the sake of staying in good health for his professional career.

 

[Nikolokolus]

After reading through all of these responses I have to ask it. Am I the only one who sees this as neither a positive or negative story? I mean I literally have no reaction to this news.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

After reading through all of these responses I have to ask it. Am I the only one who sees this as neither a positive or negative story? I mean I literally have no reaction to this news.

I'm right with you.

 

[tlongII]

I have no reaction to it either.

 

[noknobs]

After the season we just had I can totally understand people being so uptight about him maybe getting injured, but c'mon. These guys are athletes, the risk of injury is there no matter where they're training/playing. We can't treat them all like bubble-boy. Playing for their countries didn't hurt Kobe, Pau, or Dwight in 2008. They all made it to the gold medal game then made it to the NBA finals the very next season. Batum vastly improved his game due to the time he spent on his national team. I just think it would be a great experience and it is a great opportunity. I guess I'm just wired differently than Aldridge and some of you, since I see playing for the United States quite a privledge. But maybe he does have a good reason.