Lillard saw Blazers' success coming

[noknobs]

Pretty good article on ESPN.com about Lillard and the Blazers.

It's a theme with Lillard. Before the Trail Blazers drafted him sixth overall in 2012, he told his agent, Aaron Goodwin, he thought Portland would be the best fit.
"I thought this team had a lot of pieces that would make a good team," he said. "And that I could come play point guard here. It's pretty much worked out exactly how I thought it would work out."

After the season, Aldridge was a little antsy. He was 27 and ready to win something meaningful. But he told management he would be patient for at least another year.
"After a losing season like that, I was trying to go win somewhere," Aldridge said. "They told me to give them a year and I did."
Olshey did two things when Aldridge told him that. He asked him what kind of center he thought he'd play well with, and he asked him to trust him.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12166670/nba-damian-lillard-saw-blazers-success-coming

 

[magnifier661]

I love the article. I love how Aldridge is letting it known that this is Lillard's team, while Lillard has been on record saying its Aldridge's team. What's happening here is chemistry. And when your top 2 players are showing humility, that trickles down to the role players and youth.

I am more confident than any year as a fan that this Blazer team can win it all.

 

[RR7]

Her timeline is a little off at the end, it seems. Unless it's just worded weird.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

nice article, worth the read.

 

[BlazerWookee]

That article gave my soul a stiffy.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That was a really good article!

Props to Ramona Shelburne

 

[illmatic99]

Ramona is the one reason why I regularly listen to ESPN LA. She's been picking up her non-LA NBA coverage this year, and that's a good thing.

 

[noknobs]

I love the article. I love how Aldridge is letting it known that this is Lillard's team, while Lillard has been on record saying its Aldridge's team. What's happening here is chemistry. And when your top 2 players are showing humility, that trickles down to the role players and youth.

I also like the dynamic between Olshey and Aldridge. In which Aldridge, the star player on a losing team, is still willing to trust the GM to improve the team, and Neil not only listens to Aldridge's input, but takes it to heart and brings in a center who's been the perfect compliment to LA. Neither of those two things seem that common. A lot of GM's worry more about making the big splash and pure talent instead of chemistry and fit. And most stars in LA's situation would force their way out rather than risking more of their prime years on the hope that the new GM will somehow turn it around. Lucky to have all three, and Stotts of course.

 

[ehizzy3]

Great article. Espn should promote her

 

[StumptownHoliday]

M-m--m-myyyy Ramona is usually horribly grating, but this was a fine article. We're so damn lucky to have an organization like this to root for. Ecstatic over here!!!!

 

[Eastoff]

Good read. The wording at the end misleads the read about the timing with jj Hickson.

 

[blue9]

I love the article. I love how Aldridge is letting it known that this is Lillard's team, while Lillard has been on record saying its Aldridge's team. What's happening here is chemistry.

There's certainly FAR more chemistry between Lillard and LMA than there ever was between Roy and LMA.

 

[DUB]

Lakers forward Jordan Hill, who had tried in vain to challenge the dunk at the rim, asked the referee why he called a foul so late. Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge turned to Hill and said, "Because he was mesmerized."