Media Day Superlatives (Ben @ BlazersEdge)

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Best Debunking Of An Offseason Report

LaMarcus Aldridge literally laughed at the notion he had added 20 pounds of muscle. He said last year his playing weight was 246 and agreed that he had added additional mass over the summer, but said that it didn't feel right. T his year he is aiming to weigh between 250-255 pounds during games.

So it was all a lie. Who reported that, again? Wheels?
 
barrett, wheels, allen still think Greg had a few minor surgeries.
 
No it was the trainer who reported it after working out with him. And it does not appear to be a lie since LMA said he did not feel right at 260 and set his goal to lower it to 250-255. (Which is exactly what most of us said would happen)
 
The only thing Ben missed that I thought was of interest was that Cho was very direct in admitting that the Blazers roster needed more shooting and toughness. I know that's not big news but to hear him say it might indicate who on the present roster might not be as valued. Although, a lot of our players may be strong in one of those areas but not another: Aldridge, Bayless, Pendergraph, Przybilla and Camby come to mind immediately. And I wonder how he values Miller, certainly not a shooter and does he really have toughness, e.g. is he ready to go hard at the beginning of the season? Was he able to rise to the occasion once Grant Hill was put on him in the playoffs? I just wonder if he is the kind of guy Cho would have signed as a free agent.
 
The only thing Ben missed that I thought was of interest was that Cho was very direct in admitting that the Blazers roster needed more shooting and toughness. I know that's not big news but to hear him say it might indicate who on the present roster might not be as valued. Although, a lot of our players may be strong in one of those areas but not another: Aldridge, Bayless, Pendergraph, Przybilla and Camby come to mind immediately. And I wonder how he values Miller, certainly not a shooter and does he really have toughness, e.g. is he ready to go hard at the beginning of the season? Was he able to rise to the occasion once Grant Hill was put on him in the playoffs? I just wonder if he is the kind of guy Cho would have signed as a free agent.

I find it incredibly funny that you question the toughness of the reigning NBA ironman. No, Dre can't shoot for shit from 15 out, but to say he might not be tough because Phoenix nullified him after game one of the playoffs seems a little odd to me.
 
I find it incredibly funny that you question the toughness of the reigning NBA ironman. No, Dre can't shoot for shit from 15 out, but to say he might not be tough because Phoenix nullified him after game one of the playoffs seems a little odd to me.



For me, toughness and durability are two different things.
 
To get a player to be tough, you have to set him loose, instead of demanding self-limits and self-discipline. That's why McMillan's players are too civilized, and don't show a lot of toughness.
 
Lets play Greg every 2nd game. With our back-court, and a LeMarcus-Joel-Camby-Dante rotation inside, we should beat most teams. Maybe Oden's body isn't capable of playing 82 games a season but is capable of playing 41 without getting hurt before the playoffs.
 
And in respone to lacking shooting/toughness... I think as far as shooting, we'd be in problem only if we lost our best pure-shooter in Rudy without proper compensation in that department.
We have Roy, Rudy, Batum and Mathewss at 2/3, all of them are at least decent shooters.
We have a Point-Guard who's almost never able to make a 3 but that's also why we could afford him because as far as the other point-guard duties on offense (going to the basket, passing) he's one of the best in the league.
Bayless is, also, not a great shooter but he's a better shooter than Miller, the reason he's not the starter is him being "mediocre" at running the offense. BTW, Bayless is a guy who could be a very good SG (despite, as mentioned, not being a great shooter) but is forced to play PG because of our roster not being totally balanced. A trade of one of Bayless/Rudy for a Point-Guard could make for a more logical depth chart.
On the other hand, they're both enthusiastic players which I genuinely like, and their biggest strengthes offensively (Rudy shooting, Bayless going to the basket) could, at least in theory, create some kind of harmony. I know this combo was supposedly our back-up back-court last year as well but I think if we can avoid getting injured so much, this year, our 2nd unit will have better abilty to create identity and gel.
 
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