Not gonna lie, this is some poetic justice right here

[Sinobas]

Some of those Spur fans are crappying on Popovich....who is arguably the best coach of all time. Damn, we've never won a title in my lifetime and how many have they won? And they are bitching about losing. And they have a young top 3 player locked in for 3 more years no matter what happens.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

But why was he unhappy?

Because he never liked Portland. He never felt at home here. He was a Texas boy at heart. That's pretty much the bottom line.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Actually, he told the team and the fans he wanted to re-sign a long term extension here and to the greatest Blazer of all time.

In public he did. Not what the Blazers were told.

 

[Natebishop3]

Basically all this says is that Durant, Westbrook, Adams and Kanter are better at this stage than Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, Aldridge and Leonard

You guys have to let the Aldridge hate go. He told the team years ago he was unhappy, and they chose not to trade him, so he left in free agency.

Oh come ON..... First you are actively trying to keep people from feeling good about how the Warriors series went, and now you're trying to make us feel bad for reveling in aldridges failure? Some of us like to feel good MM. You should try it sometime.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Oh come ON..... First you are actively trying to keep people from feeling good about how the Warriors series went, and now you're trying to make us feel bad for reveling in aldridges failure? Some of us like to feel good MM. You should try it sometime.

Who's trying to make you feel bad? I think the Blazers played great. If you guys want to feel great about another person's failure, for doing nothing, that's great for you. It's just for me, Aldridge did nothing to this franchise. He told them he wanted out years ago. They chose not to move him, and he left when he could. I just don't get the hate? Hell, Erik started a thread proclaiming how much better we are this season, so shouldn't Aldridge be praised?

 

[andalusian]

I am really not upset about Aldridge either, but if other people enjoy ragging on him, why should I care?

 

[crandc]

I am not gloating over the Spurs or Aldridge losing. I have no idea what was in his head or what was said between him and the Blazers behind closed doors, and I don't pretend to. What's done is done. He chose, or was pushed, to leave Portland and go to San Antonio with a huge deal. Presumably he realized this would put pressure on him to produce when it counted most. And he didn't. Whether it was some failure in him, (not the coach, please, Spurs fans!) or OKC defense, or maybe he was injured, again, I can't say.

I can say this. Aldridge played one more postseason game than the guy he left behind, Dame. But it's not just "one more game". The Spurs were expected to be championship contenders. They were supposed to be the one team that could challenge GSW's hopes for a repeat.

For the Blazers to go down fighting in the second round was inspirational and served to make the team hungrier to do more next year, everyone on the team from Paul Allen to benchwarmers and definitely fans. For the Spurs to be eliminated in the second round is colossal underachievement. The difference between the two fates, and how they are viewed, and how they feel, is not simply mathematical, five games vs. six. One team overachieved, one team fell on their asses. Not gloating, just fact.

 

[TBpup]

In public he did. Not what the Blazers were told.

And since one would surmise it is the public in this forum and not the Blazer front office, perhaps the dislike is understandable. You care more when someone lies to your face and not so much what they tell someone else.

 

[Mediocre Man]

And since one would surmise it is the public in this forum and not the Blazer front office, perhaps the dislike is understandable. You care more when someone lies to your face and not so much what they tell someone else.

I think I just get annoyed because there were several people, I believe, or thought you were one of them, that told everyone and anyone who would listen that this was happening.

 

[TBpup]

I think I just get annoyed because there were several people, I believe, or thought you were one of them, that told everyone and anyone who would listen that this was happening.

That 'what' was happening?

 

[Mediocre Man]

That 'what' was happening?

He told the Blazers he wanted out years ago, and was leaving when his contract was up

 

[julius]

That 'what' was happening?

well, when a young person reaches a certain age...

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't hate LMA and I think he played very well for the Spurs. He is a very good player and that's why I wanted, to the bitter end, for the Blazers to keep him. Like many Spur fans expressed in their forum, LA is a great 3rd option, just not your #1. (or even #2) It's the direction the NBA is headed. Your big men now should be your 3rd scoring option. But he was not going to take a back seat to Dame so in the end it was best that he left.

Having said all that I was rooting for OKC to win...and I hate OKC. But it was just too soon to see LA benefit from leaving.

 

[BlazerWookee]

"Best fans in the NBA," lol...

 

[BlazerCaravan]

When will LA's exit interview be? Asking for a friend.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think I just get annoyed because there were several people, I believe, or thought you were one of them, that told everyone and anyone who would listen that this was happening.

It was you, me, and Brian. We said the Blazers should have traded him the year before we made the playoffs and beat the Rockets. There were rumors that he wanted out. Yes, I totally think we should have traded him. I have felt all along that he would leave, but that doesn't change the fact that he told everyone who would listen that he loved the team, that he wanted to retire as the best Blazer ever, and that he wasn't signing an extension because he wanted to wait one year and sign for 5 instead of 4 years.

Just because I thought he would leave, doesn't make him any less of a lying piece of shit. And then all the articles came out that exposed what a selfish diva he is.... so there's that.

So in summation:

Yes, I thought we should have traded him. Supposedly the Warriors offered one of Klay/Harnes and Lee. Can you imagine if we had made that trade?

Yes, I think the team chemistry is better without him.

Yes, I'm gloating over the fact that he went to San Antonio and had the same success in the playoffs that his old team had.

 

[Stevenson]

I don't begrudge LaMarcus or his decision, but I sure do feel some, as the Germans say, schadenfreude.

 

[TBpup]

It was you, me, and Brian. We said the Blazers should have traded him the year before we made the playoffs and beat the Rockets. There were rumors that he wanted out. Yes, I totally think we should have traded him. I have felt all along that he would leave, but that doesn't change the fact that he told everyone who would listen that he loved the team, that he wanted to retire as the best Blazer ever, and that he wasn't signing an extension because he wanted to wait one year and sign for 5 instead of 4 years.

Just because I thought he would leave, doesn't make him any less of a lying piece of shit. And then all the articles came out that exposed what a selfish diva he is.... so there's that.

So in summation:

Yes, I thought we should have traded him. Supposedly the Warriors offered one of Klay/Harnes and Lee. Can you imagine if we had made that trade?

Yes, I think the team chemistry is better without him.

Yes, I'm gloating over the fact that he went to San Antonio and had the same success in the playoffs that his old team had.

Exactly right. A number of us had talked about him wanting to go to be closer to home, baby momma issues...etc and there were some VERY solid sources for that. That is all well and good but no one was holding a gun to his head to say what he did and lead the fans astray while he really feels something else. That is where the issue is.

 

[Natebishop3]

I will also point out that I don't think Aldridge ever came out and flatly demanded a trade. I think he made threats, and demanded that Neil put more talent around him or he would walk, but he never directly said, "trade me or I'm leaving."

At least, I have never heard anything to that effect. He asked for more talent around him, he got more talent around. We added Rolo so he wouldn't have to play center. We added Dame. Neil kept acquiring better bench players. His initial excuse that he was tired of shouldering the load and that he wanted more talent around him proved to be BS because that was rumored to be one of the reasons why he left. He couldn't handle Dame getting attention that he felt belonged to him.

 

[B-Roy]

He told the Blazers he wanted out years ago, and was leaving when his contract was up

Yeah he also said this:

http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-new...te-talks-portland-contract-extension-and-life

"I've been here a long time now," he says earnestly. "I'm coming up on some (franchise career individual statistical) records. I never used to pay attention to those things, but I've been watching it more this year. I'm the No. 4 scorer now. That's cool. To leave a legacy with one team and win a championship here and to be here my whole career, that would be great."

The biggest part of that is the potential to win a title.

"This team is good," he says. "We can get better. This summer, we can reassess what we have and add things we need. If not this year, in the next couple of years, this team can win a championship."

For the first time, Aldridge is thinking he'd like to sit down with Olshey and negotiate a contract extension.

"I would like to re-sign here," he says. "If they want to talk about it, I would talk about it. They haven't yet, but I'm looking forward to the chance to do that."

What a load of horse shit that article was, looking back on it.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah he also said this:

http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/207222-51473-inside-lamarcus-aldridge-Â blazers-mvp-candidate-talks-portland-contract-extension-and-life



What a load of horse shit that article was, looking back on it.

I don't remember reading this article, but this part really cracks me up now.

"The first season was a feeling-out period for both coach and player. Stotts feels there may have been some resentment from Aldridge in regards to Stotts' previous relationship with Nowitzki.

"There was an adjustment period for both of us," Stotts says. "The whole LaMarcus-Dirk comparison was overblown. I had to adjust to that, because LaMarcus is his own man, his own player, with his own skill set. So me coming in and having those comparisons wasn't fair to him."

Is there anyone Aldridge DOESN'T resent?

 

[riverman]

Pops couldn't trust him to give it his all when it mattered most.

Had to rest that little finger

 

[Natebishop3]

And then there's THIS famous article -

LaMarcus Aldridge pledges to sign contract extension with Trail Blazers next summer, says he wants to be 'the best Blazer ever'
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_lamarcus_aldridge_pledges_to_sign_co.html

Aldridge on Tuesday told The Oregonian he has opted to postpone signing a contract extension with the Blazers until next summer, when he can sign for more years and significantly more money.

The three-time All-Star made it clear his decision had nothing to do with his commitment to the franchise or his happiness in Portland. Quite simply, he said, it was a business move.

"I'm happy to stay, happy to be here, happy with the direction the team has gone the last year or two," Aldridge told The Oregonian in a phone interview. "This has no impact on my interest in staying in Portland. I just want to get a five-year deal. I feel like that's the best decision on my part."

 

[Stevenson]

One more thing, the L-Train will always be Lionel Simmons.

Go Kings! Man those were some bad teams...

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I don't remember reading this article, but this part really cracks me up now.

"The first season was a feeling-out period for both coach and player. Stotts feels there may have been some resentment from Aldridge in regards to Stotts' previous relationship with Nowitzki.

"There was an adjustment period for both of us," Stotts says. "The whole LaMarcus-Dirk comparison was overblown. I had to adjust to that, because LaMarcus is his own man, his own player, with his own skill set. So me coming in and having those comparisons wasn't fair to him."

Is there anyone Aldridge DOESN'T resent?

Stotts: "LMA, we designed our offense in Dallas to take advantage of Dirk's talent. I would like to do the same with you."

LMA: "Why are you comparing me to him?!? I hate you!" *Storms off crying...*

 

[TBpup]

Is there anyone Aldridge DOESN'T resent?

Yes....anyone who completely kisses is growing backside or anyone who is not a threat in any way shape or form. For everyone else it's:

LaThinskin Noballsridge

 

[Scalma]

I don't remember reading this article, but this part really cracks me up now.

"The first season was a feeling-out period for both coach and player. Stotts feels there may have been some resentment from Aldridge in regards to Stotts' previous relationship with Nowitzki.

"There was an adjustment period for both of us," Stotts says. "The whole LaMarcus-Dirk comparison was overblown. I had to adjust to that, because LaMarcus is his own man, his own player, with his own skill set. So me coming in and having those comparisons wasn't fair to him."

Is there anyone Aldridge DOESN'T resent?

Lmao. Nothing else to add.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I will also point out that I don't think Aldridge ever came out and flatly demanded a trade. I think he made threats, and demanded that Neil put more talent around him or he would walk, but he never directly said, "trade me or I'm leaving."

At least, I have never heard anything to that effect. He asked for more talent around him, he got more talent around. We added Rolo so he wouldn't have to play center. We added Dame. Neil kept acquiring better bench players. His initial excuse that he was tired of shouldering the load and that he wanted more talent around him proved to be BS because that was rumored to be one of the reasons why he left. He couldn't handle Dame getting attention that he felt belonged to him.

I subscribe to the "sudden but inevitable betrayal" theory: LMA was committed in 2013-14 to staying after the team improved so much. The play drawn up with 0.9 remaining was a Dame decoy play with LaMarcus as the target. Dame called an audible, hit the shot, both of which were bad enough blows to his psyche (does Dame think I couldn't hit the shot? Is he getting ideas above his station?)...

But then the worst comes seconds later. Mike Mason calls Dame over, and that rat fink yells into the PA microphone the two words that made him the fan favorite over LaMarcus forever. And even worse than that? The national media runs with that perfect encapsulation of Dame Being Dame for months. He sees it everywhere all summer, and decides then and there he'll play out his contract.

...But during the next year the team is winning and it's fun and why not think about staying? Then Wes goes down and LaMarcus, a man so superstitious he demanded not to be announced as center after Oden and Joel go down with injuries, remember that the franchise is cursed, and he gives up. He realizes he needs out, and totally gives up on trying to make it work with Portland. Nothing anyone can say can convince him otherwise now.

 

[riverman]

Basically all this says is that Durant, Westbrook, Adams and Kanter are better at this stage than Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, Aldridge and Leonard

You guys have to let the Aldridge hate go. He told the team years ago he was unhappy, and they chose not to trade him, so he left in free agency.

now that he's choked in the big game I call it Aldridge joy, not hate

 

[Natebishop3]

I subscribe to the "sudden but inevitable betrayal" theory: LMA was committed in 2013-14 to staying after the team improved so much. The play drawn up with 0.9 remaining was a Dame decoy play with LaMarcus as the target. Dame called an audible, hit the shot, both of which were bad enough blows to his psyche (does Dame think I couldn't hit the shot? Is he getting ideas above his station?)...

But then the worst comes seconds later. Mike Mason calls Dame over, and that rat fink yells into the PA microphone the two words that made him the fan favorite over LaMarcus forever. And even worse than that? The national media runs with that perfect encapsulation of Dame Being Dame for months. He sees it everywhere all summer, and decides then and there he'll play out his contract.

...But during the next year the team is winning and it's fun and why not think about staying? Then Wes goes down and LaMarcus, a man so superstitious he demanded not to be announced as center after Oden and Joel go down with injuries, remember that the franchise is cursed, and he gives up. He realizes he needs out, and totally gives up on trying to make it work with Portland. Nothing anyone can say can convince him otherwise now.