Olshey on How the Blazers Will Reach a New Level

[SlyPokerDog]

Nice interview with Olshey.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...lazers-will-reach-a-new-level-next-postseason

(Yes Wookee, I know.... Bleacher Report.)

 

[magnifier661]

It was a good video. What makes me most happy is the direction Olshey is going. He believes they are capable of getting to the next level and fully understands that we need more veterans instead of youth. The other thing that was great to hear was how he explained how the Spur's mold was and how they emulate it a little bit, using the player styles you already have and bring players that play that same way.

Olshey understands the game. I expect big things next season.

 

[BBert]

Nice interview with Olshey.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...lazers-will-reach-a-new-level-next-postseason

(Yes Wookee, I know.... Bleacher Report.)

I think you meant: Bleacher Report, LOL.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So Olshey's philosophy is you win a title by bringing in unathletic, over the hill, average at best, journeyman players?

 

[riverman]

I really like Olshey and subscribe to his plan on a lot of levels. One of the things I like about him is that as a GM he has the long term vision to stick with a plan. He often talks about the young guys and the future while showing loyalty to the core and vets he's targeting to shore up the bench. Not a revolving roster door that keeps gambling on short term fixes. I like that he wants players of character that want to play here and will fit Stotts system. I like that he credits the Spurs system and staff and recognizes that they have the best coach and GM in the game. That's humble. He's had my vote from the day he signed on here and I have no reason to doubt his process. In the interview he even limited the amount of sentences that started with the word "Look"

 

[riverman]

So Olshey's philosophy is you win a title by bringing in unathletic, over the hill, average at best, journeyman players?

Well he got Robin Lopez which kind of nullifies your critique. Kaman was an allstar brought in to replace Leonard and Blake to replace Mo. TRob to replace Hickson. I call those upgrades

 

[Strenuus]

So Olshey's philosophy is you win a title by bringing in unathletic, over the hill, average at best, journeyman players?

Instead of doing what with the MLE and BAE, exactly?

 

[riverman]

So at 38, I guess Tim Duncan would be another "over the hill vet" ? nah

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So at 38, I guess Tim Duncan would be another "over the hill vet" ? nah

Please don't compare Kaman to Duncan. It takes an amazing season like LMA had last year to even be compared to Duncan.

 

[Strenuus]

Please don't compare Kaman to Duncan. It takes an amazing season like LMA had last year to even be compared to Duncan.

Yeah. That's so unfair to think Duncan can ever reach Kaman's hairloss game.

 

[riverman]

Please don't compare Kaman to Duncan. It takes an amazing season like LMA had last year to even be compared to Duncan.

Nowhere I can find in my post did I compare Kaman to Duncan, It's merely a reflection of the "old" vet critique..Kaman is a lot younger than Duncan

 

[riverman]

Yeah. That's so unfair to think Duncan can ever reach Kaman's hairloss game.

LeBron will complete that task

 

[riverman]

Yeah. That's so unfair to think Duncan can ever reach Kaman's hairloss game.

And equally unfair to think Duncan could ever grow the Kaman beard.

 

[Strenuus]

And equally unfair to think Duncan could ever grow the Kaman beard.

So, we have SideShow Bob and the Kaveman. Damnit, PR is going to have a field day with this.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Nice interview with Olshey.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...lazers-will-reach-a-new-level-next-postseason

(Yes Wookee, I know.... Bleacher Report.)

Bottom line, The Blazers are letting the cake bake. (KP style)

 

[Strenuus]

Bottom line, The Blazers are letting the cake bake. (KP style)

Why so many colors? lol.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Why so many colors? lol.

What until he figures out he can post in different sizes.

 

[Mediocre Man]

You win in this league with super stars. Hopefully the Blazers have one in Lillard. Next you need to surround him with stars, which the Blazers DO have in Aldridge, but after that it's glue guys, and that wont get it done

 

[riverman]

You win in this league with super stars. Hopefully the Blazers have one in Lillard. Next you need to surround him with stars, which the Blazers DO have in Aldridge, but after that it's glue guys, and that wont get it done

Tell that to Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace and Sheed

 

[ant]

Tell that to Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace and Sheed

That's 4 stars playing together...and a great defensive glue guy in Prince. Seems to still fall under the "you need stars to win" theme. IF not a superstar, 4 all-stars might do it.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

So, we have SideShow Bob and the Kaveman. Damnit, PR is going to have a field day with this.

Change Kaveman to Krusty....done.

Wait

Dame..Bart
Wes...Milhouse
Batum....Lisa..haha
Aldridge..Chief Wiggum??

Nevermind, we need more players like Simpson characters.These guys won't work.

 

[riverman]

Change Kaveman to Krusty....done.

Wait

Dame..Bart
Wes...Milhouse
Batum....Lisa..haha
Aldridge..Chief Wiggum??

Nevermind, we need more players like Simpson characters.These guys won't work.

haha! gotta love the slow season on these boards

 

[riverman]

That's 4 stars playing together...and a great defensive glue guy in Prince. Seems to still fall under the "you need stars to win" theme. IF not a superstar, 4 all-stars might do it.

no, not superstars at that point but Larry Brown was the superstar that made that click. Sheed was the closest to a superstar but those Pistons were no greater than our starting 5 right now

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I love Olshey . . . what the saying, he could sell ice to eskimos.

He talks about how he brought in Kaman and Blake because he was looking for players with playoff experience, been through the battles, knows what it takes to win in the league. But he first went after Hawes who has had very little playoff experience. I'm sure if he landed Hawes we would be herding something different, with as much passion, but something different.

In the end Olshey will be judged on how the team performs and next year will also be a huge year for him, IMO. But while we wait and see how this all plays out, it sure is fun to hear him talk . . . kind of the opposite of Pritchard. They almost say the same thing, but with much different styles.

 

[riverman]

I love Olshey . . . what the saying, he could sell ice to eskimos.

He talks about how he brought in Kaman and Blake because he was looking for players with playoff experience, been through the battles, knows what it takes to win in the league. But he first went after Hawes who has had very little playoff experience. I'm sure if he landed Hawes we would be herding something different, with as much passion, but something different.

In the end Olshey will be judged on how the team performs and next year will also be a huge year for him, IMO. But while we wait and see how this all plays out, it sure is fun to hear him talk . . . kind of the opposite of Pritchard. They almost say the same thing, but with much different styles.

Sure an upgrade from Larry Miller trying to explain things with Chad Buchanon

 

[Shooter]

TRob to replace Hickson.

You think Thomas Robinson is better than Hickson?? Wow. I don't see that at all.

 

[BBert]

Hickson is fool's gold. Thomas Robinson at least tries to play defense, and he tries to play basketball, as opposed to playing the "try to pad my stats" game that Hickson excels at. I do expect TRob to become better than Hickson in terms of overall benefit to the team. Possibly as early as the latter part of this season.

 

[magnifier661]

You think Thomas Robinson is better than Hickson?? Wow. I don't see that at all.

I think he's better for this team

 

[Boob-No-More]

That's 4 stars playing together...and a great defensive glue guy in Prince. Seems to still fall under the "you need stars to win" theme. IF not a superstar, 4 all-stars might do it.

That Pistons team had one all-star that year - Ben Wallace, a guy who averaged 9.5ppg on .421FG% and .490FT%. Keep in mind that was also the year Jamaal Magloire was an all-star in the East. The Eastern Conference was VERY thin at the center position back then.

Ben Wallace was also the only Piston to make an All-NBA team (second team) or All-Defense team (first team) that year. The individual accolades for the other players did not come until after they won a title. That team didn't have a superstar. What they had was a solid starting five that played very well together. They didn't have a single player that averaged more than 18.6ppg or had a PER above 18.8 (I know it's just a general rule of thumb but PER = 20 is considered borderline all-star).

If that's the model we are emulating, Olshey is doing the right thing. He's assembled a solid starting five that have great chemistry and play well together. We already have two all-stars and Lilliard should continue to improve. Our other three starters are all very solid, easily top 10 at their positions. What we need is a better bench, and that's what Olshey is working on improving. Let that solid starting core continue gel and improve the bench through the growth of our young guys (CJ, Robinson, and Barton) and add some vets (Kaman and Blake) for stability.

We won 54 games and made the second round last season with the worst bench in the league. Solidify the bench and we should be even better this year.

BNM

 

[crandc]

I like the outline, but there are still some "odd" (I don't mean weird, I mean as in odds and ends) players available for probably reasonable price who I think could help the Blazers bench. Last year Olshey picked up several, with, I'm sure, the idea that some would work and some not, but investment was pretty low. I'd like to see him do that again. Even one more decent rotation player would be a big help.