Ric Bucher on 1080theFan Today

[jlprk]

It's easier, and more fun, to think that the 3 fans who think the Blazers have a chance at getting Williams, speak for and represent every Blazer fan

There have been hundreds of posts here from many people talking optimistically about Williams coming here. And where is the #1 suspect, Magnifier, lately?

The best part was when he was asked about the GM position. He said he is hearing that almost no one is interested and that like some of us assumed, guys are unsure of working for Allen. I will take his word over MB's 101 times out of 100

"His word" is coming from one made-up article by Dwight Jaynes. Same source for that other national authority, Simmons. Don't assume that media guys have any source other than each other.

 

[PapaG]

I don't take issue with the answer. I take issue with how he said it. Realistically we probably won't be able to sign Deron, but we can make a pitch. Who knows, maybe by some miracle he decides that he wants to play with Aldridge instead of Brooke Lopez.

I just felt that response to the question was very demeaning towards Blazers fans. Where was Bucher when Knicks fans thought they were getting LeBron AND Wade? Everyone in the world knew LeBron wasn't signing with that shit hole except Knicks fans, who think they're entitled to any superstar player that's hitting free agency. The current flavor of the month if Steve Nash, who they think will take the MLE to play with that freak show of a team.

Yeah, because the Knicks could never get an All-NBA/Team USA player to sign with them.

LOL at comparing the Knicks with this two-bit Portland team in a one-pony town.

 

[julius]

There have been hundreds of posts here from many people talking optimistically about Williams coming here. And where is the #1 suspect, Magnifier, lately?

mag doesn't speak for sane, realistic and smart blazer fans. he speaks for the homers of the world.

 

[PapaG]

mag doesn't speak for sane, realistic and smart blazer fans. he speaks for the homers of the world.

Plenty of posters have posted about Deron Williams being a Blazer.

 

[julius]

Plenty of posters have posted about Deron Williams being a Blazer.

we make up a minority of Blazer fans. And people have talked about it in the sense of "it would be neat if we could get him BUT I know we aren't"

Thats not the same as "there's a good chance that Williams will sign here!!11!"

 

[PapaG]

we make up a minority of Blazer fans. And people have talked about it in the sense of "it would be neat if we could get him BUT I know we aren't"

Thats not the same as "there's a good chance that Williams will sign here!!11!"

I just thought Bucher's reaction was funny, as well as appropriate. It was the radio version of the spit take.

[video=youtube;ZgBW3dNvE6Q]

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, because the Knicks could never get an All-NBA/Team USA player to sign with them.

LOL at comparing the Knicks with this two-bit Portland team in a one-pony town.

My point was, none of the national media bashes knicks fans for automatically thinking everyone will take less money and sign with their shitty team JUST BECAUSE they're NY.

 

[crandc]

Bucher is a dick.

The one in the shoe?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Well considering Deron is the top free agent of the summer, NJ/NY is trying to keep him to build their new look franchise in a the top marketing city in the US and afraid they may lose Deron to a team one PG away from a championship (like Dallas) . . . I could see Ric being caught off guard with the idea that Deron going to a small market lottery team . . . really is unthinkable for NBA people outside of Ptd.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Well considering Deron is the top free agent of the summer, NJ/NY is trying to keep him to build their new look franchise in a the top marketing city in the US and afraid they may lose Deron to a team one PG away from a championship (like Dallas) . . . I could see Ric being caught off guard with the idea that Deron going to a small market lottery team . . . really is unthinkable for NBA people outside of Ptd.

I would be shocked if Brooklyn doesn't start the season with Deron and Howard on their team. It's one of the reasons I think the NBA will somehow make sure that Brooklyn sneaks into the top 3. Use that pick with Lopez and whatever else to get Howard from Orlando

 

[e_blazer]

I would be shocked if Brooklyn doesn't start the season with Deron and Howard on their team. It's one of the reasons I think the NBA will somehow make sure that Brooklyn sneaks into the top 3. Use that pick with Lopez and whatever else to get Howard from Orlando

I'd be interested in hearing exactly how you think Stern will accomplish this skulduggery with the lottery. The drawing is conducted with representatives of each team watching as the ping pong balls come out of the hopper. Unless you think that the teams are all in on it or are all represented by nitwits, it seems extremely unlikely that Stern could put the fix in.

 

[STOMP]

I think by settling with Dragic, you settle with mediocrity.

36.6 minutes in 25 games, 18.6 points on 49% shooting, 1.9 3's at 40%, 8.3 assists & 3.4 TOs, 3.5 RBs, 1.9 Stls.

as a starter last season, Dragic was dominant not mediocre. The stats he produced during those final 25 games were better then DWilliams and every other PG not named Chris Paul. He's 2 years younger and doesn't have nearly the hard miles.

that DW is speculated to be seeking about double what GD is makes the who to target in Free Agency question pretty much a no brainer IMO.

STOMP

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'd be interested in hearing exactly how you think Stern will accomplish this skulduggery with the lottery. The drawing is conducted with representatives of each team watching as the ping pong balls come out of the hopper. Unless you think that the teams are all in on it or are all represented by nitwits, it seems extremely unlikely that Stern could put the fix in.

I have no idea. I believe it will happen though. Maybe certain ones are weighted or whatever, giving certain teams a better chance?

 

[Mediocre Man]

36.6 minutes in 25 games, 18.6 points on 49% shooting, 1.9 3's at 40%, 8.3 assists & 3.4 TOs, 3.5 RBs, 1.9 Stls.

as a starter last season, Dragic was dominant not mediocre. The stats he produced during those final 25 games were better then DWilliams and every other PG not named Chris Paul. He's 2 years younger and doesn't have nearly the hard miles.

that DW is speculated to be seeking about double what GD is makes the who to target in Free Agency question pretty much a no brainer IMO.

STOMP

Ya I agree. Although in reality, I think Dragic is somewhere in between mediocre and dominant. A very good starting PG in the NBA

 

[e_blazer]

I have no idea. I believe it will happen though. Maybe certain ones are weighted or whatever, giving certain teams a better chance?

Your belief doesn't seem to mesh well with draft history. Consider the 2007 draft lottery. Two players, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, were seen at the time as being absolute locks as franchise players. The Blazers finished with the seventh worst record and the Sonics the sixth worst. The Boston Celtics, a major market franchise with huge NBA following and history, tanked their way to the second worst record. Instead of the Celtics ending up with either Oden or Durant, which certainly would have been great for NBA viewership, two teams from small markets beat the odds to get the top picks.

Of course, maybe Stern wanted to bring OKC into the league with a bang and maybe he knew Oden's cartilage was made of chalk. Maybe he put in the fix the following summer and let the Celtics get inside position on Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The man is a puppet master! Scary!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Your belief doesn't seem to mesh well with draft history. Consider the 2007 draft lottery. Two players, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, were seen at the time as being absolute locks as franchise players. The Blazers finished with the seventh worst record and the Sonics the sixth worst. The Boston Celtics, a major market franchise with huge NBA following and history, tanked their way to the second worst record. Instead of the Celtics ending up with either Oden or Durant, which certainly would have been great for NBA viewership, two teams from small markets beat the odds to get the top picks.

Of course, maybe Stern wanted to bring OKC into the league with a bang and maybe he knew Oden's cartilage was made of chalk. Maybe he put in the fix the following summer and let the Celtics get inside position on Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The man is a puppet master! Scary!

It's absolutely my belief that the fix is on in the NBA, from the lottery to officiating. Ever since the bent corner in the Ewing draft, I have thought this

 

[e_blazer]

It's absolutely my belief that the fix is on in the NBA, from the lottery to officiating. Ever since the bent corner in the Ewing draft, I have thought this

The current lottery system was a direct response to the Ewing debacle. It seems to me that the number of times that teams like the Cavs, Raptors, Wizards, and Clippers have won the lottery since the new system went into use would argue pretty effectively that even if the fix was in at one time, it isn't any longer.

 

[crowTrobot]

The Blazers finished with the seventh worst record and the Sonics the sixth worst.

doesn't change your point, but the sonics were 5th worst and the blazers tied for 6th

 

[e_blazer]

doesn't change your point, but the sonics were 5th worst and the blazers tied for 6th

You're right. The Blazers had the seventh pick though, going into the draft lottery, since they'd lost the coin flip with the T'Wolves.

 

[PapaG]

The current lottery system was a direct response to the Ewing debacle. It seems to me that the number of times that teams like the Cavs, Raptors, Wizards, and Clippers have won the lottery since the new system went into use would argue pretty effectively that even if the fix was in at one time, it isn't any longer.

Stern knew Oden was going to be a bust, though, so he rigged it so Portland (who he hates ... see the All-Star game excuses) would be the laughingstock for taking him. He also knew Durant was going to be great, so he had Seattle be #2, so his good buddy Clay Bennett would have a superstar player that would convince a city to build him an area for the Sonics.

And that's the troof!