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I think it's highly unlikely we'll actually use our 1st round pick. Either we trade up or we trade out.
 
I was going to say that being a great interviewer doesn't mean jack shit but then I watched the interview and it was really good... haven't seen him play though.
 
I can think of another power forward who gives a great interview (I mean, an absolutely sparkling personality):


frye.jpg
 
maxiep said:
I think it's highly unlikely we'll actually use our 1st round pick. Either we trade up or we trade out.
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That's what I think too. One thing this team lacked was a solid 3rd scorer, or "vet" leader. Getting another rookie (or multiple rookies, considering we have 18 picks in the second round) probably doesn't help. And I think we're at the state were we're solid enough in certain roles (C, SG, PF and some bench) that passing up pick(s) this year won't be as much of an issue.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the team trade out of the draft, or draft someone and have them play elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised to see them buy picks, only to trade them, or trade for picks and trade them and some of our extras.

Of course, it wouldn't be surprising to me if I was completely wrong. :)
 
I want to apologize for my comment above, I think I came across a little snide or dismissive.

I agree he did give an excellent interview and if he was going in the middle of the first round (like he would be in a normal draft) I'd be fine with trying to move up and get him, but I just can't envision any realistic scenario where this team moves up into the top ten without giving up some considerable value ... if it doesn't take that, and this team also adds some veteran toughness at some of the other positions then I'd be fine with getting him, I just don't see it in the cards.
 
I don't see it likely either that we move up 10+ spots to get this guy.
 
Thabeet even sounds a bit like Dikembe

STOMP
 
I think he'd be a nice backup for us, but I'm not sold that he's the ultimate answer and we should trade the farm for him. Is he worth a Travis Outlaw? Or if whoever wanted Sergio, I'd give him up for Blair.
 
Minstrel said:
Millsap is a much better scorer than Blair projects to be.
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Agreed. However, Blair is much more of a freakish physical specimen than Millsap is, and hopefully a better rebounder. And besides, we don't want Blair to score outside of putbacks.

So I don't know. I'd be all for Blair at this point given our needs.
 
Blair is going to be better than Milsap, just watch and see. He is a better rebounder than Paul in college and played in the best conference in america
 
MAS RipCity said:
Blair is going to be better than Milsap, just watch and see. He is a better rebounder than Paul in college and played in the best conference in america
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Hmm... Millsap led the entire NCAA in rebounding all three years he was in school. I would be quite surprised if Blair is a better rebounder than him.

Ed O.
 
So what happens if we get this guy? Does he play great and try and take time from our starter (LMA)? or is he willing to come off the bench for most of his career. I would rather see the Blazers get someone that can help now and be a great backup with some leadership and past playoff experience...McDyess?
 
SteelBlaze1 said:
So what happens if we get this guy? Does he play great and try and take time from our starter (LMA)? or is he willing to come off the bench for most of his career.
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He can compete for the starting spot. As a rookie who isn't considered to have star upside, I suspect he'll lose that competition pretty clearly, it won't be a question of seniority or politics.

At that point, he can settle into a backup role. He can do that for four or five years (compete, probably lose, be the backup) and then decide if he wants to remain a Blazer (if the Blazers want to keep him). If his chances of starting and making more money are low elsewhere, then he'll likely stay.

If by some chance he beats out Aldridge for the starting position (as incredibly unlikely as that is), then Portland has two star power forwards, which is a nice situation. They can trade one of them.

Basically, I don't see this as a problem. The dynamics of competition will work things out.
 
I love competition as well. I guess my hope would be 1) he makes LMA better and 2) he is willing to be a backup.
 
Ed O said:
Hmm... Millsap led the entire NCAA in rebounding all three years he was in school. I would be quite surprised if Blair is a better rebounder than him.

Ed O.
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Basic Statistics Per 40 Pace Adjusted, both players' last year (Millsap as a junior, Blair a sophmore)
Millsap - 15.5 rebounds
Blair - 18.0 rebounds
Channing Frye - 9.3

That's why I'd love to get Blair. And he did it in one of the toughest conferences and against a guy with a great NBA body (Thabeet). I think he's a very good bet to be a great rebounder in the NBA, and there's the small chance he could turn into some Rodman like rebounding beast.
 
number 10 said:
Basic Statistics Per 40 Pace Adjusted, both players' last year (Millsap as a junior, Blair a sophmore)
Millsap - 15.5 rebounds
Blair - 18.0 rebounds
Channing Frye - 9.3

That's why I'd love to get Blair. And he did it in one of the toughest conferences and against a guy with a great NBA body (Thabeet). I think he's a very good bet to be a great rebounder in the NBA, and there's the small chance he could turn into some Rodman like rebounding beast.
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I wouldn't use Thabeet as exhibit A in defense of Blair's competition; he might be the softest, no motor 7 footer I've ever seen play ball (or at least play ball and be projected as a top 3 pick).
 
Nikolokolus said:
I wouldn't use Thabeet as exhibit A in defense of Blair's competition; he might be the softest, no motor 7 footer I've ever seen play ball (or at least play ball and be projected as a top 3 pick).
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Moreso than Shawn Bradley? I don't agree there. But I'm also not that impressed by Thabeet. I think someone's going to reach on him simply due to height.
 
Minstrel said:
Moreso than Shawn Bradley? I don't agree there. But I'm also not that impressed by Thabeet. I think someone's going to reach on him simply due to height.
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oof. Forgot all about him ... anyway I still stand by the claim that Thabeet is going to suck a fat one in the NBA; I remember watching throughout UConn's tournament run and the game where Blair annihilated him and thinking to myself what a crappy center he was going to be at the next level.
 
soft or not (and I agree, he's very soft), Thabeet is the sort of player that Jay Bilas dreams of. Given that one of the biggest knocks on Blair is his size, it shouldn't be disregarded. The fact that Blair dominated not only other undersized (at the NBA level) players but also physical beasts like Thabeet make me very confident that he could do it against NBA backup PFs in his first year.
 
number 10 said:
soft or not (and I agree, he's very soft), Thabeet is the sort of player that Jay Bilas dreams of. Given that one of the biggest knocks on Blair is his size, it shouldn't be disregarded. The fact that Blair dominated not only other undersized (at the NBA level) players but also physical busts like Thabeet make me very confident that he could do it against NBA backup PFs in his first year.
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Fixed :wink:
 
Ed O said:
Hmm... Millsap led the entire NCAA in rebounding all three years he was in school. I would be quite surprised if Blair is a better rebounder than him.

Ed O.
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of course, that was against inferior competition. blair's rebounding in the big east is much more impressive than millsap's rebounding in the wac.
 
rocketeer said:
of course, that was against inferior competition. blair's rebounding in the big east is much more impressive than millsap's rebounding in the wac.
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I don't know about that. Three straight seasons of domination is more impressive to me than a single one.

Ed O.
 
Ed O said:
I don't know about that. Three straight seasons of domination is more impressive to me than a single one.

Ed O.
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if they were in comparable leagues, yes. but there is no comparison between the big guys blair went up against in the big east and the ones millsap played in the wac.
 
Ed O said:
I don't know about that. Three straight seasons of domination is more impressive to me than a single one.

Ed O.
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Both players averaged around 12.5 rpg, Paul did had a 13 rpg year once, but for the most part they had similar rebounds per BUT Blair did it in one of the best conferences in the league, against better talent night in and night out, and always in the spotlight w/ pressure on him to perform.
 
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