THE BLAZERS' FAIRY TALE LOOKS TO BE ENDING

[Boob-No-More]

So you really do suffer from comprehension disabilities!

Now I feel awful for teasing you about it earlier.

As I have already said, we're not discussing "demands", that's your word, not mine.

Let me try to help you. Just sound out the words one at a time.

"When I got in the game last season, I know I showed I could play," he said. "So it's about getting to the right place where I can play consistently or maybe play with the Blazers consistently. That's what I'm looking forward to, just getting a chance somewhere."

You conveniently forgot to bold this part:

"maybe play with the Blazers consistently. That's what I'm looking forward to"

You interpret the quote the way you want, but when I see someone who says he looks forward to playing consistently for the Blazers, I don't see that as a player asking to be traded.

So, lets see those links to those quotes from Outlaw and Rudy asking to be traded.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

So Ben from Blazersedge just linked to another one of Chisolm's articles that he wrote during the summer. All I can say is.....wow

When it all goes wrong

It's pretty clear that the guy has some sort of axe to grind with the blazers for some reason.

Good god, that article is even worse than the other one. He's already declaring the team with the most young talent in the league, that won 54 games in the Western Conference last season, as a "team in disarray". That's laughable. Did the Blazers lose a single important piece from that 54-win team? No, they jettisoned the two least productive members of their rotation (Frye and Sergio) and replaced them with veterans. Have all their young players peaked and are now on the decline? Hell no, several of those players haven't even scratched the surface of their potential. This is a team that will continue to get better for several years through the organic growth of their young players.

There are too many other flaws in that article to even mention. This guy is a clueless idiot with an axe to grind who will not hesitate to fabricate "facts" to suit his personal agenda. He is, the Canadian Canzano.

BNM

 

[MARIS61]

You conveniently forgot to bold this part:

"maybe play with the Blazers consistently. That's what I'm looking forward to"

You interpret the quote the way you want, but when I see someone who says he looks forward to playing consistently for the Blazers, I don't see that as a player asking to be traded.

So, lets see those links to those quotes from Outlaw and Rudy asking to be traded.

BNM

That's not what he says, which is why I deliberately didn't bold it.

He says "or" play with the Blazers consistently. In other words, trade me or play me, in that order.

I'm done humoring your "play dumb" act. Go find another playmate, or learn to post like an adult.

 

[Wheels]

Good god, that article is even worse than the other one. He's already declaring the team with the most young talent in the league, that won 54 games in the Western Conference last season, as a "team in disarray". That's laughable. Did the Blazers lose a single important piece from that 54-win team? No, they jettisoned the two least productive members of their rotation (Frye and Sergio) and replaced them with veterans. Have all their young players peaked and are now on the decline? Hell no, several of those players haven't even scratched the surface of their potential. This is a team that will continue to get better for several years through the organic growth of their young players.

There are too many other flaws in that article to even mention. This guy is a clueless idiot with an axe to grind who will not hesitate to fabricate "facts" to suit his personal agenda. He is, the Canadian Canzano.

BNM

Ever feel like youre arguing with a fence post?

 

[Boob-No-More]

I'm done humoring your "play dumb" act. Go find another playmate, or learn to post like an adult.

Nice ad hominem personal attack.

You can't provide the links to back-up your assertions. So, you attack me. Fine you "win". I won't stoop to your level.

BNM

 

[Nikolokolus]

That's not what he says, which is why I deliberately didn't bold it.

He says "or" play with the Blazers consistently. In other words, trade me or play me, in that order.

I'm done humoring your "play dumb" act. Go find another playmate, or learn to post like an adult.

The irony runs thick with this one ...

 

[EWT]

A Canadian wrote this article... what do you expect?

^^^^^ Enough said!

 

[EWT]

He is, the Canadian Canzano.

BNM

Took the words right out of my mouth

 

[Wheels]

The irony runs thick with this one ...

 

[oldmangrouch]

For sake of argument, let's assume that certain Blazers are unhappy with their playing time. If this is because of competitive fire - there's nothing wrong with that. If it is because the player(s) have some misguided sense of entitlement - better to learn that now, so we can kick their ass(es) to the curb.

It may sound cold, but I don't give a crap how big a star some of these guys were in college, or Europe, or their local "Y". This is the NBA.....earn it or STFU!

 

[ppilot]

For sake of argument, let's assume that certain Blazers are unhappy with their playing time. If this is because of competitive fire - there's nothing wrong with that. If it is because the player(s) have some misguided sense of entitlement - better to learn that now, so we can kick their ass(es) to the curb.

It may sound cold, but I don't give a crap how big a star some of these guys were in college, or Europe, or their local "Y". This is the NBA.....earn it or STFU!

My thoughts exactly. This isn't the youth YMCA league, players have to earn playing time and if they start complaining that's their problem. It's not like their is some conspiracy to keep Bayless on the bench. If he would have shown a little more in Summer league we may not have brought in Miller (which in hindsight sounds really stupid considering how Miller is fitting in).

 

[LittleAlex]

He had a chance last year, a huge chance. Blake was out with an injury. The team didn't look good when he started. He'll have chances this year. As a team the Blazers have upgraded their pg rotation, if Bayless' playing time suffers because of that, oh well. It's not about what is best for him, it's about what's best for the team.

Bingo!

Bayless took a nearly perfect opportunity to step and threw it away. He couldn't even beat out Sergio for minutes.

He looked like ass in the Summer League as well. Just because the kid works hard doesn't mean he should get to play.

No one wants Bayless to take over at point in the near future more then me. But I will be surprised if that actually happens.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He had a chance last year, a huge chance. Blake was out with an injury. The team didn't look good when he started. He'll have chances this year. As a team the Blazers have upgraded their pg rotation, if Bayless' playing time suffers because of that, oh well. It's not about what is best for him, it's about what's best for the team.

Umm...Bayless never started. Sergio started when Blake was out, and we went 8-5 in his 13 starts.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Umm...Bayless never started. Sergio started when Blake was out, and we went 8-5 in his 11 starts.

Except for the 8-5 in 11 starts part you are correct. My mistake but Bayless was given big minutes during that stretch and didn't look good running the team.

 

[blazerboy30]

None of that is the issue.

He's talking about how careers can stagnate or even die when a player can't get ample minutes.

He said Portland didn't have the player's "best interests" at heart, which of course they don't. They won't let certain players play enough minutes to further their careers, or play their natural position because we're stacked there.

Show us an NBA team that is more concerned about making sure players' careers don't "stagnate" and distributing minutes, than they are about winning now and in the future.

This isn't a Park-and-Rec league. Teams shouldn't be concerned about getting people equal playing time so their parents can be proud. If that is what you and the author want, I suggest following some of the neighborhood Park-and-Rec leagues.


BTW, I know you won't be able to provide any examples of other teams, since you have said multiple times you only follow the Blazers, and no other NBA team.

 

[Deebag]

Why do people keep saying Milsap turned us down when that obviously was not the case?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Why do people keep saying Milsap turned us down when that obviously was not the case?

No kidding. It wasn't his choice. The Jazz chose to match our offer and that was that.

BNM

 

[Shooter]

He's talking about how careers can stagnate or even die when a player can't get ample minutes.

Lots of good teams have trouble providing enough minutes for all their players. That's a good problem to have.

He said Portland didn't have the player's "best interests" at heart, which of course they don't. They won't let certain players play enough minutes to further their careers, or play their natural position because we're stacked there. Nate wouldn't let Sergio and Rudy play the pace they excell at because they might have a TO once in awhile...From a player's standpoint being harnessed can destroy your game, throws your rhythm off bringing shooting slumps, more TO's not less, and helps your opponent outplay you.

Good grief, I thought the point was to win games, not make every single player perfectly happy. If Nate was worried about giving Sergio more minutes, or playing at a different pace so he could score more points, then he would be putting Sergio's needs over the needs of the team.

Nobody wants to go to a deep team except someone who has nothing individually left to prove and just wants maybe 10 minutes a night and a ring.

Nonsense. Andre Miller is going to get more than 10 minutes a night, and so would any other "starter-quality" player who was brought to Portland. When you grab a really good player, you create minutes for him. Every player knows that, and it certainly wouldn't keep anybody from coming to Portland.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Bayless will be getting ample minutes this year. With our margin of victory, the last 5 minutes of 70% of our games will be garbage time.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Whenever I read articles like this, I can't help but think of my favorite children's book:

The richest owner in all of sports + winning will solve 95% of all potential problems. The other 5% are insignificant. None of our best players will be bitching about PT. The starters, our best players, will get plenty of minutes. They will also be paid well. Even our top 2 or 3 reserves will likely get plenty of PT (25 - 30 MPG) and likely be paid higher than reserves on most other teams. So, good pay + plenty of PT + winning = no problems for our key players - the ones that matter.

End of the bench guys (12th - 15th roster spots) = no problem. They are lucky just to be on an NBA roster riding the gravy train and making 20x the income of the average Joe.

So, who does that leave as potential problems? Guys on the fringe of the rotation (9th - 11th roster spots) who think they deserve more PT - and aren't happy with playing on a winning team and drawing a fat paycheck. Guys who are more interested in their own success than the success of the team. Guys that aren't key to the success of the team and can easily be replaced.

So, I'm not worried at all. Our top players will be taken care of, will get plenty of PT (and money), will get to be a part of a winning team. Anybody else can either earn their PT, or shut up, sit on the bench and continue to cash Paul Allen's checks - or they can demand a trade, get sent to the Clippers or Grizzlies and learn what hell is really like.

BNM

 

[The Professional Fan]

Whenever I read articles like this, I can't help but think of my favorite children's book:

The richest owner in all of sports + winning will solve 95% of all potential problems. The other 5% are insignificant. None of our best players will be bitching about PT. The starters, our best players, will get plenty of minutes. They will also be paid well. Even our top 2 or 3 reserves will likely get plenty of PT (25 - 30 MPG) and likely be paid higher than reserves on most other teams. So, good pay + plenty of PT + winning = no problems for our key players - the ones that matter.

End of the bench guys (12th - 15th roster spots) = no problem. They are lucky just to be on an NBA roster riding the gravy train and making 20x the income of the average Joe.

So, who does that leave as potential problems? Guys on the fringe of the rotation (9th - 11th roster spots) who think they deserve more PT - and aren't happy with playing on a winning team and drawing a fat paycheck. Guys who are more interested in their own success than the success of the team. Guys that aren't key to the success of the team and can easily be replaced.

So, I'm not worried at all. Our top players will be taken care of, will get plenty of PT (and money), will get to be a part of a winning team. Anybody else can either earn their PT, or shut up, sit on the bench and continue to cash Paul Allen's checks - or they can demand a trade, get sent to the Clippers or Grizzlies and learn what hell is really like.

BNM

How many threads did you post this in before you got the right one?

 

[Boob-No-More]

How many threads did you post this in before you got the right one?

Just one other. Hey, nobody's perfect.

BNM

P.S. I'd love to get Paul Allen to autograph that book - or better yet, a blank check.

 

[crandc]

Not to change the subject or anything, but shouldn't someone tell Shooter his avatar might make him gay?

 

[MARIS61]

I don't get this article. Is the author saying that Portland used to be a place for Free Agents and ring-shoppers to come to, but now that fairy tale is over? Or that we're so ridiculously talented that guys like Bayless and Outlaw have a very good potential to be 9th-10th-11th-Man players getting 10mpg; and that that's a bad thing?

I believe that's his point, it's dead-on accurate, BUT it's meaningless to the Blazers UNLESS they want to attract free agents who still have a lot of gas in the tank.

No player trying to build a career would be advised by his agent to come to Portland right now. And anyone that thinks Miller will just slide in and take 25-30 minutes from Blake and Rudy without pissing both of them off simply doesn't know how competitive people think.

So, he's correct about the situation, but wrong about the result. When your team is so deep there's no room for more talent, it's time to stand pat, let them develop together, and ride the dynasty. When you don't recognize that fact, it's like trying to pour more milk into an already full glass.

IMO, our recent switch from building on unspoiled draft talent to now focusing on rejects from other teams could very well be the ONLY thing that derails our dynasty. If we can't attract them, so much better for us.

 

[MARIS61]

Not to change the subject or anything, but shouldn't someone tell Shooter his avatar might make him gay?

I've been told gays are born, not made.

 

[MARIS61]

Show us an NBA team that is more concerned about making sure players' careers don't "stagnate" and distributing minutes, than they are about winning now and in the future.

This isn't a Park-and-Rec league. Teams shouldn't be concerned about getting people equal playing time so their parents can be proud. If that is what you and the author want, I suggest following some of the neighborhood Park-and-Rec leagues.


BTW, I know you won't be able to provide any examples of other teams, since you have said multiple times you only follow the Blazers, and no other NBA team.

Since you agree with me, why are you arguing with me?

I'm just saying the author is right that we can't attract star free agents the way we used to. That should be obvious to anyone.

I do not agree with the author that it's a bad thing, I like it this way. In fact I wish Miller had said no to us. Free agents could easily negate our last 6 years of rebuilding in one season of bickering.

 

[crandc]

I've been told gays are born, not made.

Ah, Maris, you did not follow the "Values" Voter!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I believe that's his point, it's dead-on accurate, BUT it's meaningless to the Blazers UNLESS they want to attract free agents who still have a lot of gas in the tank.

No player trying to build a career would be advised by his agent to come to Portland right now. And anyone that thinks Miller will just slide in and take 25-30 minutes from Blake and Rudy without pissing both of them off simply doesn't know how competitive people think.

So, he's correct about the situation, but wrong about the result. When your team is so deep there's no room for more talent, it's time to stand pat, let them develop together, and ride the dynasty. When you don't recognize that fact, it's like trying to pour more milk into an already full glass.

IMO, our recent switch from building on unspoiled draft talent to now focusing on rejects from other teams could very well be the ONLY thing that derails our dynasty. If we can't attract them, so much better for us.

You keep using this word "dynasty." Teams have to actually win a single championship before you're permitted to use the word. You tinker until you get there and even then you don't stand pat aside from your core players.

You're either getting better or you're getting worse, there's no such thing as standing pat.

 

[Boob-No-More]

IAnd anyone that thinks Miller will just slide in and take 25-30 minutes from Blake and Rudy without pissing both of them off simply doesn't know how competitive people think.

Why would Miller need to take 25 - 30 MPG from Blake and Rudy? Give him Sergio's 15.3 MPG, plus 9.7 MPG from Blake. "Problem" solved.

And that assumes none of our guards miss any games due to injury. Every game one player sits out, raises the average minutes for the others. So, it's conceivable that Miller, Blake and Rudy could all average 25 - 30 MPG. Last season, Blake averaged 31.7 MPG (too much, IMHO), Rudy averaged 25.6 MPG, throw in Sergio's 15.3 MPG and Bayless' 12.4 MPG. That adds up to 85 MPG. If anyone will be squeezed for minutes, it will be Bayless.

Nate has also said he'd like to reduce Brandon's minutes. So, that could free up another 3 - 4 MPG for Rudy. I don't really see where the "problem" is in this case. Bayless is the only one who will have PT issues, and he's not part of our regular rotation anyway. He's there in case someone else gets injured - and he will be hungry to prove himself when he gets his chance. It's not necessarily a bad thing to have young talent on the bench that's eager for more PT.

BNM

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Why would Miller need to take 25 - 30 MPG from Blake and Rudy? Give him Sergio's 15.3 MPG, plus 9.7 MPG from Blake. "Problem" solved.

I think Miller will play more than 24 minutes...