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(for @THE HCP, maligned means to speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.)
We've had 25+ years to let that 99/2000 team stew in our hearts, and it got me thinking about a few things. Some of what Damon Stoudamire said resonated with me.
First though, I'd like to clarify things. I always preferred the 99 team over the 99/2000 team, but I think common sense and logic has prevailed that the 99 team massively over achieved. Especially given it was a weird ass year. That was the year that cemented Brian Grant as a fan favorite. The hustle and grit of that 99 team should be spoken of when speaking of Blazer teams that we admire. The 99/2000 team though, for some reason, seemingly doesn't get the respect or adoration it deserves. Be it unfairly comparing it to the 77, 90-92 teams, or weirdly assigning the term "Jail Blazers" to that team when that was far more evident in subsequent seasons.
Yes, Trader Bob tinkered with that team and it careened straight into a buzzsaw that was the Lakers of 2000-01 (having only lost 1 game in the playoffs that year). Yes, that loss in 00 was arguably one of the most painful experiences we've had as Blazer fans. But I'd argue that most of the things that get lumped onto the 00 team (in retrospect) isn't fairly dumped onto them.
I don't think we should blame the 00 team for the actions of 00 and onward, especially since if you look back at those teams, the teams post 2000 just were a clusterfuck of TB trying desperately to cling onto the magic of the 00 team. Not necessarily in keeping the players, quite the opposite actually (they added lots of players that were underwhelming at best).
Looking back on the post title teams, and the post 90-92 teams, those teams were aging and lacked a lot of oomph. I think it's why a lot of people don't really look back on the 93-96 Blazers fondly. Same thing was true with the 01-04 teams. But I think a lot of the stupid shit that the 01-04 teams did are saddled onto the 99-00 teams reputation.
*caveat* I know that the 99-00 team wasn't perfect, but most of the "Jail Blazer" reputation shit comes from after that team. So I don't consider that team part of the "Jail Blazer" era.
We've had 25+ years to let that 99/2000 team stew in our hearts, and it got me thinking about a few things. Some of what Damon Stoudamire said resonated with me.
First though, I'd like to clarify things. I always preferred the 99 team over the 99/2000 team, but I think common sense and logic has prevailed that the 99 team massively over achieved. Especially given it was a weird ass year. That was the year that cemented Brian Grant as a fan favorite. The hustle and grit of that 99 team should be spoken of when speaking of Blazer teams that we admire. The 99/2000 team though, for some reason, seemingly doesn't get the respect or adoration it deserves. Be it unfairly comparing it to the 77, 90-92 teams, or weirdly assigning the term "Jail Blazers" to that team when that was far more evident in subsequent seasons.
Yes, Trader Bob tinkered with that team and it careened straight into a buzzsaw that was the Lakers of 2000-01 (having only lost 1 game in the playoffs that year). Yes, that loss in 00 was arguably one of the most painful experiences we've had as Blazer fans. But I'd argue that most of the things that get lumped onto the 00 team (in retrospect) isn't fairly dumped onto them.
I don't think we should blame the 00 team for the actions of 00 and onward, especially since if you look back at those teams, the teams post 2000 just were a clusterfuck of TB trying desperately to cling onto the magic of the 00 team. Not necessarily in keeping the players, quite the opposite actually (they added lots of players that were underwhelming at best).
Looking back on the post title teams, and the post 90-92 teams, those teams were aging and lacked a lot of oomph. I think it's why a lot of people don't really look back on the 93-96 Blazers fondly. Same thing was true with the 01-04 teams. But I think a lot of the stupid shit that the 01-04 teams did are saddled onto the 99-00 teams reputation.
*caveat* I know that the 99-00 team wasn't perfect, but most of the "Jail Blazer" reputation shit comes from after that team. So I don't consider that team part of the "Jail Blazer" era.
