Wes really was the soul of the team

[Natebishop3]

Without Wes, this team really doesn't have the same fire or passion. It's really sad to watch. I know it got thrown around a lot, but the guy really is/was the soul of this team.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

It's so true. We didn't miss a beat when batum went down and we started Allen fucking crabbe.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

While Batum sucks the life out of it.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Wes will be back sooner than expected, Aldridge will resign and McCollum and Leonard will be sooo much better. We'll be a contender next year.

 

[craigehlo]

We got our asses kicked with Wes healthy by the Grizz and lost 8 out of 9 times tp them this season. 8 out of 9! Sure he would have helped, but he's not the reason so many of dudes were exposed as mediocre NBA players.

 

[KingSpeed]

We got our asses kicked with Wes healthy by the Grizz and lost 8 out of 9 times tp them this season. 8 out of 9! Sure he would have helped, but he's not the reason so many of dudes were exposed as mediocre NBA players.

This

 

[OneLifeToLive]

IMO, team was missing something WITH Wes.

 

[craigehlo]

IMO, team was missing something WITH Wes.

Yep. When he hit a few 3's in a game it covered some of the warts. But this team's troubles run deeper than a single injury.

 

[craigehlo]

Was Mike Conley the soul of the Grizz? The didn't seem to have a problem stepping up and playing like professionals in his noticeable absence.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

While Batum sucks the life out of it.

He did do that.

If I'm the GM he is gone.

 

[maxiep]

Wes will be back sooner than expected, Aldridge will resign and McCollum and Leonard will be sooo much better. We'll be a contender next year.

This.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

As an opposing fan, I was wondering this before this even before this thread came up...

But would CJ have had the opportunity to step up like he did if Wes wasn't injured?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

As an opposing fan, I was wondering this before this even before this thread came up...

But would CJ have had the opportunity to step up like he did if Wes wasn't injured?

Not as much no but being healthy is also a big reason he stepped up. He was nagged by injuries his first year and a half.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

As an opposing fan, I was wondering this before this even before this thread came up...

But would CJ have had the opportunity to step up like he did if Wes wasn't injured?

Prob not.

He would still be an unknown.

 

[craigehlo]

Wes will be back sooner than expected, Aldridge will resign and McCollum and Leonard will be sooo much better. We'll be a contender next year.

Wes will be a shadow of himself. That's a devastating injury that will hurt every aspect of his game.

http://thehoopdoctors.com/2013/07/top-10-nba-careers-ruined-by-achilles-injuries-1992-2013/

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Wes will be a shadow of himself. That's a devastating injury that will hurt every aspect of his game.

http://thehoopdoctors.com/2013/07/top-10-nba-careers-ruined-by-achilles-injuries-1992-2013/

Believe harder.

 

[Drttimmy]

Without Wes, this team really doesn't have the same fire or passion. It's really sad to watch. I know it got thrown around a lot, but the guy really is/was the soul of this team.

By and large, one could have tuned into any of the 5 playoff games, and come away thinking they were watching a regular season game. For a playoff series, the games didn't carry typical playoff intensity. It was physical, but guys weren't throwing their bodies around the court and moving with a sense of urgency on nearly every play.

I have to believe it wouldn't have appeared that way with a healthy Wes Matthews. You get the feeling they never really believed they could win from the start. Wes' resiliency and tenacity wouldn't have allowed that belief to ever surface. And I do believe that.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

As an opposing fan, I was wondering this before this even before this thread came up...

But would CJ have had the opportunity to step up like he did if Wes wasn't injured?

No, CJ would sadly be rotting on the bench (where I thought he was destined to always be, before Wes went down) because Afflalo would be our 6th man. Well, considering Afflalo even went down, he still may have shined in this alternative time line.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Wes will be a shadow of himself. That's a devastating injury that will hurt every aspect of his game.

http://thehoopdoctors.com/2013/07/top-10-nba-careers-ruined-by-achilles-injuries-1992-2013/

That article is terrible.

How did it ruin Dominique Wilkins career who had a better season after the injury?

Kobes career isn't even done yet, neither are some of the others.

 

[Scalma]

Wes doesn't rely on athleticism anyways. He'll be fine.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Wes doesn't rely on athleticism anyways. He'll be fine.

Um, yes he does. Have you watched him on defense? You have to be pretty damn athletic to guard guys like Westbrook and Harden.

 

[ripcityboy]

What this team lacked was communication and the ability triumph over adversity. They played like ______ the last few months of a season.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

What this team lacked was communication and the ability triumph over adversity. They played like ______ the last few months of a season.

You can add stotts refusal to play younger guys until he absolutely had to. We should've seen a lot more CJ, crabbe, Leonard and Freeland

 

[ripcityboy]

You can add stotts refusal to play younger guys until he absolutely had to. We should've seen a lot more CJ, crabbe, Leonard and Freeland

I totally agree.