Wesley Matthews made a great choice, as did the Blazers

[BlazerCaravan]

My prediction about Wesley Matthews is the single stupidest thing I have ever said in relation to the Blazers...ever.

He has been nails.

Pretty much what I wanted Bayless to be except bigger, stronger, more consistent and flat out better then Bayless could ever hope of being.


I assume that Wesley will end up being as beloved here in Portland as Jerome Kersey has become.

On the last play Wesley was in the game last night (where Babbitt drove and was fouled), the Garden was chanting "Wes-Ley-Matt-hews!" *clap clap clapclapclap*. He's definitely got the hearts of a lot of people (lots of Wesley signs). He reminds me of Brian Grant if BG had been a guard: lunch pail, high intensity, well-liked.

 

[mook]

There are always exceptions and Wesley might turn into one of those exceptions, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Is it really an exception? I think most guys who enter the league at the age of 23 and do well in their first two seasons tend to continue to improve beyond that.

In about 100 games he's gone from undrafted to role player to role-playing starter to 19 ppg scorer. That, to me, is a pretty impressive trend over such a short period of time.

Which is more likely--that this trend continues and he keeps adding to his game, or it completely stagnates right now?

I don't know the answer, honestly. But I'm kind of surprised by those with the attitude that it's a foregone conclusion he'll never get much better than he is now.

 

[Natebishop3]

I've always liked the signing. I didn't really know much about the guy before we signed him, but I loved the fact that we were stealing an asset from the Jazz AND I loved what I heard about him. I like guys who play good defense. Similar to football, defense is probably my favorite part of the game.

 

[Natebishop3]

Martell is twice the defender, and at least as good in everything else.

Plus he doesn't want Roy's starting spot like Matthews obviously will soon enough.

Unless we're trading Roy and going with Rudy and Wes at the 2, this was an idiotic and clumsy move by Miller.

I suspect you're right. I'm really trying to make myself like this deal, but I just can't convince myself we're any better with Matthews than we are with Webster.

Oh well, at least there's Babbitt...

12.3 PER, got abused by Kobe Bryant in the playoffs, 38% 3pt, gets to the line 3 times per 36/minutes.

Basically, he's a shorter version of Martell Webster.

Whoopity-Doo!

 

[Eastoff]

He said he wants to be called "Ironman."

solid steel. he looks good from the outside, and he's good all the way to the center.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Is it really an exception? I think most guys who enter the league at the age of 23 and do well in their first two seasons tend to continue to improve beyond that.

In about 100 games he's gone from undrafted to role player to role-playing starter to 19 ppg scorer. That, to me, is a pretty impressive trend over such a short period of time.

Which is more likely--that this trend continues and he keeps adding to his game, or it completely stagnates right now?

I don't know the answer, honestly. But I'm kind of surprised by those with the attitude that it's a foregone conclusion he'll never get much better than he is now.

My only point is that players who are "old" rookies tend to be closer to their overall ceiling than prospects who come into the league at 18 or 19. I'm sure Wesley will make marginal improvements every year and add at least a few more veteran tricks and some refinement to his game, but expecting him to make dramatic leaps from this point forward doesn't happen very often for guys like him.

Granted if he's 90% of the player he's going to be I'll take it and run because I like his game a lot (A LOT!!!) I was responding more to the Steve Nash and Manu comparisons; those guys are MVP level talents and are definitely exceptions to the norm.

 

[Nikolokolus]

interesting hadnt heard that thanks. I just remember him saying how bad the signing was and that he was forced to drink KoolAid or something like that lol.

Oh, Simmons still thinks the tactic and the methods used in getting him were ridiculous, he just thinks the Blazers got lucky and avoided a disaster.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Do you have some data or stats suggesting that improving at age 24, or past the 2nd year in the league, would be an exception?

Stats that show 24 year olds are closer to their ceiling than 19 year old second year players? Not on hand, but send Jonathan Givony (at draftexpress.com) or Chad Ford an e-mail and see what they think.

And really I didn't say he wouldn't improve, I was just taking issue with the comps to Nash and Manu who developed into MVP caliber players in their mid to late twenties -- those are both extreme examples.

 

[blazerboy30]

Stats that show 24 year olds are closer to their ceiling than 19 year old second year players?

No. You made the claim that it would be an exception if Matthews improved at the age of 24. Nobody mentioned anything about comparing his improvement to a 19 year old.

Nice strawman.

Not on hand, but send Jonathan Givony (at draftexpress.com) or Chad Ford an e-mail and see what they think.

So you make a claim as if it is fact, and when somebody asks you to back it up, you want them to validate your lame claim. No thanks, MIXUM.

And really I didn't say he wouldn't improve, I was just taking issue with the comps to Nash and Manu who developed into MVP caliber players in their mid to late twenties -- those are both extreme examples.

How many MVPs won it before their mid-twenties? I would guess that most players that win an MVP don't do it until their mid-twenties.

(No, I'm not suggesting that Matthews will ever approach MVP caliber)

 

[Natebishop3]

No. You made the claim that it would be an exception if Matthews improved at the age of 24. Nobody mentioned anything about comparing his improvement to a 19 year old.

Nice strawman.



So you make a claim as if it is fact, and when somebody asks you to back it up, you want them to validate your lame claim. No thanks, MIXUM.



How many MVPs won it before their mid-twenties? I would guess that most players that win an MVP don't do it until their mid-twenties.

(No, I'm not suggesting that Matthews will ever approach MVP caliber)

Don't you think you're overreacting just a little?

 

[Nikolokolus]

No. You made the claim that it would be an exception if Matthews improved at the age of 24. Nobody mentioned anything about comparing his improvement to a 19 year old.

Nice strawman.



So you make a claim as if it is fact, and when somebody asks you to back it up, you want them to validate your lame claim. No thanks, MIXUM.



How many MVPs won it before their mid-twenties? I would guess that most players that win an MVP don't do it until their mid-twenties.

(No, I'm not suggesting that Matthews will ever approach MVP caliber)

*Deleted* My original reply was directed at the the comparison to Nash and Manu making huge strides in their mid-twenties (Going from a PER of 14ish to 24 or so)

 

[blazerboy30]

*Deleted*

My original reply was directed at the the comparison to Nash and Manu making huge strides in their mid-twenties (Going from a PER of 14ish to 24 or so)

Then you should have said so. You quoted the entire post which talked about how Matthews is likely to improve, after mentioning Nash and Manu. It appears the problem is your communication issues, not my reading comprehension.

 

[blazerboy30]

*Deleted*

 

[Natebishop3]

*Deleted*

 

[blazerboy30]

*Deleted*

 

[MickZagger]

*Deleted*

 

[blazerboy30]

*Deleted*

 

[Natebishop3]

Let's keep this thread on track. Keep the personal problems in PMs.

 

[blazerboy30]

*Deleted*

 

[blazerboy30]

*Deleted*

 

[jlprk]

*Deleted*

 

[MickZagger]

I atleast want to see the response I got.

 

[jlprk]

*Deleted*

 

[Minstrel]

*Deleted*

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Is Natebishop the only moderator on duty? But it says "39 users browsing this forum."

We can take him!! Some of you go left, some go to his right, I'll sneak around behind him.

I'm in.

 

[Natebishop3]

I have a great idea for New Year's Eve. Let's all get drunk and post personal insults all night and drive the moderators nuts. Plus, the site will run out of red ink and they'll have to go to yellow or purple or something.

What if the mods aren't around to be driven nuts? I'm leaving for a party with my fiancee in about 45 minutes.

 

[MickZagger]

What if the mods aren't around to be driven nuts? I'm leaving for a party with my fiancee in about 45 minutes.

You have tapatalk.

 

[Natebishop3]

You have tapatalk.

Shhhhh

 

[MickZagger]

Nothing better than partying and editing at the same time.

 

[jlprk]

My posts have been churned into purple and yellow jello!!

Just like when I have to go to the bathroom on New Years Eve in the snow!