Who's your cult hero?

[Rastapopoulos]

What I mean is: which among our current fairly marginal players do you want most to succeed, and for whom you are rooting most? So it certainly can't be Aldridge, Lillard, Batum and it probably shouldn't be any starter.

For me it's Will Barton. At the moment I see him as a bit of Nate Robinson: can do things that make the casual fan ooh and ahh, but destined to bounce around because he doesn't play within the team and he just has too many flaws. BUT: he has real talent and he has such an inspiring backstory, AND he could complement our short gunners well (which seems to be the plan, given how he was used in Summer League) that I want him to succeed. I recognize that he's a longshot, and he may always just be a not-very-glorified streetballer, but... Go Will The Thrill!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

2 cult heroes: CJ and TRob

 

[Natebishop3]

Right now, I think Claver is the cult hero. Robinson hasn't been around long enough. The way people talk about Claver as "the glue guy," he is definitely the cult hero.

 

[ehizzy3]

yeah, claver for me

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

TROB

hoop fam

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Walt Williams.

Or Thomas Robinson.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Walt Williams.

Or Thomas Robinson.

Agreed on both.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Kostas Papanikolaou

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Kostas Papanikolaou

Too soon...

 

[jlprk]

By the end of the season, you will all be bowing to Earl Watson.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I feel like Dorell Wright is the overlooked member of our bench. We all want to see if any of the 2 guards will be legit contributors. We all want to see if any of our 2nd year big men will develop into valuable rotation players. But I think Wright has an excellent chance to be the 2nd-most important and productive player off our bench.

 

[KingSpeed]

MediocreMan is my cult hero.

Too soon...

What happened? He die?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I really want CJ to succeed; and I'd love to see RoLo do great here.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

This thread is dumb. The answer is so obvious: Nolan Smith.

 

[Lanny]

@ HomerLovesKoolAid

It's the 25 yard line. Saw it during the Utah-Stanford game. I'll give you a link if you need it.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

@ HomerLovesKoolAid

It's the 25 yard line. Saw it during the Utah-Stanford game. I'll give you a link if you need it.

You're right, but only during kickoffs, regular TB is at the 20. I'm surprised we didn't notice this. Could it be that SPD and I are imperfect?

 

[Lanny]

My "Cult Hero", as you put it, is Leonard. However, I'm also pulling for Barton. I've always liked Barton's game except for his long range shooting. That is, I didn't like it 'till now. Seems our young man has done some work on his mid range and long ball and no one is happier about it than I am.

 

[-Ace-]

Dorell Wright seems to be somewhat pushed off to the side so far this preseason, since he hasn't been able to participate. Not sure what to expect from him, yet.

I'd love to see Barton get a bit more under control this year as far as moving around in the offense, and also develop a consistent long ball. Claver just needs to make some damn shots. He's smart, can play D, and he's pretty quick for a big white guy. If we could combine him with Meyers....that'd be one hell of a center.

I'm pulling for T-Rob the most this year. He's mad and is going to leave it all out there. We need gritty, no-fear-no-excuses attitudes off of the bench, and he can lead the way. Grab the defensive rebounds, give out a hard foul, get some cheap garbage points on the offensive boards, and draw some fouls inside.

 

[jlprk]

Claver just needs to make some damn shots. He's smart, can play D, and he's pretty quick for a big white guy. If we could combine him with Meyers....that'd be one hell of a center.

The coach won't design any short shot plays for Claver, so he gets stuck taking and missing miracle long shots.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'd like to see CJ succeed.

But if Robinson can take the Nick Collison "Cult Hero/Hard-Nosed Garbageman/"Consummate Professional" route, then it'll be him.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What happened? He die?

He was included in a trade that will end up being more notorious than Jermaine O'Neal for Dale Davis.

 

[BBert]

Leonard. He's the most maligned, and it would be huge for us if he could develop into a good NBA center.

 

[mook]

Leonard. You look at that body and that size and all those muscles and figure you have a great potential center. Then you see he has a few pretty nice offensive weapons and the deal seems sweeter.

But he's kind of a nerdy guy who doesn't seem to have a single real basketball instinct in his body.

As a fellow nerdy guy who doesn't seem to have a single real basketball instinct in his body, and the father of two young nerdy guys who don't seem to have a single real basketball instinct in their bodies, I have to believe Leonard can improve. If he can't there's no hope for the rest of us.

 

[BBert]

Umm...hate to break it to you mooky....

 

[BrianFromWA]

there's hope, mook!

 

[BigGameDamian]

Allen Crabb....This guy will be more memorable than CJ will.

 

[magnifier661]

I know you said "not the starters"; but I think Lopez will be a very important piece. He needs to stay healthy and protect the paint. If we get that, then we are in good shape.

If we are talking bench; I'm a fan of forwards. Either wright (hopefully being like a Walt Williams type) and T.Rob (because he has the most potential to be a strong presence off the bench).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

there's hope, mook!

Yeah, Kosta Koufos DID become a serviceable center.

I still can't believe that photo isn't 'shopped.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Allen Crabb....This guy will be more memorable than CJ will.

And when he does, maybe you'll remember how to spell his name.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Of course, I want everyone on our bench to break out. I'd love to see Meyers Leonard succeed to silence all the haters. I'd love to see Thomas Robinson make Sacramento and Houston regret giving up on him too soon. I'd love to see Will Barton's brain catch up with his body. But, I think I'm going to go with Joel Freeland as my Cult Hero (as it's defined in this thread) this season.

Freeland was absolutely horrible for the first month of the season last year. He only made 2 of his first 16 shots and seemed absolutely lost on the court. He made steady, but unspectacular progress throughout the season. He seems to have embraced the Nick Collison mind set and is concentrating on doing the hard work that could make him a valuable role player. He's playing tough defense in the preseason, setting picks, etc. I know it's preseason, but he doesn't look nearly as lost as he did last year.

Let's face it, we need at least one of our bench big men to step it up if we are going to make the playoffs. Most people think it will be TRob, and I certainly hope he does, but wouldn't be great f we had at lest two solid bigs off the bench that play defense, rebound and set good picks?

BNM