http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuWfE2EF.2fkeh4mRgYFJNO8vLYF?slug=ap-oklahoma-nba&prov=ap&type=lgns
I prefer the Oklahoma City Barons (y'know, as in Robber Barons)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
So much good stuff...
Well, it seems the Greeks are the latest to start buying the USA one piece at a time. By now, all of you know that Josh Childress has signed with Team Grease to play the part of "Danny Zuko" oh wait no... wrong Grease. I doubt his move will have that much effect on the economics of the NBA, unless the Dollar continues to fall against the Euro.
I actually was pulling for the Blazers to draft this kid the year he came out (he even fell to the second round!) but now that I look back, he would have been heavily influenced by Puddin' and Hyde (Zach and Miles). I'm not saying he's a bad kid, but from what I heard leading up to the draft, he was more a follower than a leader.
Speaking of which, I was thinking about the 06-07 season, specifically about what I condsider to be the TRUE moment when the Blazers ceased being the Jail Blazers. Remember this game versus the Lakers? April, 07:
"There was much chatter in the locker room, the loudest coming from star forward Zach Randolph, who was harping about the team's turnovers, particularly the ones in which Lakers' guard Smush Parker was able to steal the ball from the Blazers' guards. Around the corner, in the bathroom, Roy heard Randolph ranting."I remember thinking I have to say something," Roy said Monday.As he turned the corner, he confronted Randolph, telling him that he shouldn't be pointing out individuals, that his criticism should be kept to the team as a whole."I was yelling," Roy said. "And he was yelling back at me. He said, 'I didn't say you guys were the only ones turning the ball over.' But we were both shouting."
That was the moment everything changed. That was the day the Blazers got their real leader. Sure, I think there were another couple of "incidents" on the PDX Police blotter, but the Blazers became Roy's right then and there.
For some reason, I keep hearing and reading from a lot of people that Webster is expendable, and that's just st-st-stupid. You never get rid of the 6' 7" guard who can snipe from Three Land. All the modern-era championship teams had one (Brent Barry, Spurs; Steve Kerr, Bulls; Jason Koppono, Heat; even Derek Fisher to some extent)
Great mix of Bayless' summer league here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2MuqQe505g I know these are just highlights, but from the looks of it. I can see why he didn't average more than 1.3 assists. Every time he did drive, none of the opposing bigs rolled over to help off on him, so yeah, take the open shot first. Passing is great, but any coach will tell you they'd like nothing more than a game where every basket is shot from within 5 feet. At least, if they win. Otherwise, then... that plan sucks. Don't you love sports?
By the way, 1.3 assist is exactly as many as DJ Augestine netted. The one thing Augestine did better, WAY better, was shooting a higher percentage. That's interesting, if only because With such relatively few shots, and such good production, he should have averaged more assists.
-----G---M---PTs----Sh/Att-----Pct----Reb-Ast--Stl--Blk
DJ:--3--29.7--19.7--6.0/11.--0.563--4.0--1.3--1.0--.0
JB:--4--34.0--29.8--8.2/17.--0.485--4.8--1.3--1.2--.2
I actually was pulling for the Blazers to draft this kid the year he came out (he even fell to the second round!) but now that I look back, he would have been heavily influenced by Puddin' and Hyde (Zach and Miles). I'm not saying he's a bad kid, but from what I heard leading up to the draft, he was more a follower than a leader.
Speaking of which, I was thinking about the 06-07 season, specifically about what I condsider to be the TRUE moment when the Blazers ceased being the Jail Blazers. Remember this game versus the Lakers? April, 07:
"There was much chatter in the locker room, the loudest coming from star forward Zach Randolph, who was harping about the team's turnovers, particularly the ones in which Lakers' guard Smush Parker was able to steal the ball from the Blazers' guards. Around the corner, in the bathroom, Roy heard Randolph ranting."I remember thinking I have to say something," Roy said Monday.As he turned the corner, he confronted Randolph, telling him that he shouldn't be pointing out individuals, that his criticism should be kept to the team as a whole."I was yelling," Roy said. "And he was yelling back at me. He said, 'I didn't say you guys were the only ones turning the ball over.' But we were both shouting."
That was the moment everything changed. That was the day the Blazers got their real leader. Sure, I think there were another couple of "incidents" on the PDX Police blotter, but the Blazers became Roy's right then and there.
For some reason, I keep hearing and reading from a lot of people that Webster is expendable, and that's just st-st-stupid. You never get rid of the 6' 7" guard who can snipe from Three Land. All the modern-era championship teams had one (Brent Barry, Spurs; Steve Kerr, Bulls; Jason Koppono, Heat; even Derek Fisher to some extent)
Great mix of Bayless' summer league here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2MuqQe505g I know these are just highlights, but from the looks of it. I can see why he didn't average more than 1.3 assists. Every time he did drive, none of the opposing bigs rolled over to help off on him, so yeah, take the open shot first. Passing is great, but any coach will tell you they'd like nothing more than a game where every basket is shot from within 5 feet. At least, if they win. Otherwise, then... that plan sucks. Don't you love sports?
By the way, 1.3 assist is exactly as many as DJ Augestine netted. The one thing Augestine did better, WAY better, was shooting a higher percentage. That's interesting, if only because With such relatively few shots, and such good production, he should have averaged more assists.
-----G---M---PTs----Sh/Att-----Pct----Reb-Ast--Stl--Blk
DJ:--3--29.7--19.7--6.0/11.--0.563--4.0--1.3--1.0--.0
JB:--4--34.0--29.8--8.2/17.--0.485--4.8--1.3--1.2--.2
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Pre-Season Thoughts
Ok, maybe this Bayless kid is on to something. I've said you can't take much from summer league, but that doesn't mean you can't take anything. Bayless was MVP, scored 30 points a game and got invited to play with the Big Bad Beijing Boys. Not bad for the 11th pick. I can see why the Blazers traded to make sure they got him, but what I don't understand is why a couple of teams passed on him. I know he can take the role of scoring bench guard that McMillan likes so well a-la Juan Dixon in 05-06 and Jarett Jack last year. Best thing is, Bayless can shoot better than both of those guys.
Batum might get a chance to spot up as a defensive specialist, but this kid might be more of a project than Outlaw till he gets a role he can play. Too bad he already has a roster spot, I thought of him as a stash-pick when we first got him anyway.
Kopponen has to wait one more year. We don't need another summer league guard who can score. If he were more of a penetration passer, sure, but I think this final roster spot would be better off saved for later in the season. Look at last year when Sam Cassell opted out and went to the Celts. It happens now all the time in the NBA for teams looking to cut their losses, and players wanting to go to contenders. If the Blazers do well this year, and the right Free Agent comes along, we'll ALL want that roster spot cleared.
Batum might get a chance to spot up as a defensive specialist, but this kid might be more of a project than Outlaw till he gets a role he can play. Too bad he already has a roster spot, I thought of him as a stash-pick when we first got him anyway.
Kopponen has to wait one more year. We don't need another summer league guard who can score. If he were more of a penetration passer, sure, but I think this final roster spot would be better off saved for later in the season. Look at last year when Sam Cassell opted out and went to the Celts. It happens now all the time in the NBA for teams looking to cut their losses, and players wanting to go to contenders. If the Blazers do well this year, and the right Free Agent comes along, we'll ALL want that roster spot cleared.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Summer League
Three games in, and Bayless has shown he can get to the rim at will. Yeah, it's a bunch of D-leaguers and scrubs, but the way he's been doing it shows that he'll be able to do the same thing on the next level.
Kopponen is interesting. I just don't know. Don't you think the Blazers already have enough Point Guards? He CAN shoot, though, which is something that Sergio cannot.
It worries me that there's been no passing so far in the SL. I know coaches are saying show me what you can do, and there's only one ball. But still. These last few games with Bayless at the 1 will show just how good he is. If he gets 4 assists with the yokels he's been playing with, I'll be happy.
Kopponen is interesting. I just don't know. Don't you think the Blazers already have enough Point Guards? He CAN shoot, though, which is something that Sergio cannot.
It worries me that there's been no passing so far in the SL. I know coaches are saying show me what you can do, and there's only one ball. But still. These last few games with Bayless at the 1 will show just how good he is. If he gets 4 assists with the yokels he's been playing with, I'll be happy.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Batum Bayless and Diogu
Well... Let's start with the least heralded of the bunch...
Diogu:
First off, the injuries. I for one think it is not a good sign that Diogu pulled out of the Summer league because of knee issues. Not the best of omens. He has a big upside I think though, if only because he can fill the role of the rebounder inside (provided he stays healthy , so this maybe is asking too much) however even without him, the Blazer's still have great balance.
Blake/Bayless/Rodriguez
Roy/Rudy/(Webster)
Outlaw/Webster/Batum
Aldridge/Frye/Diogu
Oden/Pryzbilla/LaFrentz
Batum:
A lot of ESPNers on draft night said that Batum had the biggest upside of any player in the draft. One one of them compared him to Travis Outlaw, even before the trade. I disagree. He has a thicker body than Outlaw. When Travis first came into the league he looked like a tornado of matchsticks compared to the other small forwards in the league, while Batum looks like he could hold his own in the post eventually "once he gets over being so French," according to Pritchard... well at least he won't have to go up against any Nazis.
Bayless:
Think about this, all you haters. Last year, in a conference that was largely deemed the toughest in the nation, Jerryd Bayless was #3 in scoring. He lost the Freshman scoring title to OJ Mayo by a single point, with significantly fewer field goals:
...................................G....FG...3s...FT...Pts...Avg
2.Mayo, O.J.-USC...........FR 33..237...88..122..684..20.7
3.Bayless, Jerryd-ARIZ.....FR 30..173...59..187..592..19.7
Even though Mayo made 29 more three pointers and over SIXTY more shots, he still was only one point better than Bayless, because Jerryd made sixty more free throws. Getting to the line sixty times in a season isn't easy, and he tripled it. He can drive, and defend and shoot. Who could ask for anything more? Take it easy on the kid, he's only 19 and was asked to play a position where he was outsized almost every night. Give him Jack's role from last year (Bench scoring, plus a little extra pressure on the opposing Point) Just be patient.
Diogu:
First off, the injuries. I for one think it is not a good sign that Diogu pulled out of the Summer league because of knee issues. Not the best of omens. He has a big upside I think though, if only because he can fill the role of the rebounder inside (provided he stays healthy , so this maybe is asking too much) however even without him, the Blazer's still have great balance.
Blake/Bayless/Rodriguez
Roy/Rudy/(Webster)
Outlaw/Webster/Batum
Aldridge/Frye/Diogu
Oden/Pryzbilla/LaFrentz
Batum:
A lot of ESPNers on draft night said that Batum had the biggest upside of any player in the draft. One one of them compared him to Travis Outlaw, even before the trade. I disagree. He has a thicker body than Outlaw. When Travis first came into the league he looked like a tornado of matchsticks compared to the other small forwards in the league, while Batum looks like he could hold his own in the post eventually "once he gets over being so French," according to Pritchard... well at least he won't have to go up against any Nazis.
Bayless:
Think about this, all you haters. Last year, in a conference that was largely deemed the toughest in the nation, Jerryd Bayless was #3 in scoring. He lost the Freshman scoring title to OJ Mayo by a single point, with significantly fewer field goals:
...................................G....FG...3s...FT...Pts...Avg
2.Mayo, O.J.-USC...........FR 33..237...88..122..684..20.7
3.Bayless, Jerryd-ARIZ.....FR 30..173...59..187..592..19.7
Even though Mayo made 29 more three pointers and over SIXTY more shots, he still was only one point better than Bayless, because Jerryd made sixty more free throws. Getting to the line sixty times in a season isn't easy, and he tripled it. He can drive, and defend and shoot. Who could ask for anything more? Take it easy on the kid, he's only 19 and was asked to play a position where he was outsized almost every night. Give him Jack's role from last year (Bench scoring, plus a little extra pressure on the opposing Point) Just be patient.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Long Day...
It was a long day for me at work... not for the Blazers (although it seems McMillan is a hugger) I had about 30 seconds to post what I did, so... it is what it is.
Batum is an enigma wrapped in a riddle concealed behind curtains of uncertainty. He can dunk, I'll give him that... but then, so can 95% of the NBA. If I have any concern about the rooks it is that anyone can hit a shot in an open gym, but I want to see Bayless against Baron, or Batum versus (god help me) Artest first before I get too hopped up.
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