Second point is where Simmons would dispute you. The national media has been gushing about Portland's talent and inevitable ascendence to the next level since they drafted Oden. Perhaps the media didn't see this ascendence to the tune of 54 wins this year, but the media did make a lot of 'those young, hugely talented, upstart Blazers.' From Simmons' perspective, a guy who follows the NBA religiously (or at least puts on a good show of it), Portland had a lot to live up to. Simmons' "overrated" claim addresses the hype that surrounded the Blazers this season. The team he saw in the first round didn't have it put together. And his point about Outlaw, Oden, Blake, Przybilla... well, he's wrong about Przybilla, but the others? One could make a case that both Outlaw and Oden won't become consistent starters (Oden I would disagree with). I don't know, Ed. Are you of the opinion that this team lacks a bonefide third option? Because that's what they need. Simmons is right about that. Ultimately, the Blazers fan base has a better managed set of expectations than I think the rest of the country does.
If you agree with BS on this, then you should be making the same argument about the Lakers. They must be overrated, too. Fisher is a bench player (he wasn't a couple of years ago, he's stinking it up in the playoffs) Odom is a bench player. Bynum is not playing any better than Oden. So, it's Gasol and Kobe, and that's it - overrated. Of course, it's a ludicrous argument, but one you must embrace if you agree with BS.
As I said, the team is not just predicted to be good as constructed, but to be a multi-title dynasty. I have heard this said on both ESPN and TNT. You are correct, Outlaw is a bench player, Blake is not a starter. However, that isn't what the analysts Simmons is referring to are saying. In that manner, they are overrated by some of the national media. Once again, Portland is not being referred to as a good 50+ wins team. They are being talked about as a future dynasty. That IS overrating the talent on the team.
"I think their talent has been vastly overrated" The problem with a ridiculous quote like this, is that he's part of the group of people who have "overrated" Portland's talent. The second part of the problem here is that Portland are not even close to a finished product. He's making the assumption that Outlaw, Blake and Pryz are going to be 3 players we are rely on to win a championship. Um, no dude. The reason people were excited about Portland future was the mix of some great young talent and the money they'll have in the coming years (some of which has been taken away thanks to the Miles fiasco) and Before the Oden injury. Finally, don't forget, Bill Simmons is just a glorified blogger (whom I happen to like a lot) But he's just another guy with an internet column who constantly flip flops from week to week, who cares what any of these dicks think.
Recently, there was an interesting article on SI.com. The writer was reviewing the teams that had been eliminated in the first round, and was discussing what changes they needed to make to get to the next level. All the teams that is, except the Blazers. All he had to say about the Blazers was mindless gushing about how great they were going to be. Sorry, but compared to that mouldering BS, what Simmons had to say was downright insightful.
What? Did you read what I wrote? I was slamming the guy for spewing mindless platitudes. I prefer an honest critic to a dishonest flatterer!
but if you check espn's "experts" predictions from the beginning of the year, did any of them have the blazers getting the 4th seed or being tied for the division lead? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=WestOffseasonPredictions in 15 seconds of searching, i couldn't find the one with each person giving their individual seeds for each team, but that link certainly supports that the blazers absolutely overachieved what was expected from the national media.
The Celtics have drafted one white American in the past 11 years, 2 whites altogether, and both were second rounders.
Simmons admits he really likes Fernandez. The Blazers have Oden, who just turned 21 and should develop more skill as time goes on. Bayless is a very talented 20 year-old lottery pick. Batum is 20. Webster is 22. How many teams have so many potential third options? Guys who have lottery-level talent and/or have started a significant number of games at such young ages? That's FIVE guys who might step up and fill that third option role over time. I don't think that a team this young can possibly be expected to have more productivity from young players than they do... and I don't think it's at all fair, on the one hand, to criticize people who look at Portland's talent as very good by judging on present performance without taking their youth into account. The odds of every prospect on the Blazers other than Roy and Aldridge being incapable of being a third option seem long to me... the mere fact that they are not there YET doesn't really bother me in the least. Ed O.
I don't think the Blazers overachieved as much as some people think. They definately did better than was thought, but most thought they would make the playoffs, and they did. Not many thought they would get homecourt, but that was only a 1 game swing. Most thought 6th to 8th, and they did better than that......BUT, we were 4 games out of 6th and 6 games out of 8th. Utah and NO both had a lot of injuriesas well. The Blazers finished right about where they were predicted because no one thought the leastern conference could once again be so shitty.
those predictions(which are the combined predictions of 25 "experts") have the blazers finishing with 44 wins. the blazers won 54 games. if that isn't outperforming their expectations, then i don't know what is. and it's not like the blazers didn't have their own injuries. webster(who at the time was assumed to be the starting sf for most of the season) played in one game. blake and oden both missed time as well. oh and how many games was portland out of 2nd? none.
Not to mention the fact that they broke the color barrier with the first black player drafted and first ever black coach.
Songaila technically hails from Lithuania as a matter of fact. So that brings the total of white Americans drafted by the Celtics since the Nirvana days to a big fat zero. Racist bastards.
