A Talk With An Ex NBA Player

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by BLAZER PROPHET, Mar 12, 2012.

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  1. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    I had lunch today with a friend who is an ex NBA player, was an all-star twice, coached briefly in the NBA and played 9 seasons (he took 2 years off for the Vietnam war) and played on a gold medal Olympic team. Interesting guy. He agrees with me the 3 point shot has caused great damage to the NBA and skills of young players. A lot of fundamentals went away with the 3 point shot.

    We also dislike the zone and the inside out game that the NBA plays today. It's boring and lacks free flowing movement that the game was supposed to be about. Take away the zone and 3 point shot and there would be more fast breaks and player/ball movement (of course, that's evident).

    He tells me that the players have indeed tuned Nate out and while he has great respect for him, it's time to go. He has talked to Cho and some other people and tells me Cho was going to be a very good GM but got railroaded by 'other' management- which I took to mean Vulcan. Although he too questions some of the teams draft picks and other personnel decisions, he thinks the talent evaluators are very good and perhaps they didn't make the final decisions on player personnel. He also thinks that Allen has been a good owner and if Roy and Oden were healthy, we'd be a title contender right now. He greatly liked the way that team was set up. He also feels we have way too few talented players and need to increase that base before we can move forward.

    One thing that did surprise me is how close NBA players and coaches are. He knows (knew) people from Rupp, Russell, Oscar, Reed to LaBron, Adleman (who he calls one of the best pure coaches he has ever seen), Phil Jackson, Oden, Shaq... it's like a giant fraternity.

    I also had a chance to meet Larry Steele's son (one of them) and he was a terrific young man. I'm not surprised.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Mar 12, 2012
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  2. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Wasn't there a rumor that KP felt railroaded by someone within the management?

    IIRC it wasn't the Vulcans but a female employee. I can't remember her name...
     
    Fez Hammersticks, Mar 12, 2012
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  3. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    It's really hard to be a fan when I feel like we are cursed. What the hell did Portland do?
     
    magnifier661, Mar 12, 2012
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  4. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    I just remembered: Sarah Mensah
     
    Fez Hammersticks, Mar 12, 2012
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  5. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    KP got fired for being an idiot, telling his agent team business and not realizing that his agent we turning around and spilling that info to other gm's.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Mar 12, 2012
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  6. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    I think KP was a very good GM and the team would not be in the straits we are now if he were still here.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Mar 12, 2012
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  7. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Finally, an explanation that makes sense.
     
    BBert, Mar 12, 2012
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  8. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    In short -- This team has been a fucking mess since Bob Whitsitt was let go.
     
    Fez Hammersticks, Mar 12, 2012
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  9. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    I honestly think a new owner and a clean slate would do wonders for this team.
     
    Natebishop3, Mar 12, 2012
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  10. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    Paul Allen is sabotaging his own team.

    Nothing new, but sounds like a great lunch!
     
    PapaG, Mar 12, 2012
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  11. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    Truer words were never spoken.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Mar 12, 2012
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  12. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    Except for the fact I paid for it.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Mar 12, 2012
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  13. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    It sucks that only 10 years ago we had an owner that loved his team sooo much that he was willing to pay whatever it took to win a title. That owner is long gone. I think he's waiting for something special. We win a ring or get damn close, his pocketbook will be endless again.
     
    magnifier661, Mar 12, 2012
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  14. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    I think Allen has been weakened by cancer and left Vulcan too much in charge. They have set up walls around Allen now and see to it any good people who make headway lose their jobs. I also wonder how much say they have in player personnel decisions as they control the purse, so to speak.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Mar 12, 2012
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  15. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    And another crazy fucked situation is what happens if, god forbid, Allen dies? He has no kids, no wife. Basically we are screwed!
     
    magnifier661, Mar 12, 2012
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  16. cdub503

    cdub503 Well-Known Member

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    All team decisions would be decided by his smart yacht. The octopus.
     
    cdub503, Mar 12, 2012
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  17. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    Hey, it was worth it, though.
     
    PapaG, Mar 12, 2012
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  18. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    What's up man? How have you been?
     
    THE HCP, Mar 12, 2012
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  19. oldmangrouch

    oldmangrouch persona non grata

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    Serious answer: the team will be inherited by his sister, who has made comments in the past that she will sell before the stink gets on her Guccis'.
     
    oldmangrouch, Mar 12, 2012
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  20. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    jlprk, Mar 13, 2012
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