This team's resemblance of 1998-99

Sheed didn't play SF that year. He came off the bench at PF. The SFs were Walt Williams and Stacy Augmon.

 

See, the entire argument was flawed to begin with, wasn't it? It would be more appropriate to compare Sheed with Thomas Robinson, then.

 

So grant/sheed better than Aldridge/trob? I would say it's a wash.

Batum/wright/Barton is much better than augman/Walt

 

The only thing the Blazers have over that squad is Damian Lillard over Damon. You put Batum over Rasheed? The only comparable front court we've had to Rasheed/Grant/Sabonis was Lucas and Walton. And our bench kicked ass...this bench looks better on paper than last year's squad, but still looks mediocre at best.

 

I don't think this thread should be about slamming the 99 team. They were one of the best teams in Blazers' history. Legit contenders. I think our depth reminds me of 99 and I am excited but we are still unproven.

P.S. when discussIng the 99 team, do not dismiss the greatness of Kelvin Cato. He was our backup center and was a big part of that team's success.

 

Can't wait to bump this thread next season.

 

Also, do not forget JO. That team was long and tall. We have Aldridge, Withey, Leonard, and Lopez which isn't all that bad.

 

Withey is gone. He was part of the trade to get Lopez

 

99s bench could have won 40 games

anthony
jj
augman
jo
cato

wizard
and dont sleep on 22 year old bonzi

 

Exactly!!! I am referencing that team because that was my favorite squad. I think we have a shot at getting that good!

 

Mags,Mags, Mags...sit down, brother, take a breath and put your head between your legs....there, just relax...

Stacy and Walt had both been starters on other teams..Just like damen in before we got him averaged crazy stats..I think even sheed had sarted in Washington till he fell out of favor

We were two deep with QUALITY starters at each position...players came here to win a ring...man I miss those days..


OK, now bro..you feel any better?

 

That is hindsight. That team wasn't expected to win as many games as you think. You are thinking of the 1999-00 team when players came in to win a ring.

 

nope, they were building hard and fast to win NOW! Trader Bob must have had dirty pics of Paul..he could do anything he wanted

 

The 1998-99 was under cap. What u talking about Willis?

 

was not thinking about the cap

I was refering to the fact that they had gone out and cherry picked about half of those guys in one season

 

But that's not really "buying a championship". All deals and acquisitions were under cap. It would be no different than olshey doing it with the good bench players of other teams.

 

ok, buddy...time for your drug test...

our bench almost to a man, were starters , not bench players and such..I am not taking anything away from what Neil has done,

the only two or three players on this team that would have been good enough would be Damen, LMA and Nic

 

That season, rider, jj, augman and Williams all had under 13 per.

 

There are some vague similarities, the main one being that the team is attempting to make up for its lack of superlative stars (one All-Star at PF, much like the single All-Star the Blazers had with Rasheed Wallace), with a strong bench. But don't confuse a solid improvement over last year - from a deplorable bench - and think the current Blazers have a bench to rival one of the deepest teams in Blazers' history.

On individual basis:

Overachieving point guard? On its face, Damian Lillard is this team's Damon Stoudamire, only better.

Tough as nails shooting guard? Wesley Matthews has some of JR Rider's attitude, without the penchant for idiocy, so I'd buy that one.

Huge front line like Wallace-Grant-Sabonis? Nowhere close. But with Lopez blocking shots, Aldridge holding his own as a long 6'11", and Batum playing bigger than his height, the current Blazers could see some of the same defensive benefits.

Maybe Dorrell Wright has the makings of a Walt Williams and Stacey Augmon blend, if he turns out as promised?

Thomas Robinson could well be the Blazers' Jermaine O'Neal - but let's hope they actually give him significant minutes.

I don't expect CJ McCollum to be another Greg Anthony, Jimmy Jackson, or Bonzi Wells - but I wouldn't mind seeing him become a clone of a player from a different team from that era: Bobby Jackson of Sacramento. That was back when the Kings were a tough out in the playoffs, Arco Arena was hell to play in, and Jackson was the general of the bench mob, that held or created, many a Kings' lead.

Oh and Kelvin Cato a significant contributor? I beg to differ. He was five fouls and the occasional burst of blocked shots. He'd be about the 10th most important player on that team.

 

cato was a legend you shut your face