Does JJ know his role is at back up PF? He may end up starting with Denver, but the fact that no one offered him more than 5 million tells me we are not the only ones to think that is his best role. I don't think he is quite ready to accept that. Especially if he stayed with Portland where he did start. So he may be a 2 year project too until he mentally accepts his role. At which point I think he will be good at it. My belief is that is that TRob understands his situation. He needs to work his butt off to get any minutes at the 4. Rebounding and playing defense is his ticket right now. So for that reason he is a better fit for the Blazers this year.
One guy is hungry for a starting job and glory. The other guy is hungry just to stay in the league after getting dumped by two teams as a rookie. Zach Randolph showed that sometimes you have to get moved around a couple times before you understand your true value. Robinson is a much better fit for us this coming year having just been through that.
I think the point is moot. Once we acquired Robin Lopez, it was obvious J.J. wouldn't be starting. I doubt it he would have accepted $5 million a year to come back here knowing he'd never have a chance to start. BNM
According to Hickson, he thought LA would be gone by end of yr if not earlier. I think the Blazers thought Hickson was going to get a much bigger contract and didn't want to pay a back up PF big bucks . . . so they went with T-Rob instead (but who knows). I would rather have Hickson (could play back up center too), but am excited to see what T-Rob can do.
Speculation. He wanted to remain a Blazer. Thinking only of glory is what got Robinson traded twice. Interesting how it's a negative that Hickson was on 2 teams before us, but a positive for Robinson. Speculation. Management didn't ask. Ding ding ding! Under the now-disproven, unverified assumption that Hickson demanded to start, Olshey regressed us a couple of years. Maybe by then Robinson will surpass Hickson. Maybe he'll never get close.
Personally, I would rather have T. Rob because he seems like a + positive type rebounder. Also, it seems T. Rob will be more of a defensive type PF. I am a fan of defense.
I don't necessarily think it was a negative that Hickson had been given up on before much like people did with Robinson. In fact, I think Hickson is a great model for Robinson on how a PF can resurrect his career by just focusing on what he does well. Hopefully with Robinson it isn't just rebounding but also defense.
I will never get what some of you saw in Hickson that would make you want him back. The guy not only doesn't know how to play defense, but refuses to play defense too.
T-Rob will bring all of the rebounding ability Hickson has and more. We'll get at least what we got out of Hickson. Any defense will be a bonus and hopefully he can put some shots in the basket when called upon.
Yep, the VERY first time Thomas Robinson gets a defensive stop will be one more time than J.J. Hickson did all last season. Robinson will rebound as well as Hickson, play much better defense and score as much. But, he'll be doing it as a back-up power forward, not a starting center. Hickson will be fine backing up Faried, where is defensive deficiencies won't be as glaring. In his place, we have a guy who is younger, cheaper, willing to play defense and is eager to bust his ass to prove he belongs in the league. Works for me. BNM
Too bad Hickson doesn't have a "d" in his name so you can do your signature _ instead of "d" in their name. If only he was D.D. Hickson, I could just imagine the fun you would have with that.
TRob may not match Hickson's per minute rebounding numbers, but he doesn't have to in order to make a superior contribution to the team. Guy's like Hickson and Love are stat whore's who will focus on their stats to the detriment of solid position and team defense / team rebounding. I'll take guys like Robin Lopez and hopefully (fingers crossed) TRob who will box out and do the dirty work that makes a team better.
