Who is they? The Blazers? It isn't about the BLAZERS being wrong or right... it's about when the poster is giving an opinion and give some outlandish answer to who they thought they should have gotten (like say trying to get Lowry for the MLE, for example) and when Kaman gets signed for it, get pissed cause they thought they could get more... then when approached for comment, can't -actually- come up with an answer. Hate the signing, I'm fine with it. But when you say we could have gotten more and then don't answer it (Or worse, do answer it with outlandish out-of-price-range players) then it's just a nusience.
they would only net you big guys, so it wouldnt work either. hmm. crap. im sure if we keep brainstorming we will figure this thing out.
First, I'll just say that my initial comment was not directed at you, personally, but you seem to have taken it that way. You're entitled to your opinions, as am I. A lot of posters here have been, in my view, unfairly ripping the Blazers because they didn't make a splashier move. I don't think that's fair given what assets were available to them. Regarding Kaman, he's had his struggles with ADHD, which have been pretty well documented. He's had some issues in New Orleans that I don't know the details about. I do know that Olshey knows him from his Clippers days and thinks he's a good fit. I also read that Blake is very positive about Kaman from his stints playing with him on both the Lakers and Clippers. He's had some injury issues, but I don't think an unusual number of them given his age. Hopefully, the Blazers will be able to get more out of him given his lower usage rate as a backup. I'm optimistic about what he can do for this team, but it has to be proven on the court.
My view on what posters say is that if all you want to do is express a preference, you can just express it and leave it. I don't like Swiss chard. I can't explain why I don't like the taste and I'll never really be interested in trying to explain it. If you don't like Kaman or Blake, fine. There's really not much to discuss there, if that's all you say, and you're welcome not to like anything or anyone. If you make a statement, like "Signing Kaman was a bad move" or "Portland could have gotten a much better player," then you should make an effort to substantiate it with either some logic or some data points, especially if someone challenges the statement. You might have to be a GM or NBA insider to know anything for certain, but you can have well-substantiated opinions without being either of those things. These forum threads are essentially debates (with some observations and jokes tossed in). You have to expect any assertions you make to be challenged. That's not unfair. If you can't defend your assertion, you should consider whether it's a good assertion. Again, though, if it's just an expression of preference that's not meant to make a point wider than your particular likes or dislikes then so be it.
Thank you! You, Eblazers, Nate, and Schilly know what the hell is going on. It's really not that difficult.
More Steve Blake attitude: [video=youtube;KFO0ljFR7-c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFO0ljFR7-c[/video]
I am taking this personally and maybe it is because I am being lumped into a group, but I also think that group is being unfairly characterized. Like you said, you remember I was against the Kaman signing from the beginning but really didn't understand why other than it wasn't an exciting signing. Well if that is how you remember my take, I can't help but wonder if everyone who doesn't like the Kaman trade is being grouped as having an opinion that really isn't their's. I think many want to read it the way that one poster generalizes that if you don't like the Kaman acquisition than you don't see reality, without taking the time to differentiate the different opinions of why posters don't like the Kaman move. I eluded to this once before but it sure is hard to have a minority opinion on this board. It tends to get slaughtered and ridiculed from all angles and certainly has put me on the defensive (and have an appreciation of why MM gets upset) I did take yours, and other posts, personally because not liking the Kaman acquisition is being generalized on this board and I am falling into that generalized category. A generalization that i don't think is even fair. But I'll try and step back and not take every blast at posters who don't like the Kaman move as an attack on me . . . again I realize I have become very defensive and argumentative when it comes to this issue and put this all on me. Thank god I like Steve Blake. Not crazy about the move, but like Blake enough to support the idea he will be a Blazer next year. I would absolutely lose it if I felt as strongly about the Blake acquisitio . . . and FWIW-I currently support Kaman (but if the Blazers aren't winning and he starts losing time to younger players and copes an attitude, Blazer or not it will be hard to support him) Hope it is good between us e . . .
Blast from the past! I wonder what the record is for most tours of duty with a team? At times last year, I actually thought Portland would be better off with a backup like Blake, someone who hits his 3s, controls the ball and doesn't commit a lot of turnovers. I think we have more firepower off the bench that can be utilized if it weren't for ball hog mo.
Geez what's up with the Blake hate? I know he wasn't that exciting as a starter, but he's definitely a player who won't hurt you off the bench. And with the way things have gone the last two years, Portland will take a bench that can hold it's own.
