We're worse than we look

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Rastapopoulos, Dec 23, 2015.

  1. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    94,092
    Likes Received:
    57,255
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    The point wasn't that there was only one star, but that the power forward was the centerpiece (IE building around a power forward.)

    Dirk and Duncan were absolutely the centerpiece of their teams. Garnett was the centerpiece and the heart and soul of that Celtics team, even though Pierce was there first.

    LeBron played multiple positions, but I'm pretty sure that last championship had him at power forward with Bosh at center.
     
  2. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Messages:
    68,350
    Likes Received:
    67,407
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I'd add Sheed to the list...when he went to Detroit, he was the difference maker in that championship team
     
  3. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    Messages:
    26,285
    Likes Received:
    21,508
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Maybe those that think you cant win with a PF as the cornerstone are still hurting from LMA.

    In reality, I think alot more of it lands in HOW you build around the cornerstone, rather than WHO you build around.
     
  4. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    94,092
    Likes Received:
    57,255
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Yup. It took Dallas a while to put the right combination of players around Dirk. San Antonio has been REALLY good at putting the right players around Duncan. I think it's clear that you generally need one of the top five players in the league though. What was the last team to win a championship without a transcendent player on their roster? I guess San Antonio because Duncan wouldn't really be considered top 5 anymore, but he's a HOFer so it evens it out.
     
    Orion Bailey likes this.
  5. Eastoff

    Eastoff But it was a beginning.

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2009
    Messages:
    16,059
    Likes Received:
    4,034
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tualatin
    In all seriousness, is there any chance we could get Anthony Davis from an imploding nop?
     
  6. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    Messages:
    26,285
    Likes Received:
    21,508
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I think its possible, but if they are smart, they dump everyone else and start again with him.
     
  7. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2012
    Messages:
    10,729
    Likes Received:
    7,169
    Trophy Points:
    113
    KG was not the best on BOS - that was Pierce's team and KG was a super ancillary player similar to (but better than) Bosh in MIA. When KG had his own team he only made it out of the first round once - and he's a HOFer!
    Duncan is the best PF to ever play, and one of the best regardless of position...and for the last handful of years he's been an ancillary player, not the centerpiece. Dirk got lucky once in 18 years. And those are the only two guys who have even COMPETED for a championship while being the center of their respective teams. PFs are ancillary players, not cornerstones.
     
    UncleCliffy'sDaddy likes this.
  8. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    Messages:
    26,285
    Likes Received:
    21,508
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Miami. I looked it up. LBJ was indeed the PF on thier wins with Bosch and Wade. and LBJ was absolutely the cornerstone, but then that was a "superteam" basically.
     
    Natebishop3 likes this.
  9. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2012
    Messages:
    10,729
    Likes Received:
    7,169
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If the argument is "LBJ" that's not a very good argument. He's been the best AND most dominant player in the game. He could play PG or C. The fact that he played PF in MIA is not evidence that building around PFs is a good idea. Take a look at all of the best PFs to play in the past 30 years and there are only two who have won a Championship as the cornerstone - Duncan, who is the best PF ever and probably Top 5 regardless of position, and Dirk who is another HOFer who got lucky once in 18 years.

    All of the other great PFs either never made it to the Finals, or if they did it was because they were paired with one of the best PGs to ever play the game.
     
  10. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    Messages:
    26,285
    Likes Received:
    21,508
    Trophy Points:
    113
    There is no arguement really. I still think its more of how you build around than who you build around.
     
  11. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2012
    Messages:
    10,729
    Likes Received:
    7,169
    Trophy Points:
    113
    How is very important - that shouldn't even be a question. And of course talent is the #1 thing to consider when obtaining players. But there is just far too much evidence against it to say that building around a PF is a good strategy.
    Also, on a parallel universe tangent, what if Duncan wasn't drafted by the Spurs? He'd obviously still be great, but I suspect he'd be lucky to have more than 1 or 2 championships. The reason he has so many is because of the "how" surrounding the "who". The best coach of the modern NBA, combined with the best 6th man, and a top rated PG has more to do with Duncan's multitude of championships than anything else.
     
    rotary111 and Orion Bailey like this.
  12. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    Messages:
    26,285
    Likes Received:
    21,508
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Couldnt agree more overall. Where is the next Shaq? Thats who we need to get and build around.
     
  13. PCmor7

    PCmor7 Generational Poster

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2014
    Messages:
    7,977
    Likes Received:
    11,816
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Saying this for years
    If their front office is totally incompetent, yes. Right now, they are in a position where they might be able to add a pretty good piece to play with Davis.
     
  14. Schilly

    Schilly Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2009
    Messages:
    3,161
    Likes Received:
    3,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Greg Oden

    Let's ignore how Golden State is built.
     
  15. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    57,713
    Likes Received:
    56,216
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYstateofmind
    That would just be a sick pipedream.

    Not happening unfortunately
     
  16. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    Messages:
    50,346
    Likes Received:
    22,532
    Trophy Points:
    113
    no.
     
    Nikolokolus and KeepOnRollin like this.
  17. KeepOnRollin

    KeepOnRollin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2010
    Messages:
    11,498
    Likes Received:
    5,679
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    North Idaho
    Agreed. They will trade each and every player before him. As they should.
     
  18. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

    Joined:
    May 7, 2015
    Messages:
    44,577
    Likes Received:
    38,667
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    I'd build a team around Ben Simmons and I'd play him at PF. Just saying.
     
  19. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    Messages:
    50,346
    Likes Received:
    22,532
    Trophy Points:
    113
    We're better than our record. We are just missing a key piece. Like I said since the summer, its Dame and a bunch of good role players. To compete we need at least 2 all stars on the team.
     
  20. Schilly

    Schilly Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2009
    Messages:
    3,161
    Likes Received:
    3,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    This is false, you are only ever as good or as bad as your record.
     

Share This Page