Vets?

[roroyo]

First of all Hello to all good people here. I'm new, so don't be too harsh. Forgive my english too.

I read this forum a lot this season and there is one thing I don't really get. Since we all know there is some problem with this team, no one seem to poit out that we don't have any vets. Yet you want to built a contender adding more Noels, Okafors and Nurkices. Whiteside is the oldest guy you want here.

Problem is, when you 22, you are almost always headcase. You want more "I don't know what's goin on in lockerroom"?

I mean, we let go Henderson, let go BigFoot and we depend on Dame "lidership" only.

Marcus Camby was 35 when came to Blazers and was 4 years after Def player of the year.
Tyson Chandler is 35 now and 4 years after same (cerrect if I'm wrong).
Now, there was a case few weeks ago about CJ tellin Ezeli to shut up. Can't imagin doin so to Camby or Chandler.
Yet, Chandler is "to old" to most of you guys.
How you want to get out of trouble without any strong voice in the team? And how you gonna run on playooffs without any vets?

 

[Orion Bailey]

First of all Hello to all good people here. I'm new, so don't be too harsh. Forgive my english too.

I read this forum a lot this season and there is one thing I don't really get. Since we all know there is some problem with this team, no one seem to poit out that we don't have any vets. Yet you want to built a contender adding more Noels, Okafors and Nurkices. Whiteside is the oldest guy you want here.

Problem is, when you 22, you are almost always headcase. You want more "I don't know what's goin on in lockerroom"?

I mean, we let go Henderson, let go BigFoot and we depend on Dame "lidership" only.

Marcus Camby was 35 when came to Blazers and was 4 years after Def player of the year.
Tyson Chandler is 35 now and 4 years after same (cerrect if I'm wrong).
Now, there was a case few weeks ago about CJ tellin Ezeli to shut up. Can't imagin doin so to Camby or Chandler.
Yet, Chandler is "to old" to most of you guys.
How you want to get out of trouble without any strong voice in the team? And how you gonna run on playooffs without any vets?

Welcome!!! And good post and points!!!


Where are you from?


This is not an aspect I think some of us naysayers of chandler have put into consideration.
If chandler can come in and provide 8/10/2blocks in 25-30 minutes a game AND provides that veteran leadership, back up support for Dame, That could translate into a lot more than just numbers alone for the team.
I think the main reason many of us want to stay young is because of salary reasons. We don't have money to spend on aging vets because they are maxing out. We already spent our money.
Is there a player out there that is younger for half the salary that could provide the same numbers as whiteside? Noel could be the guy.
So really the question is, is that veteran leadership worth $10 mill a year?
Personally I'd like to have Noel and see that extra money put into another player and an elite big man coach.
Dame and NO believe they are close to contending though and probably believe chandler is a guy that could push us into contender category.
Not sure I agree.

 

[roroyo]

Is veteran leadership worth $10 mill a year?
Well, is Justin Bieber worth $10 mill a year?

(writing from Europe. u wouldn't belive how much support Blazers have in Poland

 

[Blazers Roy]

Wait, CJ told Ezeli to shut up?
What a great guy.

 

[roroyo]

It's just obvious that with team average of 17 years old Blazers gonna hang out like Minnesota and Lillard will be our Ricky Rubio. Add some more kids. Good luck with that.

 

[TBpup]

Wait, CJ told Ezeli to shut up?
What a great guy.

Yes. Ezeli was talking to them about how they need to re-focus and what it takes to be a contending team. He had been sharing his experiences from 2 straight Finals appearances with the Warriors. CJ got irritated with it because Ezeli wasn't out there everyday playing (at all) so shouldn't be talking.

CJ may may have taken issue with the messenger but the message was the right one. There is something different in the locker room this year and I get the feeling it will come out here fairly shortly unless this team turns things around in a big way. Losing the 'veteran' leadership of Hendo and Kaman may have been part of that to be sure but Kaman rarely played and I can't see CJ saying that to him.

I spoke to someone yesterday with very good team insight/connections and all he would say was, "Something is amiss." I get the feeling he was holding back a lot.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Wait, CJ told Ezeli to shut up?
What a great guy.

That's not the whole story. Ezeli was trying to lecture them as they were walking off the court after a tough loss and CJ was understandably upset. So basically he pointed out that Ezeli hasn't played ONCE so there was a limit to his authority on the matter.

What would you have CJ be like? Totally okay with having lost? I like the fact that he was pissed so he snapped back.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I would be very pleased to see us go get someone like Joakim Noah. I don't care that he has a bad contract - every NBA contract is ridiculous.

Actually, I think the reason we're keeping Pat Connaughton (indeed, the reason we got him in the first place) is his reputation as a strong lockerroom guy. That is a particular concern of Olshey's (in sharp contrast to Bob Whitsitt).

 

[oldfisherman]

Cześć, dzień dobry.

 

[roroyo]

Cześć stary gorylu.

 

[oldfisherman]

Cześć stary gorylu.

LOL, did you say hello old gorilla? Too true.

My mother was Polish. When visiting her family they would speak Polish. I remember a few words, but had to look up what I posted. Hope I said, Hello, good morning?

Anyway, welcome, and great first post. You need to have a talk with our GM and get him back on a good path.

 

[Trackjack]

Wait, CJ told Ezeli to shut up?
What a great guy.

Yea he did in polite way.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

How is Tyson Chandler doing as far as leading his present team into the playoffs?

 

[jlprk]

I read this forum a lot this season and there is one thing I don't really get. Since we all know there is some problem with this team, no one seem to poit out that we don't have any vets. Yet you want to built a contender adding more Noels, Okafors and Nurkices. Whiteside is the oldest guy you want here.

Portland fans are weird. They believe in what I have named "The Golden Future" and others call "Let It Bake." They were proud, not embarrassed, when the Blazers were the youngest team in the league. Every year they are glad to calculate that we're the 2nd-youngest or 3rd- youngest or whatever we are then.

When we lose, they're delighted, because to them, being crap now guarantees winning down the road. When we draft an Outlaw or Webster or Leonard, they shame anyone who tells them a year later that the scrub doesn't belong in the league...and the argument rages for 5 insanely long seasons. They are masochists who love self-punishment. At the end, after bitterly criticizing criticism for years, they say, Oh I came to agree with you 2 years ago out of the 5 years, so don't look at me.

When we already suck at certain facets of the game for a couple of seasons, and then those facets completely disappear during the whole preseason, they say, it's only one preseason game. You are so pessimistic. Then when the trend worsens consistently over every game in the early regular season, they say, it's only one game in the early regular season. Then they start threads ridiculing any analysis, saying, half the posters on this board react to only one loss. In this thread, they say that a veteran adds leadership in the lockerroom. They can't imagine him playing a lot and winning games.

When I first followed the NBA living near Los Angeles, my team was 10 years older than half the teams. Opponents made every mistake you could think of while we won 69 games with West, Goodrich, Chamberlain, and Hairston. When old pros like Connie Hawkins or Bill Bridges became available cheaply the next season, the Lakers grabbed them. After being picked up, older stars only lasted a couple more years at a high level, but that's how the Lakers survived at the top for many years, until the recent ownership change.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Dude I have been calling for Tyson Chandler for some time now.

 

[roroyo]

How is Tyson Chandler doing as far as leading his present team into the playoffs?

Good point. TBH don't know where their problem is. Maybe you right.

My point is Chandler have more D knowlege than half of our team alltogether. So maybe he could make some classes after games? And Dame can cary all the rest

 

[HailBlazers]

Portland fans are weird.

When I first followed the NBA living near Los Angeles, my team was 10 years older than half the teams. Opponents made every mistake you could think of while we won 69 games with West, Goodrich, Chamberlain, and Hairston. When old pros like Connie Hawkins or Bill Bridges became available cheaply the next season, the Lakers grabbed them. After being picked up, older stars only lasted a couple more years at a high level, but that's how the Lakers survived at the top for many years, until the recent ownership change.

It All makes sense now, you're a closet Faker fan.

 

[roroyo]

Dude I have been calling for Tyson Chandler for some time now.

You've got some old women in your pic. I couldn't take you seriously.

 

[riverman]

It All makes sense now, you're a closet Faker fan.

jlprk could very well be DB Cooper! Read today they found traces of factory dust on his tie....think he worked for the airline but who knows? He jumped over Puget Sound somewhere!

 

[Blazers Roy]

That's not the whole story. Ezeli was trying to lecture them as they were walking off the court after a tough loss and CJ was understandably upset. So basically he pointed out that Ezeli hasn't played ONCE so there was a limit to his authority on the matter.

What would you have CJ be like? Totally okay with having lost? I like the fact that he was pissed so he snapped back.

No, i actually meant what i said.
The mere presence of Ezeli on the bench in a suit EVERY GAME is annoying to me.

 

[TBpup]

No, i actually meant what i said.
The mere presence of Ezeli on the bench in a suit EVERY GAME is annoying to me.

Well you don't have to worry about that for this road trip.

 

[Boob-No-More]

If chandler can come in and provide 8/10/2blocks in 25-30 minutes a game

Dude, I love your die hard fandom and unwavering support of the team, but I'm afraid I have to stop you right there. Time for a reality check.

Tyson Chandler is now in his 16th season in the NBA. He was drafted as an 18-year old straight out of high school and is now 34. In all of that time he has never once averaged 2 blocks per game. His career high was 1.8 BLK/G and that was 10 years ago.

To put that in proper perspective, the last time Tyson Chandler averaged 1.8 blocks per game, Ime Udka was our starting small forward, George W. Bush still had two years left in office and we had not yet drafted Greg Oden.

And that was 24-year old Tyson Chandler. 34-year old Tyson Chandler is not the same guy. He is currently averaging 0.4 BLK/G in 27.9 MPG. I mentioned in another thread last week that we already have 8 guys on our roster averaging at least 0.4 BLK/G.

At the time, I half jokingly mentioned that if we wanted a rim protector in the middle, we'd be better off moving C.J. McCollum to starting center instead of chasing Tyson Chandler. The reason I said it half jokingly is it's actually true. Tyson Chandler has blocked a total of 14 shots all season. C.J. has blocked 31. At this time C.J. McCollum is twice the shot blocker Tyson Chandler is.

To further sharpen that point, maybe we can see if we can pry Raymond Felton away from the Clippers, because that 6'1" stubby-armed lard ass has more blocked shots in fewer minutes played this season than the 7'1" Tyson Chandler. Raymond Felton - Rim Protector. You heard it hear first.

Think about that for a minute or two and see if you still want to take on Chandler with two and a half more seasons left on his contract.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Chandler is still an elite rebounder. So, that would help. He has a shit ton of experience, but I'm not sure how much of a leader/mentor he is. I remember him still being a hot head in his late 20s and early 30s. Maybe he's grown up since then, but if so, why wouldn't PHO keep him to mentor their roster full of teenagers?

BNM

 

[roroyo]

Yeah, fuk it. Let's just use this video and let Tyson stay in Arizona. That's should be enough.
Love the idea of bringin Felton back.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Yeah, fuk it. Let's just use this video and let Tyson stay in Arizona. That's should be enough.

And over $30 million cheaper.

Love the idea of bringin Felton back.

Umm... yeah. Any chance you're a part owner of Voodoo donuts?

BNM

 

[roroyo]

And we can argue about Tyson, but point is Blazers need SOME VETS. We don't have ANY. We got kids trying to sort out something that is obv to difficult for them.

No team wins shhh without vet's experience in playoffs. Red wouldn't be happy about NO team.

 

[Boob-No-More]

And we can argue about Tyson, but point is Blazers need SOME VETS. We don't have ANY. We got kids trying to sort out something that is obv to difficult for them.

No team wins shhh without vet's experience in playoffs. Red wouldn't be happy about NO team.

Fine, so add vets on min contracts, not over paid, over the hill has beens like Chandler who are under contract for the next two and a half seasons at $13+ million a year.

That's what the vet minimum is for.

BTW, you can win in the playoffs without vets. That 1977 championship team was the youngest team in the league that year. The oldest starter on that team was Dave Twardzik, the 26-year old PG. The same age as our current starting PG.

That team's starters:
Walton - 24
Lucas - 24
Gross - 23
Hollins - 23
Twardzik - 26

This team's starters:

Plumlee - 26
Aminu - 26
Harkless - 23
McCollum - 25
Lillard - 26

That team had two players over the age of 26. So does this team.

I know it's been 40 years, but since you mentioned Red Auerbach, who hasn't coached in 51 years, I figured it was fair game.

I do agree we need one or two vets on the bench and in the locker room, but to me it's more about experience than age. Someone who has been to the finals, or better won a ring, gets more cred than some old guy who hasn't won anything. Obviously, Chandler has won a ring in DAL, but I'm opposed to giving up anything of significant value, or taking on a long term contract, to get a guy who is more of a calming influence and off court leader than an on court contributor.

BNM

 

[Cliff1976]

Is veteran leadership worth $10 mill a year?
Well, is Justin Bieber worth $10 mill a year?

(writing from Europe. u wouldn't belive how much support Blazers have in Poland

finally some Blazers fan from Poland

 

[roroyo]

finally some Blazers fan from Poland

I belive there is another one from Krakow. Siemasz wujku Cliffie

Fine, so add contributor.

BNM

Ahm... Good post. I guess I'll learn something bout Blazers on this forum

And with all this gold flying now I would be ok wit 13mill for Chandler. I mean Paul would be ok.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Ahm... Good post. I guess I'll learn something bout Blazers on this forum

And with all this gold flying now I would be ok wit 13mill for Chandler. I mean Paul would be ok.

You quoted me, but I actually didn't say what you quoted. Those were your words, not mine.

The problem with paying Chandler $13+ million a year for the next two and a half years is that's $13+ million you won't have to spend on someone who contributes more on the court. Chandler has already seen a very significant drop in his production, and that's only going to get worse as he ages.

If we were in win now mode, and felt Chandler was the missing piece, or even a missing piece, the money would be irrelevant. But, we're not, he's not and, therefore, it's not.

BNM