Since we didn't really replace him(Jaylen didn't even play) i guess we should have told him to not opt out and just wait to see how situation pans out. Make up his opinion later on. There was no reason to opt out really.
A number of players have received permission to leave the bubble temporarily. The difference is, they intended to return. Apparently, Ariza never showed up at the bubble in the first place, and told the league to take his name off the list of eligable players. That way, he avoided any kind of testing or quarentine.
Well, the players who arrived and then left, left due to something unpredictable. Did any of them know in advance that they'd have to leave, like Ariza would have known? Was a preplanned departure allowed?
Other players have arranged to leave the bubble and come back. Ariza chose to opt out and not play anymore this season. This has nothing to do with his son, as he could have seen his son and still made it back to Florida for the play-offs. It was HIS CHOICE that left the team hanging. This is not complicated.
I don't care what you find complicated or not. The dude had a son die. So he opted out to be with his other son. Maybe he didn't think Dame would go lights out and there wouldn't be playoffs. The ones getting down on him, like you, should be ashamed. He prioritized his son over his team. Get over it or eat a big fat D...! Its really pretty simple. The lack of compassion of some is a sign.......
None of which addresses the point. This wasn't an either/or choice. He could have both seen his son and been there for the team. Dame was there for his team. Does that mean he doesn't love his kids? I reject the idea that common sense and compassion cannot coexist.
Actually, he has a son named for a brother that died. Not sure what that piece of trivia has to do with the discussion.
I will say this, the situation on the court has spiraled so far out of control that it seems unlikely that Ariza could have changed anything.
Did I read it wrong?? I thought his first son died falling fro ma building? I admit skim reading at work now. Either way I don't care. I'm not gonna get down on him for opting out to be with his son. Prior to the bubble we had next to a nothing chance of making the playoffs and if it weren't for Dame going supernova, then we wouldn't be in. He probably thought( logically) that we wouldn't be in the playoffs and his focus was on his family.
I have a tendency to think that with Ariza and with a healthy Collins the Blazers compete much better against the Lakers.
Bron & Davis couldn't be contained/stopped even though we thought we matched up well with our bigs. Thats the difference. The only way we beat them is if we outshoot them from three with a good margin.
With Ariza and Collins you make them work harder and the Lakers don't shoot as well then you get just a little bit more room to shoot on the offensive end. The Blazers were way too thin to take on a team as deep as the Lakers. Series showed that issue.
