Yeah I've seen interviews with Paul Silas in which he said the exact opposite. He didn't call Ricky Davis out by name but it was very clear. He said the difference in LeBron after getting those guys off the team was remarkable. It was critical for his development.
If Shaedon doesn't want to show that he should be a number 1 on a rebuilding team on its way up, not sure he ever will want to be a one? Thats strictly up to Shaedon Sharpe as to if the team wants to build around him.
That's just not the way it works. I mean, otherwise Jermaine would have been an All Star as a Blazer...
So, about the responses I expected. Put out an optimistic storyline and Blazer fans’ Pavlovian response to having been kicked in the nuts so many times by the fates that we believe rule basketball is going to erupt. Throw in the name “Jason Quick” and the positivity is DOA. I do think it should be noted that the whole point of the article that Quick contributed to is “bold takes” for each team as to something that could generate excitement. Like the rest of you, I’m not holding my breath that this is going to happen, but boy do I want it to.
He struggled. Paul Silas said it made a huge difference getting those guys gone and LeBron was able to be more assertive.
His first game was “one of the best of his career”? Sigh….. It was an amazing game for an 18 year old playing against grown men in his first game….. but he’s easily had bette……. What am I doing even trying to reply……sigh
He struggled in practice and in team settings. He wasn't comfortable. There is a reason they made so many changes after drafting LeBron. I don't remember the exact episode for certain that Paul Silas spoke about it, but it was in the series "Basketball: A Love Story". I think it was the episode specifically about LeBron.
Lebron James played 79 games and 39.5 minutes a game his rookie season. Ricky Davis was traded after 22 games in Cleveland and was never any real issue. Part of what you are saying is correct they traded him but he was not in the conversation long enough to ever hold Lebron back. There are quotes by Ricky that he felt Lebron wasn't really ready but that's pretty much only Ricky himself.
I think this is probably true. They made a decision to just go with Lebron and give him the keys. That usually makes any player better.
Correct, once someone is ready to take the next leap, they will naturally supplant others. That's common sense. This isn't a scenario where Sharpe is sitting on the bench and not getting minutes. At one point last year he was leading the league in minutes played.
Darius Miles as well. There was also another guy who is escaping me... *Edit* I think it was Carlos Boozer.
Damn if only the Cavs would have kept Ricky Davis..... LBJ would still probably be a Robin to someone's Batman.
Or maybe LeBron would have left the cavs earlier. Or maybe he would have gotten into trouble trying to deal with the stress. Or maybe he would have eaten himself into a Zion form... The point is, nobody else has the same ability as LeBron. But it was a big enough problem even for LeBron that the franchise had to move guys to clear his runway. And his Coach noticed the difference enough to talk about it when interviewed about LeBron's first two seasons.
So wtf does that have to do with Sharpe and Ant? Every situation is completely different because the players are completely different. Ricky Davis is considered one of the worst teammates in the history of the NBA. Are you saying that Ant is? Or more importantly, do you think his teammates think so?
