Don't we technically have 4 (LMA, Outlaw, JP, Dante) PFs? And only Oden/Przy (and LMA, I guess) play C. I'd say that 4/5 is a pretty decent need for us.
Outlaw is a small forward who Nate used as a 4 out of necessity. Pendergraph just had hip surgery and is out most likely through the balance of 2009. Cunningham is probably a little undersized and green to be a full-time backup to LMA. I think it's safe to say we only have one definitive power forward we can rely on going into the season. And Ostertag is not a four. He barely has the footspeed to keep up with other centers, let alone power forwards.
Great point. Also, our two centers have major injury history, if one of them is out we would be very thin at C.
I say we bring in Will Perdue. He'd kick Osterslag's butt! Perdue has 4 rings. How many does Ostertag have? Seriously, these guys are auditioning to be practice fodder. The minimum requirement is a big body with a pulse. Anything more is gravy. Somebody to make Oden work in practice - and if they can teach him a few veteran tricks, all the better. Where for art thou Chuck Nevitt? BNM
What about bringing back Brian Skinner? He's a UFA, right? Veteran, he's got hustle, played 16mpg last season and averaged 4ppg, 4rpg (1.5 offensive), and a block to boot. If I remember correctly he's got a little shot he can hit from about 8-10 feet out.
Probably didn't like riding the bench on an absolute crap team. Still, his sour attitude didn't levae the impression that he was a great locker room guy during his brief stay in Portland. Maybe that would be different now. Winning tends to make people a little more agreeable. BNM
If the Blazers actually sign Ostertag i will buy a custom Ostertag jersey and post a pic of me rocking it in the pictures of you thread.
I'm amazed that in 2009 there's a thread on the Blazer forum dedicated to Greg Ostertag with 29 (now 30) posts in it. Jesus.
Was Ostertag "The Policeman"? Or was that someone else on the Jazz? Damn memory. Doesn't work at all anymore. barfo Edit: I googled it. It was Olden Polynice. Link.
I might be wrong, but I heard he wasn't liked very much here. Especially after that fight with Jarrett Jack!
Just looked him up. He's 36. Retired in 2006. And in his 11 year career, his team finished with a winning record every season.
I would say Outlaw was more effective as a 4. Pendergraph is expected back in late November or so. Cunningham is definitely big enough to play backup PF, IMO.
A little birdie told me (via email) that the team views Cunningham as our backup PF as soon as this season. It's interesting that Cunningham is viewed as strictly a PF and not a hybrid SF/PF. Also, they plan to use Pendergraph primarily as a Center when we go small.
