THE BLAZERS' FAIRY TALE LOOKS TO BE ENDING

How many threads did you post this in before you got the right one?

 

Just one other. Hey, nobody's perfect.

BNM

P.S. I'd love to get Paul Allen to autograph that book - or better yet, a blank check.

 

Not to change the subject or anything, but shouldn't someone tell Shooter his avatar might make him gay?

 

I believe that's his point, it's dead-on accurate, BUT it's meaningless to the Blazers UNLESS they want to attract free agents who still have a lot of gas in the tank.

No player trying to build a career would be advised by his agent to come to Portland right now. And anyone that thinks Miller will just slide in and take 25-30 minutes from Blake and Rudy without pissing both of them off simply doesn't know how competitive people think.

So, he's correct about the situation, but wrong about the result. When your team is so deep there's no room for more talent, it's time to stand pat, let them develop together, and ride the dynasty. When you don't recognize that fact, it's like trying to pour more milk into an already full glass.

IMO, our recent switch from building on unspoiled draft talent to now focusing on rejects from other teams could very well be the ONLY thing that derails our dynasty. If we can't attract them, so much better for us.

 

I've been told gays are born, not made.

 

Since you agree with me, why are you arguing with me?

I'm just saying the author is right that we can't attract star free agents the way we used to. That should be obvious to anyone.

I do not agree with the author that it's a bad thing, I like it this way. In fact I wish Miller had said no to us. Free agents could easily negate our last 6 years of rebuilding in one season of bickering.

 

Ah, Maris, you did not follow the "Values" Voter!

 

You keep using this word "dynasty." Teams have to actually win a single championship before you're permitted to use the word. You tinker until you get there and even then you don't stand pat aside from your core players.

You're either getting better or you're getting worse, there's no such thing as standing pat.

 

Why would Miller need to take 25 - 30 MPG from Blake and Rudy? Give him Sergio's 15.3 MPG, plus 9.7 MPG from Blake. "Problem" solved.

And that assumes none of our guards miss any games due to injury. Every game one player sits out, raises the average minutes for the others. So, it's conceivable that Miller, Blake and Rudy could all average 25 - 30 MPG. Last season, Blake averaged 31.7 MPG (too much, IMHO), Rudy averaged 25.6 MPG, throw in Sergio's 15.3 MPG and Bayless' 12.4 MPG. That adds up to 85 MPG. If anyone will be squeezed for minutes, it will be Bayless.

Nate has also said he'd like to reduce Brandon's minutes. So, that could free up another 3 - 4 MPG for Rudy. I don't really see where the "problem" is in this case. Bayless is the only one who will have PT issues, and he's not part of our regular rotation anyway. He's there in case someone else gets injured - and he will be hungry to prove himself when he gets his chance. It's not necessarily a bad thing to have young talent on the bench that's eager for more PT.

BNM

 

I think Miller will play more than 24 minutes...

 

15.3 + 9.7 = 25

Please read the rest of my post. There will be other minutes to go around. Every time one player misses a game everybody else's average MPG goes up. That's how Blake + Rudy + Sergio + Bayless averaged a combined 85 MPG last season. They didn't play 85 in every game, but since they all missed games (giving the others extra minutes) that's what their MPG add up to.

BNM

 

And I'm saying you're confused if you think he is right.

Other teams aren't more concerned about making sure players' careers don't "stagnate" and distributing minutes, than they are about winning now and in the future.

Thus, we aren't any less attractive with regard to "stagnating careers" than other NBA teams.

 

yes...bad addition on my part...

But think about a game without anyone injured...I think Miller will be playing more than 25 minutes and, after some possible early season Bayless testing, I think the PG minutes are a "zero-sum" issue (any given to Miller are taken from Blake). If Miller plays 30 minutes a game that doesn't leave a huge chunk for Blake (18)... that's almost cutting Blake's playing time in half...I don't think that qualifies as "problem solved"...

It's certainly not a disaster, but it's not nearly as easy as you make it sound.