I'd say most are a combination of the two. Some of us just got tired of all the ridiculous posts about how great a player the guy was when after three years in the league he still couldn't shoot, was extremely turn over prone and can't/won't defend anyone. I'm all for pulling for the underdog, but when a 3rd year player (now 4th year) has not improved ANY of his many weaknesses it gets harder and harder to pull for the guy - especially when the player himself and his mindless disciples are constantly trying to blame someone else for his failures. Well he wanted out of Portland and he got out. Supposedly he was sent to a coach and a system where he could thrive. The result - he's getting even fewer minutes and is buried even further down the depth chart playing for the worst team in the league than he was playing for the 54-win Trail Blazers. If anything it makes it look like Nate was too generous with his playing time. Sergio had plenty of opportunities to succeed in Portland and he squandered them all. After less than half a season the league adjusted to take away his one, and only, strength and exploit his numerous weaknesses. And, he never improved those weaknesses. As a result, he's gone from a rookie with promise to a seriously flawed 4th year player who can't get off the bench for the worst team in the league. And, we're already hearing excuses for his latest failure - from the same posters who just two weeks ago were claiming he was now in the ideal situation playing for a coach who would help him thrive. If he can't get off the bench playing for a bad up-tempo team, his days in this league are numbered. Too bad for him. I guess he should have worked harder on his jump shot, cutting down the unforced turn overs and at least trying to play defense. Oh well, he had his chances - plenty of them.
There is no reason that Udrih or Evans are playing ahead of Sergio other than that they are paid more (Udrih) or were surprise #4 picks. In the few minutes Sergio has actually been given, the Kings are in the +, which, given their sorry-ass record, is saying something. Evans is not a PG. As I said after watching him in summer league, he's a larger Jarrett Jack. With less court vision. Udrih is Sergio with a better agent and less flair. Eventually, they will probably be playing Evans at SG and Kevin Martin will have been traded. Lord knows he's not helping them win. Isn't it amazing the obsession people have with Sergio. Mostly his detractors. It's rather strange.
Udrih didn't look too bad last night. I watched the 4th quarter and overtime and he was one of the main reasons (along with Kevin Martin) that the Kings won. He had 16 points on 7-12 shooting and 6 assists in 28 minutes. He hit the game tying shot with 1.4 seconds left that sent the game into overtime - on a designed play coiming out of a time out. No coach that values his job would ever call a play for Sergio to take the last shot with the game on the line. And, Udrih was +27 for the game. So yeah, there are reasons Udrih is playing and Sergio is sitting.
I think it's sad, that their lives are such pitiful failures that they are buoyed by celebrating the perceived failures of others who are still so clearly more successful than them.
I see you are back to your old trick of trying to re-write history. Sergio, both directly and through his agent, asked for a trade multiple times during his career in Portland. We all know about his agents demand this time last year to trade Sergio immediately. And Sergio himself said he needed a change last May after the Blazers were eliminated from the play-offs. "Something has to happen," Rodriguez said. "I can't be here forever, with the same situation. " ""No ... I don't know what's going to happen, but I need a change," Rodriguez said. "I can't be here forever. It doesn't work."" When asked specifically about being traded to Sacramento, "Were you glad that the Kings made the move they did in June?" Sergio's response was, "Yeah, I needed a change." He definitely wanted out of Portland and he got what he wanted. Stop trying to deny that fact and be happy for him. He is now in a situation where he can thrive with a coach who appreciates the beauty of team basketball and will be his Frank Layden. BNM
