So when Pryz gets into foul trouble we have to rely on Howard the rest of the way? YIKES! Aldridge is too soft to serve as a 5, so we are in serious trouble unless we go after a big....and fast! Channing? Channing? Where are you Channing? (Oh yeh, down in Arizona starting....hmmm) While I'm griping: What is the point hanging on to Blake or Webster?
Channing Charmin is/was not the answer (BTW - after a blistering start he's gone 5, 2, 5 pts in his last 3 games anyways) I'm excited to see Pendegraph, which could be ridiculous considering he's a rookie . . . coming off an injury and probably not in game shape. In the last week I've heard Portland is looking for a "stretch 4". Not really sure why. We need a backup 4/5 who can defend the post, rebound, and (this would be a bonus) maybe score a little down in the blocks. Can Pendegraph be that guy now? 2 years? Ever? I'm hoping he comes back soon so that we can start to find out.
It's too bad Gortat is BYC until July 1st. I have no idea what the Magic would want for him (probably no less than Joel) but I can't help but think he'd help this team quite a bit.
Even Pendergraph will add some much needed depth. I think it will take him a while to get up to speed, but one of the good things we got by drafting Pendergraph is that he knows how to play basketball (pick and roll). What I think will take him longer is finding his spacing on the court, timing, and knowing when to get out of the way when playing with Roy. I actually expect him to augment Bayless play as well. During the summer league, it was Bayless and Pendergraph playing pick and roll all day.
It's called sarcasm! I think it is funny that he's a starter for the Suns! Truth is, LMA is not much less of a softy than Channing!
Why don't the Blazers just cut Patty Mills and sign the best center in the D League? Maybe this guy: Dwayne Jones, who's averaging 17 points and 12 boards for the Austin Toros: http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=dwayne_jones Maybe there are better options, but the D-League site's stats' page isn't very helpful.
Well I think it's pretty obvious at this point that they think more of Mills than a lot of us think, or this would have been done by now. I have to admit that I am intrigued by a fast PG who gave the olympic team trouble in covering him. The whole reason he was picked up is because Nate picked up on the fact that all the players were moaning about how to cover the guy.
You could be right, and maybe the Blazers are basically stuck with the 15 guys they have now, and we just have to be patient. I just don't see the Blazers finding a trade worth making, since I bet every GM in the league is just laughing at Pritchard's misfortune right now - and anyone worth trading (that the Blazers might be willing to part with) is laid up with injuries, anyway.
We really need a post threat. Joel can't score unless he's directly under the rim with nobody around him. LMA loves his mid-range jumper. And when he does post it's usually a fade away. Andre Miller is our only post up threat.
Mills is being kept around because he has something you can't teach - speed [video=youtube;U5zfDNT4A8Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5zfDNT4A8Y[/video] Start at 1:28. He blows right past Deron Williams, one of the more athletic PGs in the NBA. Mills is possibly quicker than Ty Lawson.
Wow he does have some jets that is for sure. That is the thing about the NBA. The quick PG are almost impossible to guard now. You are either a team that has one, or you are a team that is victimized by them.
Just think, he will be the fastest guy to set up the half court offense, EVER! (The advantage being, we get to play more seconds of half court offense per posession!)
We've needed a backup power forward since the end of last season. Instead of getting an NBA-ready player we used THREE roster spots on guys who aren't good enough to contribute on a regular basis. It didn't seem wise at the time and it's looking even less wise now. Ed O.
