Couple of Blazers related bits from Chad Ford's chat

Brett (Portland)

Aloha Chad....the Blazers are obviously on the hurt right now with Batum, Outlaw, Oden, and Rudy all out. There was a lot of hype and excitement surrounding this team to start the season, but it seems like now everyone is jumping off the bandwagon. Coping with the injuries, this season will be tough, but this team still has a bright future right?

Chad Ford (1:08 PM)

Yes. Their future is still bright. But it would be much brighter if Oden hadn't went down. He was starting to look like a legit No. 1 pick before the injury. But now I don't think there's any way to escape the "Oden's injury prone" label. Without Oden, the team is still a good young team, but I don't think they have elite talent other than Brandon Roy.


Travis (snowy Lagrande Ore)

With the Blazers struggling and with the injuries and trying to get used to Miller he could be traded. What should they do? Trade,or stay with it giving it a chance. Who might they trade for? After all its only a quarter into the season. Thanks

Chad Ford (1:10 PM)

It's interesting. Miller is obvious trade bait. But I've spoken with a couple of GMs who have called the Blazers inquiring about Miller and I'm told they Blazers told them they weren't ready to trade 'Dre yet. Things may have changed in the last 48 hours ... but this weekend that was the word I was getting. So, I get the feeling they are being patient.

 

Without Oden, the team is still a good young team, but I don't think they have elite talent other than Brandon Roy.


ding ding ding.... la is solid but not a superstar... in which u need to win a title. la can be a great 3rd option but hes not a 2 imo

 

I actually agree with you on LMA.

I've been saying since his rookie year that he's a third option on a contending team.

This 'we're not ready to part with 'Dre' is posturing. Well, that's what I hope the case is.

 

It's interesting. Miller is obvious trade bait. But I've spoken with a couple of GMs who have called the Blazers inquiring about Miller and I'm told they Blazers told them they weren't ready to trade 'Dre yet. Things may have changed in the last 48 hours ... but this weekend that was the word I was getting. So, I get the feeling they are being patient.

What?

 

patient /p'eɪʃənt/
Synonyms:

* adjective: uncomplaining, long-suffering, enduring, tolerant

#
If you are patient, you stay calm and do not get annoyed, for example when something takes a long time, or when someone is not doing what you want them to do. ADJ ADJ-GRADED

*
Antonym
impatient

*
Please be patient–your cheque will arrive.
*
He was endlessly kind and patient with children. + 'with'

*
patiently ADV ADV-GRADED ADV with v
o
She waited patiently for Frances to finish.

 

Any GM worth their salt would say they aren't ready to trade them yet just to set the table for tougher negotiations, if nothing else.

 

What is that you don't understand? Two days ago he heard that the Blazers were going to be patient and he hasn't heard anything in the past 48 hours to refute that.

 

LOL.

Patient: Antonym = MIXUM

 

English major?

 

How could Ford talk to a couple GMs that called about inquiring Miller?

Hasn't Ford heard that we signed Miller because no one else wanted him?

 

I don't even think Brandon Roy is elite talent. He doesn't play defense. This team is hosed unless Oden heals completely or we tank out this season unto a John Wall level pick. It has always been Oden = superstar or Blazers = mediocore. If the med staff didn't screw up then we're hosed for good. I keep praying I will wake up and find out KP has fired the entire medical staff due to incompetence regarding Oden's injury.

Frankly, I think we're pretty much !#%^ed otherwise. This team is really a low level first round warm up team without a dominant Oden. A first round warm up team being THE WORST THING you can be in the NBA. Too good to get a decent draft pick, not good enough to win a title. Sounds like the majority of years between 1979 and 2009.

 

He doesn't work on his game in the summer either.

But he does have the superstar whine down pat.

 

This was the first summer he didn't.

 

Clearly not.

 

Why is that? Because he knew he had his pay day?

Or because he didn't need to get better to take us to the next level?

 

Maybe he was worn down from last season, and wanted to recuperate a bit? I dunno. Glad a bit of struggling has allowed many in here to turn on our best player so easily. It's fun to witness. Pathetic. But fun.

 

True his WER (Whining Efficiency Rating) is up to 34.72. If he complained more about traveling calls he might pass Wade in this stat.

So sad to see this team implode this year. Maybe Bill Simmons will die of glee, that would be something anyways.

Ugh, it's hard to even like this team anymore. A huge ego, a middling PF, horrible PG's a dearth of Small Forwards and the best player on the team made of glass per PapaG. Papag I might add is always 100% right and though demanding proof from others his word is beyond rapproach and no proof is needed.

 

It's easy to pick on the star of the team when stuff is going bad and a new contract has been recently signed. The facts are that nobody on the team is playing particularly well, and that stars, often force it when they are sensing that their team is not responding like they would like them to. That's what stars do. Game is going badly, they try to take over. Sometimes it works out and they are the hero. Sometimes it doesn't and you go home with an L.

 

Funny, it wasn't him taking the summer off that bothered me. It was his constant complaining to the media and throwing of team mates under the bus. His freeze out of Oden was what I found pathetic. Totally unfun...but pathetic.

 

It was his selfish actions and comments that have me down on Brandon.

I've always been down on him for his defense while others always defend him because he has to expend too much energy on offense.