I have to admit, I really like how KP added some veterans since last season. I really felt like we needed some veteran seasoning since the playoffs last year, and these are three guys that bring exactly the kind of qualities that we needed. Miller brings leadership and playmaking, Camby brings defense and rebounding, and Howard is a guy who knows how to score and play smart. Not bad moves. I would really like to see all three back next season, and I think we might be able to make a good run in the playoffs. We have 30ish more games left, that should be enough time for our team to gel and click.
Good move by KP to bring in the old guys. Can't blame Howard and Miller for the team not reaching expectations.
Howard has had to play much more than any of us, or he himself, ever thought he would or should, but has been very nice. A great thing about him is that it's unlikely he'll complain about sitting, too, when he's not so needed. For the money, that's absolutely perfect. I thought he was wasted signing at the beginning of the season and boy was I wrong. Miller has proven good, too, and we knew going in that his lack of range would sometimes hurt. Getting him for 2 years is very nice, and I think he had a great effect even when he was playing poorly. I don't remember any Blazer being a good post passer last year, but even Blake was looking much improved at it after the 1st month or so. Proving to Roy that the team can win without him having the ball in his hands constantly has also been important. We're going nowhere higher without it, and it is/wasn't easy. Camby would be great to keep, if practical. Mainly I think that will depend on whether he can take sitting, or if he thinks he's still a star. He could be the Milsap signing, but only bad news if he goes after minutes and stats. Trading Joel (as JPEC) is a real possibility now, something I would have been totally against.
Yeah, I'm wondering if maybe we could package Joel, Rudy, and Martell for a nice piece over the summer. Who's trying to dump salary? We could maybe work a sign and trade?
I will admit this much - there is a calm and business-like attitude about this team over the course of the last three games that we haven't seen in years. The schedule is playing out in such a way that is conducive to a period of jelling. My only concern is the Blazers ability to keep their "edge" with this much time off. I foresee games in which we start slow but end strong. The balance of players on this team is very intriguing. Having them come together and jell is down right dangerous. This particular team, at it's best, would literally be the best 8th seed of all time. Haha...
And get another good player like Andre Miller out of it? Sounds good. Of course, Pritchard did that with RLEC since he knew he'd be able to get cap space. He knows he won't be able to create cap space by holding onto JPEC, so he'll probably handle it differently.
Ask any cook out there, you can over cook a cake. Believe me crispy cake is not good. Just right is much better. I know because I know a good cake and so does the cake lady.
