Let's say Cho/Miller/Vulcan/Allen/Hat-Guy trades Andre Miller sooner rather than later for a floor spacing point guard. If Roy suddenly becomes much more productive, assertive and effective will you: A) Praise the heavens for Roy's miraculous recovery? B) Point to them being a bad fit in the back-court and attribute his struggles to this mismatch? or C) Suspect that Roy has been sand-bagging for two or three months, playing up his injuries in order to force the team's hand? Personally I think he'll still struggle massively, but if he does suddenly find the fountain of youth and become dominant again that's going to raise some very "uncomfortable" questions. What do you guys think?
I think if Roy suddenly starts playing better, the team starts winning, and everything is sunny in Blazerville, some people on this board will undoubtedly enjoy bitching about Roy sand-bagging. I hope we get to worry about that. Personally, I'll just enjoy watching the team win.
C. And I'll blame Imaginary Cap Space leading to the blazers just signing whomever they could instead of having a real plan. If you recall that game Miller was suspended, there were many comments about "Roy of Old" back in the mix. Its kind of Kobe-esque of him to do, and they ended up with Gasol after he kind of called out management like he did.
Like I've said in other threads, I think he's washed up physically and he's just not dealing with it very well from an emotional standpoint, but if he was sand-bagging, it sure would color my opinion of his leadership qualities and professionalism.
I hope I'm not dumb enough to say A. I'd like to think I'm smart enough and idealistic enough to say B. I don't think I'm cynical enough to say C.
My opinion is that there are way too many conjecture-filled opinions about Roy being stated as fact. I'd be really disappointed to find out that he'd been sand-bagging, but I really don't think that's the case. If he could perform like he has in the past, be on a contending team and make the All-Star Game again, he'd do it. I think his body just isn't working and he's confused and frustrated as to what to do about it. I do think it's possible he'll make adjustments and/or that his knees will start feeling better at some point in the season and that he'll start playing better as a result. I really hope so.
He played with Miller last year. We can all argue about whether he was being used optimally or not, but he was much, much, much better last year when playing with Miller than he has been this year. As far as I'm concerned, that's inarguable. I think he's legitimately different physically. However, if Miller were traded and Roy had a remarkable turn-around, the only conclusion is that he was sand-bagging. We know what Roy playing hard and (largely) healthy, even if not totally happy, with Miller is like. It's like last year after he came back from his injury. So if that happened, I'd be happy for the team in the short-term, because Roy playing well again makes them much better. But long-term, I'd be concerned with whether a true title contender could be built around Roy if he quits whenever things arem't precisely to his liking. What he "likes" may not be conducive to a championship team. What players like for their own comfort isn't always ideal...Phil Jackson's greatest triumph (with hindsight) was ignoring what Michael Jordan wanted personally and instilling a system and philosophy that he felt would lead to the greatest team success and forcing Jordan to adapt to it.
Honestly, I'd love to have to make that decision. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll have to. Either way, until Roy loses the negative public image he's building up for himself, the onus is going to be on him to show he's not the cocky spoiled prick he's portraying in the media, behind closed doors and through "people close to him".
Ron Harper was a high teens/20+ PPG scorer most of his career, 20+ the season before he joined the Bulls. He changed his game to fit with Jordan. Maybe it is Miller who should adjust his game to fit in with Roy and not the other way around. The Bulls need a SG badly.
I realize he was a scorer, but I never considered Harper to be a three-point shooter. That was where Steve Kerr came in. Miller is what he is. He isn't going to develop a dead-eye shot at his age.
I wonder if Detroit would give up Ben Gordon for Miller and expiring filler. I have always thought Gordon would be the ideal guy next to Roy. He can guard PGs well enough, and doesn't need to dominate the ball. The thing about those old Bulls is they got the ball to Jordan, no matter if it was Kerr or Harper. The ball needs to be in Roy's hands. He's still young and he's been a near superstar. Putting the ball in the hands of an aging stopgap type PG pickup seems pointless.
If last year hadn't happened then B would be the only choice. Unfortuantely as Minstrel pointed out, B-Roy was a 3rd team all nba player last year while playing alongside Miller. Which leaves C as the only option. Which would make me very sad.
Roy may have been sandbagging it but I don't think he's "playing up his injuries." I think he has lost his identity as a player, as a team leader, and is struggling to give up his old self in order to grow. Compound that with Wesley Mathews showing him up and the team struggling, and you got some pretty huge mental barriers to overcome... It's hard not to sandbag it when your feeling that heavy. At this point I don't think anyone should judge him, because there are only a select few people in this world who could actually relate to him. While it may seem black and white to us, until Roy sees the light himself it doesn't matter what PG we bring in, this one is all on B. Go Blazers.
Ha, Ha. I posted this in another thread before I saw this one: If Roy is suddenly 'healed' once Miller is traded, he will move below $amon on my list of past Blazers. Seriously.
