One more thing: Is it just me or do other people forget that he's only a second year player? Maybe it's the big MLE contract, but damn he seems so much older, so much more of a veteran than a second year guy.
Wesley Matthews has been a huge addition for the Blazers this season. Especially since Brandon Roy has gone down with injury, Matthews has stepped into a major role and played well right off the bat. Portland is definitely feeling lucky to have signed him, and you have to feel bad for the Jazz who picked keeping C.J. Miles over him. Great season thus far for Matthews.
For me he seems older because of his physique. He is solid and plays that way. (If Wes gets a lane, he physically dominates his defender into a foul or a layup). It takes most players a few years to bulk up for the NBA, I think Wes has genetics on his side. Wait till Batum bulks up like that.
if they pick the best players the sophs will be the shortest rookie/soph team of all time. the only player over 6'7 that deserves to be there is ibaka. they will presumably have to take taj gibson at 6'9 even though others are more deserving, and play blair at center.
Wow, you have an uncanny ability to find the negative of any situation! Props to Wes Mathews for filling some Big shoes this season.
Funny, you were trying to use Aldridge as a difference between Wes to show the game doesn't mean alot. But in fact Wes not making the game his rookie year and making the game his sophomore year is the exact same situation as Aldridge. So using your logic the game means alot?
I totally forgot it. I was thinking this thread title was really odd, and maybe the Blazers had been granted some kind of gift. Wesley just doesn't seem like a 2nd year player.
Count me in on that. I was going to post the exact same thing as both you and Treaty_ of_ Batum. For both reasons you guys stated. I guess 4 years of College does teend to make you older than most of the other second year players.
Congrats to Wes. I haven't heard much talk that his frontloaded MLE is overpaying for him now. At least we'll have one player for All Star Weekend.
I think it was only 1 poster that had a really big gripe about that. I'm sure he'd flatout deny it, or try and tell us that Matthews isn't good with some kind of Usage Rate and PER stats if confronted about it today.
I always forget he's only a second year player. No doubt he deserves to be in this game. He's been HUGE for us... our second best player this year behind LaMarcus.
