That's an interesting list if you look closely at it. Of the Top 25 assist leaders in NBA history, only 8 of them are in the NBA Hall of Fame. Three more probably will make it once they retire/get some more separation from retiring (Kidd, Nash, Payton). I won't say Payton is a lock, though. Comparatively, of the Top 25 scoring leaders in NBA history, 20 are in the Hall of Fame, 3 more a shoe-ins (Shaq, Bryant, Iverson), and one is mayber (Reggie Miller). For rebounding, 15 of the Top 25 are in the HoF, and three more are shoe-ins (Shaq, Garnett, Duncan). I'm not sure what this means (perhaps that assists are overrated?), but one thing it says to me is that Artis Gilmore is getting hosed, since he is 5th in rebounding, 20th in scoring, and not in the freaking Hall of Fame!
In a small sports market not only do you have 2 all sports radio stations, each of them having hosts desperate to find something original to say or some scoop to report and then add to that all of the experts like the Godfather, Kenny Vance, Quick, etc and you have an environment where little things said get spun far from reality. I don't think Lund made it up. I actually kind of like him but I do think he's taking liberties with what was said to him.
First, I don't buy the argument that Andre doesn't want to win. As I recall, that was one of the main reasons he sought out the Blazers as a free agent and went to the extent of meeting with KP & Nate to encourage them that he could help the team get to the next level. Andre seems to me to be a bit of an odd type of guy...keeps to himself and rather quiet. I think he just doesn't outwardly show his emotions as much as some people and that may be perceived as being more willing to accept defeat. Second point - I don't think John Lund is particularly in the know when it comes to the NBA. The stuff he's been pushing about Brandon and a potential amnesty under the new CBA has been pretty inaccurate, IMO. Third point - Why does a conversation about Miller's future have to devolve into a pissing match about PapaG? I'd say most people around the NBA think that there's a high probability that the Blazers move Miller before the deadline. I don't think that idea has as much to do with Miller's talent or attitude as it does with his age and contract status.
The way some players, fans, and media personnel have been dissing Dre since he got to PDX has been totally uncalled for. He is the epitome of professionalism.
You could make an argument about maybe some of the Denver teams he was on but if you really look those teams he hasn't played on one that should have made it past the first round. Sure, you could say Portland should have beat Phoenix last year but is the reason we didn't because of Miller?
Grant Hill never won a NBA playoff series until last year. I guess he doesn't care about winning either.
Yeah, this has been civil, outside of three posters who really didn't add anything in their drive-by posts.
There is a reason Miller has never won a playoff series folks. He has no outside shot. We knew what we were getting when we got him, and that is what he is. A savvy PG with no outside shot. It's was just a matter of time before a coach made him a jump shooter and exposed him for what he is in the playoffs, because that is when your weaknesses get exposed. He has a history of being on teams that get out to a series lead and then the other coach looks at film, turns him into a jump shooter, and the series turns around.
You know, the fact that the team with Blake as the starter started off really shitty AND Blake was traded might have something to do with him starting.
Yeah that makes perfect sense. Because a coach needs to look at tape to realize he doesn't have an outside shot. Even the most casual Blazer fan knows this, but you think the head coach needs several games to scout what has been his biggest weakness his entire career....really?
Rajon Rondo would beg to differ. Teams making adjustments? Weren't the 76ers down 3-0 the year they came back and tied up the series against Orlando. A Magic team who went on to play in the Finals.
No, they weren't. The Sixers were up 2-1 in that series with a Game 4 in Philly (lost that game 84-81), and then lost the series 4-2.
