1998-99 Roster and Stats They ranked 5th in points, 10th in opponent points, 6th in D, 8th in offense and 12th in pace. I really, truly believe we have the tools to get to this level.
I think we need one more "star" level player to be a playoff contender. Oden MIGHT be that, but I'm not betting on it.
But remember that team really didn't have any stars. I mean Damon could have been one, but for the most part; it was just a bunch of hard working role players (starter quality). And Detroit has proven you don't need 2 superstars to win the title.
I'm not sure what the overall IQ of this team is yet. In years past it seemed like Roy was the only one who knew what to do in crunch time when we needed a basket. Teams like San Antonio and Dallas play smart vs playing athletic. It will be interesting to see just how savvy this team grows to be.
Yeah but remember that team as well. The only savvy player was Sabas and he was way past his prime. Let's put it into perspective... Felton is like Damon Matthews is like Rider Batum is like Jackson and Augmon put together LMA is like Sheed, with more offense Camby is kinda like Sabas (smart savy vet) but definitely not as good. Johnson is like Cato We don't really have a Greg Anthony type Wallace is like Grant (fan favorite hustler) J@Crossover is like Walt Williams. To be honest, the teams are very similar.
True, i am just basing the personalities or skills. We need more games to see how good, better or worse they are.
I like the comparison quite a bit. That 98-99 team was deeper at PF/C, but they also had a huge defensive weak link in the chain in Damon. Practically every team in the league knew they just had to isolate Mighty Mouse and you were going to get a high percentage shot. That's quite a glaring weakness. Especially going into the 4th quarter in a tight game. Felton and Crawford will never be mistaken for great defenders, but they aren't terrible. It's interesting--nobody on that team even averaged 14 ppg. That's just crazy for a .700 squad. Also, none of them averaged more than 33mpg, and only 2 guys played more than 29 mpg. In that short, intense season Dunleavy just kept shuffling in guys, coming at opponents in waves. That's something I don't think this team can afford to do as much, although I'd certainly like it. If we could keep Crash and LMA under 34 mpg, we'd be doing really well.
That's what I'm hoping for too. I am hoping we can blow a few teams out and rest Crash and LMA. I do agree we are thinner down low; but if Oden could miraculously make it back this season; the similarities could be uncanny. in fact, maybe even much better.
If I squint hard enough I can see the comparisons, but it'd be kind of nice to get about 30 or 40 games into the season before coming up with any kind of definitive answer.
If you don't like Bob Ross, you're not a real American [video=youtube;5nx0mzYY1oc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nx0mzYY1oc&feature=related[/video]
I had a flamboyant art teacher in first grade that was super creepy. We always had to watch Bob Ross.
I used to get stoned with my brother and my friends all the time in high-school and we'd eagerly await some "Happy little trees" every afternoon around 3:30.
I think it is a poor man's edition. From players to coach. I HATED him, but Sheed was an amazing basketball player,and I think Sabas is being overlooked a lot. He was still one of the best centers in the league, and might have had the highest basketball IQ of any Blazer in history, including Walton. We have a good team, and the west is down. That gives us a punchers chance
Pretty good squad Mags. I expect them to fight like hell for the 8th spot. The problem is entirely with the coach, he just does not provide them with plays and style to utilize their talents as a team using team tactics. Way too much reliance one individual effort, damn little play off the ball except wait on the perimeter for the pass out by the ball handler. So far no Pick and role with Aldridge like Rudy ran quite well. Sorry to say they have not been coached at all on how to run a break, if they don't have a clear path to the hoop they usually blow it. The break should be a fast set up of the offense as the secondary option when the clear path isn't there, but alas they have no offense to set up other than the probe and kick out. Yeah 8th is about right.
mook was saying the strength of the Blazer team was playing 10 deep, and coming in with waves of fresh players at all times regardless of the score. Not getting our starters rest in a few blowouts. Those frequent subs were the normal rotation, to play all guys short spells at max effort. It started in the 1st quarter. We just don't have enough good bench players to do that with this years squad. Crawford and Batum are great subs, but everyone else on the bench is a question mark. If Oden comes back and Elliot develops and the other 8 guys in the rotation play healthy for all 66 games maybe we could do some of that at the end of the year; but I don't think that is a very likely scenario. That '99 Blazer squad had Rasheed coming off the bench, sort of in a Jason Terry role. But the guys starting in front of him weren't Desean Stevenson, they were Brian Grant who got a $70million contract and Sabonis who was paid $10+million per season. And they earned every penny of those big contracts. They may not have been all-stars that season but they were damn close, better then a Kevin Duckworth all-star. Not to mention Kelvin Cato was better then a 39 year old Kurt Thomas as the 4th big man. Then the 5th big man was Jermaine Oneal. I'd take him over Chris Johnson . Sabonis/ Cato/ Jermaine Grant/ Rasheed Camby/ Chris J/ <Oden?> Aldridge/Thomas The depth of that first front court is freaking ridiculously superior. We had Jermaine Oneal as our 12th man! Todays team has Luke Babbit. I really like our team this year and think we could have some pleasant surprises, but that first WCF Blazer team was vastly deeper than our roster today.
