Freeland In Over His Head

I've watched the games this year and Freeland is generally abused. I mean, child protection services should be called in it's so bad.

 

I don't remember anybody getting that excited about him. A little intrigued, but I don't remember anyone talking about him in terms of NBA star status.

Instead of getting defensive, why not take a few minutes to prove your point with links to actual threads?

 

I really do think for some reason that if he went down to the Stampede and got some decent games under his belt he would be much more comfortable in Portland. I dont think its skills issue. I also believe that he can still be a solid role player for us when he gets it together. Im just not too keen on seeing that process in Portland right now.

 

I don't remember anyone thinking Freeland was going to be a star, although it is possible -- there are some nutty outliers in our midst from time to time. I was anxious for him to come over to find out if he could play or not. So far, it looks like not, but I haven't written him off yet either. It's not like the rise and fall of our season depends on Joel Freeland. All I ever hoped for him was that he would be a decent backup, which is why I didn't list him in the 'biggest disappointment' thread. I hope he puts it together and becomes useful. If he doesn't, we'll find someone else.

 

Add me to the bandwagon that wants to send him down (over) to Boise. The sooner the better.

 

"The long, athletic Joel Freeland"

(That article is actually about Rubio - and it's a great read - but it does include that phrase.)

 

All joking aside, I think Joel can play if he is used where and how his talent can be maximized. I think PF is a better position is a better position. Maybe play him along side Meyers or JJ.

 

This is why I don't think all is lost. He definitely doesn't belong in the rotation right now, but we know we've seen him play well against decent NBA level bigs in international competition.

Some of you people are jumping the gun writing him off so quickly.

 

I also imagined he'd be a PF in the NBA, not a center and certainly not a center solution for us.

 

Like that idea. Would be nice to see Leonard and Hickson together as well.

 

Joel obviously needs to find some British expat groups in Portland to help get used to the foreign, alien culture. I know there are some British style "pubs" they call them in town?

 

For some perspective, let's remember that Freeland was a #30 pick. In the weakest draft in living memory. Here is that draft:

Code:

1.  Toronto             Andrea Bargani
2.  Chicago             LaMarcus Aldridge
3.  Charlotte           Adam Morrison	
4.  Portland            Tyrus Thomas
5.  Atlanta             Shelden Williams
9.  Golden State        Patrick O'Bryant
10. Seattle             Saer Sene
11. Orlando             Fran Vazquez
12. New Orleans         Hilton Armstrong
15. New Orleans         Cedric Simmons
16. Chicago             Rodney Carney
17. Indiana             Shawne Williams	
18. Washington          Oleksly Pecherov
19. Sacramento          Quincy Douby
20. New York            Renaldo Balkman
22. New Jersey          Marcus Williams
23. New Jersey          Josh Boone
26. LA Lakers           Jordan Farmar
27. Phoenix             Sergio Rodriguez
28. Dallas              Maurice Ager
29. New York            Mardy Collins
30. Portland            Joel Freeland

The one complaint I have:

Code:

47. Utah                Paul Milsap

 

All-star??? Really??? Anyone who thought that was seriously delusional. Personally, even after two years of hearing he as the best big man in Europe, I was hoping he'd eventually become a decent back-up power forward. Of course, I was pimping hard for Paul Millsap at 30 or 31, but if you can get a decent back-up big man out of the 30th pick, that's acceptable.

Of course, right now he's not even close to being a decent back-up. But he's only played about 50 minutes. He may come around, if not, well Pritchard took a flyer at 30 and it didn't pan out. At least he's playing in the NBA right now (admittedly quite poorly), but that's more than you can say for about half the guys drafted before him.

BNM

 

Yeah, the law of averages says keep throwing it in the right general direction and the ball will randomly go through the hoop at some point. Or, to look at another way, the guy is way overdue for a good shooting night. It's not like the ball is bigger or the hoop smaller in the NBA than in Europe. If he gets enough open looks, he'll start making an occasional shot. The good news is, he can't get any worse.

BNM

 

Yeah, but he only missed two shots (0-2), making it one of his better games!

BNM

 

You skipped a few important names in here right? Roy? Gay? It wasn't that weak.

 

i def thought he would be a decent rotation player, dude needs some minutes to get his shit together

 

Yes, of course. You can see there are numbers missing. I only included scrubs (a huge majority of which are no longer in the league) and Lamarcus. The best player of the draft went at #21, of course.