'Screwing over the Lakers makes him a hero, not a villain in my book. He only wanted out of HOU his final year there playing with a prima donna teammates and a moron for a coach. I'd want out, too. Go back and read the clutchfans board from last season. The vast majority of the HOU fans were blaming the chemistry issues on Harden. And you blame Dwight, not the fact the Millsap is out injured and they don't really have anyone else that can score? BNM
My point is, the guys you mentioned aren't, in general, getting more shots than Crabbe. They just make more of the ones they get. BNM
He wasn't the franchise player in LA (some guy named Kobe was). He wasn't the franchise player in HOU (Harden was and the coaching staff and management made that VERY clear) and he wouldn't be the franchise guy in POR (we have a guy named Lillard). The only time he was ever the franchise player was when he was in ORL when he led them to the finals and was 3-time DPOY. BNM
He thinks he's the franchise player. http://thelab.bleacherreport.com/would-you-pay-dwight-howard-31-million/ Howard—an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year—is about to enter free agency and based on his resume should be one of the most coveted players on the market, right after Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. He won't be. "I wouldn't sign him," said an executive with a Western Conference playoff team, expressing a view that's more common than one might expect. "A gamble," said a veteran Eastern Conference general manager. It's not that Howard is a health risk, though he's had his share of injuries. It's not that his skills and athleticism have eroded. He's still a dominant defender when engaged. It's just that Howard isn't always engaged, or serious enough or accepting of his limitations. Howard views himself as a primary scorer and a franchise star, while the rest of the NBA views him as a third option who should focus on defense. That disconnect, and Howard's ingrained reputation as court jester, make his free agency uniquely complex. He won't be the biggest star on the market. He might be the most fascinating, and the riskiest. Some team will sign Howard this month, for many millions of dollars, banking on the belief that the grinning, dunking, shot-blocking 6'11" behemoth can be a key player on a contender.
There were plenty of those quotes before the L*kers traded for him. He wouldn't accept a trade to the Bulls to be 2nd fiddle to Rose. He wanted the next team to be HIS team.
He didn't agree to an extension beforehand, and walked as a FA. He could only discourage teams from trading for him. Only the L*kers took the gamble, and lost. But he told them he wouldn't sign. The Blazers were in the same boat with LMA. Especially the last season. If he wouldn't agree to sign an extension, you risked him walking after giving up a lot for him. Maybe the Blazers and Spurs could have come to a deal, but there's no guarantee LMA would accept it.
So Crabbe played 32 minutes tonight, and had the highest +\- with 13 CJ played 30 minutes, and like I thought, his offensive production didn't drop at all. And if you're going to say something about this, come up with something better than "it was only one game"
I like how Crabbe and Turner are shutting everyone up. AC has found his groove and Turner is starting to look like a good fit.
Crabbe was in to close the game. CJ sat much of the time. Crabbe was in for defense. He guarded Jimmy Butler. ET guarded Wade. Butler is having a LeBron lite kind of season. 25.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.1 APG
What a difference one game makes. Crabbe's PER is now 10.0. No, 10.0 isn't great, but it goes to show how small a sample the stats represent. When one game can make that much a difference.
Yes, somehow a good stat means nothing when it's about a player you hate. I'm sorry Crabbe played well. I see the dumbest, most obscure advanced stats thrown around to bash players. But this one can't be used to bash him, so of course it doesn't matter.
