I forgot to say it’s really disgusting to me that a player who took us to two finals and is our all time scoring leader wants NOTHING to do with the Blazer or Portland. Bad look Clyde.
Guys, as i said earlier, Lillard is responsible for the greatest sport moment in my life, but at the same time WE DON'T HAVE TO OVERREACT! Are you mentally drained after this series? if so, think about the fact that it was only ONE SERIES. Bill Walton won us A TITLE, winning 4 series of playoffs, and he would have won many more if he stayed healthy. We can't underestimate that, winning a title is such a difficult thing that puts Bill, even in a short period of time, at the top of everybody. I totally understand being prisoner of the moment, but we can't ignore past greatness. If we swap their career i think everybody would agree, but Walton being so far in time makes his perception different.
That game was the single greatest thing I've seen as a Blazer fan in the 20 years I've followed them. I honestly haven't ever been happier for my team. The great thing is that unlike so many other high moments (getting the Oden pick, acquiring Pippen/Smith, watching Bonzi/Randolph/Roy/Aldridge break out, the first 3 quarters of Game 7 2000 WCF), you can't really pull the rug out on this one. I mean, if Portland shits the bed in the next round and is completely swept, the memory of this game will still be there and will always be there, a fairy tale moment for the ages. Fans in Portland will be talking 30 years from now about that game where we lost our starting center to a broken leg and then Dame went for 50 and won the series on a 37 footer. There was this dickhead named Westbrook who always upstaged him with triple doubles, and Dame just flat destroyed him and his legacy and his team. Is he the greatest Blazer ever? It's probably too early to say. But last night is second only to our championship and Finals appearances in terms of legacy.
I love Dame as a player and nothing will change that just as I love the Rip City Teams of the late 80s/ early 90s. Those were my teams as a young, raving lunatic type of fan! For sentimental and personal reasons, Clyde Drexler will always be my favorite Blazer.
While I feel that, I also as an adult see the players' interaction and connection with the community in a way I never could have as a youth. What Dame does for this city far surpasses anything Clyde ever even considered.
Yeah, I was pretty young with the Clyde stuff and always thought he was awesome, glad he got to win in Houston. I never have understood how much he seems to have disowned Portland... Its made it hard for me to care about what he did here.
But that personal interaction I had with him several times as a youth is the reason I feel as I do. I hope that makes sense. I don't discount Dame and what he's done for the City of Portland. Just like I won't discount the personal interactions I had with a hero in a formative time in my life. As I said, my favorite Blazer for sentimental and personal reasons without going into it too much personally.
It totally makes sense (I know this isn't a response to me). I mean you're favorite player could be Bonzi Wells and I'd respect it, we all have our reasons. My favorite Blazer has been Wes Matthews of all guys, but Dame has probably overtaken him this year (not just that shot/game last night).
I realize in the heat of the moment but for me factoring in playoffs it HAS to be Walton #1 - mainly cause the team he led WON the Blazers a ring then this is where it gets a little fuzzy for me but .... Drexler is at 2 but barely cause he helped lead the Blazers to 2 Finals and then there is Dame at 3 BUT i do think Dame is a better player then Clyde was and for those saying what about Roy ? As much as i love what Brandon did for the Blazers and he had a couple signature moments one the Bank shot against the Rockets and then in the playoffs against the Mavs he still lacked something that Dame has in spades -- KILLER INSTINCT Dame has shown more times then i can count that he WANTS the ball with the game on the line and his bravado is not just words or body language he is the spark that makes this team a legit threat without him this team might be borderline playoff team but with him they have a chance for a run in the playoffs with or without Nurk.
Not only was Clyde the 2nd best player in the NBA, he was 2nd to the GOAT. And when I look at who Clyde had versus Dame, would you rather have Nurkic or Duckworth? CJ or Porter? Curry or Ainge? Cooper or Kanter? People say Clyde had better talent around him and I'm not sure that is the case. Kersey and Harkless have similar games, Williams was a 6'8", 225lb power forward. Not sure where the talent gap is.
To me, while you can't deny Clyde's superior size and athletic ability, it's the mental side of things and cold-blooded assassin character of Lillard that gives him the nod over Clyde. During the Thunder's run last night, the infamous Game 7 Blazers meltdown against the Lakers came to mind. Watching what Dame did last night convinced me that if you'd had your choice of adding either Dame or Clyde to that Blazers roster, Lillard is the one who would have put a second championship banner in the rafters at Moda Center.
Lillard's legendary status goes well beyond what he does on the floor as he represents the city better than any Blazer ever. I was a huge Roy fan and saddened when his career came to an abrupt end, but the drafting of Lillard quickly made that vanish and watching this young man develop into something this old fart can admire puts him at the top of my list.
Two days later and I am still thinking about Dame's amazingness. This morning, as I was getting ready for work (read: pre-coffee), I had the thought that the only thing separating Dame from MJ is 5 inches.
Walton had the single best season of a Blazer. But what is Walton's second best season? Missing playoffs or getting injured? I put him below Drexler for a Blazers career and it's not even close. The 77 season had so many odd things, all these ABA guys coming into the league. It's also over 40 years ago, the game was brand new compared to how much it's evolved today. Much of this original question is a personal argument and vote. I also don't put a team championship to completely define an individual. Durant winning two title's for a team that wins 73 games without him means very little. I'm more impressed by Barkley leading the early 90s Suns to the finals. Or Stockton and Malone leading teams to finals. Or Steve Nash MVP seasons where he ran into elite Spurs/Dallas teams. If we get swept in the next round and Dame retires without ever winning another playoff series would I rank him above Drexler? As long as he doesn't suit up for another NBA team I think I would. So yes, Dame is the greatest Blazer ever.
