AROUND THE NBA THREAD. Sept 2021 edition

4th & 1 call cost them the game

 

Me too Dog. Over on O-Live, there were some hardcore Lillard detractors in the early days.

 

They salivating over Dion Waiters.

 

Went back & looked at 2nd round in 2012. Draymond Green was the best player, Barton (Port.) & Jae Crowder next, and the so-so Tomas Satoransky.

 

*Harrison FUCKING Barnes.

 

Fify

 

Hmm. There were Lillard doubters, for sure, but Drummond had virtually no support here. I can't speak for other forums, but that doesn't hold water here...

I argued that Drummond was the third best player in the draft, behind AD and Dame, and was undervalued so badly only because of the memory of Oden, whom he resembled very closely in physical tools and style/quality of play.

 

I was way into Drummond but was far more into Dame. I think most of us were into Dame. He'd been here for a few workouts and like he does said all of the right things. So I knew I wanted Dame with that sixth pick but I wanted us to trade up for Drummond after that.

I honestly think if we would have done that, we would have been better than we were with Meyers and maybe having an explosive true Center like that, we could have been better quicker and kept LaMarcus. There's a lot of what ifs there but I was really hoping to pair up Dame and Drummond.

 

It's actually pretty amazing how many mock drafts had the Blazers picking John Henson and Kendall Marshall.
Here is one that has New Orleans getting Davis at #1 and Lillard at #10
https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft/...mock-draft-2012-anthony-davis-hornets-wizards

On most Mock drafts Drummond was around the same as Lillard, Jones, Marshall. Blazers needed a point guard. Made a good decision. Some say Olshey doesn't get credit for this pick but he absolutely does get credit. Multiple Mock drafts had them with Dion Waiters, Andre Drummond, Terrance Ross, Jeremy Lamb.

Here is another prediction.
6. Portland Trail Blazers - Andre Drummond (74%), Damian Lillard (8%), Jared Sullinger (4%)
https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2012/6/24/3115019/2012-nba-mock-draft-25-overall

Fun to look back.

 

The rumor is Buchanan and the scout team already had Lillard as their pick. Who knows if it is true but if it is, that's unwarranted credit. We will never know.

Meyers was a pretty bad pick but there wasn't a ton after him that turned out great so either way can't fault the team that much. Leonard certainly had potential.

 

I know the rumors. That is why i addressed them. Allen/Olshey made the pick. They get the credit.

 

If he literally just did what the scouting team had already decided the credit should be reaaaallllllyyyyyy slim. But again. We will never know.

 

It wasn't a rumor, we had Dame in for more workouts than anyone else and the broadcasters on draft day were saying he had been a lock for us for quite some time. Dame was our guy. Some fans bemoaned that fact leading up to the draft because they thought we could get Drummond with 6 and a guy like Marshall at 11 but pretty much everyone knew we were targeting Lillard before the Olshey hire. Neil gets credit for not ruining things and telling everyone to go fuck themselves and taking a guy he had wanted before getting here though.

 

Man, I don't think any 'expert' predicted Crowder, Barton, and Green to be in the top ten for that draft.
http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/2802846/
(Blind squirrel playing with his nuts...)

 

Now I'm really gonna twist the Olshey haters.

Olshey has done a great job keeping Damian Lillard here in Portland for 9 seasons! What a great GM!

 

And it might only be one more year!

 

Ten Years!
A full Decade!
You have to admit not many great players stay in with the same team for a decade.

 

Congrats! If only he could have kept Aldridge here. What a tandem that would have been. But alas, he failed.

 

FukN Aldridge.... Benedict Arnold!

 

Benedict Tom Arnold Schwarzenegger Cumberbatch for you,sir