Didn't we just do this exercise a month ago? Anyway, this would be my starting lineup - Sabonis being my all time favorite Blazer.
True, they really folded down the stretch against the Pistons, and remember game 6 against the Bulls, they blew a huge 4th quarter lead to Bulls bench. WTF was that? But the 99-2000 team only got close once, and had the most epic choke job in nba history.
I remember game 6 vs. bulls. I watched the first 3 quarters and then I had to help move. I had the radio on and I remembered being up like 10 or something in the 4 and thought, dang we are going to game 7. Then I get back to the moving truck and heard Drexler fouling out, then Kersey and then our lead. Worst day of my life.
1. Lillard and Porter, 2. Drexler and Roy, 3. Wicks and Batum, 4. Aldridge and Lucas, 5. Walton and Sabonis. "Scrubs": Stoudamire, C. Robinson, R. Wallace, Paxson, and M. Thompson.
Starters: Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler, Maurice Lucas, Jerome Kersey, Bill Walton Bench: Damian Lillard, Brandon Roy, Buck Williams, Scottie Pippen, Arvydas Sabonis, Mark Bryant, Larry Steele
I'll go a different direction... How many franchises can top our All-PF team? LaMarcus Aldridge Rasheed Wallace Buck Williams Maurice Lucas Brian Grant And that doesn't count late-career stopovers from the likes of Kemp, Camby, and Shareef.
That's what I've been saying, The Blazers have always been blessed with power forwards and soon to be Noah Vonleh.
I can't believe I didn't mention Cliff Robinson, Jermaine O'Neal, Dale Davis, Otis Thorpe, etc. Mark Bryant makes the top-5 for most franchises and he's barely third team for us.
Roy was one of my all time favorite Blazer players, but longevity is not a word I normally associate with his career.
My team: Lillard Clyde Pippen Sheed Walton And I am going to trump all of your teams because I am also going to include a coach, my pick for coach is Dr. Jack. Walton, Sheed, Clyde, and hopefully Lillard will be, or were in their prime as Blazers. I would throw Pippen in there because he was a savvy vet and a team full of mid to late 2o year olds need a vet for guidance, plus his defense was still pretty elite even when he was a Blazer.
C: Bill Walton & Arvydas Sabonis PF: Lamarcus & The Enforcer SF: The Glide & Bob Gross SG: Geoff Petrie & Larry Steele PG: Rod Strickland, Dave Twardzik
Nice call on the dunk, but you know what made the dunk possible? The best player on the court diving on the ground for the ball. Drexler slides into the knees of the SA dude and grabs the ball. When did LMA do anything like that? We need more of that type of play from our stars. Not just Wes who is now gone. I really am hoping all these new youngs scrap like that. But it starts with Dame leading by example and I fully expect him to step up this year in his D and off the ball play.
Career #'s for ZBo compared to #12 (don't look at counting stats, as Z-bo's played 5 more seasons---look at the per 36's, per 100 possessions, ratings, efficiencies, etc.). Even taking into account the 2-3 horrible years he had with the 2005-6 Blazers, NYK and LAC, he still compares pretty well with #12. Hm. Granted, only 6 years in POR vs. 9, and #12 does have the edge in stats, but it's by no means a runaway and no means a reason to put #12 on the top of Blazers PF lists and forget Z-bo completely
