Sheed should definitely be ahead of Roy and Aldridge, imo, though Aldridge's two games in Houston in 2014 do count for something. It was incredible.
"I want to be the best Blazer ever" - Meyers Leonard, direct quote from Rise Up II.... coming straight to a trash can near you this summer!
Yeah it was against the Kings, but watching him when he has called his own number and is getting the screens from Zach or Nurk or Ed is so much fun. He's constantly picking at the defense, looking for that two inches of clearance he needs. If he doesn't get it right away, he backs off 1/4 of a second and tries to get the defender to relax, then jabs ever so slightly again. Does he want the room to shoot a three, or to drive? As a defender you've got to decide but oh shit it's too late you were thinking and he was just moving and now you're on your heels shit shit shit dammit he's around you and dammit you just fuck fuck fuck why did I swing at him? Now he's going to the line for the and-one!
Efficient shooting was never Aldridge's strength. Granted, it hasn't always been Lillard's strength, either. People want to believe Aldridge wasn't as good as he really was, but it's the very fact that he was that good that has the fan base so resentful that he left us hanging.
Aldridge wasn't that good here. We lost him ave 4 starters and had a 7-game drop off. Dude shot a lot of shots and they weren't efficient. Dames always been more efficient. They aren't close.
An entire career is an eternity in the NBA. Not even Jordan played for the Bulls the whole time. Doesn't happen very often.
The goal is to win. A Walton-led Blazer team did that. A Drexler-led team went to the Finals twice and should have gone a 3rd time. IMO, Dame has to get to the Finals at least once to be in the discussion. 'Greatness' to me is how high you can get....not so much how long you were good. Some of that is also circumstantial as you have to have the right players around you. It's for the same reason I don't put Marino quite as high as guys who have won multiple SuperBowls.
I kinda thought the same at first, but there is a noticeably stark contrast between the two quotes. "I want to be the best Blazer -- ever," Aldridge said. "If I stay the rest of my career, I should be able to catch Clyde by then. I should be able to leave a mark on a big-time franchise that is going to be seen forever. And I will be able to say I played here my whole career. This city has embraced me and grown with me. I have so much history, it just makes sense to stay." "I want to be the best Trail Blazer ever," Lillard told a group of reporters after the Blazers (35-26) disposed of the woeful Kings for their fourth straight win. "I can't say things like that without leading the team to a successful season, winning games, and having a huge impact on that happening. That goes along with it. My production and my leadership has to say that." One guy points to a single player, trying to catch that player, and basically being remembered. The other points to his part in producing wins and successful seasons. One is focused solely on individual accolades; the other primarily on team accomplishments. They couldn't be more different.
Not when they are playing like this. When they were losing 6 games in a row at home? Yes. So which team are they? I would hope they are more like the current version but the lapses in consistency and complete disappearing acts by some players at times is inherently frustrating.
honestly, Aldridge could have been the best Blazer ever and i believe he would have stayed...... if it wasnt for Lillard. it was Aldridge's team until Dame hit that game winner against New Orleans. at that point, it wasnt his team anymore and he didnt want to be here because of it. jealousy. he left out of jealousy. im not buying into the whole "i want to be close to my family". bitch, you made MILLIONS. how can you not move your family here. ALL OF THEM. IN MULTIPLE HOMES. straight jealousy. thats all it was.
I would argue Dame is never going to pass Drexler in states alone. Getting to the WCF still has him below Clyde. If Dame could win a title, then and only then, does he pass Drexler. Having said that, how do you define "best"? If it isn't based solely on performance, but includes intangibles and things outside the game, then Dame could probably become the best just by getting to the WCF and continuing to be a great leader, and finishing out his career in Portland.
It's hard to put him over Walton and Clyde. Considering Walton's short career, Dame might be considered the better Blazer. Clyde was considered one of the top 50 all time NBA players when that list first came out. Dame isn't quite in that class, though he's a joy to watch and see on TV in other settings.
You posted exactly what I was going to post after reading through the thread. LA all about himself, Dame all about the team.
Kinda. Despite being in the middle of a fight for the 3rd seed, we're still a go-nowhere team. People are blinded by the standings right now and have forgotten that we've rarely beaten a good team at full strength this season, and have often lost to mediocre teams playing without their best players. If we remain within striking distance of home court in Round 1 through the next 10-12 games, then that'll be something to be excited about. Dame is amazing, and I want us to succeed for his sake. But the team would be better off in the long run with a lotto pick - we need something of value in order to improve the roster.
That's the problem with rating/ranking anyone from that group. Sheed, Sabonis, Pippen, Grant, and maybe Stoudamire and Smitty, they all seem worthy of consideration for those #7-10 spots.
