Because no one cares about the Blazers. Dame and Aldridge were snubbed for years before they got their due. But I know for a fact I wouldn’t need more than one hand (or a couple fingers) to list all the centers that bring a skillset to the table than Nurkic. That’s good enough for me. His impact is obvious.
You think Nurk playing in Portland is the cause for him to get zero votes from the players, his peers? The list of centers in the last 5 years who his peers have voted for over him is pretty long. I really like Nurk, but he has not had the consistency to warrant an all-star selection. How many players have not been all-stars in Portland and then gone to a big market to become all-stars? I don't think that's really a thing.
no it’s not the reason, but it doesn’t help. But guys with his profile don’t really make all star games anyway. The stats don’t stand out enough. Marc Gasol has only three all star appearances to his name yet was considered by many in the league as the best all around center for over a decade.
Maybe it's true, I have nothing to back it up or not. Regardless, what I said about above average height all-stars on championship teams is true and Nurk isn't an all-star, in any city.
Nurk has a way to go just needs to be focused and put his ego aside. When he's focused he does a lot of little thing like passing accurately instead of lazy passes that get picked off. If he would post under the hoop and let guys get him the ball he can drawl fouls. On the d side he just needs to be a rime protector and forget about charging guards on the three line.
oh c'mon...that's incredibly deceptive to start with, Thomas was a 12-time all-star. But also on that roster: Joe Dumars: 6 all-star games; 5 time all-NBA-Defense; 3 time all-NBA Bill Laimbeer: 4 all-star games; 5 seasons as top-5 rebounder Mark Aguirre: 3 all-star games Dennis Rodman: 2 all-star games; two-time DPOY; 7-time all-NBA defense; 2-time all-NBA those Pistons championship teams had definite all-star talent at 4 of 5 starting positions, and a two-time all-star and two-time DPOY coming off the bench. Plus guys like Rick Mahorn, Vinnie Johnson, John Salley, and James Edwards
You have the privilege of 20/20 hindsight. At that point in time, Thomas was the only current All-Star in that season. Up to that point, he was an 8 time All-Star (Dame currently is a 6 time All-Star). Sure, Dumars and Rodman developed into All-Stars and Hall of Fame players in the coming years, but at that slice in time, you wouldn’t be privy to this information. We don’t know if players on Portland’s roster could develop into All-Stars; Norman Powell could, Nurkic has the potential to. RoCo was 1st team All-Defense.
I believe this is correct. Hasn't happened in 32 years. If people don't like the idea of a coach who hasn't won in 9 straight seasons, they should also be against trying to implement a strategy that hasn't worked for 31 straight seasons, right?
well, that Pistons team had 5 players who had 27 all-star appearances in their career. At this point, the current Blazer team very likely only has one past-present-future all-star on the roster if you dismiss Melo...as many of us wish we could. RoCo is already 30 years old and the odds of him in an all-star game are practically nada. That's not to dismiss him....he's in the group of players like Tayshaun Prince and Shane Battier and Bruce Bowen. Essential glue guys Nurk has to improve a ton and he'll never make an all-star game as long as he's in the same conference as Jokic, Gobert, and AD Powell will turn 28 before the season is over and we don't even know if he'll be on the team next season
You make it sound like the Blazers can chose their pick from a bucket of allstars. Of course a legit two way big wing is awesome, those are franchise players and beyond difficult for a team to get one of let alone more. Do you want the Blazers to trade Lillard? I'm not sure what other realistic option your "insight" provides. Analysts said teams like the Dirk Mavs or jump shooting warriors would never win a title until they did. Maybe Dame never wins a title, but I want to see what he does in his next 5 years. Surrounding him with talent will help. The more talent the better.
Well the best acquisition would be a dominant two way wing like Giannis, Kawhi, LeBron. It's beyond difficult to acquire those players. After that I agree, the Blazers could contend if they had a number or two way role players. Just as the Dirk Mavs won. Dame can lead an elite offense, but he needs spacing or secondary creation help on offense to prevent traps and the whole roster of above average defenders to get a championship defense. If we had another Nurk and two more Roco I think we could do it. Problem is instead we have offensive only guys such as Kanter Melo or defensive players with offensive limitations such as DJJ.
technically, but he was snubbed for three years after that. He only made the 2015 team as an injury replacement.
Good post! To some degree, I do think teams like ours must choose their all-stars or trade for them. Milwaukee, our most recent opponent took the 2 time MVP after our selection. They obtained Khris Middleton & Brandon Knight for Brandon Jennings. If those two moves were an average 15th pick and an equal value trade, they wouldn't even be a playoff team. We've drafted Dame, that was outstanding to get a player at his level with the 6th pick. Our other lottery picks or trades have failed to land us what I believe is a very important, 2nd, two way all-star. If all I cared about was winning an championship (it's far from that), I would actually probably push for trading Dame since we have so few other paths of obtaining 2 all-stars. I love Dame, I'm not up in arms about 3 playoff series wins in 6 years, so for that reason, I'm not wishing Dame to be traded. I've said before and I've said again, if there is someone who truly believes ANY of the next 3 champions will only have one all-star who is below average height, I would be happy to take the other end of the bet. While people are saying it could happen (which I agree, it could), I think deep down we understand that it hasn't happened in 31 years and is probably not likely to happen any time soon. Do you feel like it is likely? In general, I don't think my "get 2 all-stars" is any great insight. It's as much insight as "get a good coach" and I believe it correlates much stronger to winning championships.
Speaking of playoff series wins, did you know Nate McMillan has won one playoff series in SIXTEEN YEARS as a head coach? That’s astounding.
Just trying to understand the “astounding” part. A. That he’s only won one series in 16 years B. That he managed to win one series Would you like to clarify the astonishment Eric?
So you'll make every excuse in the book for Stotts (did you see Trent indirectly call him out over the defense? Just like Nurk did)... But it's Olsheys fault because we don't have Kawhi and Embiid to pair with Dame. Shit, name a team with two All-NBA players this year that didnt sign at least one of them in free agency. I'll wait.
Did you see Powell indirectly call out Nurse last night? Or is that just bias projecting? I said all-stars, not all-nba for a couple reasons. One of which is there are more all-stars and that wouldn't be such a strict criteria. I can go into the other reason in a later post if you care. There are a handful of teams who have obtained multiple all-stars, they are often the main contenders; I can name them if you'd like. If you don't feel the GM is responsible for roster creation, who do you think is?
