LaMarcus is smart. Can you really blame him for leaving us for a title contender? He wasn't going to sniff the playoffs with us. Spurs are likely the favorite to win it all next year. I've seen many fan bases in your same position. A very well-liked player leaves for another team, and everyone acts as if he has committed murder. It's a double edge sword: GM's can trade players whenever they want. Sounds kind of unfair to the player right? Well when a player's contract expires, he has the right to leave. HE PLAYED OUT HIS CONTRACT AND LEFT. NOTHING ILLEGAL. THE NBA IS A BUSINESS. IT HAPPENS. GET OVER IT!
I've defended LMA and scolded him in different threads depending on the roller coaster of Blazer angst. But, I can already tell I'm calming over the situation. I did appreciate LMA playing for us for many years, and was very impressed with his decision this past season to play through injury. It sucks how things went down, especially Wes getting injured, changed the entire situation. But I don't really blame LMA for his decision, in fact I'm impressed that he actually choose his next team based on winning basketball, not money (Portland), not being the man (Phoenix), and not being more famous (NY, LA). His decision left us high and dry, and his final words were distasteful, but he also spen 9 seasons not getting arrested or saying bad things about our city. Overall, he conducted himself pretty well. Not everyone can have the personality and magnetism of a Roy or Lillard. In the end, I think I'll like our team more now, but will miss being a winning franchise for a couple seasons. Im really going to miss Rolo. Wes too.
I don't get why people are knocking him for choosing winning (SA) over money (POR) and being the man (PHX). Even if LMA said he wasn't sure if he would return, I have the feeling we wouldn't have traded him and would have let him become a FA in the hopes of re-signing him.
How far did the Spurs get in the playoffs this season? How far did the Blazers get? What were their respective records? How many injuries did the Blazers have going into the playoffs? How many injuries did the Spurs have? He didn't choose "winning" by choosing the Spurs. In fact, he chose a team with potentially a much dimmer future than Portland. Quit using "winning" as the reason for leaving.
You need to look further than either bumper of the vehicle. SA is the model of a winning organization and championship team. No team is going to win every year. They were bounced this year first round. GS won this year. GS was bounced first round last year. Who won? I rest my case on this. If you don't think SA isn't a winning team then I don't know what to say...other than, let's try and keep it real here? There is no doubt that SA will have a better chance at finding a big third star to go with LMA and Leonard in a year or two when Duncan and Parker are gone. A WAY better chance than Portland anyhow, and anyone disputing that is delusional. Then you put in a world class coach tipping the scale as possibly the best ever? Choice is pretty clear to me when you factor in his family.
How many championships have the Spurs won in the last 15 years? How many championships have the Blazers won in the last 15 years? How many finals appearances have the Spurs had in the last 3 years? How many finals appearances have the Blazers had in the last 3 years? And to be fair, Spurs lost in 7 games without homecourt to a very good Clippers team. We got embarrassed by the Grizz in 5 games.
I think one thing that people seem to be over looking is that for once, the Spurs ARE old. Yeah, we waited for years for them to age out and quit competing, but that was when Parker and Manu were still relatively young. Now, their core roster is all over the age of 29 (cept for Leonard). Parker is 32, Manu is 37, Duncan is 39, Diaw is 32 and LaMarcus is 29. Sure, Leonard and Green are both under 30, but I think people are over playing Greens ability just a weeeeee bit. I don't think a team lead by Leonard, LaMarcus and Green really strikes fear in most teams hearts. As much as Leonard is a good player, that team was still run by Duncan, Parker, Manu and Pop the year before. Notice that the year that they gave the keys to Leonard they lost in the first round. Leonard isn't Steph Curry, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade here.
How many championships did the Spurs win in 1977? How many championships did the Blazers win in 1977? Seems pretty clear. barfo
Tim. Duncan. How many did they win before he joined the team? How many will they win after he retires? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I like Spud's idea of sending stuff like that (unburned) to LaMarcus C/O the Spurs. If he gets buried in a pile of old Blazer jerseys, maybe he'll get the message.
Flawed idea in that the Spurs surely understand both the intended message and fragility of the intended recipient, and aren't likely to pass the stuff along. barfo
You'd be surprised how it might make some boy's or girl's day knowing they received a gift (even if it's just a jersey) and knowing life will go on with the help and generosity of others.
Cool, then I'll put my jersey in the pile for Sly's charity thing... plus my Matthews & Batum & Aldridge & Lopez & Lillard & Rip City t-shirt.