I didn't have a complete background of Rolo's work, but he was on my fantasy team the year before when he was with N.O. I saw what he could do while paying attention to him for an entire year and knew he could be something more. We have some holes to plug, most definitely, but I am more than comfortable with Rolo being our starting center next year. He is a workhorse, and could still get better, not only at the game of basketball, but also as someone who knows our system and knows how to help out even a little more. Cheers.
Lopez looks good because we're comparing him to that non-rebounding, non-defending, weak-ass Aldridge, who would make even Joel Przybilla look great if we had him. Oh yeah, we did.
only three players remain from the 28 win 2011-12 season, the year before NO's signing. aside from LA, wes and nic, the players on last years team were signed or traded for or drafted by NO. freeland and claver were picked by another regime but signed by NO his first summer. this is his team and if you look at what he had for assets to assemble the current roster including 2 late lottery picks that are so far not truly contributing,i think he has done a pretty remarkable job. this years 1st rounder was traded before he arrived so the judging of his drafting is incomplete. I personally believe that the development of picks deserves at least another season or three. last season was a vast improvement considering what he has had to work with in the begining and the results that this team has produced.
Watched the ESPN 30 for 30 Film Bad Boys last night: Film really opened my eye to just how difficult it is to build a winning team. It too Detroit, what, six or seven years to put together that team. We are only on year two, give Oshey some credit and some leeway. We are still in diapers here in Portland.
While I don't totally agree with your analysis of LA, along those lines, Hickson made Rolo look like an all star to Blazer fans this year. Opps . . . you're Hickson fan if I recall right. (thought I would push your buttons on the whole Lebron steroid conspiracy, but no response)
LeBron doesn't push my buttons either way, so I don't think about him. Hickson, despite his faults, put on a clinic every game, if you look only at effort. The side-by-side effort comparison with Aldridge put Aldridge to shame. For that reason, I sure want to keep Lopez.
LaMarcus would be the best player in the league if he bought into the classic Hicksonian effort he showed at the outset of the Rockets series.
Equating hustle with selfishness? Sorry, I don't buy it. Hickson, like TRob, is a flawed player....but a flawed player with a good motor can still make a positive contribution. If LMA had better drive/killer instinct he would be a HOFer, not a Kevin Love!
Doesn't surprise me to see that people don't understand the great point jlprk was tying to make Which is a shame because he's 100% right If Aldridge played with the same effort that Hickson does, Aldridge would be that much better. We all know Aldridge is inconsistent in the effort/energy department, while Hickson mixes it up in the paint as well as any big man. Put 2 and 2 together now
How about on defense? Should Aldridge play with the same amount of effort as Hickson on defense? Should he wrestle rebounds away from teammates? That was always one of my favorites.
Bullshit. Hickson plays with 100% effort 50% of the time. He puts in 0% effort on defense and that's where he hurts his team. Go back and look at his Net Production and on court/off court stats at 82games.com. Doesn't matter if he's in Portland or Denver, he consistently has a negative Net Production and negative on court/off court. Using J.J. Hickson as a poster boy for putting forth effort at all times is a flawed concept. It overlooks the 50% of the game where the other team has the ball. Hickson is all about his own stats. He puts in tremendous effort only when it makes his personal numbers (rebounding and scoring) look better. He is the kind of selfish player who will fight his own teammates for a rebound in order to pad his stats, but will not set picks, fight through screens or play help defense. There's a reason this guy has bounced around the league so much. Outside of an occasional delusional fanboy, I've never heard of anyone: teammate; coach; GM regret his departure. The guy simply isn't a team player. J.J. is all about J.J. He only plays hard when he thinks it will help him get a bigger contract. Unfortunately, for him, the league saw through his shallow ruse and he didn't get the huge payday he'd hoped for. Again, in a league where big men are routinely overpaid, not one single team was willing to give Hickson even the full MLE (which is based on league average salary). If he ever decided to put the same effort into defense as he does his own personal stats he'd be twice the player he is and may finally get the $10/year contract he craves. Until then, he'll bounce around the league, from team to team getting paid $4 - $5 million a year. Which seems like pretty fair pay for a guy who puts in little to no effort half the time. BNM
All that said, I think J.J. would make a great backup 4 at around $4 million/year, but as a starter, his complete lack of effort on defense hurt his team. He could get away with that against other bench players, but if he's starting, you're in trouble. BNM
Yeah, how about on defense? Like Aldridge gets to rest and guard the offensively inept big while Hickson is forced to take the tough match-up and play out of position Defensive stopper LaMarcus Aldridge!
What's your point? That Hickson is a better player than LMA? Is there a single Blazer player who you don't despise? Don't say Lillard, because he plays less defense than anyone on the roster.
