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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4304805
overpaid... but a solid piece to a team with thats built of mostly potential...
overpaid... but a solid piece to a team with thats built of mostly potential...
"It was expected that the Blazers would have to renounce their rights to two overseas players, Joel Freeland and Petteri Koponen, in order to clear cap space for Turkoglu."
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/15873023
does this mean fernandez might be available? what do you guys think of koponen?
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/15873023
does this mean fernandez might be available? what do you guys think of koponen?
Hedo makes everyone around him better. If he is making the 3ball he is one of the most important players on the floor. If Oden can stay healthy and do nothing other than block shots and rebound they will be dangerous. They are stacked and have a bunch of trade pieces for the future. Their bench is almost as talented as their starters.
If the Blazers had another yr of playoffs experience under their belt, I would pick them to win the west as of today with the rosters of the other teams considered.
The lakers got Artest, but he won't be content to take less than 10 shots per game per 37 mins of playing time like Ariza. There is only a certain # of shots to go around per game. Artest's shots will come at the expense of others. I would prefer Pau taking more shots than giving them to Ron.
The spurs are better with Jefferson but still need another big to contend. If they get Rasheed, they are up there with the lakers.
But no one has the talent of the Blazers at this point. If Greg Oden develops more for next yr and can stay out of foul trouble, he will be a force with rebounds and protecting the lane. Oden, Aldridge, Hedo, Roy, Blake.... thats a good starting line up. You still have guys like Rudy, Batum, Outlaw, Pyzibilla coming off the bench.
The lakers got Artest, but he won't be content to take less than 10 shots per game per 37 mins of playing time like Ariza. There is only a certain # of shots to go around per game. Artest's shots will come at the expense of others. I would prefer Pau taking more shots than giving them to Ron.
The spurs are better with Jefferson but still need another big to contend. If they get Rasheed, they are up there with the lakers.
But no one has the talent of the Blazers at this point. If Greg Oden develops more for next yr and can stay out of foul trouble, he will be a force with rebounds and protecting the lane. Oden, Aldridge, Hedo, Roy, Blake.... thats a good starting line up. You still have guys like Rudy, Batum, Outlaw, Pyzibilla coming off the bench.
hey Gargy! Notice how I carefully worded MY comments so as not to award the title to Portland before they've actually played a game with their new improved roster. 
If Ron-Ron plays the way he's capable of playing, if he truly buys into the role, you guys just got even better ... Your only real questions are all related, however, to Ron's mental stability and even his desire to win, which can work against you just as much as for you.
I'm looking forward to your battles against Portland, however. I think it could be interesting, to say the least.
If Ron-Ron plays the way he's capable of playing, if he truly buys into the role, you guys just got even better ... Your only real questions are all related, however, to Ron's mental stability and even his desire to win, which can work against you just as much as for you.
I'm looking forward to your battles against Portland, however. I think it could be interesting, to say the least.
You absolutely can.
8 8 8 8 8
vs.
10 5 5 5 4
who has a higher average?
Portland has a lot of upper tier talent, without necessarily having a "superstar." I think they'll do fine. They have a very strong bench and I would put up their starting five with anyone in the west. They're young, they're good, and now they have someone who isn't afraid to take, and make, that last shot in a close fight. There's a lot of good energy coming from Portland right now. Hopefully we'll be in their place within the next 3 years.
8 8 8 8 8
vs.
10 5 5 5 4
who has a higher average?
Portland has a lot of upper tier talent, without necessarily having a "superstar." I think they'll do fine. They have a very strong bench and I would put up their starting five with anyone in the west. They're young, they're good, and now they have someone who isn't afraid to take, and make, that last shot in a close fight. There's a lot of good energy coming from Portland right now. Hopefully we'll be in their place within the next 3 years.
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Brandon Roy is probably the best player in the league that isn't considered a superstar. That has to count for something. Now throw in Aldridge, Hedo, Blake, Oden, Pryzbilla, Batum, Bayless, Rudy (maybe), and Outlaw (not to mention Pendergraph who I think will contribute this season) and they are at least in consideration for the most talented team.
Why does everyone keep talking about oden?
You can outway a team with a superstar if you had a bunch of 8's on your team. Look at sac back in the day and the pistons when they were winning. However as the league is forming into a few teams just loading up on talent like the lakers celtics cavs and spurs potentially, I don't think this Portland team stacks up talent wise against those teams. And they all have a superstar except for maybe Boston cause pierce and KG are slipping.
You can outway a team with a superstar if you had a bunch of 8's on your team. Look at sac back in the day and the pistons when they were winning. However as the league is forming into a few teams just loading up on talent like the lakers celtics cavs and spurs potentially, I don't think this Portland team stacks up talent wise against those teams. And they all have a superstar except for maybe Boston cause pierce and KG are slipping.
Good move. I still think they need a low post scorer because they've always been associated as a very young, super athletic jump shooting team, and Houston exposed that in this year's playoffs. This at least gives them a veteran who's been in the wars (both with us and with Orlando) and a more skilled foil to their athleticism. I'm not sure if Oden can develop into that, or if injuries will stop him, but if he does they're pretty set, that's for sure. I happen to like Brandon Roy--he has a quiet killer instinct, star quality in his all-around game and no major flaws, so I think he can definitely lead them to the WCF if his heart's set on it.
Brandon Roy is a superstar.
Also, I would bet the Blazers do not field this team as is next season. They now have serious excess talent at the wing positions, and are lacking a bit at point guard. Not to mention that have a pretty substantial trade excpetion that they picked up from the Kings due to the Diagu trade.
Also, I would bet the Blazers do not field this team as is next season. They now have serious excess talent at the wing positions, and are lacking a bit at point guard. Not to mention that have a pretty substantial trade excpetion that they picked up from the Kings due to the Diagu trade.
Yeah great move for Hedo and Portland. As far as their title possibilities, I have to ask, who else is there in the West besides LA and San Antonio?
Denver I really don't see repeating their success but the West doesn't look too strong.
Right now, I'd say Top 4 looks like this:
1. LA
2. San Antonio
3. Portland
4. Denver
....
Denver I really don't see repeating their success but the West doesn't look too strong.
Right now, I'd say Top 4 looks like this:
1. LA
2. San Antonio
3. Portland
4. Denver
....
This unfortunately is just wrong thnking in the NBA -- does not work. The team with the hgiher NBA average is team 2. Lots of good players = nice deep playoff run. 1 (or preferably 2) superstars + a bunch of roleplayers = champion. This is why guys like John Paxson and Derek Fisher have rings while guys like Terry Porter and Mike Bibby do not.
The question with Portland is going to be Brandon roy and Grege Oden. Aldridge is a good player, but nto a sueprstar. Hedo is a very good support player. But Roy is going to have to be the man, or Oden is going to have to make huge strides as the man. But they are going to need a "the man" either way.
I think this move puts portland in contention to make it to the finals, although they might still be 1-2 yrs away depending on how oden performs.
But, what the hell is orlando thinking? Their team, with a returning Hedo and healthy nelson would have a great shot at returning to the finals. I don't understand forcing hedo's hand with the VC trade. VC is a great scorer, although not as great as he once was, but he doesn't make anyone around him better. That is exactly what hedo excelled at. I think orlando definately took a huge step back. IMO, their ball movement will really suffer, and dwight will have a tougher time without catching all those lob passes from hedo.
But, what the hell is orlando thinking? Their team, with a returning Hedo and healthy nelson would have a great shot at returning to the finals. I don't understand forcing hedo's hand with the VC trade. VC is a great scorer, although not as great as he once was, but he doesn't make anyone around him better. That is exactly what hedo excelled at. I think orlando definately took a huge step back. IMO, their ball movement will really suffer, and dwight will have a tougher time without catching all those lob passes from hedo.
hey Gargy! Notice how I carefully worded MY comments so as not to award the title to Portland before they've actually played a game with their new improved roster.
If Ron-Ron plays the way he's capable of playing, if he truly buys into the role, you guys just got even better ... Your only real questions are all related, however, to Ron's mental stability and even his desire to win, which can work against you just as much as for you.
If Ron-Ron plays the way he's capable of playing, if he truly buys into the role, you guys just got even better ... Your only real questions are all related, however, to Ron's mental stability and even his desire to win, which can work against you just as much as for you.
Huege, I read a rumor about them being interested in Andre Miller. Dunno the validity of it.
est1999, the Blazers in 2000 had the deepest team in the league and they also had diminishing returns at some positions and lost to 2 superstars in a 7 man rotation.
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Shaq and Kobe, Kareem and Magic, West and Wilt, West and Baylor. But it's still rare for an 88888 to beat a 1010555. All those teams that won had at least one superstar and borderline 2 (Havlicek, McHale, Sampson, etc). The 04 Pistons are the most recent outlier.
Malone and Stockton lost to Jordan and Pippen. Pippen was about as close to a superstar as there has been in recent mem. Matter of fact, he was in my eyes compared to someone like McGrady, the label is tossed around too much.
But it's still rare for an 88888 to beat a 1010555. All those teams that won had at least one superstar and borderline 2 (Havlicek, McHale, Sampson, etc). The 04 Pistons are the most recent outlier. Malone and Stockton lost to Jordan and Pippen. Pippen was about as close to a superstar as there has been in recent mem. Matter of fact, he was in my eyes compared to someone like McGrady, the label is tossed around too much.
I get the sense that you did not read the question correctly. It didn't seem as if she was asking whether or not a pair of superstars failed to win a championship during a single, isolated year when they may have been favored to win, she seemed to be asking whether or not there was a pair of superstars who NEVER won a championship IN THEIR ENTIRE tenure of playing together.
In other words, since O'Neal and Bryant won three championships, Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson won five championships together, and West/Chamberlain/Baylor won a championship together, it seems to me that they would be immediately disqualified.
In other words, since O'Neal and Bryant won three championships, Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson won five championships together, and West/Chamberlain/Baylor won a championship together, it seems to me that they would be immediately disqualified.