Inside Play, Or Lack Thereof

[Bricklayer]

As an aside, I really don't think the old Blazers used the Princeton offense to any great extent. They were democratic with their shots, lacked the superstar to dominate action, but the offense, while prolific, wasn't Princeton (and of course Yoda was still coaching in college as well).

 

[Heuge]

I just checked NBA.com and the only player the Blazers had in that era who was amongst the league leaders in rebounds was Buck Williams in 90-91 w/ 9.6. They never had a league leader in blocks. However, Porter and Drexler were annually amongst the leaders for steals.

In 92, as team they outrebounded their oppenants by more 400 rebounds, while leading the league in fewest points allowed.

 

[Venom]

I guess success raises the bar to which you are judged. Losing to MJ, Isaiah, Magic is nothing to scoff at. They had to run over alot of really good teams and their mothers to get there. Just ask Barkley, Malone, KJ, stockton, Ewing, etc.

When did that Blazers team have to face Barkley or Ewing? And KJ's Suns team was soft too.

 

[Venom]

As an aside, I really don't think the old Blazers used the Princeton offense to any great extent. They were democratic with their shots, lacked the superstar to dominate action, but the offense, while prolific, wasn't Princeton (and of course Yoda was still coaching in college as well).

Yeah, you're right. And a fair amount of those guys were not Petrie acquisitions, but he used the the Princeton principles to evaluate talent.

 

[Venom]

In 92, as team they outrebounded their oppenants by more 400 rebounds, while leading the league in fewest points allowed.

So did the Kings one year, and they don't have a ring either, and they too will go down in history as one of the softer title contenders. Those teams have only two things in common in regards to personnel: Petrie and Adelman.

Look, they're great basketball minds, but like Brick said they need to make a paradigm shift starting now. This offseason is really going to show whether or not they learned their lesson from last time.

 

[Bricklayer]

Blazers were always a strong rebounding team + very physical. Their softness was never a "finesse" issue, just the collective mental makeup.

Still a GREAT team, and I've mentioned before that losing to two dynasties with all-time great competitors at the helm was nothing to be embarrased over. They were better than any of Barkley's teams, and better than any of theose Knicks teams as well (which were actually twitchy mentally despite their toughness themselves). Still, fact was that they did NOT have that extra edge for whatever reason.

 

[Heuge]

When did that Blazers team have to face Barkley or Ewing? And KJ's Suns team was soft too.

Well, they obviously played those guys twice a year. BUt my point was that, there were many players/ teams whom the Blazers of that era exceeded. That team obviously had some tenasity about them, they made it further then some great players and some great teams. They did that on two strengths, a superstar, and tough bigs.

 

[Heuge]

So did the Kings one year,

At what point did we lead the league in points allowed or outrebound our oppenants the way they did.


To come back to the topic, I sure do hope we see Petrie reaching for players with toughness on the interior, instead of finesse players who fit into the Yoda system.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well, they obviously played those guys twice a year. BUt my point was that, there were many players/ teams whom the Blazers of that era exceeded. That team obviously had some tenasity about them, they made it further then some great players and some great teams. They did that on two strengths, a superstar, and tough bigs.

Well again, not so much the latter. Duckworth was a wuss. Buck was of course a an aging stud -- kind of their Doug. Blazers did it the way we did it -- Drexler was like Webber in talent, and then just so much depth and so many good players that they overwhelmed lesser teams. But they lost to the truly Great ones unfortunately.

 

[Venom]

At what point did we lead the league in points allowed or outrebound our oppenants the way they did.


To come back to the topic, I sure do hope we see Petrie reaching for players with toughness on the interior, instead of finesse players who fit into the Yoda system.

In the WCF year we led the league in field goal % allowed. Equally valid defensive stat.

I know you're joking but I do hope we pick some defensive minded college juniors or seniors. Look at Tayshaun Prince. Dumars was scoffed at for reaching, but the guy put Kobe in the hurt locker in last year's finals. Granted, Dumars also picked Darko over Carmello (not so bad) and Wade (VERY, VERY bad).

 

[Heuge]

Well again, not so much the latter. Duckworth was a wuss. Buck was of course a an aging stud -- kind of their Doug. Blazers did it the way we did it -- Drexler was like Webber in talent, and then just so much depth and so many good players that they overwhelmed lesser teams. But they lost to the truly Great ones unfortunately.

Other then your assessment of Duckworth, I find that a fair comparison. My only problem would be that roster was so much tougher (ours being more talented) then the roster we have put out over the last 5 years. Just look at the starting starting SF for atypical example.