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Crawford a Selfish Player? - ABSOLUTELY
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  1. BlazerManiac
    BlazerManiac
    Posts: 671

    Posted 04/26/2012 12:53 PM

    JASON QUICK - McMillan Doubted Craford

    http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2012/04/blazers_insider_how_portlands_worst_team_season_in.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

    McMillan and Crawford had several conversations, and according to McMillan, none of them centered around the Blazers and the desire to win. Crawford instead wondered about himself: How much would he play, how many shots, what style of play? When McMillan told him he would have to play defense, Crawford blanched.

    During this time, I was in frequent phone contact with Crawford. He had narrowed his choices to Portland and Sacramento, and greatly favored Sacramento's Paul Westphal, a coach noted for an open offense and little concern for defense. He voiced concerns about McMillan, and his controlling ways.

    As training camp continued, and the internal conversations about signing Crawford heated up, McMillan had grown irritated. Entering his seventh season in Portland, McMillan had transformed the franchise from laughingstock to respectability by placing team above all. Nothing he was hearing from Crawford suggested he would be a team player. His gut told him not to endorse signing Crawford.

    But as he looked at his practices, he grew wary. Roy, the three-time All-Star, was not there. The team needed scoring. The team needed shooting. And at the moment, he would be entering his make-or-break season with a rookie -- Nolan Smith -- as his backup point guard.

    Time was wasting and the pressure was mounting. Had he more job security, or more time to teach, he could have stayed true to his beliefs.

    Instead, McMillan OK'd the Crawford deal.

    I am a fan of JJ the Double Double Beast.
  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6475

    Posted 04/26/2012 1:18 PM

    Thank you for posting this, BM. This article does offer insight as to how and why things went wrong, which is what most of us fans wanted to know. The bottom line is this team needs a team leader. LaMarcus is the best player on the floor, but we need a Brandon Roy in the locker room. Even if Roy didn't play, his presence would have made a world of difference this year as he's able to keep guys accountable. If anything, it makes me more appreciative of Roy and what he did for us over his tenure in Portland.
    I am a fan of
  1. cmeese47
    cmeese47
    Posts: 2214

    Posted 04/26/2012 1:24 PM

    You cannot sign people and try to force them into a mold. J Crawford is an experienced vet who cannot be expected to make drastic changes to his overall game to fit a system. 
    I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.
  1. BlazerManiac
    BlazerManiac
    Posts: 671

    Posted 04/26/2012 1:39 PM

    However, Most superstars they now how to take thier game and do it for the betterment of the Team.  Crawford has no clue in the word WE, he is only concerned for his stats.  (Which SUCK by the way).

    His game is all about taking long range jump shots and kicking his legs out so he can get fouled.

    DUMP HIM.  Just Pray that he does not pick up his option.
    I am a fan of JJ the Double Double Beast.
  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6475

    Posted 04/26/2012 1:42 PM

    Posted By cmeese47 on 04/26/2012 1:24 PM
    You cannot sign people and try to force them into a mold. J Crawford is an experienced vet who cannot be expected to make drastic changes to his overall game to fit a system. 
    While this statement is true, it also goes both ways. Crawford has only made it out of the first round once I believe, so it would have been nice had his focus been on winning rather then FGA's.
    I am a fan of
  1. BlazerManiac
    BlazerManiac
    Posts: 671

    Posted 04/26/2012 1:54 PM

    Posted By DHawes22 on 04/26/2012 1:42 PM
    Posted By cmeese47 on 04/26/2012 1:24 PM
    You cannot sign people and try to force them into a mold. J Crawford is an experienced vet who cannot be expected to make drastic changes to his overall game to fit a system. 
    While this statement is true, it also goes both ways. Crawford has only made it out of the first round once I believe, so it would have been nice had his focus been on winning rather then FGA's.

    Absolutely.  He only cares on how many attempts he throws up and hopes they either go in or is foulded or both.
    I am a fan of JJ the Double Double Beast.
  1. commontongue
    commontongue
    Posts: 1433

    Posted 04/26/2012 4:32 PM

    Anytime we talk about this season,we're going in reverse. I say dump them all. Felton,Crawford, Craig the Wino,Thabeet,and even Babbitt. Lets go after two solid vets,one point,one center and retool. And while i dig Canales' moxy,we still need to go after a coach that these cats can respect and buy into his system.D'Antoni,Carlisle,or SVG when he's ousted from Orlando.
    I am a fan of Rip City Basketball
  1. Greg Oden fan
    Greg Oden fan
    Posts: 5

    Posted 04/26/2012 10:20 PM

    I agree with you 100 %
    I am a fan of
  1. kenny c.
    kenny c.
    Posts: 412

    Posted 04/27/2012 2:03 PM

    It is a bit weird to bring a person like Crawford here to score and then fault him for that.
    I am a fan of Winning
  1. BlazerManiac
    BlazerManiac
    Posts: 671

    Posted 04/27/2012 2:24 PM

    It is nto the fact thawe bring him here to score.  It is the fact that yes he can score, but he is not a team player.  He does not play defense and does not want too.  His game is throw up FGA's, kick his legs out and hope he gets fouled.  He is to streak player which is not what the Blazers need.  If he even knew how to pa,ly some defense or learn how to be a team player it would be a different story.  Coach Nate had it right.

    Jamal, I am begging you to leave Portland, and play with a team that does not belive in defense.
    I am a fan of JJ the Double Double Beast.
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