Posted 12/03/2012 7:44 PM

It was an awesome game! No need for trades at this moment. The great thing is we are playing great and next season everyone will be back except for Babbit and JJ, those are two we are going to miss BUT we have a lot of cap space. Awesome time to be a BLazer Fan things are only going to go UP!!

Posted 12/04/2012 5:28 AM

@river...In my defense, I have stated in other threads I would only consider trading LA if he were making the conscious decision on a game by game basis to not perform at the level he is able.  Any time a player, particularly one of Aldridge's stature appears to be choosing not to play, and instead just go thru the motions, I will call them out...in this case publicly on our boards.  If nothing else, the rest of the team, the guys busting butt night in and night out deserve the support and recognition for having to step up and carry that extra load.  No apologies from me, and I still have questions as to where this LaMarcus has been, and moreover...why.  If a chain of nagging injuries not given their due ink have been to blame, fine.  If a matter of Stotts making some adjustiments in his offensive schemes to better suit LA's game, fine.  Only those within the organization know, and if it HAS been a choice, that merits criticism.

 

Thought last nights game looked a bit like a "Bad News Bears" flick in stretches, especially that third quarter.  There were moments when I couldn't have found sand deep enough to bury my head if I were with the team and in the building.  That is youth, and part of the process.  This road trip has afforded us Blazer fans a good look at some organizations far worse off than we, Washington and Charlotte in particular.  They both have nestled into the cellar and appear to be quite comfortable there, mismanaged to the extreme.  I am encouraged by the definitive direction Olshea has this team headed and feel there is legitimate reason for optimism.  Last night, seeing the expression on Jordan's face at the end of that game made me appreciative like I hadn't been since the season began.  

Posted 12/04/2012 7:06 AM

Posted By Siccolo on 12/03/2012 7:44 PM

It was an awesome game! No need for trades at this moment. The great thing is we are playing great and next season everyone will be back except for Babbit and JJ, those are two we are going to miss BUT we have a lot of cap space. Awesome time to be a BLazer Fan things are only going to go UP!!

I disagree on Luke & JJ.  If JJ continues to play the way he has been playing (except for last night) then the Blazers would be idiots to let him go at the end of the season. The Blazers need hustle & Grit of which JJ has both.  The Blazers offensive system that Stotts has will allow Luke to grow, and if he gets enough playing time, I think people will take a new look at him at then end of the season.  Luke's issue has been he has only been given two or three minutes under McMillan since he came into the league.  Stotts is the first coach that is going to use him like he did last night and he came through.  He had ice in his veins last night.

With LA, I think BDAWG is right in his perspective on him, but I just want to add this, he needs to make a decision to play at all-star caliber that he was last season.  My opinion for last season was at times he was more concerned about making the all-star team versus his team (i know that LA Lovers are going to go ballistic with that comment) but as I said that is my opinion.

LA needs to be the leader of this team and not shift that responsibility by being passive and shifting that responsibility to younger players.  He needs to lead my example. he needs to call players out when they are being lazy or do not show up thinking of the team first.  I am really concerned that he has not step up to the plate to Lead and a prime example was the players only meeting that was held where who, not LA, but Wes and Ronny Price called the players out.

LA if you want to be a true All-Star like LeBron, Kobe, Garnett, and some of the others in the past, Blazers like Drexler, Terry Porter, Mo Lucas, Bill Walton then it is time to step up and set the example to your players and Lead Your Team to a championship.

Posted 12/04/2012 10:11 AM

I like LaMarcus' calm demeanor. He plays through injury, leads by example and is one of the top power forwards in the NBA. Wes and Jared are the vocal leaders on the team and he's fine with that. We had guys in the locker room calling guys out last season and that didn't produce positive results. I don't want a Kobe personality on this team. Supporting the Blazers starters is not a character flaw, it's just love of the team. LaMarcus is a true allstar in my opinion but that's why we vote. I voted for LaMarcus, Wes and Nico...didn't vote for Kobe or Garnett. Ask LaMarcus' teammates and coach how valuable he is and listen to the analysts across the media and everyone hands down agrees he's a superstar, allstar player. We have the start of a really competitive talented group moving forward. LaMarcus is the center piece.

Posted 12/04/2012 12:48 PM

Awesome game, that's the New Team, New Dream we've been hearing about! No trading La, stop it, the dude is nasty.. been sayin it through all the doubt.

Story of the night: Babbit, wether or not we all will believe "he's finally come around" will differenciate. To me, I think he had a great game, & I actually think he could do that for awhile to come. But I still believe we're missing one or two pieces off the bench to really excell this team into top dogs. 

 

I haven't ever truly thought Babbit was worthless, but I've felt like I haven't seen anything to prove the contrary. I just wonder if he'll ever be able to improve his transition D and his low post D, which are where I think he lacks most. His offensive decision making looked impressive and almost a total 180 from what I've been used to seeing from him. BUT, I still don't think he will be of significant role in this team moving forward, although if he can improve (though I hope we all don't get wrapped up in the "potential" aspect like we've all made the mistake of doing before) on defense/rebounding even more, than we may want to bring him back in a decent role.

Posted 12/04/2012 2:26 PM

I think Stotts is seeing something most of us hae not seen in Babbit.  Remember, what chance did he have under Nate?  NONE

Posted 12/04/2012 4:29 PM

What I ment was that they are the two players who contract are up at the end of this season. But I do wish they both stay

Posted 12/04/2012 4:37 PM

Gotya.

  I hope Babbit improves and shuts up all the Babbit Bashers.

Posted 12/04/2012 5:00 PM

I think we all know that Babbit can shoot a set shot 3 without a defender in his face..he made 3 of them last night but his real improvement last night was rebounding, blocking shots and showing some life on defense. He hasn't played like this at all all season but he earned his check last night. If he keeps it up I'll be impressed. I have not been at all until last nights game. Freeland and Barton have put together 3 games off the bench and been productive. Luke's put together 1 so far. I hope he proves me wrong because I haven't been a fan of his all around game until last night. Defenders gave him 5 ft clear of space and he made them pay. Nico made a beautiful pass to him for the clutch 3. It's great to see the bench step it up. I don't think Babbit is alone being bashed...across the board the entire bench has been bashed until a couple of games ago and rightfully so. They were the worst producing bench in the NBA. Now that's starting to change and it will translate to wins if it continues.

Posted 12/04/2012 8:39 PM

Honestly though, where in the heck has Price or Claver been? I have heard nothing about injuries or anything, and they haven't been on the court in what feels like weeks lol

Posted 12/04/2012 9:48 PM

Claver has been injured. Stotts kept Price out to find some offense off the bench but Price tied Leonard for bench pts earlier in the season with 12. I think he wanted to keep Lillard on the floor and sub in shooters around Wes, Nic and LA. Lillard also stayed fairly out of foul trouble which limited Ronnie's minutes