#1 I was wrong about Steve Smith helping the Blazers, this guy is a shadow of what he once was #2 Same for Brian Grant (he better be injured or something weird happened to his game?) and Detlef (OK I know he is old) #3 Bonzi Wells can't shoot a lick and misses wide open shots #4 Oneal looks completely lost out there #5 Cato and Los were the right back-ups outside of Wallace to pluck off that team #6 The Blazers still don't have a go-to-guy to compare with Duncan, Shaq or Kobe. Further, Shaq destroys Sabonis's main advantage over most centers (size & girth) and Wallace can be limited by the Spurs towers--this will be the Blazer's achillies heel in the playoffs, again #7 We really don't want Donyell, unless he plays for free #8 The Warriors made a nice pick in Vontego Cummings. This guy is like a slightly tougher (in the GP wirery way) but less explosive version of Mobley #9 Erik Dampier "your not good" #10 THIS ONE IS MOST IMPORTANT---When you are watching a good team you love to see lose, never count on pond sludge to do the trick because you will probably go to bed depressed
sir scarvajal, I agrre with your points and in particular #6. If you think back over the NBA champions over the years, they always had a "go to" guy that could be counted on to get the job done. In Portland's case, it seems to be R Wallace. A very fragile basket to puts one's eggs in. Mango
I think it's difficult to judge the abilities of the various Blazers this year because of the fact that they all have to deal with the unnecessary burden and mental anguish of playing alongside Pippen.
I agree with most points #1 Steve Smith is beyond helping anyone #2 Brian Grant looks(and plays) like a fat ugly woman and Detlef a slow old man #3 Bonzi Wells is the luckiest shooter in NBA(hit 5 3's in 4th against Knicks) #4 Oneal is lost in the forest #5 Cato and Los? They can't play either #6 Blazers don't have a go to guy. They have Damon Stoudamire. He never saw a shot he didn't like. Wallace will already be in the locker room when the need him Pippen is the most over rated player in the history of the game Sabonis can't make it up the floor before he has to go the other way( Stoudamire's quick brick'n) #7 I'd take Donyell if I could have Glenn Robinson permanently guard him #8 The jurys out on Vontego. He probaly won't be as good as Mookie was and still is #9 Dampier has worst hands than that fat ugly woman playing in Portland #10 Portland will be lucky to make the playoffs with the cast of losers they have assembled. If the do make it they'll be swept in the first round. I wouldn't trade Matt Bullard for the whole lot of them. If it wasn't for lousy ref's in the NBA the Rockets would rule!
Are we talking about the same Blazer team that's on top of the NBA at 44-11? I still like their chances against LA in a series if the teams hook up. I'd start Wallace at center and Grant at the 4 if I was Dunleavy, though. Let Sabonis come in and bang on a tired Shaq (while Wallace out-quicks him first), I think he'd be much more effective.
TheFreak, Do you have some idea how the Blazers can get Wallace to calm down and keep himself in the game? He has the talent to be the "Go TO" guy for that team, but lacks the ability to focus on the task at hand. Imagine the Portland potential if Wallace could even approach Jordan, Bird, etc in mental toughness. Mango
Mango, I think Portland has so much talent that all Wallace needs to do is not get ejected, and they can beat anybody. Once the playoffs roll around, I don't think he'll have a problem staying focused. That team is just too good. All they have to do is get the Hack-a-Shaq going, and they should have no problem. I really think if they don't make it to the finals this year, they should think about getting a new coach.
