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https://fadeawayworld.net/2020/11/25/kenyon-martin-takes-a-huge-shot-at-kevin-garnett-he-was-a-porsche-puppy-a-miniature-chihuahua-in-a-dobermanns-body/

The above is a Kenyon Martin interview. I like when NBA players tell the truth.

Off the top of my head, Blazer tough guys are Andre Miller, Kenny Carr, Kermit Washington, Otis Thorpe, and Dale Davis. Martin mentions Zach Randolph. Zach was a tough guy, but that wasn't his contribution. I list Miller because he bullied opponents. Bonzi Wells sometimes bullied opponents, usually just sissy opponents.

The porch puppy is easy. Joel Prissybella is the only one true porch puppy. Maybe Joel did the best he could, but there are no points for best effort. Actually, it was his effort sometimes that put him in his place.

Martin was a phony tough guy.

I remember him getting physical with guards and talking tough while avoiding guys his own size.

Maurice Lucas. All-time Blazers tough guy.
As to Przybilla, the guy laid the wood on screens. Nice guy. Didn’t take crap. Got serious red@ss.

d-train wrote:Bonzi Wells sometimes bullied opponents, usually just sissy opponents.

Steve Smith and Augmon, too. Rider before them. The late 90s/early 00s Blazers guards had some good butts and weren't afraid to mix it up in the post. I don't remember a lot about Dunleavy or Cheeks's offenses, but it seems like they had their best success using flex cuts that got these guys the ball in position to punish smaller opponents. I remember Kobe getting tossed around quite a bit in the 2000 WCF.

In any case, it was quite a contrast to the Derek Andersons, Juan Dixons, and Sergei Monias that followed.

Why does basketball now have fewer Dobermann's?

I think it's because the game isn't determined at the rim anymore. I think about Hassan getting just a minimum contract. Hassan would have a $30M/yr contract if the game today was played the same as 20 years ago. The 3-point line has completely changed the game. Also, physical play has been taken out of the game. Teams don't want big men because the way the game is called, smaller and quicker players win the matchups. Big men used to take the game to the rim and win. Physical players used to disrupt opponents offensive flow because more contact was allowed. In today's game physical offensive players can't muscle their way to the rim and take advantage of a Duncan Robinson. The rules and how refs call the games has changed basketball.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:

d-train wrote:Bonzi Wells sometimes bullied opponents, usually just sissy opponents.

Steve Smith and Augmon, too. Rider before them. The late 90s/early 00s Blazers guards had some good butts and weren't afraid to mix it up in the post. I don't remember a lot about Dunleavy or Cheeks's offenses, but it seems like they had their best success using flex cuts that got these guys the ball in position to punish smaller opponents. I remember Kobe getting tossed around quite a bit in the 2000 WCF.

In any case, it was quite a contrast to the Derek Andersons, Juan Dixons, and Sergei Monias that followed.

I remember one game against the Lakers where Kobe was the 4th best SG in the game. The Blazers absolutely destroyed the Lakers that night. You know it's going well when the Plastic Man is the third best SG in the game and the first and second are on the same team. Wish I could find the box score from that game to see if my memory serves me right.

HoopsFanAZ wrote:Maurice Lucas. All-time Blazers tough guy.
As to Przybilla, the guy laid the wood on screens. Nice guy. Didn’t take crap. Got serious red@ss.

Agree on both. I'm not sure why D always hates JoelP, but it isn't unexpected that would be his choice. Personally I think the number 1 porch puppy has to be Ha Seung-jin, if only because for the famous practice fight

I think no question that Brian Grant and Sheed need to be on the list. Grant because he was just tough, and Sheed because he was crazy enough that when he got in people's faces no one really wanted to mess with him. I still remember how they used to beat the snot out of Karl Malone in those Utah series...

mojomarc wrote:

HoopsFanAZ wrote:Maurice Lucas. All-time Blazers tough guy.
As to Przybilla, the guy laid the wood on screens. Nice guy. Didn’t take crap. Got serious red@ss.

Agree on both. I'm not sure why D always hates JoelP, but it isn't unexpected that would be his choice. Personally I think the number 1 porch puppy has to be Ha Seung-jin, if only because for the famous practice fight

I think no question that Brian Grant and Sheed need to be on the list. Grant because he was just tough, and Sheed because he was crazy enough that when he got in people's faces no one really wanted to mess with him. I still remember how they used to beat the snot out of Karl Malone in those Utah series...

That one year in the playoffs when Portland played Utah and Malone was able to get away with murder. He threw an elbow at Grant's face (maybe broke his nose), but Grant hung in there and in the end, the Blazers walked away victorious. Grant was an absolute stud!!!

JRoy wrote:Martin was a phony tough guy.

I remember him getting physical with guards and talking tough while avoiding guys his own size.

Martin or KG? That was KG's MO.

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prophet_of_rage wrote:

JRoy wrote:Martin was a phony tough guy.

I remember him getting physical with guards and talking tough while avoiding guys his own size.

Martin or KG? That was KG's MO.

Sent from my SM-N970W using Tapatalk

KG did bark at Bayless but I remember Martins phony tough guy act with the Hardaways.