Can we win a championship with a Blake as a starter?

[Twith]

There is all this talk about finding a future backcourt mate for Roy, whether it's an established guy like Ben Gordon or somebody in this draft like Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, or Jerryd Bayless. I've started to wonder if we already have the guy.

I personally think we need a great defender next to Roy, since our perimeter defense has been subpar this year, and Blake probably isn't that guy. We'll possibly also need them to be a great 3-point shooter, which Blake has been this year, and it's hard to tell if he'll be able to keep it up for the rest of his career. Finally, it would be nice to get a freakish athlete like Rose, partly to compensate for Roy's average athleticism.

All in all, Blake has played about as well as I could have hoped for this season, but I'm still not convinced we can win it all with him.

[taufblazers33]

the problem with Blake is that he cant drive to the basketball. we need someone that can slash to the basket and then kick the ball out to an open teammate.

[d-train]

We aren't going to win a championship because of Blake. We might win one because of Oden and Roy. I love it that people still try to say Roy isn't a great athlete. There are few players in the NBA that are better athletes but still people want to say he isn't a great athlete.

[Tim Lehrbach]

We aren't going to win a championship because of Blake. We might win one because of Oden and Roy. I love it that people still try to say Roy isn't a great athlete. There are few players in the NBA that are better athletes but still people want to say he isn't a great athlete.

Yeah, but the answer to the question is Yes, we could win a championship with Blake starting at point guard. That's a testament to how good Roy, Aldridge, and Oden are and are going to be.

[Wizenheimer]

well, the Bulls won with Steve Kerr and John Paxson as PG's. Blake is probably comparable to them in overall ability.

Judging by all the "portland needs a rebounder" posts, maybe the more appropriate question is if Portland can win a title with LMA as the PF.

[mojomarc]

We certainly can win a championship with Blake. That still doesn't mean that having a second guard that can really create hs own shot in the backcourt wouldn't make the task easier. Blake is a nice player, but he is essentially a spot up shooter. We've seen in a couple games now that teams are really pressing us on the three point line, and when that happens Blake becomes essentially extra baggage on the court. I'm very hopeful that Oden will make it impossible for other teams to do this sort of strategy at the risk of Oden isolating himself on a single defender, but I still do think that a player if Sergio can fix the arc on his shot he would be a far better PG for us than Blake.

[PDXKnight]

The blazers can with a championship with LA-Roy-Oden and just need significant role players to do the rest, which they already have in Outlaw, potentially Rudy, and maybe Martell. There is a definite need for a backup PG but other than that, the Blazers will quite possibly be instant contenders once Oden comes back.

[Mr Odd]

Blake is a superduper roll player and good
enough to start on many teams.. .However
I believe for the Blazers to win it all theyre
going to have to have a PG who can create
scores not only for other players but himself.
Now Blake can knock down the jumper and
is pretty good at finding open guys, but hes
not really a creater & doesnt attack the rim
enough, which is pretty big in creating shots
for other players. Now Roy can do this, so
that leaves room for the starting PG on the
Blazers to lack in those areas, but what it
does is it makes the PG needing to be a guy
who can score. When you think of Blake you
dont think of a scorer even tho he can hit the
3 ball & once in awhile score like 20 points.. .
But 20 point games are to far & few. Thats why
I think its a must to get a scoring PG with Roy
in the starting lineup. One who can create his
own shot. Perhaps we'll get one in the FA market.

[Norm2953]

It all depends on how Roy, Oden and LA progress as players.

Teams have won championships with guys like Blake in their
backcourt but only if they had all league caliber players
around. Given it's unlikely Roy, Oden or LA will progress to
that level before Blake is a free agent, its doubtful Blake is
going to be Roy's backcourt partner when we cut down the
nets.

[The Emcee]

Anyone who thinks Roy isn't athletic need just watch that layup he had against I think the Heat where he brought the ball about a foot above the rim.

Speaking of which, anyone got a like to that clip?

[Mr Odd]

The problem is we dont have a scorer
on the team, a player who wants to
avg 24+ points. Roy could do this
without any problems if he wanted
however thats just not who he is.

Its true Roy, LMA & Oden could be
the Blazers "big three" as teams like
to have. However none of those players
are scorers. Now LMA sometimes seems
like he wants to be that scorer the Blazers
need so badly, but usually bigmen scorers
dont win your titles unless they draw double
and triple teams and LMA doesnt do that nor
do I think he ever will. But thats not to say he
wont be a very good PF for many years to come.

I just think its a great idea to get a scoring type
PG to be next to Roy. It makes sense to me.. .

[mojomarc]

I think you're wrong about Oden, Odd. Once he figures out how much more powerful he is than the players he's playing against and gets a little confidence at this level, I would think him more than capable of being a 25ppg scorer. In fact, I'll predict it--if the Blazers run enough plays for him to get shots, he'll be a 25ppg scorer before his rookie contract runs out.

[Norm2953]

I think you're wrong about Oden, Odd. Once he figures out how much more powerful he is than the players he's playing against and gets a little confidence at this level, I would think him more than capable of being a 25ppg scorer. In fact, I'll predict it--if the Blazers run enough plays for him to get shots, he'll be a 25ppg scorer before his rookie contract runs out.

Mojo I don't think so for while he might be capable of averaging 25ppg, it would not be in the team's best interest to do so. If he could give us 15 ppg
and 12 rpg along with a defensive presence, that would be in the team's best
interest.

[mojomarc]

-= original quote snipped =-



Mojo I don't think so for while he might be capable of averaging 25ppg, it would not be in the team's best interest to do so. If he could give us 15 ppg
and 12 rpg along with a defensive presence, that would be in the team's best
interest.

See, this is where I disagree completely. When you have a weapon like Oden, who should be able to score at will against most of the league, you should use him. If he's averaging 15/12, then we're not getting nearly enough out of him to really consider him a franchise center. 15/12 makes him a borderline all-star, not "the best big man prospect since Tim Duncan," which is what we drafted him to be. If he turns out to be the player I think he can be, 15 ppg would essentially mean running 1-2 plays for him a game. That's almost criminal misuse of a weapon like Oden. Players that big, that strong, and that skilled should get at least a couple plays for them called per quarter, and given that franchise centers frequently shoot at around a 60% clip, that would mean around 25ppg since he's easily good for 4-5 broken plays and putbacks per game.

[Wizenheimer]

-= original quote snipped =-



See, this is where I disagree completely. When you have a weapon like Oden, who should be able to score at will against most of the league, you should use him. If he's averaging 15/12, then we're not getting nearly enough out of him to really consider him a franchise center. 15/12 makes him a borderline all-star, not "the best big man prospect since Tim Duncan," which is what we drafted him to be. If he turns out to be the player I think he can be, 15 ppg would essentially mean running 1-2 plays for him a game. That's almost criminal misuse of a weapon like Oden. Players that big, that strong, and that skilled should get at least a couple plays for them called per quarter, and given that franchise centers frequently shoot at around a 60% clip, that would mean around 25ppg since he's easily good for 4-5 broken plays and putbacks per game.

I have to agree with you on this. 15 & 12 would put him in Tyson Chandler territory, and you did say 25ppg at the end of his rookie contract, not by next december.

I do think 25ppg is shooting a bit high, but only because I think portland will have great depth and options.

I would anticipate that the pick and roll with roy and oden (instead of muncie-hands) will get oden 6 or 7 points a game just to start.

And the pressure a strong inside C puts on opposing defenses is still the most effective way to break down a defense. If Oden can give portland that, Roy's penetration, LMA's mid range game, and the perimeter shooting will make portland formidable.

[southnc]

Well, the proof is in the actuals. Steve Blake has won a Championship at every level of play, except the NBA (so far).

Blake is not the ultimate fantasy player that you add to a team. He is the kind of player that glues the team together and makes everyone better. Sort of like the commercial, whereby the motto is "we don't make the products - we make them better!".

The one thing about Blake is that you have to surround him with good scorers and team players. That was proven last year, where he was ineffective on the Bucks (team that plays mostly 1 on 1 jump shooting and no defense) and terrific in Denver (great scorers and fast-break team play).

Blake also does a great job of making the coaches game plan happen and controlling the pace. He is also a good perimeter defender, but needs improvement against penetrators. He rarely makes mistakes.

Can the Blazers win a championship with Blake? Denver certainly believed so, and their coach reportedly still does and wished they kept him.

[Pinot love]

Derek Fisher, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, Butch Beard, Kenny Smith, old Jason Williams. None are perfect comparisons, but all are close to what Blake is. All won championships and Blake has what it takes to win a championship, he proved it to me in College. And he went to Oak Hill. He's always been winning with the best players on his team. It'll be up to Oden and Roy. Blake will only help them.

[Norm2953]

-= original quote snipped =-



I have to agree with you on this. 15 & 12 would put him in Tyson Chandler territory, and you did say 25ppg at the end of his rookie contract, not by next december.

I do think 25ppg is shooting a bit high, but only because I think portland will have great depth and options.

I would anticipate that the pick and roll with roy and oden (instead of muncie-hands) will get oden 6 or 7 points a game just to start.

And the pressure a strong inside C puts on opposing defenses is still the most effective way to break down a defense. If Oden can give portland that, Roy's penetration, LMA's mid range game, and the perimeter shooting will make portland formidable.

That's where stats can lie for what's most important is that Oden
is getting that 15 ppg and 12 rpg in 30 mpg.

If the team is really going good is when are our main guys don't
have to play as many minutes. Against the really good teams,
he might get those 25 points but against the bad teams, he might
be playing 30 minutes scoring less points but grabbing tons of
rebounds and blocking or intimidating guys who enter the paint.

We can't go overboard about his game for he is going to need time
learning how to stay out of foul trouble in his first season. He is
going to get his touches but LA and Roy will also get their shots.
The bottom line is that the team does not need to have him score
25 ppg to be successful. The only that matters is winning games and
Oden is a winner.

[BlackMamba]

well, i also agree that more of blake or someone else, it will all depend on what roy, aldridge and oden can do.

[d-train]

We can't go overboard about his [Oden's] game for he is going to need time learning how to stay out of foul trouble in his first season.

This would be the meek passive approach. I prefer the approach the Lakers took with Shack. Let Oden pound the crap out of opposing players and dare the refs to foul out David Stern's box-office superstar Center.