Portland @ MN (official Al>>>LMA thread)

[JeffJordan]

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Do you read whole posts, or does your mind wonder after the first half sentence or so?

Do you remember your original arguement?

[Frozen316]

Oden

[TradeMachine]

Why don't you guys go inside on every single possession? Smith and Big AL were both killing us even with the double teams from LA and Pryz.

[DmoneyH3]

Outside of Al Jeff, who does Minny have to legitimately build around?
Foye has promise, but is still an unknown at this point, since he has been out for so long.
McCants seems too inconsistent and a me-first guy (from an outsiders point of view) who doesn't play D
Gomes and Smith seem like good role players
Brewer looks really lost out there..hopefully he can turn it on, but Thad Young looks like a much better option right now and Brewer doesn't seem like he has a jumper.

It comes down to Al and Beasley/Rose vs. Roy/Oden/LMA..plus we have Rudy,Jones,Przy, Martell, Travis, Blake + lotto pick....seriously..it isn't a contest and if you put up a poll on the main forum over 90% would agree with me as well. Portland is on pace for over 40 wins in one of the deepest conferences of all time without last years leading scorer and a #1 pick.

[deeney0]

I'd bet 99% would agree with you, thankfully wins aren't determined by a popularity contest. I just don't see a jump shooting team getting over the hump. Oden is obviously a wild card, they've made huge advances in rehabilitation over the last decade, but I wouldn't want to hinge my hopes on it. I think it's certainly a contest, but only time will tell for sure.

[PDXKnight]

Is there more to many Timberwolves fans disliking Przybilla or is it simply because he left Minnesota for the NBA draft? Also, why (specifically) is przybilla disliked so much for his decision to go to the NBA draft in 00'?

[Krapinsky]

Is there more to many Timberwolves fans disliking Przybilla or is it simply because he left Minnesota for the NBA draft? Also, why (specifically) is przybilla disliked so much for his decision to go to the NBA draft in 00'?

I think it's because KG used to call him a punk

[deeney0]

Is there more to many Timberwolves fans disliking Przybilla or is it simply because he left Minnesota for the NBA draft? Also, why (specifically) is przybilla disliked so much for his decision to go to the NBA draft in 00'?

It's not that he left, it's that he repeatedly said he was staying, then left anyway.

[casey]

The Wolves are second in the league is % of points in the paint. Portland? LAST.

The Blazers have 34 wins. Wolves? 14. So what's your point, that inside scoring has little effect on the outcome of the game?

[Klomp]

Outside of Al Jeff, who does Minny have to legitimately build around?
1. Foye has promise, but is still an unknown at this point, since he has been out for so long.
McCants seems too inconsistent and a me-first guy (from an outsiders point of view) who doesn't play D
2. Gomes and Smith seem like good role players
3. Brewer looks really lost out there..hopefully he can turn it on, but Thad Young looks like a much better option right now and Brewer doesn't seem like he has a jumper.

4. It comes down to Al and Beasley/Rose vs. Roy/Oden/LMA..5. plus we have Rudy,Jones,Przy, Martell, Travis, Blake + lotto pick....seriously..it isn't a contest and if you put up a poll on the main forum over 90% would agree with me as well. Portland is on pace for over 40 wins in one of the deepest conferences of all time without last years leading scorer and a #1 pick.

1. Averaging 11 points a game for a guy missing more than half of a season isn't too bad.

2. See 5 below.

3. First, he's a rookie. Second, the coaches have tweaked his shot. Third, he plays very good defense.

4. If you say so. You better hope those knees hold up.

5. If you talk about how our guys are just role players, then so are the guys you just listed. Also, Fernandez isn't even on your roster or payroll.

[Spykes]

It's not that he left, it's that he repeatedly said he was staying, then left anyway.

Don't a TON of college players do that?

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Why don't you guys go inside on every single possession? Smith and Big AL were both killing us even with the double teams from LA and Pryz.

Take a quick glance at our coaches career record and youll realize hes a dumbass.

Coincidentally the team started to suck when Smith got subbed out for Gomes

[Frozen316]

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The Blazers have 34 wins. Wolves? 14. So what's your point, that inside scoring has little effect on the outcome of the game?

Obviously we should get as many 3 point shooters as possible who take as many 3's as possible, Antoine is a good start but we also need Stephen Curry who takes 10 a game. Trade all our players for for jump shooters and there we are just like the Timberwolves of old and Trailblazers of now.

[farzi]

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Obviously we should get as many 3 point shooters as possible who take as many 3's as possible, Antoine is a good start but we also need Stephen Curry who takes 10 a game. Trade all our players for for jump shooters and there we are just like the Timberwolves of old and Trailblazers of now.

And...and...and then lets add the most hyped big guy since Duncan! ... oh wait

[Spykes]

Coincidentally the team started to suck when Smith got subbed out for Gomes

Smith was a beast down low. I was really impressed with him tonight.

[PDXKnight]

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It's not that he left, it's that he repeatedly said he was staying, then left anyway.

Hmm, I kind of see where they're coming from now. I'm with Spykes that a lot of college players do that but I definitely understand how it could anger Sports fans in your area.

[horaceworthy]

It isn't that Przybilla said he was staying, it's that he quit during the middle of the season (after he dropped 30 or so on Indiana) because he didn't feel like going to class. If he had stuck out the season, I don't think anyone would fault him for leaving. He'd committed when Haskins was the coach and the team wasn't on probation. All he had to do was stick it out for another 10 games or so, but instead he quit. That's the main reason there's any animosity.

[mojomarc]

I'd bet 99% would agree with you, thankfully wins aren't determined by a popularity contest. I just don't see a jump shooting team getting over the hump. Oden is obviously a wild card, they've made huge advances in rehabilitation over the last decade, but I wouldn't want to hinge my hopes on it. I think it's certainly a contest, but only time will tell for sure.

But you see, this is why we're so optimistic that Oden will have such a huge impact--we're a jump shooting team almost exclusively, and yet we're good enough at it to be a .500 team or better. You add a low post presence like Oden and one of two things happens--either the defense collapses around him, making those contested three point shots slightly less contested (and when they miss we'll have a better chance at offensive rebounding), or the defense tries to play tight on the outside shooters and make Oden effective regardless of whether he ever comes back at 100%. Our recent stretch of poor play was clearly due to our lack of inside presence. Teams pressured us at the three point line so that Webster, Jones, Roy, Jack, etc., were shooting with hands in their faces the entire time, causing our shooting percentage to drop considerably. With Oden, teams will have to choose which aspect of Portland's offense they want to have beat them.

Also, while a player like Jefferson can push around an LMA or even Przybilla on offense with his bulk, I can't imagine him having nearly as easy a time down there against a near-300lb Oden.

[revprodeji]

ahh, a good ol flame war...

Antoine probably told Corey to leave after his contract is up.

At the beginning of the year people were giving Walker props for his influence on the younger players. Who knows, this could be good. At the very least he can tell him where to eat.

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BTW, LMA averages 17.3/7.4 at 22 years old. Blount's best season is 12.3/6.2... Rich man's Blount? Laughable.

I think that would be the definition of "rich-man's"

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So I guess you could say Roy is a "Rich Man's" Randy Foye, huh?

except they have a very different playing style. Roy does not have Foye's speed. Foye does not have Roy's mid range game. I understand your attempt at insult, but the styles are so different it just validates that your over reaction to "rich man's blount" was because you do not understand the concept of rich man/poor man

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I'm not even a Blazers fan but what you are saying is just flat out silly. Rich man's Mark Blount??? Blazers are a YOUNGER team than the TWolves. They have tons of room to improve.

ok, How about less physical non-rebounding Rasheed Wallace?
-If you consider rotation guys the wolves are the same age, if not younger. It was a point that was brought up numerous times during the game last night. Also I believe the original point was the wolves make a million mental errors a night and have huge glaring weak spots but at areas that can be improved. They also dominate aspects of the game that translate very good to team success (points in the paint/offensive rebounding) where as the blazers style of play (jump shooting) is established and they already play a style of game that does not have stupid fouls and turnovers. Of course, the issues that the blazers need to improve on could be improved by the return of Oden. But I think the main issues is you are at .500 playing almost error-proof. The wolves are in a ton of games and we play with a ton of errors.

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You cannot be serious... Not only will they have Oden but they will also have the top Euro player, Rudy Fernandez, along with another Lottery pick. Blazers are building a legit dynasty as long as Oden stays healthy.

Or until 2 years from now when everyone leaves due to contract and minute issues. I know your owner is rich, but there is a cap and you can only start 5 guys. Also Rudy is nice, very nice. But Nicholas Batum, Danilo Gallinari, and (the reason rudy looks so nice) Ricky Rubio are all better than Rudy. You sound similar to what the GS Warriors said about Marco Belinelli (who was considered better than Rudy also)

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Dude you're a homer. Portland is also adding Rudy Fernandez who would be at least a top 10 pick this year. Also Roy is better then anyone on your team. T-Wolves might have a bright future but there isnt a GM in the league that would trade your roster for Portland's. Not in a million years.

There is no way Rudy would be a top 10 pick this year. Also, I would take Al Jefferson over Brandon Roy. Roy is nice, I like him, but I would rather have Al then Roy.

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But you see, this is why we're so optimistic that Oden will have such a huge impact--we're a jump shooting team almost exclusively, and yet we're good enough at it to be a .500 team or better. You add a low post presence like Oden and one of two things happens--either the defense collapses around him, making those contested three point shots slightly less contested (and when they miss we'll have a better chance at offensive rebounding), or the defense tries to play tight on the outside shooters and make Oden effective regardless of whether he ever comes back at 100%. Our recent stretch of poor play was clearly due to our lack of inside presence. Teams pressured us at the three point line so that Webster, Jones, Roy, Jack, etc., were shooting with hands in their faces the entire time, causing our shooting percentage to drop considerably. With Oden, teams will have to choose which aspect of Portland's offense they want to have beat them.

Also, while a player like Jefferson can push around an LMA or even Przybilla on offense with his bulk, I can't imagine him having nearly as easy a time down there against a near-300lb Oden.

Your first paragraph is similar to what I wrote above. But the second paragraph is a concern. Personally I question if Oden can be as effective near 300lbs or even healthy. Coming back from a knee-injury with a near Jamarcus Russel weight does not do good.

Also, Al does not "push' people around. I wish he did. He pump fakes, and pumps, and spins, and pumps and gets his shot off.

[breaker91]

I just don't see a jump shooting team getting over the hump.

First off that was a funny comment about LMA and Blount. Though Prodeji is closer in that LMA is more of a Sheed clone, its hard to argue when LMA only gets 2 boards like last night. Rebounding is the #1 thing Blazer fans want to see him work on in the off season.

Right now PDX relies a lot on jump shots and it is paying off because the team is very unselfish so guys are getting open looks. That percentage will surely change in the future when Oden comes back and if the Blazers are able to upgrade their PG situation.

However, if you look at the percentages of shot types PDX is in some good company. SA, Detroit and Dallas shoot similar percentages of jump shots as PDX. PDX is at 74%, SA and DAL are 72% and Det is 71%. I see no reason why Portland can't continue to play a similar brand of basketball and become an elite team as its players mature and enter their peak years.