SB Nation User Blog: GreatOden'sRaven

BlazersEdge Mock Draft Update

GreatOden'sRaven — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:09:33 -0000

Hey guys,

As a follow up to my earlier post, we will be doing our mock draft at 11am PST. I will post over here the results of who I select. We were allowed to make trades in our time leading up to the draft, and I completed one.. however because it was so large, it was disallowed as it would overshadow the draft.

You can follow our Mock Here if you want:

BlazersEdge Mock Draft

So from now until I post the results of my draft for OKC..

here was the proposed trade. Let me know what you think.

Toronto receives:

Jeff Green

Pick 3

Pick 25

Earl Watson

Chucky Atkins

Oklahoma City receives:

Chris Bosh (contingent upon him signing a long term deal)

2010 1st round draft pick (top 5 protected with an option for 2011 unprotected)

Thanks,

Great Oden's Raven

(UPDATE #1. With the Third Pick I chose James Harden. While I feel he is a bust waiting to happen, the fine people of WTLC have spoken, and James Harden it is. I will look for a shot blocking presence in the late first round.)

(UPDATE #2. With the 25th pick I chose Taj Gibson from USC. I think he would be an excellent pickup for you guys in the late first round. He isnt as strong as some of the other PF/Cs in the draft, but he has excellent rebounding and shotblocking (3 per game this year!!!!) and would be a great backup at C to allow Collison to play PF)

Poll

Is this a good trade?

Yes

15 votes

No

13 votes

28 votes | Poll has closed

Help Needed! OKC who you want?

GreatOden'sRaven — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:31:26 -0000

Well it's that time of year. The Draft approaches and as is fairly common across SBN... we are doing Mock Drafts. Over at Blazer'sEdge, I have drawn the task of selecting for OKC. Now being a archrival (at least formerly) I have a pretty decent idea of your team and where they have strengths and weaknesses. I could make my pick I think pretty accurately on my own, however, that is only an outsiders view. So if you don't mind, help me out here...

Who are the top 5 players you want in this draft at #3? Who do you want at #25?

And most importantly what are the things you need the most to complete your team. I know your record was god awful, but I think OKC is ready to make a leap into the 30 wins next year and into the upper 40s in 2 years if they play their cards right. I have great respect for Presti and I am sure he knows what he is doing.

If you were to trade the 3rd pick, what would you look for? I know thats like 5 things to ask, but I have heard OKC is looking to move their pick and I want to cover all my bases.

Thanks for your help, and if you have any Blazer q I will be glad to answer..

(EDIT: ADDED A POLL)

Poll

Which player would you most like the Thunder to select at #3?

Hasheem Thabeet

11 votes

Stephen Curry

3 votes

James Harden

26 votes

Ricky Rubio

17 votes

Jordan Hill

0 votes

Tyreke Evans

1 votes

Jrue Holiday

0 votes

DeMar DeRozan

0 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

The 5/11 Aaron Brooks Red Suit Junk Drawer Edition

GreatOden'sRaven — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:35:40 -0000

Props to Brooks for busting out the bowtie. I was impressed. He is now a viable option at point guard after that move. That sealed the deal.

I was just in Oregon for the first time this year this last weekend. I was in a wedding. It was nice weather. It was a lovely ceremony. Laurelhurst has too many hippies. that was a nice group of single statements in a row.

Maybe its just me, but I am not sold on the "ZOMG! WE HAVE TO DRAFT DEJUAN BLAIR!!!" camp. I like the kid, don't get me wrong. But I don't think moving up is somethign we have to do. If he falls to us, take him, but I don't really see the need to move up much in the draft. I would rather get a free agent to fill the backup PF role. There are some good ones out there. I have seen too many guys just like him flame out. Not to say he will but i have seen it happen.

go ahead disagree with me.. i dare you..

Poll

Summers in Oregon are awesome because:

The weather is nice

53 votes

This is the last summer we get to relax without the playoffs

15 votes

There are lots of places to go outside and enjoy

38 votes

Jazz/Blues Festivals

3 votes

Californians dont visit during the summer

35 votes

144 votes | Poll has closed

Who is the Perfect Pick for San Fran?

GreatOden'sRaven — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:08:23 -0000

Lets say for a second that the draft plays out perfectly for YOUR player. you know, the one that you PRAY somehow falls to the 49ers. If you had your choice of player, who would you want? I know we want a tackle, but lets assume that Jason Smith, Aaron Curry and Eugene Monroe are gone.. every other player has been mocked ahead and behind us, but those 3 are ALWAYS mocked above #10. So.. who would you want? Discuss below

Poll

Your choice?!

Matt Stafford

2 votes

Mark Sanchez

18 votes

Michael Crabtree

44 votes

Jeremy Maclin

7 votes

Andre Smith

13 votes

Michael Oher

3 votes

Brian Orakpo

15 votes

Aaron Maybin

13 votes

Malcolm Jenkins

3 votes

Everette Brown

19 votes

BJ Raji

23 votes

Brian Cushing

0 votes

Rey Malaluga

2 votes

Robert Ayers

0 votes

Percy Harvin

1 votes

163 votes | Poll has closed

Total Junk 4/4/09

GreatOden'sRaven — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:21:25 -0000

Yeah well since no one has done one today. here it is.. add at your own will.

Blazers had a huge streak of luck with a win by Portland and a loss by nearly every other team in the playoff race. Except San Antonio.

I watched Rambo First Blood today. Oregon Sheriffs are jerks, hassling Vets like that.

Michigan State and North Carolina are in the title game (NC likely). Has anyone else noticed this has been the most boring freaking tournament ever? Part of that is also because CBS sucks. Show us the 5-12, 7-10, 8-9 games. We dont want to flippin watch 1-16... even 2-15.. cut to it if its close, but cmon... CBS pretty much sucks royally at all sports. they have crappy HD for football too.

well that is my junk for the day.

Why I love Mike Rice

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:02:59 -0000

Now I am sure many of you will instantly recoil at the headline. It happens. This site claims to not like homerism yet refuses trade offers of dwyane wade for jerryd bayless. Here's the truth though, while Rice may be a homer (no debating that) he does it with class and without demeaning the other team. Yes I know he butchers names and his confucious parody is painful, but during the game, at least you know you will get analysis as opposed to plain ole kissing donkey.

I have had this conversation many times with friends and relatives who live in the Portland area. Without a shred of a doubt, they all think Rice and Barrett are biased and irksome, mainly because they believe they are the worst announcers in the league. Everytime I argue against them. Now if you are a Portlander and dont often get to see any other teams games with local announcers I can't expect you to know any better, but if you are a league pass person like myself, you know what I am talking about.

As a basketball fan, I like to hear announcers call the game as its being played, giving praise to a player that does well (except #24 in LA) instead of continuously praising their own team for nothing they have done. This gets especially frustrating when Portland is struggling of their own accord (Last night LaMarcus missed about 10 open jumpers) and the announcers give credit when its not deserved.

As it is fresh in my mind I will use last nights game with the Rockets. (On a side note, usually the best announcers are for the worst teams. I THINK this is because they don't need to remind the fans that their team is awesome when it is apparent they are not. I enjoy Clipper announcers, Sac announcers, and sigh, Seattle announcers ((I dont like that new heehaw towns announcers)) because when their team makes a great play they talk about it, when the other team makes a great play they talk about it. Most teams aren't like that.) I was forced to listen to Matt Bullard and whoever the play by play guy is, butcher calls, give horrid analysis (if you don't know much about a player or team, just say so, dont make stuff up) and cry cry cry. I had to listen to a tirade about how flopping is killing the league and Joel Pryzbilla is a major culprit while luis scola plays on their team and is doing the same thing down low. I had to listen to how fantastic Scola's rotation defense was on LMA when he was missing shots even tho Luis was never closer than 6 feet away, hardly enough to effect a shot. It was horrible. You would also be amazed to hear that Shane Battier or Yao Ming apparently never foul and good blocks consist of getting elbow on a shot as long as the refs don't see it.

One thing I have always appreciated about Rice and Barrett is that they are willing to admit when Portland makes a bad play. "Oh look at that replay, Travis got away with one there." "Yep there it is, Greg did travel on that play, good call by the referee." "Batum just got beat on that play, and a fantastic play by Butler to get the dunk." Some of you might say, so, thats nothing special. Oh but my friends it is. You have no idea. Here is 90 percent of the teams announcers on those same plays. "Travis got a clean block on that one, a little body maybe and he was going for the ball so the ref says let em play." "Well the refs are just picking on Greg tonight, that clearly wasn't a travel, and we better see them call that on the other end." "Butler uses the arm to get around Batum and scores a dunk. Wow where was the call for offensive foul on that play." Etc. Etc. They are also willing to admit when a player on the other team makes a great play. Which (with the exception of Roy, who is every old announcers second coming of basketball Jesus) is very rare for opposing teams to do. They tend to talk thru great plays by opposing players or take the opportunity to reference their own players based on who is guarding the man who scored.

Once you are subjected to these announcers you gain a deeper respect for Rice. Barrett helps him along and they work well together. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I am very fond of them right now. I will likely be suffering through San An announcers tonight, who I hope and pray are better than Houston, N.O., LAL or GSW. (GSW makes the list since their announcer had the BALLS to use Bingo Bango Bongo on a play by the Warriors against us with no props to Schonely.)

The moral of the essay I just wrote is this, be thankful for what you have Blazer fans. While some say the grass is always greener, in this case, the grass is dead in the other lawns.

Dirk's value

GreatOden'sRaven — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:58:41 -0000

Hey all,

I was just pondering over a trade in my head. I believe the Mavs probably finish about 6th in the west and get Portland in the first round, but I really dont think anyone outside of the L-word or Spurs make it out of the west. I have read before that you guys have pondered the idea of blowing it up and getting younger and making a push for down the road. Here is a trade thought I came up with. Now this requires you to move Dirk. So if he is untouchable at this point in your mind, then this won't work for you.

Here are the reasons why I think this works. You get younger, you get more pieces and you get more cap flexibility. You get more than equal amounts of scoring back (allowing howard I am sure more shots) and you get a local kid in the process to cheer for. You get a starting PF, a starting SG (unless you really want to start Wright, which i know no one does, and Terry is best off the bench) and a proven backup PG to cover 55 year old Kidds afternoon naps. You also get stackhouses 7mil per contract off your books.

I think the Blazers would have to really consider this deal. I know it would force them to win right now, instead of plan on winning down the line. It closes their window by quite a bit due to Dirk's age, but also frees up playing time for some of the other players hidden in their lineup.

What do you guys think? Would you do this trade?

Trade between Portland and Dallas

My 5 things

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:30:55 -0000

Since I'm in no mood to rehash the entering and twisting of the dagger that was placed in my heart at approx 10pm last night, I thought I would make a list of 5 things the NBA needs to do to make me love it just that much more.

1. Axe "The Reggie Miller Foul".

- You all know this call. Its my least favorite rule in the book. Pump fake, defender jumps, shooter jumps into defender in air and flails. No ACTUAL attempt to shoot happens. I hate this rule. I despise this rule. If this rule were a person it would be Adolph Hitler in a Laker jersey having Starbucks coffee with Clay Bennett using money stolen from a homeless veteran selling handmade trinkets which he would then donate to a dying kids charity. According to the real rule book, this is an offensive foul. The offensive player is entering the defenders space (which goes up from his feet straight up into the ceiling), causing contact and somehow is rewarded. This is commonly called in the key as well. Get in close, dive INTO your defender and flail. 2 shots. And a loss of self respect.

2. Ease up on the Superstar calls.

- Look, I get it. You want to see the stars succeed. They are your bread and butter and make the bucks for the teams and the leagues. What drives me insane though is that they play by different rules. Its one thing to let a star get away with a questionable offensive goaltend for a slam or give him the benefit of the doubt on a dunk in the lane when the defender was millimeters from the circle in the key. But seriously, its gotten out of hand. Oh Mr. Stern, its about the game not the players. I can't fault his success, but the slope this road goes on is getting awfully icy.

3. Update the Arena Music.

- There are some classics out there, songs that when I hear them remind me of the Blazers, but c'mon guys. At least throw in ONE song that has been a top 40 since 1985. Just ONE. Please. I love Billy Idol. At least I did. But I was 6 years old. Update your music. Sometimes after a great run, I get stoked, I'm ready to dance (not Comet Guy dance but you know, get down) and then I get the same song they played earlier after we made one dunk. Mony Mony aint cuttin it. Update time. Timbaland makes lots of great beats where no one needs to know the words. Look into it fellas.

4. Show Some Loyalty.

- I understand the need to make money. I understand that the career of an NBA player is undoubtedly short. I understand that sometimes you are traded, sometimes you just dont fit, and sometimes the city you are in isn't good for your off the court life (NYC/LA/MIA don't work for party animals) but I miss the days when a player retired with the team he was drafted by. Now there are a ton of guys who change teams who are role players, but I am talking about stars (yes you LeBron) who for whatever reason leave their teams to go elsewhere for greener pastures. Your team loves you, you are loved in the community and can make just as much money where you are than anywhere else, yet you leave. I pray this doesnt happen to Roy, LMA or Oden. There just isn't any loyalty anymore. (Side note: I do not begrudge a player leaving at the tail of his career to try and win a title. Winning is SUPPOSED to be the reason to play, not money. Just move on with class and show respect to the place you played your whole career.)

5. Stop the Portuguese National Soccer Team-esque Flopping.

- If Oden or Shaq or Howard or Eddy Curry with a cheesesteak in hand, was charging at me, I get the idea of maybe going down a little bit before the body contact occured. I want children someday. Yet flopping occurs about as often as a european player gets on the floor. Some Americans are even worse (Derek Fisher should hang his head in shame) yet the NBA looks the other way. This isn't soccer, stop falling down. Remember? "Contact" sport? Well, in a perfect world (my world) not only would flopping not generate a call, it would be a foul FOR flopping. And a technical for guys who toboggon themselves across the floor like its ice on Greenland in mid January (again DFish, I am strongly nodding in your direction). Real charges should be taken when a player is out of control or run you over. If you start to fall while there is air between your sweat soaked jersey and their elbow, shoulder and/or face, the foul is on you my friend. And hopefully so is their stench.

Honorable Mention of things that drive me insane: Being 6"11 and laying it up in traffic. Getting 14 seconds on the clock after someone intentionally throws the ball off another players foot. Getting a timeout on the ground when it should be a jumpball. Guys that kick out their leg when they shoot and fall down and demand a call. Players who slap instead of punch (if your gonna throw it, mean it. Your getting suspended anyways and I enjoy a good punch). The inordinate amount of attention NY gets as a basketball Mecca when it is roughly the 100th best place to play in HS or College and the Knicks haven't won a title in 20 years. Peter Vecsey, Sam Smith and Stephen A Smith (his initials are in the wrong order). Kobe and Vanessa Bryant.

What are yours? (they can probably be shorter than my rants, unless you LOVE to type)

More Blazer Talk

GreatOden'sRaven — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:19:36 -0000

Fanpost again because its far too long. Not as interesting as yesterday. Insiders so I dont link, and of course because who wants to read about other teams.

Apparently we need to keep up the winning. The analysts aren't sure about us just quite yet.

JOHN HOLLINGER:

j dubb (pdx): with the blazers off to such a great start, shouldn't B Roy be getting more hype as an MVP candidate? #'s 21-6-5, leading 2nd youngest team to wests 2nd best record...pretty impressive.

John Hollinger: (4:09 PM ET ) Can't go there yet, sorry. Or have you not watched what LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade have been doing in the early going? It's gonna take way more than 21-6-5 to get into that discussion.

--------------

Chris: Denver, CO: Where do you rank the Nuggets among the west's elite?

John Hollinger: (4:15 PM ET ) I think they're a low 50-win team; the question we're still trying to answer is where that puts them in the hierarchy. We haven't seen the best of Utah and San Antonio yet, and we're not totally certain how seriously to take this amazing 20-game start from the Blazers. I'd say somewhere between 3rd and 5th, basically, but that can change a lot by April.

----------------

Eric, Eugene: The Blazers have been near the top of your power rankings all year. Think they'll stay there, or will they fall closer to your 41-41 prediction? Given the toughness of their schedule, you'd assume they'd actually IMPROVE as the season goes on.

John Hollinger: (4:17 PM ET ) The Blazers are probably going to blow away my prediction. I don't know if they're quite as good as their Power Ranking, because a few guys are playing well above their historic #s (Blake, Przybilla, Batum), but they're almost certainly going to be a top-five seed.

-----------------

Will J (Portland, OR): John, what do you think Portland's biggest weakness is (other than youth of course)?

John Hollinger: (4:35 PM ET ) I could point to a couple, but the lack of easy baskets is probably the biggest. they're getting more than than last year, but this is still primarily a jump-shooting team. Not sure how that will fly come spring ...

------------------

Jake( Boise, Idaho): Give us your prediction Blazers or Celtics on Friday?

John Hollinger: (4:57 PM ET ) Home teams win over 60% of the time in the NBA and the Cs have a slightly better power ranking, plus we have to consider the possibility that the past 20 games are a non-representative sample of Portland's talents. So I'll take Boston, but with the Blazers making a game out of it.

------------------

SORTA RELEVANT

Dean (DC): Is Conley just going through typical young player struggles, or are you starting to revise down expectations?

John Hollinger: (4:46 PM ET ) Revising down, yes. I've been very unimpressed and very disappointed thus far.

------------------------

CHAD FORD:

Tim (Portland, OR): Hey Chad! How good is Portland? This place will be mayhem after they beat the Celtics tomorrow!

Chad Ford: I'm not sure they're that good, but good. I pegged them as a sixth seed in the pre-season and that seems about right. Maybe fifth seed. They have a great coach, first of all. I'm not sure why Nate McMillan doesn't get more love. Second, they are so loaded with talent at every position. The only knock on them is their youth. But even that seems to be a positive because the Blazers don't seem to understand that young teams can't consistently win in the NBA. If Pritchard can make a move by the trade deadline to bring in a very good veteran, they could be dangerous in the post season this year. If not, the future of the West is clearly between the Blazers, Lakers and maybe the Hornets.

-------------------------

JR (Chicago, IL): There were rumors recently about Portland having interest in Conley. Would Conley be a good long-term fit for the Blazers?

Chad Ford: I'm not sure. Brandon Roy is so good with the ball in his hands, I'm not sure they need a guy like Conley. He honestly is having the same problem in Memphis. Mayo is so good with the ball that Conley can be a bit irrelevant because he can't shoot. I love Conley as a player, but I'm not sold he's the right guy for Portland, especially with the way Rudy Fernandez is developing.

-------------------------

Some Blazer answers

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:57:37 -0000

On David Thorpe chat today.

Too long for FanPost and its an insider article so no linking.

--------------------------------------------------------

Poops (PDX): More suprising start? Denver, Portland, Dallas?

David Thorpe: Portland, as Denver looked this good on paper the minute the trade went down.

---------------------------------------------------------

KP (Portland): I don't want to toot my own horn but...Wouldn't you say I have had the best drafts out of any GM over the past few years.

David Thorpe: Toot away.

Dan (lincoln, NE): I really like your rookie rankings but Batum is way to low (below Koufos).

David Thorpe: Perhaps. But he's asked to do so little. I'll re-evaluate again this week.

----------------------------------------------------------

Will J (Portland, OR): Is Rudy Fernandez in your top 3 for 6th man of the year?

David Thorpe: Sorry-server took a timeout. I don't follow that award. Ask Mo Brooks!

----------------------------------------------------------

Clark (Durham, NC): Who do you think wins the Northwest division now? Portland, Utah, or Denver?

David Thorpe: Leaning to Denver.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Greg Oden (Portland,Or): I really feel comfortable being a catch and finish guy. However I want to solidify my #1 draft spot. How can Improve my game? Face up series? or keep it Shaqly?

David Thorpe: Keep it Shaqly (now that's a great name for a sitcom!!).

----------------------------------------------------------

Jake (Tampa,Fl): Rudy Fernandez is the truth! Do you see him becoming a better pro than Manu Ginobili?

David Thorpe: No, but I think Manu is a top 5 shooting guard on the planet.

----------------------------------------------------------

Mike (Boston, MA): With all the talk about Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez, is it possible that Nick Batum is the Blazer rookie with the most upside potential? He's 19 and he's already the best defender on the team. And he's got much better offensive skills than Scottie Pippen did early in his career.

David Thorpe: No, it's not possible that he has the most potential. He's nice though.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Enlightened (Logicville): A wiser man than myself once said that people find their stance, then formulate an argument to prove it. This is happening with Greg Oden. No matter how many average/below-average performances he gives, and no matter how little evidence exists of his dominance (you say NCAA title game, I say five points at home against Northwestern), he still is given the benefit of the doubt as to becoming the next Russell/Kareem/Shaq/Brando/John Lennon rolled into one. *Could* happen, but sorry -- not enough there to count on it.

David Thorpe: You just proved their point. When you have dominant games in an NCAA title game, and in state title games and AAU title games, etc., people assume you are going to learn to do it again and again.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Don (Oregon): Will Jerryd Bayless ever be successful in Portland?

David Thorpe: Sure. It's early.

-----------------------------------------------------------

LOT of Blazer talk on the chatboard today.