SB Nation User Blog: KP Corleone

Berri from Wages of Wins: Yes it is Early - But Portland is the Best Team in the West

KP Corleone — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:12:30 -0000

Berri from Wages of Wins: Yes it is Early - But Portland is the Best Team in the West

Berri touts efficiency differential to suggest that the Blazers are the best team in the West so far. His efficiency differential analysis is simplistic, to be sure - he doesn't take strength of schedule or anything else into account, alla Hollinger's muc more advanced power rankings - but he also includes the early season win score breakdown, which indicates that Oden (improving), Rudy (improving), and Przy (steady) have been dominant, while Roy has been solid, and LMA is developing into a productive player through the WoW looking glass. It's worth a quick read.

Blazers one of three teams with two frontcourt starters over 18 in PER

KP Corleone — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:54:00 -0000

Blazers one of three teams with two frontcourt starters over 18 in PER

This TrueHoop article on sleepers highlights the only two teams with a starting frontcourt featuring two players with a PER over 18: LA and, surprisingly, New Orleans (West and Okafur).

The article omits Portland, presumably because Przy was the starter last year after Oden's knee injury. But it's worth noting that both Oden and LMA did, in fact, have a PER over 18.

The Blazers feature one of the league's most productive frontlines AND one of its top ten players AND a new point guard with a PER over 18 the past two years AND a veteran back up PG and center coming off career years AND and young Euro imports at SG and SF who were already solid role players in their first year and have limitless potential to be much more.

Interesting question: does any other team in the league have four returning players who played major minutes with a PER over 18? Or seven players who played major minutes with a PER over 15? Neither of those categories even include Blake (who finished with a PER in the 14.5 range) or Batum, who has a PER around 15 much of last season and could easily be in that range this year.

I foresee good things...

Hardwood Paroxysm: Oden will dominate

KP Corleone — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:08:03 -0000

Hardwood Paroxysm: Oden will dominate

Apparently it takes genius bordering on insanity to see Greg's potential at this point - the premise of this article is that the author is the John Nash (the subject of A Beautiful Mind) of the NBA.

The money quote, as excerpted by TrueHoop:

"Greg Oden is a beast of a man, ready to unleash hell on the rest of the NBA. He’s a rebounding vacuum. He’s a shot-blocking, missile defense system that the Pentagon would be envious of. He has an Ike and Tina kind of relationship with the rim on offense. He’s a decent enough free throw shooter and he moves as smartly without the ball as any young center in the NBA. Greg Oden is not only a good player; he’s a sure-fire perennial All-Star who will help his team win a couple of titles. He’s a Defensive Player of the Year a couple times over."

Lakers pull offer to Odom - he's now hoping for the midlevel...

KP Corleone — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:35:25 -0000

Lakers pull offer to Odom - he's now hoping for the midlevel...

Now is the time when you wish the Blazers had that cap space available. Love him or not, Odom is the best, most versatile player on the market, and now he's negotiating for a deal at the midlevel.

Would be a shame if he signs a deal before the Jazz inevitably match Portland's offer on Friday.

I'd rather have Millsap, because he's more fun to watch and root for, but Odom probably does more to help the team. He is the pefect 3/4 combo forward to bring off the bench in Outlaw's role. He is better than Turk and available at a fraction of the price.

If he's still available Friday, and the Blazers don't explore this option, I will be mystified...

Patterson withdraws from draft

KP Corleone — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:46:20 -0000

Patterson withdraws from draft

Given the Blazers much publicized need for a physical presence at the back up four spot, Patterson's name had been mentioned frequently as a possible target. Now, he's out... and it's Dejuan Blair or bust.

Oden, Rudy, Nic: three of the top seven most productive rookies in the NBA according to Berri

KP Corleone — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:11:40 -0000

Oden, Rudy, Nic: three of the top seven most productive rookies in the NBA according to Berri

According to Dave Berri's win score formula, three of the top seven rookies were Blazers.

Of the rookies who logged 1,000 minutes, Kevin Love, Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez, Brook Lopez, Marc Gasol, Anthony Randolph, Nicolas Batum, Mario Chalmers, and Rose were all better than the average NBA player.

Rose was the worst of that group (average in just about every category). Oden and Rudy were second and third best behind K-Love.

This was an unusually productive class - most rookies struggle to reach even half of an average player's productivity.

Durant was well below average last year (but well above average this year).

Thorpe with a swing-and-a-miss scouting B-Rex...

KP Corleone — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:24:36 -0000

Thorpe with a swing-and-a-miss scouting B-Rex...

"To me, Bayless always looks too cool. That's a problem for a young guy who hasn't performed consistently in the few times he's gotten a chance to play. I'd rather see red-hot passion in someone getting spot minutes. And nobody plays with more passion than Kobe, who is willing to take risks and brings great desire to the court."

"Even though Bayless is in a much different position than Kobe is, he could still emulate those attributes."

I thought this was priceless. I'm worried that Bayless might read this and actively cultivate more intensity. He could become pyschologically unstable. If he's not already.

On the list of things Bayless needs to work on, dialing up the intensity ranks... um... last. Dead. Freaking. Last.

If anything, I'd like to see Bayless do yoga or something and try to calm the heck down. The tension is palpable. He's second only to Oden in his ability to channel his "I need to do well I need to do well I need to well" brain waves straight through the tv at you. Relax, Jeryyd!

I generally like Thorpe, but wow. Just wow.

Back Up Point Guard "Battle" - Hollinger Weighs In... "One interesting position battle I'm...

KP Corleone — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:42:38 -0000

Back Up Point Guard "Battle" - Hollinger Weighs In...

"One interesting position battle I'm watching is for the Blazers' backup point guard position, which is rapidly degenerating into the battle of which young guard can be the most disappointing. Sergio Rodriguez held down the job much of the year but lost it a few weeks ago with lackluster shooting and a series of horrid defensive performances, most notably a five-minute matador impersonation in the Indiana game two weeks ago.

But since then, rookie Jerryd Bayless has done little to claim the spot handed to him. Bayless played double-figure minutes for four straight games this past week, but by the end, all he had to show for it was four points, two assists … and six turnovers.

With neither player making much of an impression, coach Nate McMillan used both last night and again got little from either, leaving open the question of who will be the backup point guard once the playoffs start.

However, my money is on none of the above. In the postseason I'm thinking that Brandon Roy will be the point guard whenever Steve Blake checks out, that Rodriguez won't play at all, and that Bayless will be used only in end-of-quarter defensive situations.

All of which is fine as long as Blake is healthy and doesn't pick up fouls. And if he does? It's an area where Portland suddenly looks very vulnerable, despite having two promising young players at the position."

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiemInsider-090320

Dallas Loss - Postgame Discussion Thread

KP Corleone — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:55:57 -0000

Well, that game sucked really bad at first, then it looked like it was going to not suck, and then it sucked after all. For whatever reason, the Mavs seem to have the Blazers' number.

Definitely one of the biggest losses of the year, and a missed opportunity to all but lock up a top seven playoff spot. That being said, losses happen, and the 12-1 over the past 13 home games ain't too shabby.

The frustrating thing was that SO MANY TIMES the Blazers were right there and just needed ONE big shot to get over the hump. Every time, that shot rattled out (or, in Sergio's case, careened towards the bottom of the backboard), and the Mavs responded by sinking back to back buckets and pushing the lead back up to seven or so. Blake had two wide wide wide open threes to tie, and both of them seemed to scrape the bottom of the net and somehow pop back out.

On the bright side, Lamarcus's game was one of the best he's played this year, no question. His dunk on Dampier (and I mean ON DAMPIER) was one of the best in the league all year. His 15 for 21 (or whatever) line was ridiculous. He played phenomenal D on Dirk down the stretch.

My question is this. Brandon was obviously sick. LMA was playing out of his mind. How in the world do the Blazers go the entire stretch run without getting him the rock inside 22 feet? Somehow. Anyhow. Figure it out. Make it happen.

Another thing - as Dirk was lighting up the Blazers in the first half, and Mike and Mike were commenting that the Blazers don't match up well with him, I kept thinking, if only the Blazers had one of the most athletic 6'11" guys in the league, capable of keeping up with Dirk on the perimeter AND shutting him down on the block. Oh, wait, they do. Loved the D down the stretch, but why were other guys guarding Dirk at certain points of the game? And why was Dirk allowed to catch the ball inside 20 feet anytime he wanted it all through the first half? Makes no sense to me.

Another point, and then I'll shut up: zone offense, or the lack thereof. The Blazers looked about as adept at attacking the zone as my city rec league team looks. And that's not very adept. There was either (a) no real plan, or (b) a plan that was an epic failure in execution. Smart money's on (b). I saw guys trying to pick the corner to open up a three a few times, but generally, everybody was clueless. It shouldn't be this hard.

All in all, the loss is no big deal, but the win would've been sweet. Hopefully Roy gets healthy, Rudy comes back, and LMA keeps playing like he's playing. If so, things are looking very good.

Free Agent Class of 2009

KP Corleone — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:12:26 -0000

Free Agent Class of 2009

Nice breakdown by Chad Ford of the top free agents available or potentially available this summer. An interesting name I hadn't considered: Trevor Ariza. Great defender, with range. Outlaw and/or Marty would probably have to go to make room for him.

In a companion piece available on espn insider, Ford says the Blazers will have $8 million in cap room, asssuming they renounce their rights to Channing.

That's AFTER accounting for the reduction in the cap this year. That was my point in the earlier fanpost about salary - the Blazers will be $8 million under the reduced cap, giving them the ability to take advantage of teams that are $6 million or so over the cap (but weren't planning to be, and can't afford to be) due to the reduced figure.

Obviously, if the Blazers go that route (using the cap space to facilitate a trade with a team looking to get under the cap), the list of free agents really doesn't matter.