SB Nation User Blog: Majikj0n

Blazer Stat Leaders in Various Categories

Majikj0n — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:06:05 -0000

While no Blazer player really stands out in the major categories (Points, Rebounds, Steals, Assists, Blocks), there are a number of Blazers who stand out statistically. Here's some interesting figures showing how our players are getting the job done in less flashy ways.

- Travis Outlaw is second in the league in 3pt %, at .500 (31-62) (To Jason Kapono)

- Joel is shooting 55-67 FG% (.833) on the season (The highest % for any player with more than 1 shot attempt)

- Rudy is shooting 95.3 FT% (3rd in the league for players with 30+ attempts)

- Steve Blake is 93.9 FT% (4th in the league for players with 30+ attempts)

- Oden has 3.54 Blocks per 48 Minutes (11th in the league for players with 15 or more GP)

- Oden has 6 double-doubles in only 15 games so far this year

- Sergio is 2nd in the NBA in Assists per 48 mins... To Chris Paul.

- Sergio is also 12th in the NBA in Assist to Turnover ratio (among players with at least 40 assists)

Debunking the myth of the "Second-Youngest Team"

Majikj0n — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:59:08 -0000

It's been all over the media this year. Golden State is fielding a younger team than Portland, so we're only the "second-youngest team" this year.

Well, that may have been true on opening day, when some reporter who was so inclined decided to do the math and check it out. However, there is a problem with that.

This is a skewed number, due to people on both rosters who don't actually PLAY in any games. Raef brings our average age up quite a bit, but he's out for the year with an injury. Can this guy seriously be counted as a factor for our average age when he's likely never to even suit up again in a Blazers uniform?

So, as a courtesy, I've charted the average ages of the top-10 minute getters in the season so far for both teams (using Jamal Crawford's minutes with the Knicks as a part of this so as not to skew the result).

Ages listed are in days, as of Dec 1. The numbers are as follows. For the Blazers, we have:

Brandon Roy.......07/23/84 = 8897
LaMarcus Aldridge.07/19/85 = 8536
Greg Oden.........01/22/88 = 7619
Sergio Rodriguez..06/12/86 = 8208
Steve Blake.......02/26/80 = 10506
Joel Przybilla....10/10/79 = 10645
Rudy Fernandez....04/04/85 = 8642
Nicolas Batum.....12/14/88 = 7292
Travis Outlaw.....09/18/84 = 8840
Channing Frye.....05/17/83 = 9330

For a total of 88515 days, or 8851.5 days old per player, which is about 24.25 years old on average.

For the Warrirors:

Kelenna Azubuike.12/16/83 = 9117
Andris Biedrins..04/02/86 = 8279
Jamal Crawford...03/20/80 = 10483
Stephen Jackson..04/05/78 = 11198
Corey Maggette...11/12/79 = 10612
Anthony Morrow...09/27/85 = 8466
Anthony Randolph.07/15/89 = 7065
Ronny Turiaf.....01/13/83 = 9454
Brandan Wright...10/07/87 = 7726
CJ Watson........04/17/84 = 8994

For a total of 91394 days, or 9139.4 days old per player, which is almost exactly 25 years old on average.

So, as we can see, the Blazers average about 9 months YOUNGER than the warriors, if you count only the players who see minutes.

This will change slightly, once we get Martell back from injury, and Golden State gets Ellis back from his injury, also, but since Martell is over a year younger than Ellis, it will only increase the disparity.

Martell Observations

Majikj0n — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:42:12 -0000

I was at last night's game. Man what a fun game that was.

I got there more than 80 minutes prior to tip-off. There were, as always, a number of players shooting around as the crowd filtered in. (Thank you to the Blazers for opening the Rose Garden 90-minutes prior to tip rather than 60 minutes like last season.)

Alongside Blake and Shavlik Randolph, a clean-shaven Martell Webster was there shooting threes.

He looked very good. He wasn't running or cutting or anything, and it's hard to judge true accuracy from a shooter when there's no defender there creating mischief. However, almost every shot was right on the money.

He didn't show any signs that his foot was bothering him any. If he's cleared to practice next week, December 5th seems entirely reasonable to me for his return.

I'm very excited to finally have the possibility of a 100% full (if not entirely 100% healthy, at least 100% PRESENT) roster.

The only downside I see is it probably means fewer minutes for Batum (like, probably NONE in most cases, unless we have extended garbage minutes like last evening). It could also throw a wrench into team cohesiveness, but that's already pretty up-in-the-air right now due to the Oden adjustment, so I can't imagine Martell's return is going to make waves that are any more noticeable than that. In any case, the sooner he comes back, the sooner we can work out the last kinks in our lineup, and finally see what we have.

If last night was any indication, this team could be ready to make serious waves RIGHT NOW. Go Blazers.

Rudy Write-In! Let's get him in the All-Star game!

Majikj0n — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:46:47 -0000

Okay, so we have gotten a taste of what kind of amazing player Rudy has turned out to be.

I'd say it's time to let the rest of the NBA (and the world) know it as well.

Rudy is not on this year's All-Star Ballot. I can't think of a more deserving player not listed on that form, however. Now it's pretty much a no-brainer who the two starting guards for the West are going to be this year (CP3 and K*be), based on reputation alone. This sucks, but hey, it's the way things are. It's pretty hard to argue with those selections based on the way those two guys play.

If Brandon keeps being Brandon, however, there's a good chance he'll be on the bench again, as voted by the coaches.

I say we make a concerted effort to draw attention to Rudy Fernandez, by writing him in. Sure, he's a shoo-in for the Rookie Challenge, but that's weak sauce. I say let's see if we can get him in the grown-up game as a write-in candidate.

This site is one of the most active fansites on the entire Internet. Let's show the world the kind of power we can generate by voting early (and often) for Rudy as a write-in candidate!

If Rudy's even on the radar as a vote-getter by January, then the coaches will be taking note. With the All-Star coaches, perception can be reality.The world saw what he could do in the Gold Medal game in Beijing. Let's make certain the coaches remember that moment. Let's make certain they take notice of this guy who is playing amazing ball, and making the NBA fun again.

Who's with me?

Edit:

Here is the direct link to the voting page on NBA.com:

http://www.nba.com/allstar2009/asb/eng/landing.jsp?cid=nba18

Poll

Should we vote for Rudy as a write-in candidate?

Yes. No one not on the ballot deserves it more.

130 votes

No. It will deflect votes from Brandon.

40 votes

170 votes | Poll has closed

Trade Rumor: David Lee for Steve Blake?

Majikj0n — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:39:46 -0000

Rumor source here:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?hd=20080629&lc=NBA#STORY_9771

I'm not exactly sure what to think about this deal. One the one hand, Steve Blake is the perfect fit for us right now. He provides stability and a steady hand for the next couple seasons while Bayless is learning the ropes, and showing us what he can do. Beyond that, Blake becomes valuable as an experienced backup, bringing good outside shooting, and hard work and energy off the bench. How could we even think about trading that away?

On the other hand, we'd be getting back David Lee. That's a heck of an upgrade in terms of talent. Lee plays the PF in NY, but could easily slide over and be our starting SF. Plus, we do have a glut of point guards right now, making Blake at least somewhat expendable.

What do you think? Does this deal make sense for Portland?

Poll

Is Steve Blake for David Lee a good move for Portland?

Yes - Lee is a big-time upgrade

66 votes

No - We need the qualities Blake brings

117 votes

Only if we can get another veteran PG from someplace.

71 votes

254 votes | Poll has closed

Jack, Outlaw and #13 for Mike Miller?

Majikj0n — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:14:19 -0000

Source for this rumor is here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2008/06/21/2008-06-21_wont_be_a_summer_sequel_because_kobe_bry.html?page=2

Unlike the Barbosa trade, I think it's safe to say that this deal, as announced, makes almost no sense for the Blazers, no matter how you try to spin it.

Travis is clearly a better player than Miller. Also, Miller duplicates way too many of the traits we already have in Blake, Jones, and Webster. Besides, there will be players on the board at #13 with better potential than Miller has, also.

Now, if Memphis were to throw in their 2008 pick, then maybe this could work. I'd hate to see Travis go, but there is no doubt that Augustin and Westbrook will both be there at #5.

What do you think?

Would you like to see Mike Miller in Blazers colors?

Poll

Should the Blazers try to trade for Mike Miller?

Yes - no matter the cost.

1 votes

Yes, for anyone outside the "Big 3"

7 votes

No, unless we can get him for next to nothing

64 votes

No, I don't want him on the team.

39 votes

111 votes | Poll has closed

More Barbosa Rumors

Majikj0n — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:10:13 -0000

The Arizona Republic is reporting this morning on a rumored trade involving the Blazers and Suns.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0620sunsnotes0620.html

Money quote: "A Portland deal would have sent 21-year-old swingman Martell Webster, next week's No. 13 pick and another piece for Barbosa."

For "Another piece", read "Jarret Jack, McBob, or Sergio".

While the article seems to imply that this one is, at this point, dead, trades like this have a way sometimes of re-emerging in a slightly different form on draft-day, so who knows?

Poll

Barbosa for Martell, Jack, and #13. Good trade for Portland?

Yes

73 votes

No

109 votes

Maybe

43 votes

225 votes | Poll has closed

(OT) I Feel Dirty

Majikj0n — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:35:59 -0000

Okay, so I didn't mean for this to happen.

In my office pool for the NBA playoffs, I tried to make picks that would be different than the other basketball fans in my building. I picked the New Orleans Hornets to win the west, and the Pistons to win the east. That looked pretty good for me right up until game 7 on Monday.

Now, with the Hornets on vacation, I find myself down in the pool by a substantial margin. Most of the points leaders in the pool picked the Spurs to win it all. Nobody picked the L*kers. But nobody picked Detroit to win it all, either.

Now, my only mathematical chance of winning is for the L*kers to beat the Spurs, and Detroit to win the East, and then the Finals.

This leaves me, now, in the almost untennable position of having to root FOR the L*kers in their series vs. the Spurs.

What is a Blazers fan to do?

On the one hand, I passionately hate everything the L*kers stand for. I want to see Ime (my man--I even have his Blazers jersey) win a ring.

Yet, the L*kers victory could be a "win" for me, too. Where should my loyalties lie? Oh man, this sucks.

Brandon Roy third in Dumars trophy voting

Majikj0n — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:08:51 -0000

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/04/25/hill.suns.ap/index.html

Brandon Roy finished in third place in the Joe Dumars sportsmanship award voting for the 2008 season. (Grant Hill won the honor, and Shane Battier was second.)

How tremendous is it that not just "a" Blazer was considered for this honor, but THE player for the Blazers, the man who most embodies the nature and character of the team, was considered?

I mean, Chris Dudley can win the citizenship award on a "Jail Blazers" team, and it doesn't say anything.

Very cool. Way to go Brandon!

One Trade to Rule them all.

Majikj0n — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:18:14 -0000

Here's a potential trade scenario that would seem to address many of our issues.

The salaries work. Would the teams go for it?

-----

New Jersey Nets trade

Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson

to Portland for

Jarret Jack, Martell Webster, Raef LaFrentz, 1st round pick(13), 2 second round picks (33, 34)

What Portland gets:

- Quality Veteran help at the 3. Jefferson is getting older, and he's expensive, but Portland can afford the hit. Moving to Portland could possibly revitalize Jefferson's game. Portland needs the veteran help more than another young draft pick.

- A great young player at the point. Harris is a great fit in Portland, and they have a much better chance to resign him than New Jersey does in 2009.

- Stabilizes the point guard position long-term. Gives Portland 2-3 years to find or develop a longer-term solution at the 3 (Jones?).

What New Jersey gets:

- Relief from Jefferson's long contract, as Raef's expires at year's end.

- Multiple draft picks to rebuild with, including one lottery pick.

- A chance to get something in exchange for Harris, who is unlikely to stay with the team past 2009.

- A young talent at the point in Jack to replace the departing Devin Harris.

- A good quality young three-pointer threat in Martell

Portland Line-up After the trade:

Devin Harris, PG
Brandon Roy, SG
Richard Jefferson, SF
LaMarus Aldridge, PF
Greg Oden, C

Bench:

Steve Blake, PG
Rudy Fernandez, SG
James Jones, SF
Travis Outlaw, PF
Joel Przybilla, C
Channing Frye, PF/C
Sergio Roderiguez, PG

New Jersey Lineup after the trade:

Marcus Williams, PG
Vince Carter, SG
Stromile Swift, SF
Sean Williams, PF
Nenad Krstic, C

Bench:

Jarret Jack, PG
Martell Webster, SF/SG
Trenton Hassell, SF
Raef LaFrentz, C
Josh Boone, PF/C
Lottery Pick (10) DeAndre Jordan?
Lottery Pick (13) Chase Budinger?