SB Nation User Blog: grigs

Koponen to Stay in Europe Next Year?

grigs — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:08:46 -0000

I was a bit surprised by this tidbit in Jason Quick's article this morning about Bayless:

"In Las Vegas, McMillan said the Blazers will begin games with point guard Petteri Koponen -- a first-round pick in 2007 who will remain overseas next season -- and Bayless at shooting guard, but that Bayless will eventually get large chunks of playing time at the point."

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1215483969201330.xml&coll=7

I had expected Koponen to have a decent shot at making the roster based on summer league play and the fact that all reports are that he is looking much better than he was in previous years.

This new strategy of drafting players and stashing them overseas is something I need to become more familiar with. Does anyone know how long San Antonio usually lets their players season overseas before bringing them over?

Not Drafting Chris Paul = Best Blazer Move

grigs — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:58:01 -0000

Chris Paul is an amazing player. I don't think Bayless will be that good. Yet, I am very thankful we didn't draft Chris Paul.

Right now, our greatest asset appear to be Kevin Pritchard. His leadership has built a team and a culture that will be with us for years.

If Portland drafts Chris Paul, I don't know that Pritchard gets a shot at the GM job. Given the choice between Chris Paul and Pritchard, I'd take KP.

So that's why I think not drafting Chris Paul has turned out so well for the Blazers.

Where would Greg & Rudy be in this year's draft?

grigs — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:41:34 -0000

I sent a note to Jonathon Givony of DraftExpress.com asking him where Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez would be drafted if they were in the draft this year. His response:

"Oden #1, Rudy probably top-15."

We could potentially have the best rookie class next year without ever using our first round pick.

Has anyone else seen any handicapping of where Rudy or Greg would be in this year's draft by other draft analysts?

Who Does Roy Remind You Of?

grigs — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:21:23 -0000

All season long many of us fans have been looking for current or former players who Brandon Roy reminded us of. The most common comparison I hear is between Roy and Dwayne Wade.

After watching Roy closely for the last year and half, the player that Roy reminds me of is a bit of a surprise because he isn't a basketball player and he is best known in the U.S. for actions that might draw more comparisons to Rasheed than to Roy: Zinedine Zidane.

Anyone who has watched the Blazers already knows the story on the unique characteristics of Roy's game. Here are the things that set him apart from other players:

Poise.

Never rushed.

Looks slow, but is really one of the quickest players.

So many facets to his game that defenders don't know what to do.

Always in control.

Seems to slow down the game around him.

Now, here are some of the ways that Zidane's game was consistently described:

"A player of uncommon skill and technical poise"

"Zidane's poise and grace"

"Zidane is known for his poise and excellent technique"

"Zidane slows down the pace of the game at will. He is a master at ensuring that the pace of the game matches his natural rhythm."

"While many great players seem to be faster, quicker, or more technically impressive; Zidane seems to be able to slow down the laws of time and space to make things happen the way he wants."

Of course, Zidane's anger issues caused his career to end in a head butt worthy of the blazers of old, not today's team. Thankfully, that's something we never have to worry about with Roy.

But if you look past the head butting, you'll find the only other player that I know of that is consistently described using the same terms used to describe Roy.

If you have watched Zidane play, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, simply know that Zidane was at the top of sport for 18 years while leading his team to championships and a world cup victory. Even in his final matches as his age began to show, he still managed to control the pace of the game and bend the game to his will.

If Roy has anywhere near as successful a career as Zidane had, we're going to have a lot of fun for the next decade.

Seattle to try to Steal Monty Williams?

grigs — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:40:59 -0000

I just stumbled onto this reference to a Seattle Post Intelligencer article on RealGM:

"According to NBA sources, the Sonics may target Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams to join P.J. Carlesimo's staff, which has yet to be constructed."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/47042/20070711/sonics_may_target_trail_blazers_assistant/

For some reason I thought when Dwayne Casey didn't get the Seattle job that we didn't have much to worry about Seattle poaching our coaches. When Casey was in the running, I wondered about Dean Demopoulos possibly leaving (given the debacle in Minnesota with Casey and Demopoulos, I was never seriously worried).

It seems unlikely to me that Monty would choose to leave the Blazers for Seattle's unstable situation, but it is something to keep an eye on.