NBA top 40- Bill Simmons style

[Moozh]

I'm a Blazer fan, so here are my thoughts.

I'm really glad you put Aldrige high. For all the talk about Roy, I'm so much more excited about Aldrige (and to a lesser extent, Sergio). Remember that this guy missed the first part of the season with injuries. Now, he's showing some signs of a great great player. His shooting percentage has been excelllent, he hustles and runs the floor and is fast for his size, he can shoot the mid-range jumper, has good post moves, and often gets more offensive rebounds than defensive (probably because Zach gets the defensive ones). All in all, unlike Roy, I think Aldrige is just beginning to sniff at his potential.

It's hard to root against Zach, I think big guys who are willing to really get in the scrum and bang are hard to come by. While he's slow, he's super-tough. Plus, he has great hands and can finish down low. I think the reason he doesn't fit is because the youthful makeup of the team favors an up and down style, which is impossible with Zach on the floor.

As a fan, I hope that we make that transition and eventually promote Sergio to point guard and start running and gunning like the Suns with a starting lineup of Sergio/Jack, Roy/Udoka, Webster/Outlaw, Aldrige, and our 2007 draft pick.

[Green Kool Aid]

moozh,

you have the right idea completely, and i think portland management agrees with you.

two things.

1. i still think jack is the PG of the future. maybe 28 mpg for jack, 20 mpg for sergio.
2. i think the blazers have the best young talent in basketball. over the celtics, hawks, bulls, whoever.

[Dids]

Explain

"but think he needs to refocus himself" RE: Gilbert.

[Green Kool Aid]

[ QUOTE ]
Explain

"but think he needs to refocus himself" RE: Gilbert.

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-cut down on deep 3 pointers early in the shot clock. gilbert is an excellent 3 point shooter and should be higher than 35 percent from 3s.
-forget about the whole team USA thing, or at least stop talking about it and scoring 50 points on the coaches that cut him.
-get out of "hero mode" at the end of game, and stay with the team game.
-maintain defensive intensity like superstars kobe and d-wade. don't be like vince and carmelo.

im a huge agent zero fan, and think he is awesome for the NBA. but the playoffs are coming, and washington is a legit contendor in the east, so gilbert needs to get his [censored] together.

[Assani Fisher]

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and read everything from John Hollinger, Bill Simmons, and Kelly Dwyer (underrated NBA writer from cnnsi.com)

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Any way you could give links to these guys archives? Thanks.

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Just for you, Assani:

Kelly Dwyer Archive

Bill Simmons Archive

John Hollinger Archive

[/ QUOTE ]thank you.

[Assani Fisher]

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Just to stir the pot a bit more....where would you put the incoming rookies on your list?

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It's so hard to say. I think probably around 20 or so, although I don't think I'd trade Al Jefferson for the number 1 pick.

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Overall, a good job and I appriciate the effort. I disagree mainly on these three things:

-Oden/Durant should be higher
-Shaq should be higher
-Kobe should be higher

[Assani Fisher]

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moozh,


2. i think the blazers have the best young talent in basketball. over the celtics, hawks, bulls, whoever.

[/ QUOTE ]another interesting debate would be to rank the current state of each franchise. Without giving it much thought and doing it right off the top of my dome piece, I'd go......

1. Dallas
2. Phoenix
3. SA
4. Houston
5. LA
6. Detroit
7. Toronto
8. Utah
9. Chicago
10. Cleveland
11. Miami
12. Orlando
13. Washington
14. Denver
15. Portland
16. New Orleans
17. Clippers
18. Milwuakee
19. Golden State
20. New York
21. New Jersey
22. Sacramento
23. Indiana
24. Atlanta
25. Boston
26. Minnesota
27. Charlotte
28. Seattle
29. Memphis
30. Philly

Note: I did not take Oden/Durant into consideration since we don't know who will get lucky in the lottery. Also I didn't give the Eastern teams any added points for playing in an easier conference.

[kidcolin]

Honestly, I can't understand how, based on GKA's selection criteria, Shaq would be in anyones top 40.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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Honestly, I can't understand how, based on GKA's selection criteria, Shaq would be in anyones top 40.

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He gives you a chance of winning a championship w/in the next year or two.

[capone0]

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Honestly, I can't understand how, based on GKA's selection criteria, Shaq would be in anyones top 40.

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He gives you a chance of winning a championship w/in the next year or two.

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Look at his 3 criteria.

1)Talent-Maybe not much talent but he's got what you need to win a title.
2)Age-Something is going to hurt him severely.
3)Durability-Ugh, he get's injured a lot.

So 2 of the 3 he fails in. He can't be top 40.