Sep 27, 2023·edited Sep 27, 2023Liked by John Canzano
The Dame era in PDX will be remembered for a few things, chiefly: The franchise wasted the career of a first-ballot hall of famer, the best guard in club history (apologies to Clyde) and the best club ambassador I can remember. I don't blame Dame for anything - I blame ownership for all of it. Not Paul Allen; he cared deeply and was involved. Jody. She is the Satan in this tragedy.
A new era begins - and needs to. If Coach Billups can get Ayton to buy in (one assumes he thinks he can), Portland will have the rim protector it has lacked since forever and the young nucleus will be fun to watch develop. Just renewed my League Pass and am keen to seem them roll out the balls.
And Dame: Thanks for the memories; Godspeed; see you in The Finals.
Clyde was a swing player, SG / SF, not a PG. Clyde is a HoFer, so let's not compare. Dame is the best PG in club history. Period. That said, who are the others? Twardzik? Porter? Strickland? Lever? Hollins was a 2 most of the time as was Geoff Petrie.
No disrespect to Clyde intended. I was there for his glory years with PDX and give him all the props he is due. Twardzik, Porter, Strickland, Lever and Lionel were very good players on very good teams but (IMO) their individual talent was not on the level of Dame or Clyde the Glyde.
Here is another thing on Roy: the Wolves had the rights to him with their draft pick. But Kevin McHale somehow coveted Randy Foye. He agreed to trade the rights for Roy to Portland so he could take Foye. Stupid trade! Roy turned out to be an all-star and Foye, a nothing. https://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/1953/a-gift-from-minnesota-how-brandon-roy-got-to-portland The Wolves did the same stupid thing a couple years later with Portland-area GM David Kahn (a total flop as GM) with the #5 and #6 pick, two non-shooting PGs, and they passed over Steph Curry for Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn (a nobody). DUMB!!! BTW... Jrue Holiday went #17 in that draft.
So a small market team can make a big move to support a generational superstar. Guess that’s called “putting all the chips in”. The contrast with Milwaukie’s approach and success vs. Portland is utterly damning of the entire Allen ownership tenure.
I wouldn't damn the entire Allen ownership tenure. There was a time when he had a competent G.M. (say what you will about Trader Bob Whitsitt & the "Jailblazers" era) and came very close to willing it all. You can also make an argument that that the bad luck of Oden's & Roy's bad knees derailed the potential of Allen-tenure "Rise With Us" championship runs.
Denver is also a small market team. Market size did not prevent them from winning it all last year. And they have the nucleus to win many more. In the NBA, winning comes down to "want to" and front office competence.
John L, I think you are right. My concern for Dame staying in Portland was injury and staying power. Unloaded huge contract. That said, I won’t be upset if Dame has four or five great years in him. He gave PDX all he could give. And the Vulcans basically game him the finger.
Well, here we are again. And it’s OK. Dame is on the back end of his greatness, and with his contract the Blazers were not going to assemble the pieces to make a true deep playoff run—especially with Maleficent in charge. A least we have another young squad that plays overall better defense and, if healthy, can give us hope. And it’s good to have sword removed from over our heads before the season starts. Onward!
Said he’d die on the sword in Portland and got the big bag💰…then wanted a trade after the draft and free agency…glad it’s over and excited for Blazers and Dame..RIP CITY 🏀
In other news, the Blazers traded Bert Kolde to Oklahoma City in exchange for a dozen dry-erase markers and a copy of Organizational Management for Dummies.
As much as I love Dame we never had the forward/big at the level of Giannis during Dame's years to compete for it all. The best was early on with Aldridge but he didn't accept Dame as the guy. Dame has a chance to get a championship with Giannis and Middleton. There are also a few ex-Blazers on that roster starting with Pat Connaughton, who Dame seemed to help his 1st 3 years in the league. Hope Dame makes the best of it and hope we can learn to love this new team without Dame.
Sep 27, 2023·edited Sep 27, 2023Liked by John Canzano
Lillard got the best possible spot for chasing his ring. We all wish he wouldn't have been afraid of the grind but wish him well and he'll always be welcomed back. Perhaps the GOAT of all Portland professional athletes for what he gave back to the city.
And here we go again with the never ending story of the Blazers. Not rebuilding and nowhere near good enough to compete for the top of the conference. The dreaded no-man's land. I wish they would have sold out on the rebuild.
Jrue Holiday will be traded. The rest of the roster is young. They will lose at least 50 games this year. They will look worse before they ever look better.
Signing Grant to mega deal and getting back Ayton (who will be an unrestricted free agent before these young guys are good enough to contend) instead of more picks isn't a complete rebuild.
Sep 27, 2023·edited Sep 27, 2023Liked by John Canzano
The Bucks already won an NBA Championship without Lillard. Holiday was a nice player on that team, but hardly essential. With Lillard, Milwaukee has to be right there with Denver as the 2023-24 favorite. Who can handle their depth at the 5? With Lillard on the point, they will be a deadly opponent.
Portland fans: don't expect too much from Ayton. I have had to watch him here in Phoenix for several years. I thought he really hurt the Suns in big moments. He has nice size, a decent shot, strength to be a good rebounder and ball handling skills for a big guy. But when the pressure is on, Ayton wilts. Maybe he won't face the playoff pressure much with the Blazers, though
Ayton will have some outstanding games with 20 rebounds and 20 points. Other games, he will disappear, usually when there are high expectations. He is fun to watch, just not to depend on winning a Championship.
We hope he does face the pressure of the playoffs. Maybe Billups can get through to him where others couldn’t and help him overcome that issue. I’d love to see it.
As a 30 year fan of the T-Wolves who got to see a couple years of Billups (under Flip Saunders, who later hooked up with Billups in Detroit to go deep in playoffs), I would love to see Chauncey get more out of Ayton, who has the potential. Monty Williams was probably too nice a guy. He never leaned on his players. Ayton needs some tough love and Chauncey might get through to him.
I think the only way this trade turns into an ‘A’ grade for Blazers is to move Holiday. For a quality PF, or more picks. JC, the Dame trade-in of ‘swim trunks’ for ‘parka’ made me laugh out loud, good line there! I do hope Lillard finds great success w/ the Bucks
The Dame era in PDX will be remembered for a few things, chiefly: The franchise wasted the career of a first-ballot hall of famer, the best guard in club history (apologies to Clyde) and the best club ambassador I can remember. I don't blame Dame for anything - I blame ownership for all of it. Not Paul Allen; he cared deeply and was involved. Jody. She is the Satan in this tragedy.
A new era begins - and needs to. If Coach Billups can get Ayton to buy in (one assumes he thinks he can), Portland will have the rim protector it has lacked since forever and the young nucleus will be fun to watch develop. Just renewed my League Pass and am keen to seem them roll out the balls.
And Dame: Thanks for the memories; Godspeed; see you in The Finals.
Clyde was a swing player, SG / SF, not a PG. Clyde is a HoFer, so let's not compare. Dame is the best PG in club history. Period. That said, who are the others? Twardzik? Porter? Strickland? Lever? Hollins was a 2 most of the time as was Geoff Petrie.
No disrespect to Clyde intended. I was there for his glory years with PDX and give him all the props he is due. Twardzik, Porter, Strickland, Lever and Lionel were very good players on very good teams but (IMO) their individual talent was not on the level of Dame or Clyde the Glyde.
Uh.....Brandon Roy
Oh if only his knees hadn’t done him in. He was truly The Natural ❤️ one of my favorites.
Here is another thing on Roy: the Wolves had the rights to him with their draft pick. But Kevin McHale somehow coveted Randy Foye. He agreed to trade the rights for Roy to Portland so he could take Foye. Stupid trade! Roy turned out to be an all-star and Foye, a nothing. https://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/1953/a-gift-from-minnesota-how-brandon-roy-got-to-portland The Wolves did the same stupid thing a couple years later with Portland-area GM David Kahn (a total flop as GM) with the #5 and #6 pick, two non-shooting PGs, and they passed over Steph Curry for Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn (a nobody). DUMB!!! BTW... Jrue Holiday went #17 in that draft.
Good, not great (not in Lillard's league). But yes, I should have had him on my list.
I loved Dave Twardzik's afro perm so much I tried it myself. Didn't work.
So a small market team can make a big move to support a generational superstar. Guess that’s called “putting all the chips in”. The contrast with Milwaukie’s approach and success vs. Portland is utterly damning of the entire Allen ownership tenure.
I wouldn't damn the entire Allen ownership tenure. There was a time when he had a competent G.M. (say what you will about Trader Bob Whitsitt & the "Jailblazers" era) and came very close to willing it all. You can also make an argument that that the bad luck of Oden's & Roy's bad knees derailed the potential of Allen-tenure "Rise With Us" championship runs.
Oh most definitely.
Denver is also a small market team. Market size did not prevent them from winning it all last year. And they have the nucleus to win many more. In the NBA, winning comes down to "want to" and front office competence.
Lillard has two good years left. We acquired younger guys with an upside. I like where we’re at. Portland will now be exciting to watch even more.
John L, I think you are right. My concern for Dame staying in Portland was injury and staying power. Unloaded huge contract. That said, I won’t be upset if Dame has four or five great years in him. He gave PDX all he could give. And the Vulcans basically game him the finger.
Well, here we are again. And it’s OK. Dame is on the back end of his greatness, and with his contract the Blazers were not going to assemble the pieces to make a true deep playoff run—especially with Maleficent in charge. A least we have another young squad that plays overall better defense and, if healthy, can give us hope. And it’s good to have sword removed from over our heads before the season starts. Onward!
Said he’d die on the sword in Portland and got the big bag💰…then wanted a trade after the draft and free agency…glad it’s over and excited for Blazers and Dame..RIP CITY 🏀
Breaking news John, well played.
In other news, the Blazers traded Bert Kolde to Oklahoma City in exchange for a dozen dry-erase markers and a copy of Organizational Management for Dummies.
As much as I love Dame we never had the forward/big at the level of Giannis during Dame's years to compete for it all. The best was early on with Aldridge but he didn't accept Dame as the guy. Dame has a chance to get a championship with Giannis and Middleton. There are also a few ex-Blazers on that roster starting with Pat Connaughton, who Dame seemed to help his 1st 3 years in the league. Hope Dame makes the best of it and hope we can learn to love this new team without Dame.
I'm so glad I quit following the Blazers years ago!
Very interesting (in my best Arte Johnson voice).
Looks like everyone got their wish let’s see how this plays out.
Well-played on the Arte Johnson reference!
Not everyone, "This whole thing started with Lillard’s suitcase thinking “swim trunks” but ended with “parka.”
Good for Dame. Bucks are a team that wants to win.
Lillard got the best possible spot for chasing his ring. We all wish he wouldn't have been afraid of the grind but wish him well and he'll always be welcomed back. Perhaps the GOAT of all Portland professional athletes for what he gave back to the city.
And here we go again with the never ending story of the Blazers. Not rebuilding and nowhere near good enough to compete for the top of the conference. The dreaded no-man's land. I wish they would have sold out on the rebuild.
If this isn't rebuilding, I don't know what is.
Jrue Holiday will be traded. The rest of the roster is young. They will lose at least 50 games this year. They will look worse before they ever look better.
Signing Grant to mega deal and getting back Ayton (who will be an unrestricted free agent before these young guys are good enough to contend) instead of more picks isn't a complete rebuild.
Very sad day for Blazer fans….a huge loss. Wish him the best and sports are always about the “if onlys”.
It’s bound to happen to most all stars. We accommodated Drexler. It’s just business.
The Bucks already won an NBA Championship without Lillard. Holiday was a nice player on that team, but hardly essential. With Lillard, Milwaukee has to be right there with Denver as the 2023-24 favorite. Who can handle their depth at the 5? With Lillard on the point, they will be a deadly opponent.
Portland fans: don't expect too much from Ayton. I have had to watch him here in Phoenix for several years. I thought he really hurt the Suns in big moments. He has nice size, a decent shot, strength to be a good rebounder and ball handling skills for a big guy. But when the pressure is on, Ayton wilts. Maybe he won't face the playoff pressure much with the Blazers, though
So Ayton is like Nurk except a lot less miles and more potential upside
Ayton will have some outstanding games with 20 rebounds and 20 points. Other games, he will disappear, usually when there are high expectations. He is fun to watch, just not to depend on winning a Championship.
We hope he does face the pressure of the playoffs. Maybe Billups can get through to him where others couldn’t and help him overcome that issue. I’d love to see it.
As a 30 year fan of the T-Wolves who got to see a couple years of Billups (under Flip Saunders, who later hooked up with Billups in Detroit to go deep in playoffs), I would love to see Chauncey get more out of Ayton, who has the potential. Monty Williams was probably too nice a guy. He never leaned on his players. Ayton needs some tough love and Chauncey might get through to him.
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/id-tell-him-thank-you-chauncey-billups-flip-saunders
And the rumor is that the Blazers are going to trade Jrue Holiday. That in my opinion would be bad.
I think the only way this trade turns into an ‘A’ grade for Blazers is to move Holiday. For a quality PF, or more picks. JC, the Dame trade-in of ‘swim trunks’ for ‘parka’ made me laugh out loud, good line there! I do hope Lillard finds great success w/ the Bucks
The Greek Freak and Dame Dolla should be very interesting!