e_blazer1

Nobody with any brains ever questioned Rasheed's talent or knowledge of the game. He's a gifted basketball player. I don't care too about Rasheed's off-court issues like the pot in the back of the hummer. What bothered me most about him were the intangibles of what his temper tantrums cost the Blazers in terms of a title in 2000 and the team's inability to replicate their success in following seasons. Leading the league in techs put a target on his back with the refs and made it easy for him to get tossed from that one WCF playoff game with LA. Had he played that game, the Blazers may well have won and not needed a Game 7 to advance to the finals. How many other games did he cost us by irritating the refs? How do you think Sabonis liked playing with the guy after the towel incident? How does a lack of team camaraderie impact the ability to succeed on the court?

From a personal standpoint, I'm sorry that Rasheed seems to go through life with a chip on his shoulder. From a basketball perspective, I just wish that he'd been mature enough to reach his full potential in a Blazer uniform. I'm ticked that he let his emotions get the better of him to the point that his trade value ultimately dropped to SAR and Ratliff instead of another dominant player. How much did that set this organization back? Bottom line, there was a time when I couldn't believe our good fortune in getting Rasheed. Imagine his talent combined with a team-first attitude like Brandon Roy's.

Coach Sheed? Yeah, that won't be happening.

__________________
Blazermania is BACK!!!