Masbee

I voted for SAR before I read the comments.

I don't think 3rd place is even close. Despite his struggle to fit in with Portland, SAR is far more talented and accomplished than anyone else on the roster.

To those who say he didn't fit in with the Blazers - how could he? The Blazer's coach, Cheeks, is a lightweight and a hardhead, who did NOTHING to ease the transition for SAR and maximize the production of the talent on the team. It was also clear that the Blazer's didn't want to do anything that might offend Zach. Cheeks and the Blazer's treated SAR like a lame duck, and, surprise!, they got a lame duck performance.

For those who say that SAR carries the "loser" tag and has never lead a team anywhere, thus you cast your votes for Theo or Darius or whoever, what have those guys ever done? Since nobody else on the Blazer's is a proven "winner" or "leader", and since SAR is the most skilled, proven, healthy recent all-star, how is this a debate?

Draco

Well it is very close between SAR and Ratliff imo, but I just think Ratliff makes a bigger difference to the success of a team then SAR would. I don't think any team SAR has been on would have won that many fewer games if he didn't play. SAR gets nice stats but Ratliff contributes more to the success of a team. When Ratliff joined the blazers we went from having probably the worst defense in the NBA to a very respectable one overnight. It was a huge difference just from one man's work in the middle.

Lets say I was the bobcats as an expansion team and I had the choice between SAR and Ratliff at the same age with identical contracts when I had no other players. In this scenario I'd take Ratliff.

I think the impact a player has on the success of their team is what "best player" means to me. I don't mean necessarly what they did last year but on average the impact you'd expect of that player on any NBA team. It is somewhat subjective so everyone has to define it for themselves, just as some people would define "talent" differently.

quick

I get your point but I still remain with what I said.Rahim is better than most of the rest of the guys on the roster but with a couple other guys who are just as important its just a coin toss of who is second best on the team.If I can recall any game where he did his best as a blazer at then I can do some more thinking.

RedHot&Rolling

I say DA. He can hit open jumpers, plays passable defense, hits most his FT's, good guy in community and with teamates. He doesn't always do it regularly, granted, but I think he is our second best player.

Miles has more talent - potential - upside, etc.
Damon - can dribble better.
Ratliff - can defend and block shots better.

But overall - DA is second best to Zbo.

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ABM

Hey, I think I saw that game!

DrewFix

i voted miles for his off court advantage.(heh, heh)
and his up side.
all though truelly i would have voted sar.
but a squeeky wheel should get the greasen'...
imo

Masbee

Don't know for sure, but I am thinking those who didn't vote for Shareef saw very little of SAR game performance prior to his joining the Blazers. Just a hunch. If you watched SAR on the Blazers a dozen or more times in a couple of months, and had seen him with the Grizzlies/Hawks a dozen or so times in the last few years, the inclination would be to think he sucks.

Draco

Still pretty close 12-10-10.

I am surprised Miles is getting as many votes as SAR, I thought it was just going to be between SAR and Ratliff.

Playmaker0017

Yet - didn't he play 2 years with the Hawks and he didn't amount to a hill of beans?

Which is probably why you aren't a general manager. Hehe.

Ratliff is a cog-type piece. You can actually BUILD a team around Reef... unfortunately, no team has yet to do that.

The Grizz were hodgepodge and after signing BCountry to 16MM, they sunk the franchise. Heck, how about drafting "The Franchise" (who declared he would NEVER play for a Canadian team) instead of Lamar Odom (who declared he was VERY ANXIOUS to play with Reef) in a draft where they should have been able to draft Tim Duncan (if I remember correctly). That year the number 1 slot fell to the Grizz, but due to league crap, they had to forfeit and take a different pick. So, with the number one pick they get ----- Michael Dickerson and Felipe Lopez!!!! Wooo-haaaah! I don't think MJ could have pulled that team out.

Then moving forward to Atlanta ... jeez ... Jason "Ican'tdribble" Terry and Big Dog ... come on.

I think Ratliff is the best player Reef's ever played with --- which explains why they are quite good friends.

I agree with that. I think "BEST PLAYER" means most talented.

For instance, if Tracy McGrady were traded to the Blazers ... he would be number one. But according to your methodology, he'd fall to #6-#7.

Play.

Draco

Well Ratliff was part of a very good 6ers team that made it to the finals. No I don't think Ratliff can carry a team at all on offense, but I don't think SAR can carry a winning team offensively either. Ratliff can carry a very good team defensively though.

When you look at who the best player on a team is I think you also have to look at the competition at their spot, I mean Reef really doesn't stand out that much at the NBA forward spot, whereas Ratliff does stand out at the center spot. SAR is just an average forward, wheras Ratliff is in the top5 of centers.

If the blazers got TMAC he would be their best player no doubt about it.

ZBoFanatic

i voted for theo. the guy led the league in blocked shots! that's a BIG statement IMO.

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