Playmaker0017

It's too bad. Miles is not anywhere near the talent level as Reef ... and it is a much tougher matchup facing Zach and Reef than Zach and Miles.

Play.

tlong

The only two 2-guards I would consider trading Reef for would be Ray Allen and Michael Redd....and I don't think either of those deals will happen. Any other plausible deal will only weaken our team in my opinion. I think we should extend Reef's contract and keep him here. With Monia and Khyrapa coming on board next season we would be set.

Trader Ed

I do agree witht his. Big quality big men are hard to come by. Maybe all three are not all-stars. But they are pretty decent.

Last year, before many of the trades. Wallace and Randolph made for difficult matchups. Just like Play is saying... Rahim and Randolph offer the same problems to opponents.

Rahim and Randolph are upping some good numbers right now. Go with it. Utitlize it when you can and take advantage of the matchup problems it presents. 48 mins a game, not 29.... are you listening Mo?

__________________
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts..."

Heart, desire and hustle! Its the fire within that makes a champion.

CelticPagan

If he continues to play this well over an extended period, we should extend his contract. However, how long, and how much would we be willing to pay? And will Shareef have a change of attitude towards staying with the Blazers?

He's getting minutes, producing big time, and we may be a winning team this year. Hopefully he'll stay.

Playmaker0017

If things continue as they are - I can say there is no amount of money that you could offer Shareef to stay.

Two out of three games have been a complete slap in his face. He's been one of the hardest workers out on the floor ... on both ends. And he gets benched in the fourth. That's a slap.

He isn't getting real minutes though. If you remove the 44 minute night - he's averaging 29 mintues a game. He's producing despite the lack of PT.

Also, it might help to note, the two games that Reef did not play the fourth we almost lost or did lose. I think there is a definite correlation to it.

Play.

Talkhard

Any examples?

Most successful NBA players have to be able to do more than run up and down the court and dunk the ball. There's defense, and passing, and jump-shooting, for example. And when you're playing a half-court game (which often occurs in the playoffs) you'd better be able to excel at that, too.

Clyde Drexler was the kind of run-and-gun athelete you're talking about, but his game was built on a lot more than dunking.

__________________
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." --Jay, lifelong Pacers fan

Talkhard

Any examples?

Most successful NBA players have to be able to do more than run up and down the court and dunk the ball. There's defense, and passing, and jump-shooting, for example. And when you're playing a half-court game (which often occurs in the playoffs) you'd better be able to excel at that, too.

Clyde Drexler was the kind of run-and-gun athelete you're talking about, but his game was built on a lot more than dunking.

__________________
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." --Jay, lifelong Pacers fan

baler

By law you would need to add "K-Mart" to that list.

__________________
BRANDON
ROOKIE
OF THE
YEAR

Playmaker0017

Oh, yeah ...

and K-Mart.

Play.

Playmaker0017

Jason Terry.
Amare Stoudamire.
Darius Miles.
Corey Maggette.
Young Vince Carter.
Young Kobe Bryant.
Young Tracy McGrady.

They aren't superstars ... but they make a name for themselves.

I shouldn't have said "great" ... I meant well-known or exciting.

Play.

ABM

Play, to me SAR is not a nickname, it's just much easier to type. The word "Reef" reminds me too much of my past, so I refrain from using it.

Talkhard

"Great" is the key word. Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady are the only two players on your list whom I would call "great," and Kobe is an incredible clutch shooter. McGrady ain't bad in that category, either. But neither one of them depends exclusively on his ability to dunk the ball, which was your original criteria.

Amare Stoudamire is very one-dimensional, and doesn't really understand how to play the game. Corry Maggette and Darius Miles are a LONG WAYS from great, though they may make it one day.

__________________
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." --Jay, lifelong Pacers fan

Playmaker0017

Talkhard,

I agree - bad choice of phrasing.

Play.

Webster's Dictionary

I think we're all forgeting that Reef is not a natural 3. I couldn't see the game against Vince Carter yesterday, but it seems he burned us, and I wonder how much of the time Reef was guarding him. Reef will be tested when we play more of the athletic small forwards in the league. While I'm impressed with Reef's play and it makes me want to reconsider whether or not to trade him, I think that there is still a big question mark as to whether he can guard smaller, quicker guys. And what happened to the support for Darius? Last year he came in and improved when he started and everyone said, "I think he's finally turned the corner." Then he got signed to a contract, and most people said we overpaid slightly for him, including myself in some respects. Now everyone is saying that he is a chump that doesn't work, and has nothing but athletic ability. Reef is playing hard, and not complaining because he realizes that's the way to get traded. I don't think that it can be a question of Miles of Reef. I think that out of neccessity it will be Reef or ZBo, and more likely Reef no matter how well he plays.

Originally posted by Playmaker 0017
Please tell me your joking. I respect most of your arguments, and I like what you post but, please tell me you forgot the .

__________________

Hype #9

Why, thank you, I also like it. I think we should start marketing it.

The Zbo, Reef lineup is working better than I thought, but we still need an upgrade in the backcourt in the worst way. It would be nice to keep Reef and Zbo