Ed O

What SHOULD he do? Shrug his shoulders at the losses, knowing that the team will let him walk just as they approach competitiveness? Bite his tongue as he remains affixed to the bench as an out-of-position backup, watching his free agent value whither away? Ignore his recent teammates scattered throughout the league that are playing significant roles on much more successful clubs?

Squeeky wheels get the grease, and it's natural that RP wants a change. Being a squeeky wheel is just about the only way to effect that. It has nothing to do with being a "winner".

Ed O.

e_blazer1

Sorry Ed, but from the reports I read, Ruben's complaint wasn't about losing; it was about playing time. He wanted more of it than Nate was giving him. Ruben was being selfish and threw a tirade fitting of a 2 year-old.

I'm with McMillan and Blazers management on this one.

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Ed O

Are his minutes down this year? I'm honestly asking. Because I don't remember these sorts of explosions when the team was making the playoffs and winning 50 games a year.

He has NO influence over whether the team can win or not (beyond being on the floor), but if he complains it's conceivable he can, at least, get extra minutes to help the team win.

Edit: his minutes ARE down. From 28 minutes or so last year to 19 or so this year. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit.

Ed O.

Dan

how about he a: realize his free agent value is low to begin with b: talk to the *COACH* privately c: realize that there's a reason why he plays out of position and thats because he's really not good enough TO play SF regularly and d: the players thare playing "significant roles on much more successful clubs" were much better players than him and really have nothing to do with him?

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when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

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RipCity9

I really wish they'd just waive him - his tirades are really getting old. So you have to sit on the bench to make your millions - life is rough, deal with it Ruben.

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- Bill Walton

Fork

He wouldn't. He shouldn't. But frankly, he just isn't playing well enough to warrant getting more minutes. He needs to look in the mirror if he wants to know who's keeping him off the court. Cursing at the coach is not going to help get him traded to a winner. If he wasn't so stupid, I think he might get that.

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ProudBFan

That post is full of ****. The only thing Ruben is passionate about is the number of minutes he gets on the floor. **** him and **** that post, too.

PBF

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dkap

You don't consider that an unprofessional comment, coming from the GM?! How much further can you go to disrupt an individual's focus and confidence? If someone said that about you, how much motivation would you be left with to buy into what management and the coaching staff are saying? To me, that's just about the worst possible thing a GM could say publicly.

I'm not at all clear what you're implying... As I've stated before, there was never anything conclusive stating that Ruben (or NVE) quit on the team. From what I could tell, they wanted to play and contribute, but were told no thanks, because the team wanted to play the youngsters almost exclusively. I would hope any competitive person would be upset with that.

Dan

Ed O

I'm not claiming he's an intelligent man, but do you think that his minutes are down this year because he's a worse player? Or because the team has better options?

Looking at the roster and roles of players, I think "no" and "no". I think that the team is playing him less because they are less concerned with winning than they are about developing players. That's TOTALLY FINE and TOTALLY LEGIT as a strategy for the team, but all I'm saying is that I understand why he's doing what he's doing, and I think that more NBA players would do it than some of us think.

Ed O.

Ed O

Are you serious?

Please tell me you're joking.

Ed O.

ProudBFan

Yes, I'm dead serious.

No, I'm not joking.

I'm not in a frame of mind to mince words with you Ed, nor am I permitted to say here what I really think of you, your outlook on the team, or your agenda here on this forum because it most definately would qualify as a personal attack.

I said exactly what I meant to say, and that's all I'm going to say.

PBF

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NBAGOD

It's just a bad fit for everyone....a volatile veteran who wants minutes and wins....a bad team that wants to develop young talent....just doesn't work. Unfortunately for Ruben that is the chance you take when you sign a long term contract. I am so sick of these guys who want the security of a long term deal, yet when the going gets rough they want to be traded. Can't have it both ways!

tlong

I do not believe Ed has an agenda on this forum. I know I don't.

PorterIn2004