Fork

He's already said he won't come out this year, although winning a national championship might change that.

His college game reminds some of Rasheed Wallace without a jumpshot.

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When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis, 1935

If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by. -- Japanese proverb

B_&_B

I agree!

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"People say we are coming, but I almost think it's to the point where we are here," he said. "I think it's no longer coming. We are here now."... Brandon Roy.

ebott

Noah doesn't exactly knock my socks off. But he looks like the kind of guy that could come into a team like ours and help our situation. More so than any other player available. It's easy to say "He's good, but I wouldn't take him with the first pick." But if I don't like anybody else better why not take him first?

mgb

Noah certainly looks like a Nate type of player so I wouldn't be surprised if we did draft him. I still think we should go for Morrison. Then again we need a inside presence. Hmmmm, hard to decide.

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Michael



"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling."
-Margaret Lee Runbeck

"Science is built with facts as a house is with stones--but a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house."
-Jules Henri Poincare (1854-1912)

"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion."
-Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

meru

Which is high praise, especially since the major knock on Rasheed was that he was a surly headcase, and Noah is anything but.

I find myself in a horrible bind: I actually agree with TalkHard about something. Yes, Noah has gaping holes in his game and a hideous jumpshot (but no uglier than MVP-candidate Shawn Marion), but to my mind there are 2 glaring reasons to draft him:

1. He's a winner: he was the most outstanding player in the tournament.
2. He has an absolutely great attitude. He's all about the team, and he's perpetually up (of course, put him on this team and see how long that lasts...)

Add that to the fact that he has guard skills (because he was a guard until an unbelievable late growth spurt - exactly like Scottie Pippen) and defends and rebounds like a maniac and I'm sold!

The major knocks on him are, skinny build (narrow shoulders) and bad shooting. Well, I'm not too bothered by the bad shooting right now, because I don't want a PF taking too many jump shots anyway. And as for the skinny build - both Marcus Camby and Jermaine O'Neal had equally skinny builds and narrow shoulders, and they've done all right.

No, he won't be rookie of the year, but he's a player to build around and to build team spirit around. And Portland brass have GOT to love his people skills, quotability and sunny personality.

Now, will he come out? He's said not, but winning the championship might change that.

I also wish we could've seen him against Thomas. For my money if we got the #1 pick it'd be a toss-up between them. Not Aldridge or Gay, because they don't care enough, not Morrison because he's only fit to be the franchise player on a bad team. Thomas and Noah can make their teams better even if they're not scoring.

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"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson, not-so-proud Founding Father

STOMP

Is it a season or two, or 3-4??? and howzabout you change that we to an I... feel free to remind yourself about whatever as often as necessary.

IMO this upcoming draft is a weak one. None of the guys I've seen (who might come out) strike me as an immediate difference maker... I'm all but resigned to next season being at least as much of an eyesore as this one. The player personnel mistakes have been made and no quick fix is in sight. Thats why I'm all for taking the guy that projects to be the best of the lot eventually.

That said, if Noah measures out well, I don't think it will take him 3-4 years to earn significant PT no matter who drafts him.

STOMP

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaQprMCe20A&NR=1

B_&_B

One good thing (not sure if its already been pointed out) is that with the rise of Noah's stock, it makes this "weak" draft stronger, which is good if we look to trade the pick.

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"People say we are coming, but I almost think it's to the point where we are here," he said. "I think it's no longer coming. We are here now."... Brandon Roy.

chevelle

While I was watching Florida's Final Four game, I heard the announcer say that Noah most likely wasn't going to enter the draft along with a couple other Florida players. Now that he's won the National Championship, it will be interesting to see if he will test the waters and see where he stands. Many ESPN analyists are predicting a Florida preseason ranking of #1 but if Noah declares for the draft, there is no way in hell that Florida repeats.

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"I didn't prepare as much as I normally would have against the Packers. You know, I figured I was only going to play a half and it was New Year's Eve." -Rex Grossman's Famous last words DAMN YOU GROSSMAN!!!

GO Blazers, Bears, Mariners, and Ducks!!!

tlong

Noah appears to be as good as anyone else in this draft so I would not be disappointed if we picked him.

Talkhard

Agreed, but it's foolish to overlook a player who dominates an NCAA title game just because you didn't know about him before.

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

Fork

'What's hot this week' got Dwayne Wade for Miami.

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When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis, 1935

If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by. -- Japanese proverb

deanwoof

Noah reminds me of Brian Grant with some ball handling skills and blocks shots better. He plays with heart, does all the little things, knows how basketball is supposed to be played. Would you use a top 5 pick on Brian Grant? Hell no. So why use it on Noah?

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Kmurph

I like Noah, not sure I like him more than Morrison, Gay or Roy though...

and where does Bargnani fit into the picture?

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Quit the Webster hate

RipCity9

Signed, the 2005 UNC Tarheels

I can't handle another 88ppg scoring average - we need offense and we need it now! This guy is not going to