ABM

It's not enough that I'm subjected to Canzano's drivel in the O. Today, I just perused a TSN NBA Preview edition and, gee, guess who, Canzano got the Blazer gig there, as well.

Public Defender

For those of us who are curious as to what Canzano might write in a national publication - could you favor us with a link, a summary, or an excerpt?

Thanks, ABM, I know you meant to do that in the first place....

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Dan

considering the sporting news is now owned by the same company that owns Oregonlive (and the oregonian)..does it come as a surprise to anyone they picked his stupid *** to do it?

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I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

ABM

Sorry, it was just a mag I had perused in a bookstore. I don't belive there is a link.

OK, well without going into the "gory details", I'd have to say that the main premise of his article was that (a) the Blazers are gonna suck - big time, roughly, 25 - 28 wins. (OK, we all know that and I suppose I have no issues with him stating the obvious, there) and that, (b) there will be a continuing theme of Miles/Zach vs. the balance of the team (in this year's case, the kids) in terms of wresting the mantle of team 'identity'. That, Zach is a follower and, unless the Blazers rid themselves of Miles, basically, Zach will turn to mush and we'll be faced again with a zero season. Canzano described Miles has having "rediculous talent" and that the Blazers will be shopping him on hat fact with the hopes of dumping him by the deadline.....yada, yad, yada...........................

I dunno, I guess it's not so much of what Canzano stated, (really, it's nothing that I haven't seen here before), it's just having to be subjected to dude over and over............... Kinda like poltergeist (he's baaaaaaaack) - if you know what I mean.

Note: A common theme a read in the 3 mags I paged through was that the Blazers had the best draft in the league and that they'll look back at this past summmer as the turning point of this franchise and that Roy and Aldridge will be the cornerstones of the franchise.

lalooska

Not sure if the Sale to the Oregonlive group had been completed by the time they wrote the review, etc. But it is interesting to note that until then, Paul Allen owned TSN....

sa1177

AAHHHHH we can't rid ourselves of the Crapzano plague...It's growing...

A new rendition of the old classic...Starring John Crapzano!

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Public Defender

There. Now was that so hard?

Thanks, ABM. The question, I think, is whether McMillan can help pass the mantle of leadership from Darius, and Zach if necessary, to other players on the team. I wonder if it's possible that the veterans the Blazers acquired - Jamaal Magloire and Raef LaFrentz, I'm thinking - are capable of setting the tone in the lockerroom. Both have been on winning teams and know what it takes. Miles has never been on a winning team (except maybe in high school?).

As for the problem with Canzano - I guess I just don't let that guy get under my skin the way a lot of you do.

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Next year...

ryanjend22

eh, its just his opinion. i dont know why so many of you get pissed about what he has to say.


i agree we will suck, however this will be interesting just to watch pan out and im excited for an unpredictable season.

league pass, check.


chea chea.

ebott

Ditto.

It's not like he's wrong. People complain that Canzano is negative, negative, negative. But until the team does something possitive there isn't anything but negative to report.

Blazer Maven

Canzano gave the Blazers the following grades:

Guards D+

This is crazy. Roy is a clear upgrade from Dixon and Jack is an upgrade defensively over both Blake and Telfair and is a more efficient player than both. Webster and Dixon should provide instant offense off the bench.

Forwards: C+

Until the Miles situation is resolved, this seems ok.

Centers: C

Again, Magloire is an improvement over Theo, but no change from last season.

The Blazers are predicted to finish dead last in the conference, which seems difficult to believe since the team has better balance, more talent and Nate has a year under his belt.

TSN has the Jazz rated 5th in the conference for pete's sake!!!

The Blazers have better guards than the Jazz, the Jazz have a slight edge at forward and the Center position is pretty much equal.

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crandc

So you & Crapanzo agree that the draft and the trades were nothing positive?
Funny, I live in Oakland and go nuts with the eternal overoptimistic projections on the Warriors. Every year they will be in the playoffs. Everyone whom they draft is a big step forward. Every trade or signing really improves the team. And every year they win about 30 games and are in the lottery. With Portland it's the opposite. Every move they make is called terrible, everyone whom they sign/draft/trade for is a bust and the coach stinks.

mediocre man

Crapzano is pretty much right on with his grades. The Blazers guards consist of a 2nd year pg, a journeyman backing him up, and a Euro that has never played backing him up. A second year SG that is right out of high school, and rookie that although looks promising hasn't played 1 second of NBA ball, and an undersized 2 guard that never met a shot he didn't like.

What about that says anything but D+

Our forwards are average at best, so they got an average grade

Our centers are good, but nothing to get excited about. Magloire is not as good as a defender as Theo, but a better offensive player, so they are the same.

The Blazers have more talent, but less experience.

Canzano was fair, and it's on Blazer fan itself if they have a problem with his ratings.

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Blazer Maven

Where do I start?

Jack is a lottery quality talent, who was pretty damn productive given his injury. So what if he is his 2nd year, so is Chris Paul, who Jack played very well against in college. Jack is not an all-star, but he is far from D+. Dickau is a decent backup, who put up Damon-like numbers when he got minutes for the Hornets in 04-05.

Jack put up 44% from the field last year and he should be able to put up 12/4/6 this year. Be fair, a C for the PG position at least.

Correct, our starter at SG has not "played a second of NBA ball". Name me a rookie who has!

Roy was arguably the best all-around player in the NCAA last year, and will get the bulk of minutes at SG. He is an upgrade over Dixon on offense and defense this year and should get 13/4/4 while shooting a high % from the field and from the line. Roy will play some 1 as well as 25 min/night at the SG position.

Martell will see minutes at the 2 and 3, while Dixon can be productive in limited minutes. Martell is not "right out if high school" he is in his 2nd year, and was as productive in his rookie year as Kobe was in his rookie year.

With Jack and Roy manning the 1 and 2 respectively, the Blazers will not see their starting backcourt posted up at will by the opposition this year.

What was the Blazers main weakness last season is now a strength. Rebounding, which was horrible last season, should improve with more beef inside as well as more efficient offense and more size in the backcourt.

The offense will be run through the guards this season and a healthy Z-Bo will be doing more work inside with a corresponding increase in FG%. Having Joel and Big Cat inside will help the Blazers rebounding on both ends of the floor.

I say the Blazers compete with Seattle, Minnesota and Utah and could finish as high as 2nd in the NW Division.

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Perfection

The Utah frontcourt of AK47/Boozer/Okur is one of the best 3/4/5 lineups in the league. Granted, they have issues, especially at SG, but I think their starting frontcourt is pretty darn good when healthy....which is a big WHEN.

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