Hype #9

"I talked to Nate, and he said guys are going to have to follow. Last year was a year for him to feel things out, but he's not going to deal with the crap he did last year. He's going to play guys who deserve it, and he straight-up told me 'I'm not going to wait for them.' And I have no problem with that. We need everyone on board. We can't have letdowns and setbacks. I've dealt with those the last two years, and it's not going to happen this year. I ain't sitting back. I didn't come back here to win 20 games.''

He insisted he will become a leader and break out of his nice-guy-who-doesn't-say-much persona.

"Like I said earlier, I ain't sitting back,'' he said. "I don't care if guys snicker back at me. I'm ready. I don't want to lose. I'm sick of it.''

"In playing pickup games with the guys the brought in ... I can see the changes they have made,'' Przybilla said. "Those young guys, they are winners. They play together.''

In particular, Przybilla raved about rookies Brandon Roy and Sergio Rodriguez.

"I'm telling you, those young guys are good,'' Przybilla said. "They are going to turn heads. Roy doesn't look like a rookie, he is very, very impressive. And Sergio - wow. He threw me some passes that almost hit me in the head. He's flashy, and yeah, he has some things to work on, but he's going to be a real good player.''

For more, click here: http://behindblazersbeat.blogs.orego...sp?item=194062

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b-07-r

roY.

Trailblazed&Confused

Wow. I really hope he delivers on his plans to stand up and be a force in the locker room. We all know the team is woefully short on those guys and it would be great to see someone really step up. I'm really happy to see that somebody lit a fire in Joel.

I like the comments he made about trading for Jamal. He is a pretty classy guy.
It's also nice to see further confirmation that we had a strong draft.

wastro

For a team sorely lacking in leadership last year, I hope Joel's proactive approach is for the best and inspires the others.

Trader Ed

We need a leader by example

Pryz and Jamaal might be it

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

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

handclap problematic

This is kind of a strange line. I am not usually one who tries to read behind every line, expecting some sort of hidden code or context to emerge underneath the surface. Those things usually end up like the decoder ring on "Christmas story"; with nothing. However, this is an interesting statement that does seem to imply something, and espcially the "I'm not going to wait for them" line. Who is this "them" that is mentioned? Is "them" just a blanket term for anyone who does not follow along with the plan, or is it specifically referencing cetain people? I shall not venture into these connotations, because it is really quite baseless (even if "we" think we know who is being mentioned). I think there may be specific players being implicated. But, this is just my opnion.

Prunetang

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The Artist formerly known as Prunetang.


" I hate admitting that my enemies have a point. " ..........Salman Rushdie

Samuel

soonerterp

I can't really say more than that.

I would expect Jamaal Magloire to be a leader as well, and really I don't mind having him I'm just still not totally crazy about what it cost the Blazers to get him, and now I'll quit harping about it, I'm just still disappointed.

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Blog be here

zagsfan20

We gave up a career back-up point guard, a decent back-up power forward and oaf center who will accumulate more fouls than points in his career for a solid starting caliber Center with good size who can rebound (something that we have sorely lacked)...

I don't think its the fact that we gave too much per say, I think its just the person we gave up you liked a lot to begin with.

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"I condemn remarks that are, in any way, viewed as anti-anything".
- John McCain

Rodney Stuckey is the future of the league.

Talkhard

You bet. I was VERY encouraged by that. That's the kind of attitude all the players should have--whatever makes the team better.

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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

Samuel

Considering the guy is still living here in the offseason, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that Blake is resigning with Portland.

deanwoof

this is very encouraging.

i just hope we dont have another sabonis/sheed type of scuffle on our hands where miles does something extremely stupid.

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Public Defender

"I'm not going to wait for them" - I trust means that McMillan is not going to wait for guys to get into shape and adjust their attitude to "team-first". I trust it doesn't mean he's going to have zero patience for players who have lots of talent but are still learning the ropes in the NBA (Aldridge, Webster, Roy, Jack, Sergio). I wonder primarily what this means for Travis Outlaw, who seems to have the right attitude most of the time, but just seems really dense when it comes to learning Nate's system. But I think mainly, this is a message to Zach Randolph and Darius Miles that it's time to get their acts together.

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Next year...

bintim70

I actually hope we do. Come on Miles, hit Joel with a towel. That may solve our Miles problem.

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Out posted by everyone since 1999.

Utherhimo

i dont think jamaal wants to be here in portland he could be a real problem demanding a trade and the like. Is jamaal or miles in town YET??!?!?!

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Mead for Life and Life for Mead ~ "ORAGUN", not "ORYGONE"!
WELCOME RUDY, BAYLESS and Batum to the Blazer Tribe: wear the Scarlet and Black with Pride. HAIL THE NORTH WEST! LONG LIVE OREGON!

00 this season is for YOU!!!! RIP!

HispanicCausinPanic