Reep

I do like the idea of making ZBo a captain along with a vet. If Bonzi could mature and straiten up, he might be a reasonable choice, but I don't trust his maturity yet. If Sabas came back, I would make it Sabas and Zach for Captains. If not Sabas, then maybe Bonzi and Zach?

DA seemed to start off well last season (leading) but when he was injured it all fell apart.

PorterIn2004

Another point in all of this is that really no one person and certainly no fan but really not even Cheeks or any one player is going to determine the next leader. The next leader will be determined by the team as a whole and who they end up following. DA proclaimed himself a leader last year and it seemed from here like everyone ignored him. Being a star helps, being charismatic helps, being well-spoken helps, and these all seem like things Randolph either has going for him now or will have going for him soon. He also has things working against him, particularly his youth. Sure he'll out grow that without trying but guys like 'Sheed, Wells, and even Davis or Dudley rallying around Z-bo in a huddle seems unlikely.

Finally, leadership aside, I want Pip around to run the point at least until something else is worked out. A full season of McInnis, Damon and <wince> DA running the point scares me.

el_Diablo

blazers should appoint zach as a co-captain? I seem to remember this incident with ruben patterson.

blazerfan4life

Is it possible if we are going to lose him to another team..to do a Sign and trade with the team that he goes to..IE Anderson

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Reep

No kidding. I'm hoping some of the depth that they are looking to move DA, RP, JM, will bring back some kind of point. Who knows, maybe one of the camp guys will surprise us.

Schilly

S&T to Memphis for Shane Battier

Schilly

Silly incident, but Zach was standing up for a teammate to in all reality a guy who has been a lockerf room/Practice cancer everywhere he has been. Not justifying it BTW.

bfan1

You are as determined to get Battier as I am to keep Pip!

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Schilly

I would make DA and Z-Bo the captains. The captain is not necessarily tyour best player, but in many cases the best diplomat. This is the guy who is responsible for talking with the refs. Bonzi has too hot of a temmper and in general isn't very respectful towards the refs. DA OTOH would do very well.

Schilly

Darn tootin!! I know Battier isn't the most dynamic player out there, but I think he is attainable and would be a perfect fit on this team. If Pippen goes to Memphis on his own then the Griz have Miller, Pippen and Battier all at the SF position. One needs to go.

bfan1

hadn't really considered the diplomacy aspect-in this case I argee DA is a good choice-of course-along with Pip

I really think they need to strip Sheed of his captain title-we don't need him talking his "logic" to the refs.

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Schilly

Don't forget Damon was a Captain as well.

Minstrel

When was this? He took a team with no stars except himself to within one bad call of the Eastern Conference Finals.

I think you're trying to tailor facts to better suit your theory. Olajuwon had been there for over a decade and won two titles, but Pippen was expected to be the leader? I doubt that, I think it was fairly obvious that Olajuwon was the leader in that situation. Pippen was expected to be a post-feeder and shoot threes off the post-up play of Olajuwon and Barkley.

But the players disagree with you. They always talk about him as the leader. Phil Jackson also disagrees with you, saying Pippen was as much a leader, or more of one, then Jordan. Neither has to sway you, but those are more credible sources than you, since they actually interact with him and see what he does.

Finally, it's not true that he never gets in anyone's face. He's clearly taken Wallace by the arm and bitten off some harsh words to him when Wallace was melting down. And "vague statements in the media"? What's "vague" about saying the team is playing with no heart or effort?

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Schilly

Can some one get some gauze here!!! Minstrel just shot me full o' bullet holes.

I'm probably guilty of remembering Scottie, post Jordan, for his moment when he refused to go in the game, because Kukoc's number was called.

In Houston there was major disappointment surrounding Pippen, you are right though it in all likelyhood wasn't due to Scotties lack of leadership.

As far as Sheed you once again right, but on that note I've also seen Sheed grab Bonzi by the arm when he's pushing a technical foul. There aren't many players that let a teammate just spout off at the refs with out trying to calm them down.

Here's my stitch, if ya wanna keep Pippen for being Scottie, I can appreciate that, but IMO Pippen being on, or not on, this team for the upcoming season really is moot. He won't have enough impact as a player. Also I think keeping him as the PG is folly, it expects too much of him physically.

Alot of it depends on what direction this franchis is taking. IMO I would rather see the young guy's get their PT. If we begin a rebuilding process then keeping Pippen doesn't make sense. If we are trying to cut salary, then keeping Pippen doesn't make sense. If we are looking for warm fuzzy PR, then fine keep Pippen.

PorterIn2004

I completely agree, Minstrel. He's occasionally made arguably diplomatic statements to the media saying "some guys" on this team and so on.... I could see that taken as vague. But I can recall many more times when he's commented on or even very specifically and not very diplomatically called out Trader Bob, Wells, Wallace, Stoudamire, Patterson, Randolph, and Woods. It wouldn't surprise me if, over the course of last season, he'd made comments of one sort or another about each member of the team. The above are only what I specifically recall.