I consider being selfish on the basketball-court as questionable work-ethic because he's not working to be more of a team-player, in a team-sport where the ultimate goal is winning.

I think that a lot of the falwed players on this team would be good if it was just them. If we had balanced players and Curry as centerpiece with defensive and rebounding flaws, we'd be fine. Same with Zach, same with Crawford. Its just that having them all together is a bad idea.

Posted by BlueSeats:

Guys, nobody's coming up with revelations here. In another thread someone thinks they broke the code that Marbury can't feed the post. As if we haven't been saying this for years.

Some of us saw it earlier, but the story was laid out completely during the LB season. Players with no defense, brains or heart thrown together, needing to be coddled or they revolt. Yet Isiah keeps getting the same kind of players over and over to the extent that his "solutions" only compound the problems.

Then, on top of it all, you have players who've always resented Isiah's indulgent and incestuous relationship with Marbury, and finally refuse to stand for it any longer.

We've all had dirt on Isiah for a long time. Finally he's burying himself in it.

Posted by bitty41:

Answer this for me Kobe Bryant has been known for a having bad shot selection at times so would you say he has a questionable work ethic?

Kobe Bryant also plays fantastic defense and really the only flaw you can find in his game is questionable shot-selection *at times*, not nearly as much as Randolph.

I'm not here to diss Randolph all over this message board. My only point is that getting him did nothing for this team, because he didnt bring anything that wasnt already here and he brought along with him a huge contract that is on the verge of being untradable.

I consider being selfish on the basketball-court as questionable work-ethic because he's not working to be more of a team-player, in a team-sport where the ultimate goal is winning.

Posted by bitty41:

ny4ever this is what you said

I consider being selfish on the basketball-court as questionable work-ethic because he's not working to be more of a team-player, in a team-sport where the ultimate goal is winning.

In terms of the selfishness this accusation has been leveled against Kobe in recent years. And my only point is that if your speaking in the context of using bad shot selection as being equal to work ethic; then you better be prepared to use it across the board for every player in this league. Whether its Kobe, Iverson, McGrady, or Randolph are you willing to say that any player with poor shot selection should now have their work ethic questioned. Thats my only point. Also from everything that I've ever learned and seen about basketball getting yourself shots whether they are good or bad does take work. So if you want to question their work ethic there are more relevant aspects of the game you should be looking at IMO.

Posted by playa2:

Posted by tkf:

Posted by BRIGGS:

when we traded for zach randolph. Zach is a great skill player but is there some kind of evidence that suggests that Portland is better *without* him? Certainly appears to be. Is there any evidence they we are achancged team from last year for the worse? This team is BRUTAL--we sck--we get beat like expansion teams. For IT to talk about playoffs one game after losing 5 games in a row is blasthamy and he had some nice karma shoved in his face. He takes no culpability yet was responsible for making all of these guys rich when other teams wouldn't pay the same rates. Last night was a perfect example of why you DONT want a boycott of games etc.. there is no bigger statement than watching that game last night. I knew we were in for it going up against a team that has so much more size than us and a superior low post player, but we basically lost like the Boston game in the 2nd half. I think you have to believe that while some of our players have some offensive talents--the OVERALL basketball--and I mean defense rebounding passing the whole game--I think our guys are NOT very talented--that IT is overrating their overall skills in a team game concept. That is his vault--he picked one way players[how many times this year have we been beaten down court give up wide open 3s--this is SKILL--the ability to know what to do and have the capabilities to execute. They lack these skills--better known as basketball IQ--we have a F dumb team a BRUTALLY dumb team --does anyone care to say otherwise? They dont know how to play the game--the team is put together like sht--that is why we sck so badly.

yea, briggs, that is evident. I made a thread on realgm, about our teams talent being overrated. That we don't have as much talent as many think... I find it odd, that Isiah doesn't play randolph morris, if you watch him play, he is one of our few bigs, along with lee, that understands how to play. Now I am talking about morris from what I saw in summer league, and I know the competition is not the same, but the basketball concepts are. things like setting a proper pick to free your guards, not to get YOUR shot. boxing out, understanding what the offensive player likes to do, and taking that away, combating a guys second move after you have stopped his first move.. things like that, these guys don't seem to understand... I think Fred jones has a clue, and there are a few others, I think Q has a clue, he is just physically not the same player... and it shows...

Yea the same Morris who got stopped for DWI , yea ok

Bitty argue the selfish part I want to see you spin the character part. I said 3 weeks ago we were a better team last year than this year and I may be right. Portland is better than last year and there is one common denominator. Not saying Zach is the only problem but he effects so many other players on the team.