With Bynum & Gasol Next Season, It's Now or Never for The Spurs

[eisfeld]

The Hornets talent outside of Paul is very unimpressive to me. i could see them being GOOD for 3-4 years but not even close to championship material. Peja Stojakovic the #3 option on a championship team? seriously? SERIOUSLY? unless they get some broken trade or find an idiot to dump his contract, or a steal in the draft or wright developing, I don't see them being contenders.

Unimpressive? The Hornets may not have the flashiest and most talented young players in the league but they have a very good team with amazing chemistry. They might need another puzzle piece in order to come out of the West, but for the next years they are contenders. I don't see why a team which ended the regular season one game behind the #1 seed, won a series against the mavs and took the Spurs to game 7 should not be considered a contender.

Portland needs another year or two, they really have the most talented young players in the league. If Oden turns out to be the beast he is hyped to be, if they get an useful PG and if they can keep the core together I can see them contending in 2 years.

[Ghazi]

Unimpressive from the standpoint that outside of Paul they lack slashers, good passers, low post scorers, players who can create off the dribble, depth, and really talent.

Depends on the definition of contender I guess. Is Paul/West/Stojakovic a legitimate 1-2-3 for a team capable of winning a le? I would say the #2 and #3 pieces are not. Throw in the fact that their bench is kinda thin (and I heard Pargo) may opt out, Chandler is an offensive liability, AND Morris Peterson is a below average shooting guard in the NBA, it all sounds "meh" to me.

I think their regular season record was a little inflated by the fact that they experienced close to no significant injuries, which was not the case with the Celtics, Mavericks, Spurs, Lakers, Suns... a lot of teams.

I think as long as Peja is on the team as the #3 option, a player notorious for playoff under achievement, they're not a contender.

[Lakers Dynasty]

I'm not sure there is disagreement here.

The point is that with Bynum, the Lakers are probably going to be better next year.

When the Rockets get Yao back, they'll be better.

Portland will definitely be better next year.

Mavericks and Suns did not get what they wanted from their big moves, and will be stagnant - but still pretty good.

The Spurs will only be older.

[tlongII]

The Blazers are adding:

Greg Oden (a freak of nature he's already close to 100% recovered)
Rudy Fernandez (the consensus #1 player in Europe and a can't miss NBA prospect)
Pick #13 (in what is believed to be a very deep draft)

We already have a strong core of very young players who will only be better with the added year of experience. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Jarrett Jack, Sergio Rodriquez, etc.

Joel Przybilla will easily be the best backup center in the league.

We will dominate everyone (including the Lakers).

[PacerFan]

The Blazers are adding:

Greg Oden (a freak of nature he's already close to 100% recovered)
Rudy Fernandez (the consensus #1 player in Europe and a can't miss NBA prospect)
Pick #13 (in what is believed to be a very deep draft)

We already have a strong core of very young players who will only be better with the added year of experience. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Jarrett Jack, Sergio Rodriquez, etc.

Joel Przybilla will easily be the best backup center in the league.

We will dominate everyone (including the Lakers).

Good God, are you serious? In two years Greg Oden has played 15 games, what makes you think he will be healthy for 82?

[tlongII]

Good God, are you serious? In two years Greg Oden has played 15 games, what makes you think he will be healthy for 82?

It is true Oden had MF surgery. However, it was less serious than Amare's and Amare has been fine. Oden is a workout machine so there is no reason to think he won't be fine.

[PacerFan]

It is true Oden had MF surgery. However, it was less serious than Amare's and Amare has been fine. Oden is a workout machine so there is no reason to think he won't be fine.

The fact Greg Oden has played 15 games in two years leads me to believe he is injury prone and that is a very good reason to think he won't make it through 82 games in one year. I hope for the Blazers sake and his sake he does, but it is one of those things I will believe when I see.

So are you taking the Blazers as your 08-09 NBA champs?

[Dopey310]

None of those players are sure hits in the NBA. The only compe ion Oden's ever dominated in is high school. He was never a dominant player even in college. There's a reason why the guy looks 40 years old, his body ages like a 40 year old.

[tlongII]

The fact Greg Oden has played 15 games in two years leads me to believe he is injury prone and that is a very good reason to think he won't make it through 82 games in one year. I hope for the Blazers sake and his sake he does, but it is one of those things I will believe when I see.

So are you taking the Blazers as your 08-09 NBA champs?

I believe Oden played more than 15 games with Ohio State. In fact I know it. He played 6 games alone in the NCAA tournament and he played the entire Big-10 schedule so I'm not sure what you're talking about. He had a broken bone in his wrist which is fully healed.

[tlongII]

None of those players are sure hits in the NBA. The only compe ion Oden's ever dominated in is high school. He was never a dominant player even in college. There's a reason why the guy looks 40 years old, his body ages like a 40 year old.

Brandon Roy was an All Star and LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 17 and 8 in his 2nd season. Those are sure hits. Oden dominated Florida's front line in the NCAA Championship game.

[PacerFan]

I believe Oden played more than 15 games with Ohio State. In fact I know it. He played 6 games alone in the NCAA tournament and he played the entire Big-10 schedule so I'm not sure what you're talking about. He had a broken bone in his wrist which is fully healed.

Ok, 15 games, 20 games, 25 games it doesn't matter. My point is that he has played a handful of games in a two year span. That is concerning.

[tlongII]

Ok, 15 games, 20 games, 25 games it doesn't matter. My point is that he has played a handful of games in a two year span. That is concerning.

They sat him out of the NBA season because he had MF surgery. Everybody knows that and of course there is concern there. There is nothing else about him physically that gives me any concern.

[Dopey310]

Not talking about Roy and Aldridge. I'm talking about that Fernandez guy and Oden. Oden didn't dominate in college, he was always hurt (again) with his wrist. Until we see Oden play in the NBA, it's hard to be sold on the guy. He seems to buy in to his own hype, he treats himself like he's a superstar, yet he doesn't have one game played in the NBA.

[Lakers Dynasty]

Blazers fan talking lonely smack to Lakers fans on a Spurs board.

Blazers aren't worth the attention until they actually do something. As of now, they are simply lottery losers.

[Bob Lanier]

Exclusive photo of Greg Oden's rehab (he's progressed all the way to practice on the hardwood now!):

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Rudy Fernandez (the consensus #1 player in Europe and a can't miss NBA prospect)

Link?

[tlongII]

Link?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzaRAZ_yNTQ

[JamStone]

Rudy Fernandez has already stated publicly several times that he isn't sure he's joining the Blazers next year or any time soon. He saw how Sergio Rodriguez couldn't get any playing time and is concerned the same thing will happen to him. He may or may not be with the Blazers next year.

There is no guarantee Oden stays healthy. He may or may not. But, being certain that he will be fine is wishful thinking at best.

[Bandwagon Fan]

Bynum & Kobe took us to the top of the west. Then we lost Bynum and Gasol & Kobe took us back to the top of the west. All together, we will be a monster.

[Bob Lanier]

Greg Oden and Pau Gasol battle for a rebound in
Portland's 109-67 triumph over the Lakers Tuesday

[The Franchise]

I feel sorry for the rest of the league. Bynum is just going to fortify this already dominant team. Just give us the le already. Heck give us the next 3.

Prime example of why most people hate Laker fans. Bynum played 20 good games this season and he is already the next Kareem. The boy is going to be coming off of two knee surgeries, an sitting for half a season so don't expect wine from water.

[Lakers Dynasty]

great photo, Bob!

Too bad there isn't a song about Portland Dreamin'.

[tlongII]

Rudy Fernandez has already stated publicly several times that he isn't sure he's joining the Blazers next year or any time soon. He saw how Sergio Rodriguez couldn't get any playing time and is concerned the same thing will happen to him. He may or may not be with the Blazers next year.

There is no guarantee Oden stays healthy. He may or may not. But, being certain that he will be fine is wishful thinking at best.

Rudy is coming over. It's a sure thing. Oden is fine. Hoping otherwise is wishful thinking by you.

[picnroll]

I'd be more worried about Bynum and his knee than Oden if I was a Laker fan. Kid looks to be heading the way of Bender.

[DazedAndConfused]

I'd be more worried about Bynum and his knee than Oden if I was a Laker fan. Kid looks to be heading the way of Bender.

Not really.