After two weeks of me carrying RTS alone, Chris has returned to North American soil to help share the load. As he was in South America with limited internet access, I had to fill him in on some of the NBA's goings-on while he was away. Below is a transcript of our e-mail exchange today:
Graham:
I'm officially talking myself into Andre Miller on the Blazers.
Chris:
Help me out with some NBA info. Did Paul Millsap end up with the Blazers for 4 years, 32 million? What is the point of the Okafor-Chandler swap? Does it save someone money? Otherwise, it's like trading a brown M&M for a black M&M.
Is Andre Miller on the Blazers now, or are they just flirting with him?
Graham:
-Millsap signed an offer sheet that Utah matched. It was ridiculous- they were going to pay $32 million for someone to back up LaMarucs Aldridge. Portland went into panic mode when Turkoglu turned them down.
-Okafor-Chandler. Beats the hell out of. It was like trading two dimes for four nickels.
-Yes, Miller signed with the Blazers. I'm on board.
By the way, if you want a laugh, Google Marcin Gortat's contract status. Seriously, it's hysterical.
Chris:
Millsap is a bargain, although he made no sense for Portland. When does Carlos Boozer get shipped out?
What did Miller sign for?
Marcin Gortat, what a joke. Can we call him Jim Mcilvaine yet, or do we have to wait 2 years?
Why isn't Jerryd Bayless the point guard yet. Isn't he a better fit than Miller. I don't trust point guards that can't shoot the 3. Especially when that's what the Blazers need around their slashers.
Graham:
Miller got a 3 year deal, about 7 million per. It's not bad. The 3rd year is a team option so it's pretty reasonable. But yeah, outside shooting is still a problem. Apart from Roy, no one can make outside jumpers consistently. That'll be an issue.
As for Bayless, he's a classic 2-guard in a point guard's body. He really doesn't fit here. There's probably a place for him somewhere in the league, but he's always looking for his own shot and is a terrible floor leader.
Marcin Gortat...even Austin Croshere was a better bargain.
Chris:
I'll go ahead and wager $100 that 35-year-old Miller doesn't come back for the 3rd year. He'll probably have 2 broken ankles from trying to guard CP3 and Williams 8 times a year.
I like Bayless, although I don't think anyone really fits well next to Roy. Is Roy a shoot-first point guard or just an average shooting guard? I don't understand him really. (Almost like OJ Mayo, actually).
Graham:
Roy...he's a tough one to figure. He's tough to categorize, since he's a PG/SG hybrid who could play SF if necessary.
He's a better shooter than he gets credit for, and a better slasher than he gets credit for. He can bring the ball up and run an offense, which is usually what happened in the fourth quarter of close games last year. Often, he'd be the de facto point guard while Blake would be a shooter.
But he can't guard other points, and doesn't seem like someone who can function in an up-tempo system. He's much better in the half court when everything is structured. But he also needs the ball to run through him on every possession.
I like Roy a lot, but a local writer here made a great point that Miller seems to fit better with Aldridge, Oden and the SF group better than with Roy. We'll see how this works out.
Chris:
Let's recap my sports emotional level currently, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being diehard and 1 being nothing.
U of M basketball - 5. I'm actually very happy Cal is gone, but also accept the fact that we'll be lucky to make the tournament this year. This number was a 10 for the past 3 years, although I feel dirty about that.
U of M football - 2. whatever, they suck, this is where the Grizzlies are headed
Miami Dolphins - 5. Our ceiling is a 1st round playoff exit, and we could be 6-10. Whatever.
Fantasy football team - 7. I'm excited about the draft, but I'm in a keeper league and we can keep 2 players. I'm keeping Peyton and Steven Jackson and hate myself for it. I vowed to never keep Steven Jackson again but if I don't, I'm looking at my starting running backs being Pierre Thomas and Beanie Wells or something. Whatever.
Graham:
Interesting idea about rating sports emotional level. Here's mine:
Mariners: 6. The season is over, and they should be in sell mode with the trade deadline this week. But they made a trade today that puts them in buy mode. It makes no sense. But, they remained relevant until mid-July, a huge improvement over previous years when it was clear May 1 they were overmatched. So that was nice.
Packers: 9. Can't can't can't can't can't wait for NFL season. I think the Packers have a good shot at the division title. The Vikings have no QB, the Bears have no WRs, and the Lions are the Lions. They're not NFC title material (yet), but 10-11 wins and a first round playoff victory are possible.
Canucks: 7. Good enough to make the playoffs, not good enough to make conference finals or beyond. Same story every year since 2001.
Blazers: 6. Let me know when the season starts.
College football: 0. This number never changes.
Chris:
Yeah...I'm excited about the NFL SEASON, and football in general, I guess I should say that is a 10. I love football, absolutely love it. I just an not that emotionally connected to any team. I'm just connected to sitting on the couch for 10 hours a day.
As for the Dolphins, last year was such a pleasant surprise and they sucked me back in for the first time in about 5 years. I like our coach, like our guys but realize we overachieved with a poor schedule last year and this year we get the division title schedule instead. Nothing screams 8-8 more than this team right here. Then again, last year we were supposed to be 4-12 and pulled it out of our asses, so we'll see. I think I'm talking myself into this team as we speak. Damn you!
As for the Packers, getting rid of Favre last year was the best move you could've done. I like your team. I hate your division. The Bears finally got a QB but I still hate their offense. Plus, their D is overrated. They're good one year, and suck the next. I can never explain it. The Lions are probably going to be 3-13 this year and lose every game like 45-27. The Vikings are 8-8. The Pack should go 4-2 in the division, at the least.
Graham:
Football season might be the biggest reason not to have kids. As it is, I barely see him during the week. Once hockey season starts, I work most weekends. And when I don't, and theoretically have time to sit around all day and watch football, I feel guilty about it.
Chris:
I've been living the good life the last few years. My wife hasn't complained about me watching 3-6 hours of college football (or going to college football) games and then watching 2-3 games on Sundays. I've seriously been doing this for the past 2 years pretty hardcore with maybe 2 complaints. It's amazing. I feel like DiMaggio's streak. She even encouraged me yesterday to spend the extra $100 to get the NFL SuperFan package when I was talking myself out of it. Last year was also the first time in 4 years I didn't win any fantasy football money. It's a golden age my friend. I know it won't last, but it's been a good run.
Graham:
That's outstanding. She's a good woman. My wife is similar- she actually likes football, and enjoys spending the day watching games (until our son came along, anyway). I've never had one complaint at all about watching too much football.
I'll be honest- that was a major selling point when it came to deciding whether I should marry her. I couldn't be with someone who would either bitch about it, or give me a guilt trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment