Randy.Lauer's Blog

Mar 04

So, we lose Joel, Dante, Sean and two potentially AWESOME first round picks for Gerald Wallace... It seems we are hitting a brick wall when it comes to re-incorporating Brandon back into the line-up... It also seems like we didn't even explore the possibility of picking up D. Williams from Utah... I am a true Blazer-Maniac through and through but sometimes I sit back and ask myself, "Self, what the H-E-Double hockey sticks is going on?!" I see nothing but upside when I look at Wallace, but I wonder how and where he is going to fit into our lineup for the future. We are literally log jammed with guys who can and are capable of playing the 3 position. He's a great player, no question, who is entering his prime but is it what we needed? If you were to ask me (which you don't have to because I have my own blog) I would say we are definitely lacking at the point and center position with no relief in sight. Let me interject here and say that I am a HUGE Oden apologist! I do see his potential and I do think he is worth holding onto based on the possibility of his big man dominance. But what I don't see is when he will be able to contribute on a regular basis. Because of this doubt, it couldn't hurt to go after a center with the ability to take over the middle and be that dominant force we all want Oden to be. I'm sorry Mr. Collins but you are not that person. I also want to say that I am not here to offer possible candidates for this employment opportunity, I'm here to offer the idea and nothing more. We lost a little bit of what we need when we let go of Joel. He was our enforcer, he was are rock in the middle, our soul, but he isn't that anymore. I'm sorry to say, but he is a shadow of his former self, a living memory of what once was. Dante had the potential to be that for us but I think lacks the fire necessary for this full time job. If only Pendergraph... If only. I, for one, don't think Brandon is our problem of late. I think our problem is what our problem has been for the past few years... We do not know who our go-to guy(s) are and who is going to be our "off the bench" 2nd team. Our second wave if you will. If you ask the community they'll tell you Roy use to be the IT guy at the Rose Garden but now it's LA. but if you ask LA he'll tell you he can be the IT guy but will do whatever the team needs him to do, which a nice way of saying he feels it's Brandon's team and he's just filling in for now. Something is missing with LA and I think it's that certain "umph" that leaders have. That certain something type A personalities are born with. Varsity quarterback type stuff! I just don't think it's in him. And I also don't think it's something that can be learned or taught. You either got it or you don't. Our guys need to find themselves before they ever hope to gel or before they can ever hope to make it to the second round. We need a definitive leader in the locker room! Without that A type personality, that quarterback mentality leading the way, we might just find ourselves wandering lost in the Western Conference. RIP CITY FOREVER!!!