Message Boards > Trail Blazers Talk
Season In Review: Wesley Matthews
You are not authorized to post a reply.
  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6481

    Posted 05/20/2011 2:22 PM

    During 2011, Wesley Matthews
    Exceeded Expectations (32)
     94%
    Met Expectations (2)
     6%
    Failed To Meet Expectations (0)
     0%


    We're going to start something new this offseason and review each player's season, how they performed, whether they met expectations or not and if you'd like to see them in uniform for the Blazers to start the 2011-12 season. Up next is our starting shooting guard, Wesley Matthews.

    Coming over from Utah as a free agent in the summer of 2010, most fans, including myself, weren't sure of what we were getting in the 6'5", 220 lb. guard from Marquette. Everyone knew the story: undrafted out of college, signs with the Jazz as a free agent and ends up the starting shooting guard mid-season and eventually drew the defensive assignment on Carmelo Anthony in the first round and Kobe Bryant in the conference semis. Outside of that, the Trail Blazers had fans and pundits everywhere scratching their heads and ranting on their soapboxes when they signed Matthews to a 5 year/$34 million contract with $9.2 million frontloaded on the first year of the deal. Bill Simmons wasn't shy in regarding his feeling towards Portland's signing of Wesley Matthews by saying, "it (Portland) severely overrated a non-impact player(Matthews); it panicked; it screwed up; it was delusional." But the joke's on them.

    Wesley Matthews' Career Stats (Via Basketball-Reference.com)-


    Obviously the Blazer brass knew the type of player they were acquiring in Wesley, a tough, determined, never-say-die type of player known for tremendous perimeter defense, but even they had to be pleasantly surprised at how quickly his offensive game developed. Many questioned if Wesley was a product of Utah's system which was predicated on Deron Williams finding players out in transition for easy baskets, but he showed an array of offensive moves en route to increasing his scoring by 6.5 points per game. Due to his muscular frame, Matthews was not only a great finisher in traffic, but he became one the league's elite when it came to shooting from downtown. His .407 percentage from three was tops on the team and 154 makes were seventh best in the entire NBA. Due to his break out season, Matthews finished eighth in the Most Improved Player voting and was awarded a spot as a starter in the annual Rookie/Sophomore game during All-Star weekend.

    The great author CS Lewis once said, "When we lose one blessing, another is often, most unexpectedly, given in its place." When it finally appeared that something was imminently wrong with Brandon Roy's knees, Rip City couldn't imagine anything positive coming from such a situation. Roy had been the face of the franchise, a legit Top 10 player and our leader, but just as CS Lewis said, another blessing would be on its way. That blessing in disguise was none other than Wesley Matthews, and he made it clear right away that he was up for the challenge at hand. During his first start as a member of the Trail Blazers on November 16th against the Grizzlies, Wesley scored a game-high 30 points on 11-19 shooting including 5-10 from three to propel Portland past Memphis, 100-99. There would only be two other games in November in which Matthews wouldn't start and from December on, Wesley found himself on top of the shooting guard depth chart.

    Wesley Matthews' 2011 Splits As A Starter And Reserve (Via Basketball-Reference.com)-


    It's hard to believe, but Wesley's only just finished his second full season in the NBA at age 24. For whatever reason, he feels like a much older player but a lot of that has to do with his attitude towards the game. He hates losing, never gives up and plays the game the way it should be played, pedal to the medal for an entire 48 minutes; a true throwback player. Even though he made all of the doubters eat their words, a lot of questions still remain. Is there still more room for growth in his game? Can he succeed in a reserve role if Brandon Roy comes back good as new in the fall? Personally, I will never bet against Wesley Matthews. Whatever the team asks of him next year, he will rise to the occasion and answer the bell.

    Wesley Matthews Season Highlights
    Let all of that information soak in for a moment Rip City. Looking back, how well did Wesley perform as our starting shooting guard? Is there still more room for growth in Matthews' game or is this where he levels off at?
    I am a fan of
  1. mbmurr1
    mbmurr1
    Posts: 530

    Posted 05/21/2011 11:40 AM

    Wesley did great and at the very least is great trade bait along with Camby, Miller, Babbitt, Fernandez and Batum.
    I am a fan of
  1. ClydeFrog
    ClydeFrog
    Posts: 975

    Posted 05/23/2011 12:36 PM

    I would hope we wouldn't offer up Wesley as trade bait. Who else can play the 2? Brandon? Rudy? Elliot? He's still young (24) and has the type of toughness this team has been lacking. I'd like to see us go out this summer and find more players with Wesley's mindset. He completely exceeded my expectations. I didn't think he would have progressed the way he did from his rookie to sophomore years. But our front office saw the talent and picked him up. Finally, with their being very little talent at the 2 guard position in the NBA, I think it'd be best that we hold onto one of the good, youthful ones.
    I am a fan of Watching Elliot Williams Take Flight!
- Hide
   
 
 
 
 
   

    Recent Discussions

  1. I dont get it?

    Started by Curvychloe on 05/23/13 at 9:18 AM

    well blaser,theres alot of people out there who thinks the blasers are crazy,but its not even so much about him as it is about the message it sends.I get hes not a superstar,but there really arent any good replacements,and if you lose someone you sho...

  2. Aldridge not on All NBA teams surprise?

    Started by cmeese47 on 05/23/13 at 11:56 AM

    I for one am not shocked to see LA not included on the list. He had a good season but the team struggled which is the likely reason David Lee was ed over him. 

    1st team

    Guards

    Kobe and CP3

    Forwards

    Durant a...

  3. Who to take at No. 10?

    Started by DHawes22 on 05/21/13 at 6:44 PM

    Or Dallas keeps pick and drafts a foreign player meaning he does not count against the cap. No one is just going to give up a mid level first round pick even in a weak draft for 2 mid second round picks in an even weaker second round of a weak dra...

  4. Players Portland Need

    Started by billyamick47 on 05/01/13 at 5:01 PM

    yeah miami with lebron james is a good example. uhhhh not!

  5. Keep Batum!

    Started by special k on 05/21/13 at 3:15 PM

    Well it all depends on what you use that cap space for doesn''t it sign Tony Allen and now your Batum for Dunleavy trade just became Batum for Dunleavy and Tony Allen and starts looking a lot better

  6. The Official Batum Petition Discussion Thread

    Started by cmeese47 on 05/21/13 at 1:03 PM

    With a track record like that any reasonable fan is going to question the approach taken by management I just happen to know somethings and be very opinionated 

  7. Damian Lillard's entourage beat up some brothers.

    Started by RipCity 14 on 05/20/13 at 2:27 PM

    I was joking and you know that rip

  8. Rebuilding The MAGIC Way

    Started by cmeese47 on 05/10/13 at 2:09 PM

    Probably the only jersey he has. That sh*t is EXPENSIVE. I just buy knockoffs.

Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  ... 
Active Forums 4.1
NOT LICENSED FOR PRODUCTION USE
www.activemodules.com
The latest from
Everybody
Curvychloe commented on I dont get it? / cmeese47 created new forum topic Aldridge not on All NBA teams surprise? / RyanMartinez joined group Season Ticket Holders / NickPitherUK and DHawes22 are friends now / Kyle Daniel Sallak updated their fan statement / djogone updated their scrapbook / djogone uploaded new photo / daddy updated their Starting 5 / MJB uploaded new video /