Lakers/Roy Thoughts

Blazers never even stood a chance in a game versus the Lakers. It was a not so gentle reminder of how far we truly are from competing for a title. The Lakers basically did anything they wanted, and dictated every aspect of the game. Yes, we just played our 5^th game is 7 days, but you’d like to at least see a little something out of our guys. If you can’t get pumped up to player the Lakers, then I’m not really sure what to tell you.

A bigger topic right now has to be Brandon Roy. I can remember the days when losing by less then 20 in LA would be a victory, and Brandon Roy has brought us a long way from there. So I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s played some amazing basketball for us. Saying that, it’s hard to accept him not trying. He is a max player for a reason. He is required to bring it every night, not just when he’s feeling especially good. He needs to be the guy that pulls us out of a slump. That’s what comes with the territory of a max deal. Just like in real life, your manager gets paid more cause he has more responsibility. No way you get a huge raise and the expectations don’t rise as well. Life just doesn’t work like that.

Jason Quick had an interesting article in today’s Oregonian about Roy. He seems to be frustrated by what the fans are asking of him. Fans that asked him to play more off the ball. Fans that asked him to do this and do that, and he feels that he is trying to do that, but then fans change their mind and want the old Roy back. My reply to that? Fans don’t know crap! Why the hell would you listen to what the everyday caller on 95.5 has to say!?! You have forgotten more about basketball then they have ever known! Just play your game.

However at some point I do have to question Roy. You notice how the top guys always add stuff to their game? A counter move to their favorite move, a post game, etc…Has Roy truly added anything in the last 2-3 years? His 3pt % and FT % actually went down last year from the year prior. What is Roy doing to counter the defenses that are geared to stop him? I’m not sure its much of anything…

Roy preaches team and says all the right things, but I am truly beginning to question his true intentions. If he is going to pout because Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw were traded, or because Miller doesn’t defer to him, then how selfish is that? How little does that say “team player”? And does he honestly expect everyone below him to buy into that?

I keep waiting for the light to go on for Roy the same way it did Kobe, Lebron, Garnett, etc…I just hope it does before those knees go out.