Time for another edition of "Just Sayin'", where I present statistical facts and allow you to draw your own conclusions.
Before the season, the Blazers were thought to have mortgaged their present by "giving away" Zach Randolph. Let's look at the results:
Portland winning pct., 2006, with Zach Randolph: .390
Portland winning pct., 2007, without Zach Randolph: .520
Knicks winning pct., 2006, without Zach Randolph: .402
Knicks winning pct., 2007, with Zach Randolph: .290
Brandon Roy, who just won the NBA Player of the Week award for the second week in a row, is leading this team. They've won eight straight. The biggest play Roy may have made was calling out Randolph in a practice last season, then, according to the speculation of many, requesting that Randolph be traded.
Ok, I guess I sort of concluded for you there. I watched a ton of Blazers games last year, and Randolph is the most frustrating player I've ever watched (other than Jeff Cirillo). You watch him the whole game, get so angry at his lackadaisical defense and the way he always settles for jumpers despite being able to post up pretty much anyone, but then at the end of the game you look at the stats and he puts up 20 points and 15 boards.
Is he simply the victim of bad circumstances? Or is the way he plays somehow conducive to losing? Is he, as a converse to the overused compliment, a player that makes other players worse?
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Just Sayin': Zach Randolph, Franchise Killer?
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6 comments:
I think in the case of New York, Randolph may be part victim. The Knicks were bad last year, and with the crew they had coming back (including leadership...nudge, nudge, Isiah), they were destined for failure. But adding Randolph to the mix probably didn't help matters any.
As for the Blazers, it seems to me that they are benefitting from a fresh mindset. Getting rid of Randolph might have been a big part of turning the page as a franchise. Imagine what they'll be if/when Oden returns healthy!
believe me, i have watched every knick game and randolph is a team killer. he plays no defense, can't pass and is a jerk, but he does put up numbers.
"You watch him the whole game, get so angry at his lackadaisical defense and the way he always settles for jumpers despite being able to post up pretty much anyone, but then at the end of the game you look at the stats and he puts up 20 points and 15 boards."
Can I get an Amen! I am a longtime Knicks fan and first-time Randolph observer. The above could not be more true. The number of times he settles for 20-ft jumpers is staggering. It could not be more frustrating. Luckily, Knicks fans are not shy about sharing their feelings.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3161668
I went to high school with Zack and he is awesome. YOU SUCK.
Welcome to Zach Land. He'll get 20 every night, and you'll lose, lose, lose. Take it from a Portland guy.
Plus, he's due for an arrest or a shooting right about now. Always great for team chemistry.
But he's not your only problem. Isiah: bad people. Marbury: VERY bad people. Enjoy hell.
When Zach was a Blazer, I sat very close to the floor at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland when the New Jersey Nets were here for a game, and every third trip down the floor after a Blazer basket, Zach would make a point to get RIGHT up in a Net face with a 'take that bitch' gesture. It was embarrasing to watch. It's sad to see someone who was statistically considered a team leader act like a schoolyard punk, on (and off) the court. The Nets showed their class by ignoring him completely. You would never see Clyde Drexler, a Trail Blazer legend, act like that. Clyde was the epitome of professionalism. Leadership is measured by character. I hope the best for Zach, but he needs mature, if he chooses. My 2 cents.
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