CLINTON ST. QUARTERLY Blazermyopia » — The recent Blazer trades recall the William Westmoreland school o f destroying a village in order to save it, and the press has failed to understand the essential nature o f this folly. -KA FAN’S NO TE S * By Lenny Dee The recent Blazer trades recall the William Westmoreland school of destroying a village in order to save it. The wasting of the locals has activated the normally complacent pro-management press into a series of half-hearted screeds that attempt to fix the blame for the Blazer demise. The press’s beeblings have failed to come to grips with the essential nature of the Blazer follies: the team’s lack of a dominating center. Since Bill Russell was a raw rookie in 1956, only the Rick Barry-led Golden State Warriors of ’75 have won an NBA championship without an All-Star center. The man in the hole is the axis on which the round ball turns. The pre-eminence of teams led by the likes of Chamberlain, Reed, Russell, Cowens and Jabbar is no accident. No matter how solid you might be at the other four positions — without a strong pivotman you can just kiss your championship chances bye bye. For years, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas led a fine Cincinnati team into oblivion when their block of granite, Wayne Embry, came up against some TNT called Bill Russell. Today you can look at Milwaukee’s turnaround since acquiring Bob Lanier to see the crucial importance of the position. Unfortunately.for Blazer fans, in Tom Owens we are blessed with a fine-shooting toothpick for a center. Unless something is done forthwith he will lead Portland down the trail of mediocrity. The Golden State draft pick (either this year’s or next) might have been the antidote for an ailing franch ise . The pathetic Warriors — who don’t even have eight players worth protecting in the upcoming expansion draft — will surely be one of the worst teams in the league for a long time to come. One of the top two or three collegians of this year or next might have been able to turn the Blazers around. Instead, they will do it for New Jersey. As all half-decent centers are snatched up tout de suite, the chances of the Blazers finding help for their weak middle are small. What makes the Lucas trade especially hard to understand is George Pasero’s claim in the Oregon Journal that the Blazer management became disillusioned with Luke during his mediocre p layoff series against Pheonix. Yet Owens was pathetic against Alvin Adams and had to yield to the inexperienced rookie Clemon Johnson on too many occasions. In the three games against Phoenix, while averaging 11 points apiece, Luke out-rebounded Owens 32 to 19 and dished off 18 assists while Owens had only five. Clearly if the Blazers are going to get disillusioned, T.O. would be the one to jilt. Though an excellent shooter, Tom just doesn’t create the defensive presence — through rebounding, blocked shots and intimidation — necessary for a contending ball club. He is just not in the class of Jabbar, Sikma, Cowens, Lanier, etc. He is also not uppity, doesn’t complain and is content to have a regular job. Lucas, on the other hand, just happens to be arguably the top power forward in the game. If lack of performance was the criteria for Lucas’ and Hollins’ dismissal, what of Bobby Gross? He just received compensation for bravery in the line of duty, but, in all fairness, he is just not up to snuff anymore. Maybe a trade to San Diego to be united with Big Bill would revive his career, and we could get some outside shooting from Freeman Williams in return. What of battered Dave Twardzik, who constantly appears to be playing in pain and has talked of retiring before becoming a cripple? Why wasn’t he put on the open market like the Train? Could Hollins’ outspoken comments in the beginning of the season have something to do with his removal? After Hollins destroyed the Blazers with 25 recently, Ramsay was quoted as saying that if he played like that for us we wouldn’t have traded him. Well, why couldn’t Ramsey draw that kind of performance out of Lionel? In essence, the Blazers’ anxiety to trade Lucas and Hollins left them easy pickin’s for the NBA vultures. Everyone in the league knew how anxious Portland was to get rid of Luke and Lionel; so of course their market value went down. A little patience would have brought better results. Our crystal ball peek at the draft tells us that Natt went for Lucas plus the equivalent of Purdue’s Billy Joe Carroll and Washington State’s Don Collins, a front line that’ll do in the Blazers 9 times out of 10. Oh well...even if they kept the Golden State pick, it would probably be wasted on LaRue Who of Wabash U. Blazer Myth As seen by management, true blue fans and the press. Tom Owens — With proper backup, one of the top centers in the league. Can score against anyone, making up for minor deficiencies in rest of his game. Mychal Thompson — One of the best young players in the league. Kermit Washington — At the top of the league’s power forwards — good shooter — over 50% — excellent rebounder and defensive forward. A cornerstone of the club. Dave Twardzik — Good little ball player. Bob Gross — We paid him a lot of money for a few little injections. Ron Brewer — Great leaper and shooter. Good defense, adequate ballhandler, potential all-star. A cornerstone of the club. Kevin Kunnert — Best back-up center in the league. Calvin Natt — A super star. Jim Paxson — A good young Geoff Petrie. Sees the court well, but needs to work on defense. Confidence will improve 40% shooting. Jim Brewer — A good back up power forward. Abdul Jeelani — Good shooter — needs to work on rest of game. T.R. Dunn — Plays within limitations. Needs to be more aggressive. Billy Ray Bates — Raw talent that needs to be refined into the Ramsey system. A lot cheaper than Lionel Hollins. Stu Inman — Best general manager in league. Jack Ramsay — Best coach in the league. Blazer Reality As seen by the average basketball fan. Only scores because of lackadaisical defense by other centers who think he looks like an escapee from a concentration camp. Can’t rebound, pass, play defense or block shots. A good ole boy. The best young player with three screws in his leg. Shoots 70% from inside 5 ft. 30% from further out. Never looks to basket in key situation, enabling defender to double team. Plays good D, however gets outmuscled by Lucas, Hayes, etc. Good little ball player who’s close to being permanently disabled. Should be traded to San Diego to join the other cortisone kid. Great 10 ft. baseline shot. Seems to be going up when his man is coming down. Shoots going left 90% of the time and has never dribbled the length of court in his life. Will play better with club who can get him ball in his spot. Winner of the Why Didn’t We Draft Reggie Theus Award. A gravestone of the club. Best back-up center with a crippling knee injury. A good small forward but not any better than Julius Erving, Marques Johnson, Walter Davis, Larry Bird, Andrian Dantley, Bobby Dandridge, Scott Wedman, John Drew, or Jamal Wilkes. Blurry vision around the basket — Petrie could shoot 40% in a wheelchair. Has been faked out of his shorts so often the trainer brings extra shorts to the games. One of a kind: The kind no other team wants. One of few Blazers who can put the ball in the net with a hand in their face. His shooting 52% from further than 5 feet runs contrary to team philosophy. When the Blazers win he usually has something to do with it. His playing time resembles a ride on a roller coaster. Will fit into Ramsay system when he gives up offensive aggressiveness. Scored 14 points in 4th quarter one night — didn’t play the next. Playing like gangbusters. Will ask to renegotiate and be shipped to Dallas for Too Tall Jones. Follows management dictum of “ Get me good cheap ballplayers, preferably white.’’ In a game that is essentially improvisational, he likes people who play the charts. 37
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