I'm convinced Maurice Cheeks is the biggest idiot in the NBA

El Scorcho · 03-28-04, 01:04 AM

Case in point: Shareef Abdur-Rahim

1997: 22.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg
1998: 23.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg
1999: 20.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg
2000: 20.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg
2001: 21.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg
2002: 19.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg
2003 (atlanta): 20.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg

Every season since 1997 he's averaged a minimum of 36.0 minutes per game and only missed 7 total games.

Yet Maurice Cheeks, in all his greatness, has relegated Abdur-Rahim to the bench -- a career 20/10 guy! -- in place of Darius Miles, who has been nothing but a talent cocktease his entire time in the NBA.

Abdur-Rahim's minute logs recently:
26, 16, 21, 22, 16, 17, 15, 22, 19, 26, 26, 32, 21.

And when he is in the game, he's a 3rd or sometimes 4th offensive option.

I hope Maurice Cheeks bails for Philly, as Abdur-Rahim's talents are being completely wasted in Portland.

B.A. · 03-28-04, 02:00 AM

This has been driving me nuts, too. And it is not just because he is on my fantasy team. He has been one of the most consistent forwards in the game for years and he is on the depth chart behind one of the most over-rated morons in the league who "tons of potential and athletic talent."

devilshalo · 03-28-04, 11:27 AM

Yes.. I dropped Miles once the Blazers acquired Abdur-Rahim, but oddly enough, Miles is still starting? WTF? Cheeks needs to go. The Blazers have what could be considered a great frontline with Randolph, Abdur-Rahim, and Ratliff. And with Stoudamire and Anderson as the backcourt, these guys should be able to catch Houston for the 7th spot in the playoffs right now.

And I'd like to see Miles go back to the Clippers. He plays better when with his buddy Q.

Jeremy517 · 03-28-04, 05:20 PM

Cheeks is more interested in being the players' friend rather than the players' coach.

And you can still count the number of plays in the Blazers' playbook on one hand.

He seems like a great guy, but he's a bad coach. Philly, please come take him. He'd probably fit in perfectly in Philly. He could be Iverson's buddy, and the lack of set plays would let Iverson improvise all he wants.

El Scorcho · 03-29-04, 03:11 PM

Agreed. I really hope Philly takes him off Portland's hands.

He is a great guy, and I actually think his act of bailing out that girl singing the national anthem actually bought him some more time in Portland. But still, having a perennial 20/10 threat ride the pine half the game is absolutely absurd, especially when that guy is just the kind of guy you want to turn the franchise around when it comes to winning the fans back. He's an absolute class-act but instead he rides the pine behind Darius Miles, who for all intents and purposes, is just another overpriced street baller who can jump high.

cdollaz · 03-29-04, 03:34 PM

Not to defend Cheeks, but Rahim has been one of those guys that puts up good looking numbers, but has never done anything to make his team a winner. Someone has to score the points on a bad team.

El Scorcho · 03-29-04, 03:50 PM

Anybody who can consistently drop 20/10 for 6+ seasons in the NBA -- no matter how bad the team he plays on is -- deserves to start over Darius Miles. That's a no-brainer.

You can't blame one player on failing to bring his team to the playoffs. Look at the absolute garbage talent that was assembled around him in Atlanta and Vancouver.

LurkerDan · 03-29-04, 05:05 PM

not to defend Cheeks, but I have always heard that Rahim couldn't guard a 3 to save his life...

El Scorcho · 03-29-04, 05:12 PM

Neither can anyone else on the Blazers, so he's a perfect fit.

tofu · 03-30-04, 11:09 AM

It doesn't seem like Portland is really intent on keeping Shareef around even though he is a quality guy to have on your team. So to me, there doesn't seem to be much point in playing him all that much if you know he's not going to be around later.

El Scorcho · 03-30-04, 11:15 AM

Yeah, he's a little too much of a nice guy for Portland.

B.A. · 03-30-04, 12:00 PM

I finally dropped him from my fantasy team the other day. He had been a fantasy stalwart for me for almost two seasons until he was traded to Portland.

MJKTool · 03-30-04, 12:31 PM

I thought Shaq was the biggest idiot in the NBA Scorch?

Tsar Chasm · 03-30-04, 01:35 PM

Pardon my ignorance...

Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon?

Oregon doesn't have any professional sports that I know of.

Canadian Bacon · 03-30-04, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tsar Chasm
Pardon my ignorance...

Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon?

Oregon doesn't have any professional sports that I know of.

Oregon, has the Jailballzers ahem I mean Trailblazers

LurkerDan · 03-30-04, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Canadian Bacon
Oregon, has the Jailballzers ahem I mean Trailblazers

He knows, he's making a joke. Look up his location on airport codes.

Da Thrilla · 03-30-04, 02:39 PM

But he is still a pretty good guy...helping that girl sing the national anthem in all.

fumanstan · 03-30-04, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LurkerDan
not to defend Cheeks, but I have always heard that Rahim couldn't guard a 3 to save his life...

That's exactly what i read in the Sporting News. Miles matches up far better then Rahim against small forwards. Here's the quote:

"After 2 1/2 years of handling PF Rasheed Wallace, Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks has been jolted by the attitude and selflessness of new PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim. When the Blazers acquired Abdur-Rahim in Feb, Cheeks recognized that playing him out of position at small forward would create a defensive liability and would rob Portland of using a wing player who could run the floor well. And Cheeks certainly cound not bench budding franchise player Zach Randolph. Abdur-Rahim has accepted a role off the bench and has excelled, averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 26.3 minutes. The arrangement is not permanent, though- the Blazers will attempt to find a new home for Abdur-Rahim this summer."

Personally, as much as i love Rahim as a player, i think Cheeks is right.

El Scorcho · 03-30-04, 05:13 PM

Good, as long as they're planning to shop him. This isn't a guy who should be on any team's bench.

Still, with Portland's offense sucking major ass, I'd rather have the defensive liability than the lack of offense. Don't know if anybody has noticed but Darius Miles isn't exactly an offensive powerhouse (or a defensive powerhouse for that matter).

B.A. · 03-30-04, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Scorcho
Still, with Portland's offense sucking major ass, I'd rather have the defensive liability than the lack of offense. Don't know if anybody has noticed but Darius Miles isn't exactly an offensive powerhouse (or a defensive powerhouse for that matter).

But East Side's finest can dunk! Seriously - what else do you need?

El Scorcho · 03-31-04, 09:03 PM

Darius must have read this thread tonight.

B.A. · 03-31-04, 09:21 PM

WooHoo - career high of 31 pts.

03-28-04, 01:04 AM	#1
El Scorcho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39,610	I'm convinced Maurice Cheeks is the biggest idiot in the NBA Case in point: Shareef Abdur-Rahim 1997: 22.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg 1998: 23.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg 1999: 20.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg 2000: 20.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg 2001: 21.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg 2002: 19.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg 2003 (atlanta): 20.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg Every season since 1997 he's averaged a minimum of 36.0 minutes per game and only missed 7 total games. Yet Maurice Cheeks, in all his greatness, has relegated Abdur-Rahim to the bench -- a career 20/10 guy! -- in place of Darius Miles, who has been nothing but a talent cocktease his entire time in the NBA. Abdur-Rahim's minute logs recently: 26, 16, 21, 22, 16, 17, 15, 22, 19, 26, 26, 32, 21. And when he is in the game, he's a 3rd or sometimes 4th offensive option. I hope Maurice Cheeks bails for Philly, as Abdur-Rahim's talents are being completely wasted in Portland.

03-28-04, 02:00 AM	#2
B.A. DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: a 'ville Posts: 26,802	This has been driving me nuts, too. And it is not just because he is on my fantasy team. He has been one of the most consistent forwards in the game for years and he is on the depth chart behind one of the most over-rated morons in the league who "tons of potential and athletic talent." __________________ "Beer - other drinks may get me drunk, but only you intoxicate me.

03-28-04, 11:27 AM	#3
devilshalo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell Posts: 22,425	Yes.. I dropped Miles once the Blazers acquired Abdur-Rahim, but oddly enough, Miles is still starting? WTF? Cheeks needs to go. The Blazers have what could be considered a great frontline with Randolph, Abdur-Rahim, and Ratliff. And with Stoudamire and Anderson as the backcourt, these guys should be able to catch Houston for the 7th spot in the playoffs right now. And I'd like to see Miles go back to the Clippers. He plays better when with his buddy Q. __________________ Just once, I would like to be a puppetmaster and have nothing go wrong. Is that too much to ask? - Dwight Schrute

03-29-04, 05:05 PM	#8
LurkerDan DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: The People's Republic of Boulder Posts: 15,918	not to defend Cheeks, but I have always heard that Rahim couldn't guard a 3 to save his life... __________________ "I have dictionary facts to support me." - art "we get paid for butt time" - mosquitobite "It felt much more comfortable when I was trying them on. No sharp edge poking my skin." - Buford T. Pusser

03-30-04, 12:00 PM	#12
B.A. DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: a 'ville Posts: 26,802	I finally dropped him from my fantasy team the other day. He had been a fantasy stalwart for me for almost two seasons until he was traded to Portland. __________________ "Beer - other drinks may get me drunk, but only you intoxicate me.

03-28-04, 05:20 PM	#4
Jeremy517 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 15,632	Cheeks is more interested in being the players' friend rather than the players' coach. And you can still count the number of plays in the Blazers' playbook on one hand. He seems like a great guy, but he's a bad coach. Philly, please come take him. He'd probably fit in perfectly in Philly. He could be Iverson's buddy, and the lack of set plays would let Iverson improvise all he wants.

03-29-04, 03:11 PM	#5
El Scorcho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39,610	Agreed. I really hope Philly takes him off Portland's hands. He is a great guy, and I actually think his act of bailing out that girl singing the national anthem actually bought him some more time in Portland. But still, having a perennial 20/10 threat ride the pine half the game is absolutely absurd, especially when that guy is just the kind of guy you want to turn the franchise around when it comes to winning the fans back. He's an absolute class-act but instead he rides the pine behind Darius Miles, who for all intents and purposes, is just another overpriced street baller who can jump high.

03-29-04, 03:34 PM	#6
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,412	Not to defend Cheeks, but Rahim has been one of those guys that puts up good looking numbers, but has never done anything to make his team a winner. Someone has to score the points on a bad team.

03-29-04, 03:50 PM	#7
El Scorcho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39,610	Anybody who can consistently drop 20/10 for 6+ seasons in the NBA -- no matter how bad the team he plays on is -- deserves to start over Darius Miles. That's a no-brainer. You can't blame one player on failing to bring his team to the playoffs. Look at the absolute garbage talent that was assembled around him in Atlanta and Vancouver.

03-29-04, 05:12 PM	#9
El Scorcho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39,610	Neither can anyone else on the Blazers, so he's a perfect fit.

03-30-04, 11:09 AM	#10
tofu DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 10,045	It doesn't seem like Portland is really intent on keeping Shareef around even though he is a quality guy to have on your team. So to me, there doesn't seem to be much point in playing him all that much if you know he's not going to be around later.

03-30-04, 11:15 AM	#11
El Scorcho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39,610	Yeah, he's a little too much of a nice guy for Portland.

03-30-04, 12:31 PM	#13
MJKTool Suspended Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 15,108	I thought Shaq was the biggest idiot in the NBA Scorch?

03-30-04, 01:35 PM	#14
Tsar Chasm DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: PDX Metro Posts: 8,951	Pardon my ignorance... Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon? Oregon doesn't have any professional sports that I know of.

03-30-04, 02:39 PM	#17
Da Thrilla DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,614	But he is still a pretty good guy...helping that girl sing the national anthem in all. __________________ I was dyslexic as a child...and I wrote about it everyday in my dairy.

03-30-04, 05:13 PM	#19
El Scorcho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39,610	Good, as long as they're planning to shop him. This isn't a guy who should be on any team's bench. Still, with Portland's offense sucking major ass, I'd rather have the defensive liability than the lack of offense. Don't know if anybody has noticed but Darius Miles isn't exactly an offensive powerhouse (or a defensive powerhouse for that matter).

03-31-04, 09:03 PM	#21
El Scorcho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39,610	Darius must have read this thread tonight.

03-31-04, 09:21 PM	#22
B.A. DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: a 'ville Posts: 26,802	WooHoo - career high of 31 pts. __________________ "Beer - other drinks may get me drunk, but only you intoxicate me.