All-Time Teams: Blazers

Wing 08-09 Brandon Roy 22. 6PPG, 4.7RPG, 5.1APG shooting 48 – 38 – 82 %
Big PF/C Lamarcus Aldridge 13-14 23.1PPG, 11.2RPG

PG:Damian Lillard 28.9 PPG,4.3 RPG,7.8 APG,1.0 SPG,45.7% FG,39.4% 3P,88.8% FT in 2019-2020
SG:Clyde Drexler 27.2 PPG,7.9 RPG,5.8 APG,2.7 SPG,49.6% FG,79.9% FT in 1988-1989
SF:Kiki Vandeweghe 26.9 PPG,3.2 RPG,2.8 APG,52.3% FG,88.6% FT in 1986-1987
PF:LaMarcus Aldridge 23.2 PPG,11.2 RPG,2.6 APG,1.0 BPG,45.8% FG,82.2% FT in 2013-2014
C:Bill Walton 18.9 PPG,13.2 RPG,5.0 APG,1.0 SPG,2.5 BPG,52.2% FG,72% FT in 1977-1978
Backcourt:Terry Porter 17.7 PPG,4.5 RPG,9.5 APG,1.8 SPG,47.1% FG,36.1% 3P,84% FT in 1988-1989
Wing:Brandon Roy 22.6 PPG,4.7 RPG,5.1 APG,1.1 SPG,48% FG,37.7% 3P,82.4% FT in 2008-2009
Big:Mychal Thompson 20.8 PPG,11.7 RPG,4.0 APG,1.4 BPG,52.3% FG in 1981-1982

Bill Walton won the NBA MVP in 1977-78 (in 58 games, the Blazers went 48-10 in those games) and led the Blazers to their lone NBA title in 1977. Any answer other than those two seasons for starting center is sadly mistaken. This is the point where counting stats are needed to be taken with context. The Blazers went 42-40 when Thompson averaged over 20 ppg. His raw numbers look quite good (with serious help from him almost playing 40 mpg), but when per minute is taken into account, Walton’s are much better.

This is also a case where looking at advanced statistics would show not only how much better Walton was in his two prime seasons, but how much better he made the Blazers as a team. He had more help, sure, but he was the engine that made those contending teams run. The Blazers were 5-12 without him in 1976-77 and 10-14 without him in 1977-78. He was literally the difference between them being a mediocre to bad team and a title contender.

Sidney Wicks also put up fantastic counting stats, but the season you chose, the Blazers went 18-64. I think 1976-77 Maurice Lucas and 2013-14 LaMarcus Aldridge definitely would rank over Wicks. Luke (the reason for Walton’s son name) was the leading scorer and legit second best player on a championship team. LaMarcus put up similar numbers to Wicks while helping the team to the second round. This was the season where Robin Lopez’s box outs made him a significantly better rebounder. Can only imagine what it would have been like next to Walton.

As far as Clyde goes, give me the 1991-92 season for him. He was shooting more from the outside, had upped his assist numbers, and actually averaged more points per 100 possessions than even in 1988-89, when the Blazers finished 39-43 and lost in the first round. If you go to the play-off numbers of the two seasons, you see a massive difference as well. So definitely taking Bulls in 6 Clyde over Lakers in 3.

Also imperative to have Brandon Roy over Geoff Petrie. Brandon may have averaged fewer points in 08-09, but the team went 54-28 with everyone in their rotation being under 30. I would even take Petrie’s next season, where he averaged 0.6 ppg less but the team won more games, over the season that was chosen. But neither above 08-09 Roy, who had yet to succumb to his crushing knee issues. Hell, if one was alright with moving Clyde to the 3 (am sure whoever would be coaching the All-Time team would be), I would take Roy over Kiki. As great of a shooter as Vandeweghe was, Roy was ball handling and versatility well beyond.

Agree with Deathly Hollows on Terry Porter > Rod Strickland also. Also think Rasheed Wallace in any of his years from 00-02 deserves consideration over Mychal Thompson. Trail Blazers were at the precipice of a title in 1999-00 with Sheed as their leading scorer. The next season, he was an All-Star and they still made the play-offs those next two years, unfortunately being the victim of a deep as hell Western Conference and the Lakers in the first round. Still a better record than Thompson’s team had in 1981-82. Judging by how they both played when on title, contending teams, I think Wallace likely gets the edge.

So, my team:

PG: Damian Lillard 2019-20
SG: Brandon Roy 2008-09
SF Clyde Drexler 1991-92
PF LaMarcus Aldridge 2013-14
C Bill Walton 1977-78
Backcourt: Terry Porter 1991-92
Wing: Kiki Vandeghe 1986-87
Big: Maurice Lucas 1976-77