Joel Pryzbilla and Dante Cunningham: A Primer.
by conspirator5 on Mar 1, 2011 7:43 PM EST
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Dear Charlotte,
As was previously FanPosted by sabonis4ever, Blazers fans appreciate how big of a deal it is for you to lose Gerald Wallace. While it has been emotional for us to lose Joel and Dante, I'm sure it's hard for you to really parse why the trade would be a tough one for us. Gerald is both an All-Defense player and an All-Star with a dynamic game that is not just valuable to his team but really fun to watch. Joel is a Big White Center on an expiring deal with a post-surgical knee, and Dane Cunningham is a 3/4 tweener drafted in the 2nd round. Doesn't seem fair, does it? So, if the deal looks so good on paper, why would we have regrets? To answer that question, I've assembled a list of links to blog postings and newspaper articles that will give you a window on these two players, and why we admire them and are going to miss them so much. After the jump...
Part I: Joel Pryzbilla
Joel Pryzbilla has earned a few nicknames among Blazers fans, the most popular of which is the "Vanilla Gorilla" since those both rhyme with his last name. However, he's stated publicly that he just likes being called "Joel." The best overview I can give you for Joel is a blog-ography written by one of BlazersEdge's most prolific member/contributors, Timbo. Sometimes it stuns me that he doesn't have his own blog. Here, in two parts, is most everything you'd ever want to know about Joel and his NBA career:
At the bottom of each article is a pretty healthy set of footnotes if you're interested in further reading. Aside from that, here are some of my favorite pieces on Joel from other sources:
Teammates talk about Joel on camera for 09-10 media day.
Joel's grandma is mad at Tyson Chandler and David Stern and...
Tyson knows better than to mess with anybody's grandma.
Finally,
The Joel Pryzbilla trading card that never was.
Part II: Dante Cunningham
While Joel has been with the Blazers for over six years, dating back to the wish-we-could-forget Jailblazers era, Dante is just in his 2nd year. He wore #33 in Portland because that was his draft position. A four-year player out of Villanova, he was considered by many to be the classic "tweener." Not fast enough to play SF, not big enough to play PF. We drafted him for his character, work ethic, grit and hustle, and he has delivered in spades on all those fronts. Too small to play PF, we've even played him at Center at some points this season because of a combination of our shorthandedness and his absolute willingness to do whatever dirty work the team needed. He's got a nose for rebounds, a reliable midrange jumper, the occasional sneaky moster dunk, and these links:
Best profile of Dante I've read so far.
Dante talks off-court during 2010 Summer League
Dante's gives the fans love, and a sweaty jersey.
Dante used to play with Ty Lawson... in grade school.
Dante is hardly a highlight reel machine, but the guy knows how to dunk it:
Ray Allen ain't makin a fool of Dante
So Bobcats fans, as we head into the home stretch of the season, please don't think of losing Gerald when you see these two on the court. They will give heart and soul to your team and hard fouls to your opponents. Enjoy!
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anybody else
unable to get over how freakin cool Portland fans are? My god. I wanna invite you to my apartment for a nice dinner or something. lol. Seriously though, I’ve said it a million times and, I’ll say it again. Portland has Class friggin A fans.
Advocating the correct nickname for Tyrus Thomas be: Tyrusauras.
Devout follower of the Franimal and the Basaviour.
Blindly Optimistic follower of The Iowa Hawkeyes, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Charlotte Bobcats.
"CAM WARD SAYS NO!"
Agree. But the constant "sorry you suck now" reminder is a bit annoying
But keep your heads up, because we use to suck too. But look at us now, were nowhere as sucky as you.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
you should enjoy seeing the last 2 games Portland has "played"....I am sure
the Bobcats have never had such horrendous showings in the history of their franchise.
Wallace showed up in the last game…both ends of the floor.
Batum showed up on offense.
That’s pretty much about it.
The Bobcats may end up being a better team before all is said and done…hope not for Gerald’s sake. Now if we traded you Brandon Roy…then I would feel bad for you.
Dante and Joel are good players..both are only going to get better.
Well...
Last night Matt Carroll showed up and that was pretty much it…so…
and our worst loss ever…
Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...
by andrewlail76 on Mar 3, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Hawkeyes...+1
Amazing. I plan to visit these links when I get home. I am very interested in Cunningham, and I believe Oakley can mold him into something special. I thin kthat Derrick Brown fit the same mold od “too small to be a PF, but too slow to be a SF”
Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...
Happy to bring the wine...
…but can you cook?
I'm the cook...
Hawkeyes provides musical entertainment
Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...
by andrewlail76 on Mar 3, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
This is great stuff.
It’s really reassuring to know that we didn’t receive a handful of castoffs in return for Wallace. I look forward to all of the new guys getting acclimated with Bobcats basketball.
Cats' Magic number: 14
Games remaining: 23
Jack Bauer: "WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!"
fan favorites
The only time I like fan favorites is when we have a winning roster performing well every game, like the blazers. Fan favorites usually come in during garbage time like fan fav king Brian Scalabrini. When you have a young team and organization like the bobcats you need good players with up side, not class clowns, to pass the time while you’re getting your butt kicked. I don’t expect these guy’s to be on our roster past the next year or two, unless they prove to be very helpful to us winning games. Time will tell if they are worthy of replacing what you got for GW, please don’t feed us anymore of that BS were trying to win games.
ezrock
Yes, hello.
No one made you read this FanPost, did they? Was a weapon forced upon you and some aggressor would not let you live unless you read through this?
No?
Then please refrain from hateful, unnecessary comments like that junk you added on the end there.
“Don’t feed us anymore of that BS were trying to win games” ?
Last time I checked, this post isn’t impeding the Bobcats from winning games. In fact, this post is quite helpful in that it introduces Bobcats fans to the new players. If you can’t appreciate that, then why are you even reading this FanPost?
Furthermore, these players are far from “class clowns,” as you put it. C’mon.
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr
As an addendum
Shame on you!
This Blazers fan wrote this just out of the goodness of their heart. AND they took the time to write this whole thing AND to find and link to 15 other articles to boot! And you’re going to be like that?
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr
Simon Cowell's older brother, "Artie," ladies and gentlemen!
Cats' Magic number: 14
Games remaining: 23
Jack Bauer: "WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!"
by Newsinz on Mar 2, 2011 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Again Ben...
Bravo to you again for cracking the whip.
The negativity has to die!
Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...
S'okay Ben
Time will tell.
I guess your FO has decided to let Sean go —a super person, if not the best center in the NBA— but it sounds as though both Joel and Dante are looking forward to playing for you. Both are more starstruck by MJ than your fans seem to be and, more importantly, have incredible work ethics.
Pryz/Dante should never be mentioned with the likes of Scalabrini
Pryz would flatten Brian and it’s not even close. Pryzbilla is one of the better defensive centers in this league when he’s near 100%. He’s playing himself back into shape after an injury.
His description of Dante sounds like Derrick Brown
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
LOL
I said the same exact thing above…
Perhaps he can be utilized better?
Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...
There are a few differences
Dante’s a better rebounder and may have a more solid spot-up mid range jumper, from what I hear. Some differences, though not much.
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr
Snarks are always with us...
…but you guys just acquired a bunch of long-distance fans in the Western conference, by virtue of our deep affection for Joel and Dante. Couldn’t hurt, might help.
Our former Blazers will receive a very warm welcome in the RG on Saturday —but we’ll still do our best to beat them, and you. I’m thrilled that I won’t have to attempt to follow two games simultaneously (unlike tonight), and will be only mildly confused re: who to cheer for. ;-)
Love from Rip City
I Cant wait for sat.
I might comment on your guys game thread, [Ill be swiching from duke and UNC game to the bobcats] I see you guys arnt alowed to post pics on your threads?! We wouldnt live here with that, Lol. I posted a few things over on Blazer’s Edge, You guys do have some Neigative Fans though! From my Youtube Video Comments And me commenting on a few of your post’s getting Negitave Results. I wish every fan in the NBA was like you! Deff. Classy people, I read somewhere recentally (I wish I remeberd the Link) that put Charlotte and Portland at the top of the NBA for Classiest fanbase’s!
I win as if im used to it, and i loose as if i like it for a change.
Oh yeah
Everybody’s got a few negative fans, even some who really should get back on their meds.
There are quite a number of online Blazer-related communities, with Blazersedge and the team’s official fansite being most “decorous.” I saw no hostile responses to your posts at BE, although one or two folks did disagree some with your points.
The chat app, Cover It Live, can be configured in a number of ways. Because so many of us cannot see our team on TV, our format includes scrolling play-by-play. That leaves us with a teeny chat window in which images would be annoying interruptions. There are these tradeoffs in life. ;-)
Ahh.
Got it now, Makes sense :).
This is a off Question to anyone here (Ben?) Is there a RoF App. in itunes for this site? I just bought the I-Phone4 yesterday and would love it if i could access this site easier
I win as if im used to it, and i loose as if i like it for a change.
Yes, there's an app for that.
Cover It Live does offer an iPhone app. I’ve never used it, but I’m told it’s just barely usable.
Hey Conspirator5!
I can’t find that sabonis4ever posted anything relevant on this topic. To what do you refer?
1. Get a Center/Pg for Diaw (he is sought after by a few teams) (Dallas, Toronto, Orlando, Golden State) (Maybe Pryz and Brown are good enuff tho)
2. OJ MAYO…simple. Memphis was goin to trade him away for basically nothing. Hendo is good but not quite starter material…
3. Maurice Evans or Terrence Williams (can back up Jackson for the remainder of his contract then start…both can play sg/sf…both are rotting on the benches…both are fairly cheap)…Azibuke, Roger Mason, Shawne Williams are also available
4. We got plenty of pieces (unproductive) Diaw, Livingston or Augustine (i think thats decent at pg…nobody else thinks so). Matt Carroll, Diop, McGuire, 2 1st rd picks for a WEAK DRAFT…
5. Stop Tryn to Get a MEGA STAR (Chris Paul) and give these players a chance
6. All these are possible and cost efficient. AND PRODUCTIVE.
7. Denver, Memphis, PHX, Portland, ATL (The Anti SuperTeams) are doin well bc of the group of guys meshing together.
A) Why post this here?
B) LOL @ #7. Phoenix and Atlanta are doing well? Phoenix isn’t even going to make the playoffs this year! And Atlanta probably won’t make it out of the first round, like every year.
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr
by Ben Swanson on Mar 14, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
we have to start slow…realistically we wont be getting a (Dwight, Paul (overrated), Derron Williams, Kobe, Jordan, Chaimberlain)… PHX prolly has a better record that us. (which means a 7/6 spot in the Eastern Conference. ATL MIGHT not make it out tha 1st Rd which I doubt. But we prolly wont MAKE THE PLAYOFFS altogether…we struggled to get 30 wins…
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