If Bill Walton was considering a political career in Oregon, he can pretty much forget it now.
Speaking to Bob Costas on NBC during halftime of Game 4 of the NBA title series, the former Portland Trail Blazers star said Wednesday the 1992 club is not as good as the team he played on and won't win the championship."I think their biggest problem is their style," Walton said of the current Portland team.
"They play a style where basically they make all their plays individually, one-on-one, off the dribble. I don't think they can win championship-level basketball games with that kind of style.
"The Chicago Bulls didn't win when Michael Jordan played that type of style. He changed his style, emulating the Magic Johnsons, the Larry Birds, the Isiah Thomases. They got their championships. I think they (the Bulls) are headed for their second."
Walton led the 1977 edition of the Blazers to Portland's only NBA title. "That team was really a fine basketball team," Walton said.
"Not as powerful as this current Blazer team, but I think we had more speed in the backcourt, a much better passing team, much better in the set offense, which you have to have if you are going to win a championship."
Walton also criticized the Blazers for failing to make offensive adjustments.
"This is the team that is the second-best team in the NBA, without question," he said.
"But because of the way they play, because of their lack of ability to see guys, their lack of desire and willingness to make that extra pass and to help their teammates set them up for the easy play, I don't see this team being able to conquer the Bulls."
But Walton went on to say the Blazers are playing the only style suited to their talent.
"For the type of players they have, they are playing the correct style," he said.
"I just don't think they have the type of players, that leader like Magic Johnson and like Larry Bird . . . like Isiah Thomas and like Michael Jordan, who is controlling this series beautifully."
When Walton made his remarks, the Bulls led the Blazers 48-45 in their bid to take a dominating 3-1 lead in the series.
In the second half, Portland came back to win 93-88, evening the series at two games apiece.