I read the article that Jason Quick wrote about you.  He is right.  And you are right.  You have been a little underwhelming during the preseason.  But it is not because you haven’t tried. You feel under pressure and you’re thinking instead of playing the game.  Now let me tell you some things about Portland fans that may put you a little more at ease.

We like you.  We like you not just because you’re charming, but because you dedicate yourself to the game we love.  From everything we hear, you work hard.  You pass.  You play defense.  You’re not a prima donna.  You’re always trying to improve.  You deflect compliments.  You can laugh. 

And there’re some more things you need to know.  Despite our fanaticism about the Blazers, we’re also realistic.  We know that rookies make mistakes.  Hell, even NBA superstars do.  There will be times you struggle; we know that.  Even NBA players are human.  Sometimes they, and you, will do stupid things.  Of course.  The only ones who do not error are those who do not risk.  The main question is: How do you recover from mistakes?  Let your mistakes be opportunities to learn, not way stations for worrying.  What we want to see is passion for the game. 

It is, after all, a game.  It is meant to be fun, to give us joy.  When you can find a way to enjoy the game again, we will enjoy it with you.  Win or lose.  Revel in it, connecting with teammates and fans, knowing that before long we will all be older.  Our step will slow, our jump lower, our quickness diminished, our joints complain.  But in the meantime, you have the exhilaration of youth and the possibility of athletic excellence; not always, but in snatches.  Please, while you’re in the blossom of youth, don’t let doubts intrude.  Just play. 

Greg, you’re on an amazing team with great teammates, a terrific coach and a first-rate front office.  We fans have very high hopes for you, but not just for you; we know that one person cannot win by himself.  So the burden is not on just you.  We had a pretty good team last year without you.  This year, besides you, Fernandez, Batum and Bayless join the team so there’ll be plenty of people responsible for the winning and the losing to come.

And finally, please remember: you’re part of the Blazer community now.  You’re already doing the most important things that make us happy with our players—working hard, being a good teammate, giving back to the community, and conducting yourself respectfully.  We think you’re going to be a great player, but we do not expect you to be a perfect one. 

It’s a game.  Play.