What if ?

by walkoff41 on Jun 17, 2008 1:39 AM PDT

What if . .

GO came into this season like a young Shaq, but with a jumper

out to 12 feet, a FT% in the 70's, O moves with the left hand and

the ability to outrun most PF's up the court.

Smooth came back with a better handle, more muscle and

the unstoppable "Smooth Shake" on the baseline.

Martell's game was highlighted with a BRoy lite crossover and

left hand that allowed him to get to the rim on O and the determination

and grit to shut down his man on D.

Rudy showed the step back jumper from NBA three, was a MAN

in the weight room and finished in the top three in 6th Man & ROY.

TO showed up in shape, took it to the rack (a lot) and decided

to exert himself on defense.

KP pulled off another PS and picked up Westbrook for the # 13

and any combo of JJ, Sergio, McBob, Euros & 2nd rounders.

BRoy stayed healthy and was BRoy.

Pryz, Frye, Blake and the squad played good, strong fundamental

team ball while staying healthy.

Nate and the coaching staff made all the right moves.

?????????????????????????????

WCF ? FINALS ?? Start of a DYNASTY ???

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Sounds good

Playoffs for sure, maybe a lot more if all the stars aligned. I think you can count on some of these things to happen (and maybe other good things you didn’t even think of), and on some that won’t.

E.g. the draft day definitely should be exiting again with all our options although I wouldn’t expect moves anywhere near as big as last year.
Some comments in the latest Courtside podcast that Oden looked like a great mixture of Shaq and Amare and could fill a whole doorframe made me really drool. Other guys will add something to their game like they did every year (e.g. Martell). Rudy might come to Portland from the Olympics motivated by winning a medal (maybe a little tired but hopefully not hurt), and I’m pretty sure he will have a significant impact with his speed, shots and drives. Personally he could get some rewards as well like make the Rookie All-Star game.

Expect the training facility to start filling early even for voluntary practices as a lot if not all of the guys on the team will be excited to be together again and can’t wait for the new season just like we.

by Norsktroll on Jun 17, 2008 6:05 AM PDT reply actions

No doubt

that the potential is there for this team to go a lot further than some people think. 55 wins is certainly possible, and a team capable of knocking off anyone in a seven game series.

I’m not saying it will happen, but I would not be shocked at all to see us in the WCF. I won’t be shocked to see us knocked out in the first round, either. The West is brutal, likely to be 8-10 teams who can A) make the playoffs and B) win a series.

Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo

by jscot on Jun 17, 2008 8:47 AM PDT reply actions

This has to be my favorite post in a long time

There’s nothing in there but a goos summation of why we’re all excited. I’m glad someone else thinks this could happen too.

If all cylinders fire next season (it’s not likely, but not as unlikely as many think) then we could win. That’s IF it happens. It could and that’s why next season will be SOOOOOOOOO fun.

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Jun 17, 2008 11:45 AM PDT reply actions

um we would get to WCF, and everyone would be peeing themselves wondering what wed do the next year, like the hornets in a way this year except younger with more potential

by blackandwite323 on Jun 17, 2008 3:26 PM PDT reply actions

Good Point

If we make it that far, who will we talk about trading away in the off season after that?

"lowest common denominator - every time I think you hit rock bottom you sink it deeper into the shale" -- bow4meow

by tominhawaii on Jun 17, 2008 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions

We will be talking about trading for the best active veteran(s) with no titles

- Allen Iverson
- Jason Kidd
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Steve Nash
- Grant Hill
- ...

Oh no wait, Kidd and Nowitzki should have a title by then if we don’t. Or so I hope.
Go Blazers. Go Mavs.

Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Jun 17, 2008 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Last year on BE

After GO was hurt/out, most fans dropped us into the high 20’s-low 30’s in
wins at best. Some of us went on the record predicting an improvement of
6 to 8 wins, possibly a winning record. The rest is history.
In retrospect, my feeelings were:

1. Zbo – Addition by subtraction. No more black hole/ole D.
2. Frye & James Jones – Good versitile additions.
3. Joel rebounding from the lost season of 06-07. (D & Rebounding)
4. The continued improvement of BRoy, Smooth, TO & Martell.
5. Addition of Blake as a steady force at PG.
6. Nate’s continual emphasis on defense, ball movement & TEAM.

In fact the last of many games I attended was the final game of the 06-07
season against Golden State. Even though we lost, TO had a huge game
and my buddy and I sat next to two of Martell’s buddies from Seattle. They
filled me in on his summer plans and how committed he was to improvement.
As a long time high school/college level coach, I’ve seen how young athletes
grow & mature. Often between 18 to 24 they can explode in development if
put in the right team & coaching situation.

Get ready for round # 2 in 2008-09. You can call it myopia, but the opinions
expressed here are from in-depth analysis and practical experience.

BRING BACK THE BLAZERS TO THE REST OF OREGON !!
                                 DOWN WITH COINCAST !!

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jun 17, 2008 5:52 PM PDT reply actions

KP/Koponen etc.

Barrett’s blog talked about the forgotten pick from last year, Koponen, who had a workout with Blake yesterday. Obviously, he likes Koponen, a pure point guard, and thought he played very well with Blake. Mac, further, indicated that they’re going to put some time in this summer working out Koponen exclusively at the PG position, which is where he plays – not SG. At 6’5”, and having added some weight, Barrett speculates that he may be the PG in the future we need. Ironic. Koponen was taken with the last pick in the 1st round. Fernadez, a few slots earlier. And then Oden. You simply have to give KP credit. You never know where the gold is in the NBA. Parker was taken at 25, after all. If it turns out that Fernandez and Koponen can play in the NBA along with Oden, last year will have produced three players in one draft – all for very little or nothing – outside of Randolph. If these players were in the draft this year, Oden would still be #1, Fernandez would have been a lottery pick, and Koponen, apparently, would have moved up another 10 slots or so as well. Now that was one good draft.

It’s one reason it is so difficult for fans to figure out what we’ll do this year. We have so much young talent floating around already. And, the draft itself seems to play to KP’s strengths. He always said that the 5 – 20 slots are very fluid as numerous GM’s have indicated that the draft is deep, but that there isn’t that much separation in talent, which means that the difference between 7 and 14 isn’t that great. This, in combination with our 3 #2’s, and the flexibility we have with our young players, gives KP a lot of options. He can use the player/picks and trade up a few spots to get someone without sacrificing the team, use those same player/picks to add a later pick and package with the #13 to do the same thing, or use the same strategy to get a veteran. Draft day is certainly going to be interesting this year – just like last. KP nailed 3 picks in the first round last year, now we’ll see what he does this year.

by Eben Calder on Jun 18, 2008 5:32 AM PDT reply actions