What (I think) it will take for 50+ wins ...

by Philski on Sep 24, 2008 5:00 PM PDT

The Blazers did a lot of things pretty well last year, and that’s what resulted in 41 wins. However, the Blazers still had some glaring weaknesses, and that’s what kept them out of the Playoffs. The main reason for getting excited about this season is that the key additions this year should be able to directly address those deficiencies:

1) Improve Defensive Rebounding – Greg Oden will obviously be a big help, but being able to bring Joel off of the bench will be just as important. A great goal would be for the two of them to collect close to 18 rebounds a game. LaMarcus, Travis and Martell (in that order) all need to improve on the glass as well.

2) Increase Free Throw Attempts – Greg Oden represents the best chance for the Blazers to improve in this area, but Jerryd Bayless should help as well. People want to see Greg be a dominant force in the league, and the best way for him to do that is to get to the line close to 10 times a game. If he’s able to shoot around 80% once he gets there, then he’ll really be a force. Once again, LaMarcus, Travis and Martell all need to get to the line more frequently as well. A great goal would be for the Blazers to get around 30 free throw attempts per game.

3) Improve Field Goal Percentage – Greg Oden isn’t going to miss too many dunks. Jerryd should be a much better outside shooter than Jarrett Jack was last year, and Rudy should really help to offset the loss of James Jones. In addition, Brandon’s off-season focus was to try to become better in catch-and-shoot situations, coming off of curls. A great goal would be for the Blazers to be able to get their shooting percentage close to 47 %.

I didn’t mention anything about increasing their scoring average, because that’s a natural fallout of 2 and 3 above. If the Blazers improve in at least two of the three areas, then you can start printing Playoff tickets. If the Blazers improve in all three areas, then they are really going to be a force in the Playoffs.

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If I may....

4. Continue to be a low turnover team. The Blazers were 6th best in the league last year at taking care of the ball at 12.1 turnovers per game. On the flip side, forcing more turnovers will also be helpful as we only forced 12.1 turnovers per game as well.

5. Hit the 3 ball. The Blazers must make teams pay for doubling Oden and collapsing into the paint to stop our slashers. Martell, Rudy, Blake, Roy and Outlaw must all be consistent from deep. If we can be top 10 in 3 point percentage again this year, we’ll be dangerous. If we can be top 5, we’ll be unstoppable.

6. Team wide passing must be crisp. I didn’t see enough games last year to have an opinion on how good our non-PG passing was, so if anyone can help out there, I’d appreciate it. Opposing defenses are going to have a tough time defending all of our offensive weapons and they will be forced to double team and play help defense. If our players can pass well out of double teams and get the ball to the open guy with the extra pass, we’ll get a lot of easy buckets.

Devil's Advocate or just argumentative?

by Magnum on Sep 24, 2008 5:20 PM PDT reply actions

oh, I forgot to say

I continued your list because I agree with your 3 points.

Devil's Advocate or just argumentative?

by Magnum on Sep 24, 2008 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Pace, Pace, Pace.

Consider the up-tempo Suns committed 1184 turnovers last season, to the Blazers 1056. You’d think that’d make the Blazers a more efficient team, but consider the Suns 2188 assists, to the Blazers 1733. “6th Best” doesn’t mean as much when your assist-to-turnover ratio is 1.6. (Suns clock in at 1.8, and I believe the Toronto Raptors have the best ratio at just over 2.0)

By the same token, you minimize the importance of the Blazers “only” forcing 12 turnovers a game. The Golden State Warriors forced 1384 TO to the Blazers 1026 TO, but no one will mistake the Warriors for a defensive-minded team.

"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."

by ignign*kt on Sep 24, 2008 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions

you're totally right

I completely overlooked that

Devil's Advocate or just argumentative?

by Magnum on Sep 24, 2008 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions

If we don't win over 50 games this year

I will shave my head or anything else you want.

We will the New Orleans of last year, but better.

We will finish in the top 4 in the West.

If not, sharpen your razors.

by Bust a Bucket on Sep 24, 2008 6:37 PM PDT reply actions

you gotta be more specific or there is not an enforceable contract

and both parties have to give consideration, something of value. I can see how YOU are offering something of value — your hair — but I don’t see what the other side is offering. Unless the other side offers something of value you don’t have a deal.

The truth is a lot of fans are frothing at the mouth with optimism. And frankly I don’t suppose I see anything wrong with that. Marked improvement from last year and a winning record and perhaps a deep run in the playoffs — these are all not unreasonable aspirations this season.

And regardless, the cast of characters is so brilliant that we could even be kind of a flop but we’d still be a rousing success for the Trail Blazer fan base. I mean come on, how can any team go wrong with a guy like Oden coming in this year, plus another guy from Spain who plays with a perfectly marketable flair.

We cannot put up with this flagrant lack of accountability anymore.

by MT Suit on Sep 24, 2008 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions

It's a deal, and I take it whilst offering nothing of value whatsoever.

No contract needed.

Incindentally, MT, the value offered to BustaB is the thrill. It’s not a quanitifiable value, but it’s there.

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

by hobobob on Sep 25, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions

I want to add:

Beat the Jazz at least 3 times out of 4.

Division winner gets a 3-4 seed, runner-up gets the 7 seed.
How’s THAT for a specific predicky?

"Mister Oden is a very, very big human being." - Jerryd Bayless

by QualityPie on Sep 24, 2008 8:49 PM PDT reply actions

#7. Greatly increase our points in the paint, Oden should help with that and Rudy and Bayless should be able to replace Jacks drives minus his patented jump pass in the middle of the lane.

#8. Increase fast break points. I have some doubts about the 1st team, but the 2nd team should light it up with Bayless, Rudy and Travis. With some combo of Rudy, Bayless, Sergio and Travis on the perimiter, and Pryz, Frye and Oden down low rebounding, we should have a lot more chances to run this year.

Bottom line is we need to get more easy buckets. We were a jumpshooting team last year and to go deep in the playoffs, the only way is to get easy buckets.

The season cannot get here soon enough.

by SpyderRyder on Sep 24, 2008 10:19 PM PDT reply actions

Nate took the Sonics to the WCF (lost to Spurs in 6)

and that team was more of a jump-shooting team than we will be this year. My point is jump shooting teams can go deep in the playoffs as long as they move the ball well. Which leads me to my comment about point #6 by Magnum. Crisp passing is the very definition of how we were able to get 41 wins and how the Nate coached Sonics got to the WCF. It was the hallmark of the McMillan led sonics teams of the 90s. My point is Nate’s entire NBA career used fast ball movement to get an open man on offense. This was one of the fundamentals established last year by the young Blazers. I don’t see how they would ever regress in their passing with Nate coaching. Therefore I would say that goal #6 is in good hands for the Blazers this upcoming season.

by NWfan on Sep 25, 2008 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Conference semi-finals, not finals, in 2005

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Sep 25, 2008 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions

I haven't read the post or comments yet.

My first thought was and is “show up and play.”

Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624

by ratbastird on Sep 25, 2008 7:33 AM PDT reply actions

My first thought was, "At least 50 wins."

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Sep 25, 2008 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Very thoughtful of you

my first thought was “blue”

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

by hobobob on Sep 25, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Your first thought ever

Or the first time you read the title of this post, or even the first thought you had after reading the post?

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Sep 25, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Pretty much the only one I've had

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

by hobobob on Sep 26, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Thanks Dude

"You're really making me feel good about myself, little man," says Oden as he starts dancing after scoring a goal. "You better come harder than that."

by BlueBooYay on Sep 25, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey did you ever get the message that I did think you're article was VERY

well written. That was a bad typo. It got deleted before I could get it up there. Sorry about that.

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

by hobobob on Sep 26, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Must play very smart and savvy.

If we can use our youthful speed with veteran smarts, we’re in. Nate is key here.

http://www.myspace.com/y5k

by Y5k on Sep 25, 2008 8:00 AM PDT reply actions

Take all opponents seriously.

We need to take all opponents seriously, if 50+ wins is something we want. Must show and prove during the whole season regardless. 41 wins lasy year was good, now let’s prove we can go on to bigger things rather than have haters say that last season was a fluke.

by CanadianBlazerfan on Sep 25, 2008 3:37 PM PDT reply actions