Watching him block shots, really gets me pumped up. Plus seeing him put away those monster jams in traffic. Opponents looking on helplessly when he gets another put back after an offensive board. He’s so big, and so strong, even as a rookie he’s gonna impress. Wait til he really gets going…

and how for as much as I talk about Greg, I’ve never actually seen him play in person. def looking forward to getting a first look at rudy and bayless as well, but I’d show up to a gym just to watch GO lift weights. is it sad that my hero is 8 years younger than me?

Because we are all exited to see Oden, and Rudy. I think I’ve talked about them more than anything in any other sport in the last two weeks.
Martel is who I want to see, I think this is Webs year to break out. He has the body, he has the work ethic and it’s his first opportunity of being a true Vet. He can come in under the radar with all the excitement being on Rudy, Oden, Outlaw and Bayless.
I know you have the ability to play hard nose D, grab the boards, slash and shoot the three. Let’s see it Martel!

Everyone, but especially Aldridge. I firmly believe he will improve both his stats and team play this year.

Oden, Rudy, and Bayless are all up there of course.

I’m just looking forward to someone wearing read and black getting on the court. I really want to see all the rookies too to find out who they really are. Especially Bayless. But especially Oden. And Especially Rudy.

I’m going to be at the home opener and I have to say I am most looking forward to seeing Oden and Rudy. I want to see Oden play 30 minutes and pull down 12 boards.

As for Rudy, I just want to see his flair. Maybe watch him sink a couple of those quick-trigger threes as though they’re layups.

Gosh I could go on. Bayless is going to be always go go go, and if he can hold his own against the big guards in the NBA then he might well turn out to be the most exciting of all. I honestly would not be surprised to see him putting up 20 plus every night starting in January.

But what do I know? This is all just blah blah blah just like everyone else blah blah blah but oh well it must be worth something.

By far.

I think I kind of know what to expect from Oden and Rudy, so I’m actually pretty pumped to see what Bayless can do, against other players and also in the context of our team. He might be the biggest unknown on our team right now, so needless to say I am intrigued.

I’ve been waiting since I was at “The Venue” watching Portland hit the jackpot. It seems such a long time ago.

Next, is T-Rex. I just love his game. He will bring what Portland missed last year — intensity.

Blake much improved, a talented Bayless behind him….all adds up to a sweet battle for starting PG.

I would say excited to see Oden finally get on the NBA hardwoods. And as far as interested in, I would say Bayless. Rudy I expect to do great things, but Oden and Bayless are it in the excited and interested department. I really think that Bayless will light it up on our team. Not that Blake is going to rollover, but they have two very different games. Blake steady and sure. Bayless’ athletic youthfulness mixed with stubborn pride, a powder peg of PG whoopazz, and Oden banging on the league’s bigs are going to make for a real treat this year.

I’m kinda stoked to see Rudy and Sergio runnin’ and gunnin’ together, even if only for brief intervals. With the 10 or 11 players ahead of him on the depth chart, not many are giving Sergio a chance to earn more than a handful of garbage minutes per game. As a basketball player, it always helps to have teammates who’ve known you since birth. I think Sergio let the pressure of trying to be perfect for Nate get to him last year. His comfort level will likely raise and his level of play could be heightened by Rudy’s mere presence. Furthermore, aside from Brandon Roy who has the innate ability to do so for anyone, Sergio can set up Rudy in his preferred scoring positions and their on-court relationship could be refreshingly symbiotic.

Sergio still has an opportunity to grant himself an important niche role on this team. I don’t think it’s outrageous to say that Sergio is our best PG at running the break—something we likely intend to do—we certainly have the athletic ability and youth to do so. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mac slowly loosen his grip on the reigns as this team continues to improve and play quality basketball. If he does, Sergio is as poised as anyone to make an impact when we pick up the pace.

I’m not saying Spanish Carib should supplant JBiz on The White Unit, but perhaps this year we’ll incorporate a “special ops” third unit, called, “The Blur Unit”—comprised of our best streakers: Sergio, JBiz/Rudy, Rudy/Martell, Travis, and Channing holding down the Center postition. I haven’t seen anyone mention this line-up before but talk about offensive pressure! Defense would be lacking, and this line-up would be investing a ton of hope in Frye’s and Travis’s rebounding abilities, but given the right scenario (if we’re up by a lot or down by a lot) this could be an interesting look for us. Heck, Travis said he wanted to average 8 rebounds as well this year, so maybe he’s up to the task. It’s hard to imagine our big 3 being out of the game for extended minutes, but given the right scenario (up by a lot or down by a lot) we might as well rest them. If we want to make the playoffs and compete this year or any hereafter, it’ll be important to have a healthy and energized big 3 at the end of these long seasons. Given the recent surgeries and moderate injuries incurred by many of our marquee, young players, it might not be such a bad idea to develop this third unit, “The Blur Unit.” Yadadig?

But also Bayless. I keep telling myself that if he can convert into a shooting point guard who can average 6-7 assists, we’ll be in extremely good shape.

he is going to light up the league this year!!

Excited #1 Oden, #2 Fernandez.-No Explanation should be necessary.
Interested #1 Webster #2 Sergio, I want to see how Webster develops this season. Also a pivotal time for Sergio.

After that LA, then everyone else.

finding it tough to narrow it down to a single player I’m most excited about, I’m really excited about all our guys… it appears as though we have improved in multiple aspects of the game, and i’m excited to see how this years squad contrasts with last years… with that its easy to see oden having the biggest impact, but our guards is what I find myself trying to figure out…

so yeah i’d have to throw my arms out in protest and say i’m just excited to see the whole thing play out…

For some reason I really want Widmer to buy the naming rights to the Rose Garden.

~~The team continues to pursue sponsors for naming rights to the Rose Garden, a plan it announced last year. And although a shaky economy has tempered potential suitors, Mensah said the team expects to find a sponsor sometime this season so that the building will be renamed for 2009-10.

For this season, the team has partnered with Widmer Brewery to add a new concourse bar at the Rose Garden, providing fans with another place to gather before and after games.~~

Helloooooo…? Widmer Rose Garden = win

What will it be? A fast breaking, hard cutting? Or will it be a pound it into the post to G.O?
So many questions….

if I have to pick one. I am expecting the offense to go through him a lot more this year with Oden on the floor. Last year, he would start to get hot and the double teams would force the ball out of his hands. Who are they going to leave alone this year? Oden?

But I just want to see how it all works out for the entire team.

Obviously all the usual suspects are mega-exciting and we all know this, but I’m extremely excited to see how some of our taken-for-granted guys do this year: Steve Blake, Martell Webster, Joel Przybilla, Channing Frye. I think one of those guys will take a real step up in his game. I think Steve with all the new weapons he’ll have and the way this team runs will be in a very good position to get a ton of assists and hit a bunch of open 3s and free throws. Oden and Rudy will be the type of teammates that make Steve’s job that much easier and all of a sudden people will start talking about what a great point guard he is. OR maybe the haters are right and Jarryd Bayless will be starting by Christmas. It’s going to be interesting and exciting to watch either way.

It’s the popular answer but very true for me. I’m downright giddy to watch what Oden can do to Bynum on opening night and I think that game will set the tone for the entire season. Everything I saw in college, and everything I’ve heard about his rehab, power, and agility since coming to the team has me longing to watch him dominate this league. I hope he does win ROY as he has plans of doing. This will be a very fun year indeed!!

Always like to see how the role players go, they decide so much over the course of the season. Channing has the potential to play a lot of years here and be an important piece of the rotation.

I have to be honest – everything else pales in comparison when it comes to “excitement”.

As far as intellectual/team development interest; I guess I really want to see if the second unit can come together and make us have a non-stop attack that destroys other teams morale and physical condition.