Webster is Back

by usmcr3049 on Sep 3, 2009 1:00 PM PDT

According to the columbian, Martell Webster has been cleared for 5 on 5 drills!

However, now that Webster has been cleared for full action this season, he is expected to challenge Travis Outlaw and Nicolas Batum for the Blazers' starting small forward position during the team's upcoming training camp, which begins Sept. 29.  
Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard and team president Larry Miller recently compared the successful return of a healthy Webster to acquiring an offseason free agent at no cost.  
"He's been a starter. He's young. He's athletic," Pritchard said. "We're going to need his shooting ability. And if he comes back and he shoots the ball well and can maintain his health, he'll make us better just by that."  
Webster said he is more concerned this season with being a finisher rather than a starter. He stated that watching from the bench as Outlaw closed out games last season from the small forward position opened his eyes to a new goal: Becoming a dependable go-to player when the game is on the line.  

While I know this seems like it has been coming for awhile, it is great news to me to hear that Webster has finally cleared the last hurdle to his recovery. Hopefully he can bring it like he was in training camp last year, as I was sure he was on the verge of becoming a consistant NBA player.

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I guess this means he's not the glass man

after all.

"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on Sep 3, 2009 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

That remains to be seen

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Sep 3, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

eh?

aside from the foot…. what prompts u to sugest he be the glass man?

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."

-Dave

by faith on Sep 3, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

He's injured his foot

and was apparently rushed to come back too early, hence the re-injury (which doesn’t seem like a very bright point from either or both the medical or/and the coaching staff).

So, I may have a bad memory, but since when is he supposed to be injury prone ???

by Blenzer on Sep 9, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions

RT: Hopefully he can bring it like he was in training camp last year, as I was sure he was on the verge of becoming a consistant NBA player.

12 months ago, Webster was focused on being a defensive stopper and a 3 point sniper. He looked terrific running the floor and finishing in the preseason game against the Kings, before he broke his foot. I expect he will have some “rust” but he’s no dog. His all-around play will force the Blazer coaches to put him on the floor

Travis and Rudy had better watch out, some of their minutes are going to get eaten up by the Web-slinger

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 3, 2009 1:37 PM PDT reply actions

and from an earlier interview

"…I’m really looking forward to this season,’’ Lucas said, noting that Webster looked especially impressive

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/09/maurice_lucas_will_return_to_b.html

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 3, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I couldnt agree more with

“as I was sure he was on the verge of becoming a consistant NBA player. " Martell was on the verge of becoming a major part of this teams success, and now he is again. His stroke is amazing, his 3pt shot is smooth as butter, and he already had the drive to be good if not great.

Anyone who loves Martell (or talks smack about him) should watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMVXnJDBtnI

The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!

by cavejunctionblazer on Sep 3, 2009 1:48 PM PDT reply actions

Let's hope he's actually back

And not just “cleared.” He’s been cleared before, and we saw how that ended.

by goblazer1 on Sep 3, 2009 2:03 PM PDT reply actions

I'm happy Marty is back. That's an important piece of the puzzle.

Now, if KP can figure out how to transform Travis “Show Me the Money” Outlaw into a real live backup PF masher, and if they can get that LMA deal done, we can all start placing orders for our Western Conference Champions t-shirts…

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Sep 3, 2009 2:29 PM PDT reply actions

The cowards never started
The weak died along the way
Only the strong survived
They were the Trailblazers

by lukeyhere on Sep 3, 2009 4:04 PM PDT reply actions

I love my Martell....

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

-Dave

by faith on Sep 3, 2009 5:20 PM PDT reply actions

i am excited about martell

but i dont want to get my hopes up for this season. i think he has the potential to be really good in the future… but lets be realistic, i wouldnt bet on him doing anything to amazing this year, and i definitely would not expect him to play significant minutes for at least the first half of the season.

by jpaulson on Sep 4, 2009 3:04 AM PDT reply actions

Martell's real strength is his ability to catch and shoot=

Dimes for Andre and Rudy

by southern oregon on Sep 4, 2009 2:01 PM PDT reply actions

Webster is back and the best part is...

if you drop the name and look at what the Blazers are getting its unbelievable for a 54 win team. Martell is 22, the same age as a 4 year college player, and he already has NBA experience. He is great in the locker room, has great work ethic and has had a full year to observe the game and learn. If he was in this draft he would be a top 5 pick. When he knocks the rust off he should be the starter but might fit better in the role Outlaw had last year. So lets hope he is back for good.

by 22blazer on Sep 5, 2009 4:22 PM PDT reply actions