You can only pick one things per player/coach: I hope Nate takes a few more technical fouls standing up for bad calls on his players. Roy makes one of the all defensive teams. LaMarcus mixes it up for more defensive rebounds. Greg can stay out of constant foul trouble. Nicolas is a little more assertive on offense. Andre helps our fast break. Rudy wins 6th man of the year. Joel leads the league in blocks off the bench. Martell lives up to his potential. Travis learns there is more to basketball than shooting. Steve penetrates more. Jerryd continues to learn how to play point guard. Dante plays well enough that the team trades Travis at the deadline. Juwan is the calming veteran presence he was brought in to be. Jeff recovers well from his injury. Ime plays a role in developing Nic if he makes the team. Jarron doesn't get beat to hell by Greg in practice if he makes the team.
I hope Nate Loosens the reins a bit and trusts his team to play; they're growing up Roy Shows an ability to play off the ball a bit more LaMarcus Continues to grow, but also develop a little bit more of a nasty streak Greg Stays healthy and stays loose ... the rest will come Nicolas plays with authority and aggressiveness on the offensive end Andre Makes the bigs better Rudy develops a better handle Joel re-ups with the Blazers next season for below market rates Martell shoots efficiently Travis learns to rebound Steve takes a few more chances Jerryd improves everything Dante enjoys his time in Boise Juwan teaches the bigs a few tricks Jeff gets healthy Ime makes the team Jarron does not make the team
Fun game: I hope Nate loosens the reins and lets his players have more control over the flow of the game. Roy adjusts well to playing off the ball a little more. LaMarcus signs his extension within the next couple weeks. Greg shows the athleticism we remember from his OSU days. Nicolas retains the confidence he appears to have gained this summer. Andre feeds the big dog--a lot. Rudy doesn't miss Sergio too much. Joel is the best backup center in the league. Martell shows few aftereffects of his year off. Travis plays well for his new team, whoever that may be. Steve develops chemistry with Rudy as well as he has with Roy. Jerryd becomes the backcourt defender many think he could be. Dante provides energy and BBIQ in his garbage minutes. Juwan supplants Outlaw as the 2nd string PF. Jeff is hungry to get healthy and join his new team. Ime imparts to Nic and Webster wisdom he gleaned from his SA tenure. Jarron has a safe flight home.
Roy shocks everyone by having another big leap in production. At that point he could arguably be second best player in the game behind LeBron. (Yeah, it's not likely, but a guy can hope.) Aldridge becomes a monster defender. Not just good like he has been, but All-NBA Defensive team good. Oden vaults so high up in production that he's the consensus lock for the All Star team at center. Batum performs at a Tayshaun Prince level, averaging 30+ minutes and gaining the rep as one of the best defensive wingmen in the game. If just one of those things happens, we'd be a favorite among many to win the championship. If those things seem pretty extravagant to hope for, well, these are hopes and not expectations. I have hopes for other players on this team, but they really pale in comparison to these.
I hope for 5 things.... 1. Blazers advance to western finals 2. Oden becomes the center he was expected to be... 3. LA gets his contract 4. No serious injuries 5. We beat Dallas once at least lol
Nate Stands up for his guys more then he did last year. Roy Becomes more of a two way player. LaMarcus Doesn't decide he is a three point shooter. Greg Proves his critics are all wrong. Especially the Boston Sports Homer. Nicolas Is allowed to be a larger part of the offense. Andre Beats out Blake for the starters job. Rudy Same as Nicolas Joel Is fine with only playing 20 minutes a night. Martell Becomes a lock down defender. Travis Enjoys playing for a different team by the trading deadline. Steve Doesn't get burned on picks so badly. Jerryd Is allowed to be the player he is, a smallish shooting guard/spark plug off the bench ala The Microwave Vinny Johnson. Dante Takes over for Outlaw. Juwan Plays 10 minutes a game at back up power forward. Jeff Doesn't play one second so I don't loose a bet. Ime Makes the team. Jarron Enjoys his retirement.
my hopes... -health for all -LA signs a contract -Batum regularly emulates his idol's handle/point skills -Jerryd becomes a consistent outside threat easing Steve's departure -Freeland continues to develop, morphing into a quality Big to team with Greg and LA next year after Przybilla leaves. -Blazer broadcasts available for all fans -fans stop needing a scapegoat (longshot... I know) STOMP
This is just me, but I really think Bayless isn't a good fit on our team. He's a scorer and used to being the focal point offensively. I would much rather have more of a facilitator than an undersized SG. Just my opinion though.
especially if Batum develops more of a handle/playmaking skills, I really don't see Portland needing a traditional ball dominating PG to succeed. Having multiple passers/playmakers on the perimeter who can all spread the court plus a beast on the low block should create plenty of good scoring looks. As long as JB can spread the court + adequately defend opposing PGs, I think he'll fit in fine with Brandon and crew. STOMP
Ok I'll make it easy. Every player and the coach wins a championship. The rest is a consolation prize.
Not going to crown Batum anything yet, but doesn't the kid remind you a lot of a Tayson Prince? Seriously oozes it IMO.
I hope: …Roy is Roy. …Lamarcus signs an extension. …Greg stays healthy. …Batum puts more points on Pau Gasol’s face. …Miller doesn't bring back that 'haircut'. …Steve stays. …Joel resigns. …Rudy doesn’t get worn out. …Martell stays healthy. …Travis keeps talking. …Jerryd stays positive. …Jeff, Dante, and Juwan have thunder-sticks on the bench. …Ime or Jarron wear Craig Sager-esque suits.
The main thing with Bayless is to stop expecting him to be something he is not. He is a scorer. He brings intensity on defense. He brings attitude. The main thing to remember is, we may not have Rudy for many more years. He may want a starting gig somewhere. When that happens, we are going to need another scorer off the bench at SG. Bayless could be that guy. I would not give up on Bayless until maybe after his 4th year. He is young, needs the coaching, and has a lot of upside.
since both came into the league as rookies last season, both Jerryd and Rudy are under contract with Portland for the same amount of years. I'd guess that both would want starting gigs somewhere today, but neither has the leverage to force a trade. STOMP
I hope: -Roy shows that he can be as good in a more diverse offensive role -Aldridge takes one more step forward in his development, leaving David West territory and entering Bosh/Gasol/Stoudemire territory -Oden plays fluidly and confidently, deploying both his athleticism and size to great effect -Miller establishes a great flow, making everyone else better by setting them up where they are at their best -Batum becomes one of the league's toughest perimeter defenders and plays more aggressively on offense -Fernandez adds a handle to his game -Bayless finds a comfort level on the floor, plays solid defense and knocks down jumpers...while continuing to be aggressive in attacking the hoop -Outlaw takes fewer shots but increases his scoring efficiency -Webster adds something to his game, like passing or driving to the hoop -Przybilla holds steady and doesn't regress -Blake holds steady and doesn't regress -Howard makes some heady veteran plays and puts maximal effort into being a solid defender -Cunningham and anyone else who makes the team cheers loudly and looks excited when good things happen for the Blazers
The big difference is the amount of money waiting for Rudy in Europe. If Rudy grows tired enough of the situation in Portland, he could skip off to Europe and play there until he becomes a free agent. Bayless isn't in the same position. He may very well get decent money in Europe but not on the same level as Rudy.
