Who's your pick to have a breakout year (the biggest leap from last)? Wish it was Batum, and I know LMA is going to have an All-Star season, but after watching back to back courtside episodes I'm with Nolan Smith in predicting Wesley Mathews. http://www.blazersedge.com/2012/9/2...lazers-g-nolan-smith-interviewed-on-courtside At the start of the 2010-2011 season when Wes replaced an injured B-Roy in the starting line-up, Wes was on fire knocking down three's like crazy, scoring buckets with ease and making you say Roy who? Only to fizzle after a string of injuries and overall franchise instability. This year though, with an actual training camp, regularly scheduled games, and a new approach to the offense, Wes will break out. Mathews will become a poor man's Brandon Roy, and we'll tell the Wolves you can keep him. PS Vote wisely, this thread is sure to be bumped.
I don't think you should have Lillard in the poll. It's kind of hard for a top 10 pick that's never played an NBA game to have a "breakout" year, and you know he's going to get a lot of votes because he's the hottest name on the list right now. If Morrison makes the team and actually contributes, that alone makes him a breakout player. He broke out of the Euroleague into the NBA.
I didn't count Lillard either. I voted Nolan Smith. I have a feeling that he will contribute off the bench this year as a combo guard. He can score and we will need it.
LMA has already "broken out". He was an All Star last year! I voted for Matthews. I'm hoping/thinking all the hard work during the off-season is going to pay off.
Yea "Lillian" was joke, on Mike Rice. That's what he called him last night. Ammo is definetly a dark horse in this race.
So the question is "biggest 'leap' (improvement) from last year"? I think "Heyyyy Baabbiiitt" (//Abbott and Costello) contributes more than a lot of fans give him credit for, but no breakout for Babbitt. Hickson? No. LaMarcus? He done broke out. He's going to beast though. Call me crazy, and I have a long history of discounting Sasquatch Morrison since before the draft, but I think A*am is going to earn the backup SF spot. That alone is a breakout for him. But not for the team. Lillard didn't have a last season, so I'm going to give him a pass too. Nolan Smith will be much better than last season. And he'll get minutes and a green light. What does breakout mean though? He's not going to be a star, if that's part of the equation. But his bar is pretty low, so if he plays solidly, the argument could easily be made he improved the most. Wes and Batum don't have to improve all that much to be real impact players. Nolan thinks Wes is the man. I expect Batum to have a great year, but he's the kind of player who it's really up to the coach and PG to put him in that position. Between the two, I think Batum will be the better all around player but I think Wes will get more shots, and make them. And to most fans, that seems to be all that matters. I guess I'll ride Nolan's coattails and vote for Wes. But I'll be rooting for Batum.
well put, my thoughts too. Nolan will show that he is not only an NBA player, but a fine rotation player as well. This will be a huge leap considering he did not even play like an NBA caliber player last year.
On Courtside last night, Mike Rice (take it for what you will) mentioned Wes Mathews was more explosive than ever and that his ball handling had improved....which Nolan Smith reiterates in the recent interview. If true, it would tremendously help to have two capable ball handlers in the back court who can shoot the ball.
Hickson is an explosive PF. Aldridge is a boring, predictable one. This season, Hickson will force Aldridge to get down on his knees and admit to the world that Aldridge is a Center. I voted for Hickson.
I believe he is could be more explosive. That is possible if he is healthy and is a few pounds lighter. A better ball handler? No way in hell. That is his biggest weakness IMO. If he really improved significantly in that area...........I would be thrilled. But I find it hard to believe.
Nice try, almost a good prediction. Hickson already had his breakout season last year, Aldridge as you say, has a ways to reach his ceiling. With more room to grow, LMA's the smarter vote. Just watch, with Stotts and Co LMA will dominate this year like no other. Somebody better vote for him!
My thinking is that the choice should be one of the underdogs, from whom the league expects nothing--Morrison, Nolan, Babbitt, or Hickson. So I chose the last as most likely to upset that applecart.
Anyone can improve their ballhandling if they work on it: [video=youtube;KJEb6O-cjhU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJEb6O-cjhU[/video] [video=youtube;cRRsn_ixsMA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRRsn_ixsMA&feature=relmfu[/video]
