Sorry I couldn't find a thread for this. I started thinking about it as the Blazers turned the ball over 25 times in the last pre-season game. The thing that would disappoint me the most if is they emphasized cutting down turnovers, to the detriment of developing polish in the offensive game. In other words it would also disappoint me if they emphasized winning over the development of skills. I would like to see the coaches spend an entire week or two on just perfecting one skill, for example the big men jumping out on pick and roll defense. Get it so they jump out at just the right time, with the right amount of aggression and then get back to their man instantly. Spend a week or two on perfecting setting screens. Let Aldridge know it's more important to get things right at first, than it is to score and prevent turnovers. he will need to be put in some uncomfortable situations until they become comfortable; he has to know he has permission to fail. For me that is what this year will be about.
I agree with most of what you said, development before wins. Along those lines, I'll be disappointed if Price, Pavlovic and Jeffries see major minutes this season.
Most disappointing is if Dame either gets injured, or if he gets completely shut down after being scouted.
#1. Injury #2. Lillard coming in anything less than second place for ROY #3. Aldridge regressing into the ancillary 18ppg PF he was a few years ago Otherwise, it's all good. If we make the playoffs, it's because we drafted well and are on the road to wellville with our youth movement. If we go lottery, well, hey we get another lotto pick to build on the youth movement.
Season or career ending injuries to Lillard, Batum or Aldridge would be a back breaker for me ... honestly I might just give up watching basketball altogether if that happens; I just don't have enough left in the tank currently. Other than that, I'd be disappointed to see Batum stuck in his consistent inconsistency and I'll be bummed if Lillard can't adjust to being scouted.
besides injuries I agree with this, if we don't play the young/new guys minutes and see what we got that is idiotic
1) INJURIES! Enough already. 2) The young players are so awful that Price/Jeffries/Pavlovic wind up with major minutes. I'm afraid #2 is already coming true.
I'd only be disappointed if the team's assets don't increase in value. The youngsters need to play a lot. I have pretty low expectations for the win column, so missing the playoffs will not be disappointing for me. Injuries really can't be controlled, so I'm not gonna worry about them.
