Why the Blazers may stay healthy this season

With 12 games of the 2013-2014 NBA season down, and the blazers riding an 8 game winning streak into Friday night’s game against the Bulls, their record stands at 10-2. So far the Blazers haven’t held much back in terms of physical effort and minutes for the starters, something that proved to have an effect on the team last season, ultimately wearing them down.

After nagging injuries to key players throughout last season, such as Batum’s wrist, LA’s hip, and Matthew’s ankle, I was very pleased to see no noticeable injuries to Blazers players thus far this season. This is especially gratifying, considering the major injury issues which have plagued the Blazers in recent years, effectively ending the careers of Roy and (likely) Oden.
This last off-season, the Blazers parted ways with Bob Medina and Jay Jensen, and hired Chris Stackpole as the Director of Health and Player Performance. Stackpole is a very young hire for this position, but he’s been touted as being on the cutting edge of sports medicine procedures and technology.

I know when I was in the military, the vast majority of injuries were caused by the adherence to old, out of date, and generally poorly executed daily physical training. There was a push to in recent years to implement a more modern fitness program influenced by modern sports training programs, and re-assess the way the military approached resting and treating injuries, with what appeared to be some initial success. I had felt for several years that the Blazers injury woes, along with what often times appeared to be poor nutrition and physical preparation, had possibly been caused by well-meaning team staff who were simply caught up in arcane, out of date practices.

Now, I know, we’re still not very far into the season, and the real test of the player conditioning and injury prevention program is likely going to come closer to the all-star break, or later. Yet I can’t help but feel like the Blazers are playing with more energy, hustle, and for the most part performing close to 100% physically, which has been an issue with this team for so long.

I HOPE, and am starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, the hire of Chris Stackpole has had a part in this early season success, and that it may end up being one of the most overlooked off season changes in the organization.

What do you think? Is Stackpole having a positive effect on this team's lack of injuries, and overall health? Is it too early in the season to even consider if there is a difference?

Original article from the Oregonian in June on the hiring of Chris Stackpole:

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2013/06/trail_blazers_hiring_of_chris_stackpole_viewed_as.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Jinx much?

 

This thread won't end well...

 

...you had to make this thread..... couldn't we of at least called it something like "I like our new training staff"

 

Mods can you change this jinx title?

 

Even better!!!!

 

and thebluedoggy is a rookie.... poor start

 

This is a good point with being 36 games in last season, however, we had a rash of albeit minor injuries during training camp and pre-season. And as you look around the league, there are several players who've been injured this early.

Granted, we don't play an especially physical brand of ball. However with the emphasis on fighting through screens instead of going under, and with the Blazers having to occasionally try to force the issue in the paint (e.g. Lillard) I've seen a few plays where I figured there was a decent possibility of a rolled ankle or bruised knee/hip. On top of this, playing at a decent pace and as high of a level they have, I've been pretty impressed with the overall conditioning thus far. We've had several back to back's, and a decent little road run. I know our guys were tired on the road, but heck even LA doesn't look like he's struggling to walk after half time, and I know that was an issue he had often last season.

 

Somebody please lock this thread.

 

If someone gets injured tomorrow.................

 

There is nothing good about jinxing the team, regardless of how well you wrote it

 

i would like that

 

There's no worries. I don't believe in magic and jinx's, hence the whole point of my post being about the potentially improved science being the conditioning program now. It's a very legitimate subject, considering how it's hounded this team for some time now, and fans of the Blazers have been asking for improvements to be made for some time, pointing out the success of the Phoenix program.

 

If you don't believe in curses and jinxes, I have a hard time believing you're a Blazer fan.

 

I do believe I stated I don't believe in MAGIC and jinxes. I don't believe in burying my head in the sand either. Does that make me less of a Blazers fan too? What logical fallacy do I need to subscribe to then, to be considered a fan?

 

Verboten topic. Bad doggy.