me too. Glad Im not the only one trying to view this half full instead of half empty. I truly believe we break .500 next season and at the trade deadline work some magic to put us back I the playoffs. If not this year, next for sure.
I start every season thinking we're undefeated and take it a game at a time. Negative affirmations are not my thing for enjoying basketball. If the team turns out shitty, then talk about why but before a tipoff it seems like a bad Russian novel to diss these guys.
Depending on who we pick up at SF, I would love to experiment with Vonleh at the 3. Of course it would be situational depending on the opponent, but a big line up would be interesting especially since we need Meyers outside spreading the floor. I don't buy that he is unskilled or has a low motor. I think once he gains confidence with playing time, everything will come a lot more natural to him.
And even more important in my opinion is that these young players are still impressionable and if we just start out with they suck and we are tanking, how much confidence will that instill in them? When raw and young, it is ALWAYS better to nurture than beat down... These new youngs need people in their corner pushing them positively. Not saying you suck and are just part of a tanking job for a future team.
I'm more excited about this team now than I was at the start of training camp last year. Full disclosure, I could barely get up for watching a single game last year, despite their record. I couldn't shake the feeling that the team was completely maxed out and I figured they were going to become a treadmill team. So yay LaMarcus and Wesley's achilles! Thanks for taking the hard decisions out of Paul Allen's and Neil Olshey's hands. All of those reasons you list make me want to watch next year . . . but I still think they're going to be fucking god awful. However, I can say in all sincerity I'm way more hopeful for the future
These aren't pre-schoolers. These are professional athletes making a shit-load of money playing a game. Losing for a year or two isn't going to break their wills, it's the five-ten-twenty years of franchise level futility that seeps into the fabric of an organization and creates a losers mentality. These young guys know the score, they know they aren't expected to compete for a playoff spot, but because they all want to get paid again on their second or third contract they will actually try hard and play hard but they're not going to be motivated by some dorks on a message board saying "atta boy;" that's college rah-rah shit.
Are you kidding me? We just watched one of the biggest preschoolers leave us. Fragile ego that needs constant pampering. This is the case with most guys drafted. Vonleh is 19. In the NBA that IS a preschooler. Im not saying you lie to the guys, but instead of a.. you cant do this and don't do that approach. I think it much better off to be the, you can do this, just keep practicing mode. In other words, lets try to build these players up rather than break them down ESPECIALLY since we have not seen even one scrimmage yet? Also, since when has making a shitload of money been a staple of maturation?
Well. What's great now is that we have no expectations so we can't be disappointed. It's open season, basically. My hope is they play kamikaze style and get in a few fights, maybe some loose teeth..... that's a quick way to build up an identity as a team.
Currently all I see some doing is motivating them to suck though... Money doesn't motivate. Just look at the movements this summer. positive attitude motivates.
This needs an explanation. All I've seen is guys moving around trying to make money. Some guys have also tried to make a lot of money and find winning situations. What I haven't seen is anybody move to a team because of how nice their fans are.
Huh?> David wesft turned down 10 mil to go to a positive winning team. LMA turned down fifth year money. Monroe wasn't motivated by money, but what he believes will be a winning environment. I think YOUR post needs more explanation. Nobody said anyone went elsewhere for the fans though, so not sure where that came from. Winning and positivity is what motivates a player motivated. I don't think money is it, in my opinion.
West took a one year deal, which means he can leave and join in on the cap space feeding frenzy next summer. LaMarcus did a 4 year deal with a player option after the 3rd so he can do the very same thing. And Monroe turned down an equal amount of money to go play for a better team. So whatever you think they are giving up really isn't all that significant (maybe West is the outlier in the bunch) and none of them chose their team because of the "good feels" coming from the fans. EDIT: Regarding fans and "building them up" That's what I'm referring to. It doesn't matter if fans are harsh or sending positive vibes to these guys. Sure nobody likes to be booed, but if they're so fragile that they can't handle criticism from fans then they've chosen the wrong occupation.
There was a good 30 for 30 doc called going broke about athletes after the glory days. Jalen Rose talks about it on his pod cast a lot. There's a whole breed of lawyer/agents/handlers/friends viper our there that takes these new rich kids from the ghetto to the cleaners. Any money pro athletes go to this class of sports entertainment douchebags, that's why they end up on TV!
Your point though was that the money should be enough motivation and I am disagreeing. It has been a trend that players are not caring as much about the money now because instant media has changed marketing so that almost any star with the right personality can get good contracts no matter what market they live in. So players know if they are good, the money will come. So what is left? To win and be with a classy organization. That is for the guys who moved around. With our youngs, I would want to instill this mentality in them that Portland is Just this, but if we bitch and try to break them down, so you think they will believe this is a classy winning organization, or become disgruntled and look for a better place when their time comes? Word are VERY powerful motivating or belief breaking tools. Chose them wisely with the youngs or attitudes can change quickly. Also we are talking about 1-3 year college players mostly who just skimmed through school. Not board members who have seen the professional side of the world their whole lives. If you think all 1-3 year guys should have al the tools already, then you are going to be very disappointed very often. Some players still mature and learn things into their late 20's and early 30's.
I think you believe that the ranting and raving that goes on here (and on the Twatter) has way more of an impact than it does.
This could be true, but it has been noted that the thread titles show up on the main page and that front office does pay attention to the fans. Why wouldn't the players as well? If you don't think these players have egos and want to hear what the word on the street is about them,...
I'm more optimistic about the team since...well, probably since we drafted Oden! The only thing I'm pessimistic about is the coaching. But I'm willing to give it a couple months to see if Terry can...well, coach. I don't care so much about wins/losses - I want to see (a) individual player development and (b) sound, fundamental, team basketball. Those are my only expectations. Beyond that, if we can be competitive throughout the season - maybe even be a dark horse PO team - and retain our draft pick, those will be two cherries on top!
