I have been off the boards for the most part for the last couple months. Pretty much knew what was about to happen. I just didn't get the feel Aldridge would be back by the way he looked at the end of the season so i was pretty prepared for it. I also spent a lot of time pondering what players might be here and who would leave. I was half right and half wrong. Felt LA and Wes were gone but i was thinking Rolo and Batum might stay. The "NOW" Blazers are a very different model. Plumlee and Leonard are much faster and obviously have a more dynamic game. Plumlee was in the dunk contest and will run with any big in the game. We all know Meyers can throw it down and can get down the court in a hurry. In the last couple years i felt i watched a number of times when Damian Lillard was moving faster than the rest as he wanted to run a bit more? Of course Lopez was left alone under the basket as the lone offensive rebounder many times because not only were the rest told to get back on D but he was also unable to get back as fast anyway. I think there will be some changes on the defensive philosophy and the offensive rebounding structure. To put it simply...This team will be younger and much faster. They will work the pick and roll better and they will pound the offensive glass for put backs. I see as many as 6-8 more fast break points a game and with any luck Dame and Frazier will get the lob game going. Passing will still be a huge part of the offense but the passes might come faster and from the outlet off of defensive rebounding with an open look from three if the lane does get closed down. Blazers could use another big time three point shooter but they do have one in Lillard. I am looking for Neil Olshey to pick up another scoring threat but we might already have it in CJ and Crabbe. You will not see 20-30 shots a game from the left block anymore and actually i didn't really like it anyway. Yes Aldridge was a great shooter but they relied on him way too much IMHO. The shots he was taking were fine for 3 quarters but when the chips were down defenses were making the Blazers go elsewhere and when they could they won, when they couldn't? Nope! I am looking for a triple scoring threat that can also do damage inside. I hope Coach Stotts is up to the test. P.S. The Blazers defense will suffer because they are again young and they will not have played long together. We need to keep ourselves from over analyzing the defense in the first 20 games and allow them to grow. The numbers might be truer in the second half of the season. I know there will be plenty for a fan like me to watch and i am looking forward to another year of Blazer basketball. Win or lose kjironman is a fan!!!
Saturday: vs. Boston, 5 p.m., Cox Pavilion Sunday: vs. Dallas, 7 p.m., Cox Pavilion Tuesday: vs. San Antonio, noon, Cox Pavilion Here are some of the summer league games and times if you want to get a look at what they are working with.
Somebody has got to explain the whole "Cowbell" thing? I have missed it and i just have never got it straight.
I have been building the Sellwood bridge. Very busy. I work for Kenny Carr so yes i have been asking him quite a bit if he heard anything. Same answer every time. "You know if i tell you i have to kill you and i need you to work so i ain't telling."
Yeah, and people largely said Nate McMillan was a good defensive coach (and Stotts as an offensive genius). It doesn't mean it's true. But once people start saying it, it creates a false reputation that becomes gospel regardless of what the facts tell us. LMA is NOT a great shooter. Nate is NOT a great defensive coach. And Stotts is NOT an offensive genius.
