Pelicans are the biggest threat to the Blazers (not Memphis!)

As long as he doesn't play Anfernee Simons significant minutes, we will make the playoffs. If he does play him, we likely won't, and it WILL be his fault. lol.

 

Well, to be fair to Collins he only played 3 games this year so not sure how you can say he lost any confidence and frustrated with so few games and he had a decent start to the the season and it's only his 3rd year.

 

I don't that as an issue as Simons minutes for the past 3 months of the season have been cut from 24 mpg to19mpg and the last month of the season he was down to 15mpg. With a pretty much full roster and this essentially being a mini playoffs I would think the rotations might be shorter and we will be implementing 2 more players into the lineup with Nurk and Collins.

 

Don't forget Olshey and McCollum. .

 

good point but I was referring to his overall journey to date. You are right he played well at the beginning to the season. He's been on the cusp of breaking out but sometimes his frustration gets to him as is not unusual for young competitive athletes. I was just saying, I predict a light switch will turn on and we will see is game take a huge leep. Just my thoughts, as usual I could be wrong too.

 

For the sake of the team, we can only hope his playing time falls further... Worst Blazer in recent memory. I'd rather Mario play.

I'm actually pretty optimistic about the scenario we are facing. If Nurk is 85+% Nurk and Collins is 85+% Collins, we are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Exciting stuff.

 

I knew what you were saying. Few players show their frustration as visibly as Collins. My favorite thing about Zach (and Gary incidentally) is that he clearly works very hard to get better.

So, to your point. Many players come back from the summer with more confidence or new tricks up their sleeves. Couple that with Zach's determination and I think you're right. A lot of basketball is between the ears, and I think Zach being forced to watch this semi-trainwreck of a season, probably really focused him. I guarantee he thought things would be different if he played and now he gets a chance to prove it.

 

well said..

 

That would be a “Branch” instead of a “Limb”.
If I say all three I could not take credit for my astounding ability to predict the future.
“Called it” is gonna be in my future. I can just feel it!
Unless of course they actually get to the playoffs and win the championship. Then of course it will be “In Spite” of Stotts.

 

He's an emotional player and that's part of his game and what helps drive him and I think as he matures he will have better control of that and will turn it into more of an asset. The good thing is, he has 2 plus years of real experience and is still only 22.

 

Funny thing is, my grandson's name is Zach and we have called him Zman ever since he was a little guy.

 

I'm getting my posting guns loaded already!

 

Thats terrific!

 

That's a cool hat. Have to look into one for my grandson.

 

That might actually be a very hard schedule, when the top teams are locked into the playoffs and aren't playing starters the full game.