All, In the past many of you have expressed an interest in doing some writing for the site. Even though I am out of the country for the season, I'd like to see us have a semi-organized plan for some content for the group at large, because if I understand correctly, Denny and Sly are on the hook for the last year of our option as the "Blazers' Official Forum". Bones has already brought up the podcast case, and I thought the ones last year went pretty well. I'd love to see that continue (and to contribute if possible) as a hook for site outreach. We have the talent, the technical chops, the enthusiasm and the medium to make it a great one. As far as the rest, I intend (if DW is still available for it) to continue with the game threads starting out with DW's artistry and then a pre-game blurb in post Two. By no means do I want there to be a monopoly on either of those--in fact, I'm happy to let the pre-game go to a rotation format if there's enough interest in writing them. If Gramps and MM are still doing their predictions games, we'll make sure they're linked in the pre-game writeup. I also would like to reinstitute the Power Ranking, perhaps in a different format so that, even though we have something to post and/or talk about, it doesn't die on the vine like 300 other Power Rankings. Suggestions are more than welcome. Riverman, Mags, KS and BC all contributed some great stuff last year, and all of differing varieties. If you'd like to pony up an idea of yours, by all means--I don't want to squash creativity, even if it's not the cup of tea for everyone. (Newsflash, it won't be. ) I'd love to hear from everyone--don't be shy about throwing an idea out there even if you don't want to be the one on the hook for it. Feel free to PM if you don't want your great idea stolen by O-Live. Thanks for the time, Brian
We need "Campfire sessions". Just a few bros, going camping, out in the woods, drinking beers over an open campfire and talking about the Blazers.
Honestly, does anyone really read long blog posts written by members here? This is a message board, pretty short discussions and arguments about current news, etc. There are no articles or content, there are just discussions on the topic of the day. Same with the podcasts, I mean does anyone really listen to those at all? I mean we get the news, we get the analysis, do we really need to become Blazers Edge light? Things like prediction games are fun, because they are easy to interact but no one is gonna read a tl;dr article, that if it wasn't authored by yours truly, would probably suck :MARIS61:
And that's the issue. To be able to actually produce original, compelling, marketable content, you must have access to the team. Access includes the ability to attend the practices and get into the locker room before and after games. Without that access, you're just like any other fan who shares their thoughts on the team.
Eh, I don't think we need that. Maybe have CJ McCollum or another blazer drop in for an hour to post and discuss would be kind of fun, kind of like an Ask Me Anything, those have been pretty cool with Casey Holdhall. Nothing worse than armchair quarterbacks pretending they are journalists. :MARIS61:
How much access does Hollinger have? Zach Lowe? Chad Ford? Bill Simmons? For that matter, AOL.com or Bleacher Report?
Hollinger works for the Grizzlies, so I'd hope he has some access. I imagine the rest of the guys listed have some pretty decent contacts within the league, either GMs, in the case of Ford, scouts, etc., or good connections with all of the other writers, in the case of Lowe, where he can access information. Regardless, I get what you're saying, but do tend to agree more with El Pres. I mean, people are still free to write out really long detailed, researched well thought out posts, and many do. But I personally, at least, don't otherwise care too much about the other stuff mentioned. I'd normally prefer reading someone's opinion on here than listening to it in a half hour podcast.
I'm sure all those people you mentioned have access whenever they want it. With that said, they are writing about the NBA as a whole. Not one team. We want to provide coverage of one specific team. That's much harder to do without access to the players/coaches/front office.
One thing that might be cool would be for writers to create focused content on specific subgroups within the team. Like various writers focused on rookies/young vets/old vets, or big men/wings/point, or someone specifically devoted to paying attention to the bench players.
Also, we've said before, but @dviss1 would be good resource for an occasional "refs perspective" piece. "What's wrong with the way the Blazers' big men screen?" or "I would/wouldn't have called that!"
Maybe someone with coaching experience could offer a running critique of Stotts (both good and bad), commenting on plays, adjustments, rotations, clock management, etc., along with specific explanations/reasoning for their commentary.
How about a "chemistry report", commenting on which players seem to be working particularly well together (PnR duos, synergistic big men, "plays well with Dame")?
