I am excited as well. I think a lot of our season (fair or not) rests on the shoulders of Lillard. How well he runs the offense and creates points/opportunities for LA and Batum, as well as his ability to get his own points, will dictate a lot of how our season goes. I know he'll struggle at times, but if he can speed up his learning curve, I'll expect us to be competitive, even if we are on the outside looking in at the playoffs. If he really struggles, it's going to be a long season. I expect Lillard to "get it", but whether he gets it at the start of the regular reason or it takes half the year, or until next year, remains to be seen. But you have to like the potential we have at every position. As Ed O., points out, there are several guys with significant potential. It's unrealistic to expect all of the players to reach their potential, but these guys are all talented and high "motor" guys, so it's hard not to think "what if" about each of the players' ceilings.
For a team that went from 2005 to 2008 and then back to 2005 very quickly, I gotta say our 2012 edition of the Blazers, while a bit of a mess with regard to position and role definition, is a happy mess rather than a sad one like the 2005 Blazers were. This team is going to be exciting and fun, and probably won't win too many games to keep us from getting better next summer, either. While LaMarcus's window is at its peak now, he'll be a great asset to trade if any one of Hickson, Claver, or Freeland becomes suddenly better. I'd rather have our #4 player be a PF and try to improve us at other positions using LMA as bait than to waste LMA's prime years at #8. Anyway, there's seeds waiting to germinate and grow. I'm with Ed. It's going to be exciting.
It's not really "fair" (though he's being compensated well for it) but it's the reality. This season will go as Damian Lillard's development goes -- everything in the offense will be predicated on his ability to get teammates involved and open up the middle for LaMarcus with his shooting.
While Hickson and Freeland will probably be interchangeable, it should be noted that I've read a few different times that Joel's best NBA position will probably be at the 5. Hard obviously to know without watching him against NBA talent, but if indeed he's more of a center then I'm pretty content rolling with the Leonard/Freeland combo at the center. Not perfect obviously, but both will have plenty of time to develop this season, in what will be a rebuilding/development year. ...Another available big is Carl Landry. I read yesterday that he wants to sign with a playoff contender, but wth the market drying up he may be willing to take a look with a younger roster. I know a lot of you aren't Aaron Brooks fans, but an addition of Brooks as the back-up 1 and the addition of a player of Landry's toughness, to me really rounds out this roster with a lot of moveable parts. Young, and athletic this roster would be.
yeah, I'm really more a fan of the rough, blue color power forward that rebounds, plays good defense and hustles.
I actually have read some stuff in the last hour or so that backs up your assertion. I'm all for it. If Freeland has the bulk to guard most centers, it could work out great. I worry with him that we are just adding another power forward when we've already got Aldridge and Hickson. I guess it would come down to cost, but I don't think we need another Craig Smith situation. I'm not a huge Brooks fan, and it seems like he has a distorted sense of his value in the NBA (maybe my imagination) but I could see him fitting into a roster like this (where we'd otherwise be relying on Nolan Smith to play significant PG minutes behind a rookie). Ed O.
Totally agree, and that's where I was going. I think we're going to struggle some nights as Lillard will struggle, and I think we're going to look awesome others. The hope is that we as a team, as well as Lillard, grow, look better, and become more consistent as the season progresses.
I think the good point is that we're going in with much lower expectations this year having gone through being laid so low last year.
yeah, players who go to small schools NEVER amount to anything. you know, outside of John Stockton or Terry Porter. Or Stephon Curry.
