Maybe, but he's a different kind of project. Like Kobe didn't score a lot his rookie season, then took off. That's got to be the trajectory they see for him.
The Blazers drafted a project who hasn’t played and is now injured so he can’t even work out at this point. Seriously? This guy is sitting this year unless the team is rebuilding or tanking again.
I choose to think otherwise. That he's so talented he will play some minutes, small amounts early, more later in the season.
Yes, the blazers health does matter. But acting like Zion *WILL* do something is not the same as talking about Damian returning from injury. Imho, it's like depending on Nurk for a while season (or Anthony Davis). Until Zion shows he can remain healthy all year, you should base their wins on how the team did with CJ last year, just above .500. As for those who are talking about Sharpe, I think the people basing the teams record off of him playing are saying stuff like "IF" before their qualification. As in, IF Sharpe can actually earn minutes, that will help the team. We also don't know what he's going to do this year. He might play, he might not. But the same is true of Zion. He's played what, 85 games in 3 seasons? Not a good track record. Now IF he's healthy, they *could* be good. But they also might be the NY Knicks of the western conference.
He's not a project. Travis Outlaw, he was a project. Doesn't mean I think he will get minutes right off the bat, but projects don't tend to look as fluid and developed (game wise) as he does. Hell, I'd say Nassir was a project more than Shaedon was.
That’s be fantastic. But I am not expecting that. Thats the reason I mentioned that. Above some stated we would be better than the Wolves and Pels because of Sharpe. That ain’t happening FAMS.
You keep mentioning ZION. WHat about Ant, Nas, Nurk? When I make predictions, I look at the roster/talent and make my decision. Even with all our guys healthy we are about 9th or 10th,.
one could argue Zion is a project: never plays, stuggles with food addiction probably, cant stay healthy, cant control his weight. A different kind of project but a project nonetheless. You cant tell me David Griffin is estatic about what Zion has given the team thus far.
Nobody said that. If you're going to critique people's unreasonable expectations, do so honestly. No need to make crap up. The ONLY person in this thread who said anything about Sharpe factoring into his prediction was @blazerkor, who said he thought the Blazers were a 6 seed with Sharpe relegated to 9-10th man status, and said that if Sharpe surprised and played well enough to earn the starting SF spot, then that unexpected contribution could elevate the team to HCA-caliber. However, if you'd like to link a post that actually says what you claim someone said, I'd love to read it.
There's no way the blazers are below 6th baring major injuries and you can quote me on that in 6 months
Takeaways Grizzlies are overrated (But they do play a great style of basketball and play it well. So it’s slight) Nuggets are overrated. Blazers are somewhat surprisingly underrated; but I understand why a lot would do so. After last season it is a year of low expectations, and I look forward to the Blazers hopefully exceeding them for many. Nobody is arguing about the Spurs being bad The T-Wolves and Pelicans really mess all of this up more than I think people give credit for. Prepare to watch the Nuggets get clobbered by the Western conference this regular season. Jokic will not win MVP this year and his performance this year will be down from his two MVP seasons. West is too deep… CJ and the Pels did well after that trade last year. Now they have an entire off-season and regular season together. So many teams will game plan against the Nuggets. Every game Jokic is going to be gassed with what he faces.
I believe in the Pels more than the Wolves even without Zion. With Zion it might be a nightmare. But the Wolves could be surprising this year. Just depends on how the roster works together. They could be mediocre.
Seriously speaking. If you don't look at this roster and see a championship team if they are all playing and healthy then you simply are not paying attention.
