As we inch closer to the end of the offseason, and this offseason feels like it has dragged on longer than most, Trail Blazers broadcaster Mike Barrett has been a quiet observer of many goings-on at the practice facility and checks in with a few tidbits from Tualatin: LaMarcus Aldridge is a legit 260 pounds, and you'll notice the difference when you see him. He's ripped up. Brandon Roy is very lean, and feeling very, very good. He looks about 15 years old with the tight haircut and thinned-out features. Wesley Matthews and Armon Johnson look like they could be playing defense in the NFL. Wesley has been at the practice facility every single time I've been there. The money isn't going to change him, and he's stressed that. Joel Przybilla's rehab continues, and he was running full-court sprints without a hitch this week. Same goes for Greg Oden, who is down around 270, reportedly. He looks very good. More on Greg in a minute. Johnson played well at summer league, so you got a pretty good idea of what he brings to the team. As for the other rookies, you'll probably be in for a surprise. I had no idea Luke Babbitt and Elliot Williams were this good. Granted, these are pickup games in September. But, Babbitt looks like a totally different player than the guy we saw in Vegas- not suggesting he had a bad summer league or anything. In the five-on-five stuff he has been beyond impressive. He has put on muscle, is very quick, has a great back-to-the-basket game, and sticks just about every three he's allowed to take. The guy who has been consistenly causing jaws to drop wide open is Elliot. I talked to a scout today who believes Portland may have gotten the steal of the first-round of the draft. We all heard the stuff about Williams recording a 48" vertical jump in pre-draft testing. So, he was tested again. He actually bettered that mark. I've never seen a guy who causes the entire gym to stop, turn, and watch, when his vertical is tested. Jeff Pendergraph told me this week he's never seen anything like it, and said he saw Elliot take just two steps, go off TWO feet, and hit the 12-foot mark with his right hand. Yes, he can play too.
Well so the last time a first round pick played horrible in Vegas he started 75+ games for us right? Babbitt is the next Nic Batum! Hell Ya'!
MB might lean a little to the puffing side, but he usually has a basis in truth. I liked this part: After summer league I felt AJ could possibly see some time this year as he does know how to run a team. I kind of wrote the other two off. Maybe a bit premature. I hope so. Babbit is in a great position to get back up minutes at the 3/4 if he can earn it--but he has all the time in the world if he can't. No pressure. I'm glad Williams can jump 50", but that won't mean squat unless he can do some other good things on the court. I didn't hear anything about him raining in threes. With MB it is not so much what he does say, as much as what he doesn't say.
I like that Luke is showing off a little of his post game. I like him in the Travis Outlaw role -- SF and PF.
This is obviously VERY encouraging. It's enough to make a Blazer fan drool. Let's just hope that Barrett isn't lying through his teeth.
He was a starter as a freshman under Coach K. at Duke. Very few freshman start under Coach K. at Duke and if you do you have to be a lock down defender. Williams is a smart player who will find his niche in the league.
Man, I rocked one of those exact ones in middle school! I went online yesterday looking for one and the cheapest one I found was for $175 and it was a medium!!!!
bingo. I don't doubt that Babbitt can shoot or Elliot can jump or that LA is now 260, but most of us have enjoyed enough Blazer seasons to know thats not the whole truth. It's MB's job to get fans pumped about the team to help sell out the RG... it's certainly not to talk about player flaws and to speculate on anything but happy happy joy joy. Thats fine STOMP
