Official '13-'14 Blazers Training Camp Thread

[Rastapopoulos]

• Trail Blazers ‏@trailblazers 3m
  .@AllenCrabbe shuts down the scrimmage w a corner 3 that found nothing but net #RipCity
• Trail Blazers ‏@trailblazers 4m
  .@Trobinson0 looking strong out here. First a mid-range pull-up off the bounce, followed by a slick left-hand hook on the paint #RipCity
  Trail Blazers ‏@trailblazers 9m
  Before that 3, @Trobinson0 had a strong And-1 layup off the pick-n-roll #RipCity
  Trail Blazers ‏@trailblazers 10m
  .@DWRIGHTWAY1 splashes a 3 in transition! Get used to that Rip City
  Trail Blazers ‏@trailblazers 12m
  Team is scrimmaging 5-5 at the tail end of practice #RipCity

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Highlights from the above-mentioned scrimmage.

 

[THE HCP]

So I just got to my hotel here in Orlando..... LA got hurt?


Sent from my baller ass iPhone 5 FAMS!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Terry Stotts ‏@trailblazers 12m
Allen Crabbe will be worth 5 extra wins this season #RipCity

 

[THE HCP]

Oh no he didn't just steal the Coach Nate quote!

 

[illmatic99]

MM should like this.

No, he'll point out that it was Rice that said it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's Batum's face (or rather, his disembodied head) that makes this picture:

 

[Rastapopoulos]

He doesn't just dance like Carlton:

 

[blazedanugz]

Highlights from the above-mentioned scrimmage.

uuhh Trob does look like a beast in that. fadeaway jumper than that running baby hook? don't expect that from him but it looked good there

 

[Natebishop3]

Highlights from the above-mentioned scrimmage.

For some reason it won't play for me.

 

[THE HCP]

 

[THE HCP]

 

[THE HCP]

 

[THE HCP]

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm still really excited about Thomas Robinson. I think people are going to regret passing him off so easily.

 

[THE HCP]

I'm still really excited about Thomas Robinson. I think people are going to regret passing him off so easily.

Consider the source, but one of my peeps says he is "beasting" in practices!


Sent from my baller ass iPhone 5 FAMS!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I'm still really excited about Thomas Robinson. I think people are going to regret passing him off so easily.

This. I've said it before (as have several others), this could ultimately be one of the biggest steals we've seen in some time. I'd like to think the Hornets were considering drafting T-Rob at #1, because I thought he was that enticing. I love Lillard, but at the time, it was hard not getting excited about some rumors that had us trading to #2 to take Robinson. To have a proven Lillard, and now have Robinson for cheap, talk about a gift. He seems like the type that learned and was motivated from last season, not the type to wallow and become entrapped. So I see him making strides. I love LMA, and I think we're not deep with bigs (we are, I believe if everyone is healthy), but I'm not terrified if LMA were to go down for ten games. I was nervous about Sheed, when we had a young, unproven Z-Bo. Zach stepped in and was quite solid for a young guy getting his first taste. It's nice to at least feel like we have some young, serious potential on the bench.

 

[Draco]

Yeah Robinson is the guy I'm probably most excited for too. I was thinking before the 2012 draft how cool it would be if we traded up to get him and could run a frontcourt with him and LaMarcus along with another big off the bench. With Lopez on board I've basically got my wish. All these bigs bring unique strengths, and should be able to play together. LaMarcus mentioned at media day how he thought he could play some 5 with TRob at the 4 so I'm glad he isn't insisting he only plays PF. Sounds like LMA just wanted to have a center in the for at least a part of the game which he never had at all last season.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think that's why the last few years have been so rough. We went through a stretch of having an embarrassment of riches in the frontcourt. That really changed once we lost Warkentein. He was our big man scout. When you have someone like Luke Babbitt playing the four, that means you have a fucking problem.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Add me to the list of people most excited about Robinson this coming season. I think he'll have his growing pains but he'll also make some solid strides in becoming the player most thought he would be last year.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Yeah Robinson is the guy I'm probably most excited for too. I was thinking before the 2012 draft how cool it would be if we traded up to get him and could run a frontcourt with him and LaMarcus along with another big off the bench. With Lopez on board I've basically got my wish. All these bigs bring unique strengths, and should be able to play together. LaMarcus mentioned at media day how he thought he could play some 5 with TRob at the 4 so I'm glad he isn't insisting he only plays PF. Sounds like LMA just wanted to have a center in the for at least a part of the game which he never had at all last season.

Yeah it kinda reminds me of the summer of 1996 (I believe that's correct). We were going to trade Strickland to the Bullets for #4 and draft Wallace or KG in 1995. I was so stoked. It fell apart. We made it happen the next year. Good things came of that. Hoping for a similar situation now.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah it kinda reminds me of the summer of 1996 (I believe that's correct). We were going to trade Strickland to the Bullets for #4 and draft Wallace or KG in 1995. I was so stoked. It fell apart. We made it happen the next year. Good things came of that. Hoping for a similar situation now.

Yeah, in terms of raw athleticism I think Robinson is definitely up there. Obviously Sheed was a freak, but I think Robinson could be super dominant with how strong and quick he is.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Yeah different type players. Just similar overall things, in that we were rumored to be moving up for both players, both loaded with potential, and we get them a year later as potentially key pieces to rebuilding. Very different. Ironically, you combine the two, and you might just have the greatest PF ever.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah different type players. Just similar overall things, in that we were rumored to be moving up for both players, both loaded with potential, and we get them a year later as potentially key pieces to rebuilding. Very different. Ironically, you combine the two, and you might just have the greatest PF ever.

I think Robinson reminds me of Brian Grant. Obviously there are differences, but their college numbers are very similar.

Grant's senior year at Xavier - 17.3 ppg, 10.3 boards, 55 FG%

Robinson's senior year at Kansas - 17.7 ppg, 11.9 boards, 52 FG%

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Not a bad comp, though I do think Robinson came to the NBA with a higher ceiling, at least as far as from the analysts' perspective.

 

[Natebishop3]

Not a bad comp, though I do think Robinson came to the NBA with a higher ceiling, at least as far as from the analysts' perspective.

I think so too, but BG was drafted 8th overall in 1994. He had a decent rookie season too. I think Robinson is more athletic, and has the potential to be a more effective scorer than Grant ever was.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Re: TRob: if he does become good, it will be a total mystery why two teams basically gave away a high lottery pick for nothing.

Don't forget what we saw in summer league: a great rebounder who looked lost when he tried to do other things.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'd look to develop him as primarily a p&r player -- like how PHX brought along Stoudemire.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'm still really excited about Thomas Robinson. I think people are going to regret passing him off so easily.

As am and do I. I'm not sure when, maybe from day one, maybe at the break, or maybe next year, but I think he has the tools to be a very food player