Official training camp thread

[riverman]

3 hours to go and no game thread!

Fire Darkwebs!

He's a game time decision

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I was one of the one's that believed the 2013-14 team could be something very solid. I think I predicted 48 wins, but I also said at the time that I believed if they jelled and came together as a team, where the team was greater than the sum of it's parts, it could win 54-56 games. And they did that. I pointed out my SF Giants as a reason to believe. They weren't supposed to win, or even make the playoffs in 2010 (or 2012 or 2014). When your star player and leader has a great work ethic and a great head on his shoulders, and the rest of the hierarchy falls into line and cares more about the team than the individual, great things can happen. When players recognize that team success and individual sacrifice will not prevent players from getting paid, winning becomes so much easier.

All that being said.... I think Portland will be better than people expect. That's not hard, considering how much people have crapped on the team, but we've never seen Dame with free reign. CJ and Meyers look ready to bust out. Possibly Aminu as well. Maybe Plumlee. These are all guys that have shown flashes of being quality players in this league, so maybe with good chemistry and the amount of time and work they've put into it already, maybe they come together quickly. We have some solid vets and role players in Hendo, Kaman, Ed Davis.... Maybe a player or two will shock the world (Noah, Moe, Cliff?).

The team will be super fun to watch, and I'm excited for some fun basketball. I hate losing, though, so it's still going to be a long season. I see us winning 30-34 games, but if these guys come together, I won't be surprised if they scrap and claw and outrun teams to finish with 40-44 games. Call me a homer. This is probably the most unfounded homerism I've arguably ever shown the Blazers. If nothing else, I refuse to follow the trend of doubting Dame.

-posted 9/30

I didn't participate in the official prediction thread, cuz I never do, but.....

BUMP.

 

[e_blazer]

H

-posted 9/30

I didn't participate in the official prediction thread, cuz I never do, but.....

BUMP.

Homer.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think my favorite part about camp and the competition is that we really will field the best starters we can because their play is what is going to win that spot. And for those that don't win a spot it will hopefully spark them to fight even harder to take away that spot.

I'm sure we all have our favorites or hopefuls but I have no problem with someone else earning it over the favorite because it will make us that much better. And that competition is going to make it really hard for us to pick a fan favorite and that it awesome. I'm really excited to be surprised at the unexpected because we have way too many guys for at least one or two of them to not work out.

That's my favorite part of my post from training camp. And this season has surpassed even those hopes. Well done Blazers. Keep it up.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

H

Homer.

Growing up as a die-hard with the "golden years" of the Drexler teams, I was so used to us winning, even if it meant coming back from 20-down, I've always kinda expected us to be a playoff team. I mean, we made it, what, 17 years in a row. Kinda shaped what I've always expected from Portland.

I've long held a healthy appreciation for guys like Davis and Hendo, so I figured with CJ ready to breakout and Dame ready to take the reigns.... And what seemed like solid team chemistry.... I liked what this team had to offer. I at least expected exciting basketball from this group, so it felt like there was something positive going on with this team.