Screw pessimism

[Max Power]

I've had a few days to digest the departure of all our FA's, and you know what--I'm still excited for the upcoming season. There are so many unknowns, so much opportunity, I can barely contain myself.

• Dame is going to be the unquestioned leader for the first time.
• Urkel and Legend are going to get consistent minutes for the first time.
• Crabbe looks like he has a new attitude and confidence that will do volumes for his game.
• Plumlee is poised to be Lopez+.
• Aminu and Davis are going to provide defensive ability and intensity that we haven't seen in years.
• People are calling Connaughton "Project Pat", but I think he's going to be ready to contribute from day 1.
• Vonleh is a legit top 10 talent, and I have no idea what to expect from him, but I hear he can put the ball on the floor better than any PF we've had...maybe ever.
• Even that summer league kid Montero is touted in his draft profile as "an elite level player"

Call me a homer. Call me delusional. Call me whatever you want; I don't care. The moratorium isn't even over and summer league hasn't even begun, but it doesn't matter to me. I'm excited about what our team can be, and I firmly believe that it's still a great day to be a Blazer.

Yes, finally! More people who see CJ's resemblance to Urkel/Stefan. The best sign I saw at the Rose Garden last season was of CJ asking "Did I do that?"

 

[blue9]

...

I love to touch your name! But I musn't touuuuuuuuuch...

 

[Draco]

CJ can start at SG just fine. Klay and Harden are the only tough covers. Klay won't isolate him as they do other thing offensively and Harden will take the whole team to defend anyways.

I also expect much more switching defensively so it's not as critical if our players hold their defensive assignment one on one.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

CJ can start at SG just fine.

Maybe he could, but he'd have to beat Connaughton out for that spot.

 

[stampedehero]

That band copied the intro lead bits from Joe Satriani and Marc Bonilla. Do check out Marc with Rock A to Z on Utube. That live performance will make you (fill in the blank)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm more optimistic about the team since...well, probably since we drafted Oden!

Oh, THAT'S a good omen.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Maybe he could, but he'd have to beat Connaughton out for that spot.

Sometimes, there is nothing better than having a team trying to fight for starting spots.

Davis vs Plumlee for C

Meyers vs Vonleh? PF

Henderson vs Crabbe for SF

Connaughton vs CJ for SG

Dame vs THE WORLD! (my money's on Dame)

This to me is exciting and I expect to see every player giving it their all every night. I think that and potential lineup changes throwing other teams off, will be good for 15 to 20 wins alone. Dame accounts for another 15 wins. As the team improves and learns each other, we gain another 10-15 wins.

There is serious potential right now. Best to stay positive, keep the young guys pumped and energized with possibilities and see watch this team take shape, so we see what were missing to try to pick up at the trade deadline. Maybe OKC says they want to trade Durant because he is fleeing, and we have a shot at him. Who knows... but I want the money in our pocket when the time comes and I think PA and NO do as well. IF we can nail another all star at the trade deadline and then fill in the rest of the support in the off season, we are a 50 win team again the year after and looking for one of our youngs (CJ, Meyers) to become that third and bamm!!!. Championship material.

I wanted to bring the band back again. I now realize it was better we didn't. I am more excited now than I was thinking we were gonna have the same team as last year with hopes of signing a third star.
We are MUCH better off for the long run in my opinion!

GO BLAZERS!!!!

 

[tlongII]

I expect us to pay hard, but other than that I'm not expecting much. Stotts has not proven to be much of a defensive coach and we will be woefully thin regarding 3 point shooters. Leonard and CJ have shown promise, but nothing more. Lillard regressed considerably at the end of last season and he will have less help to take pressure of him this year. I don't think we'll even be in the discussion for the playoffs for 3 years or more unless we get a big time free agent or get extremely lucky in the draft.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I expect us to pay hard, but other than that I'm not expecting much. Stotts has not proven to be much of a defensive coach and we will be woefully thin regarding 3 point shooters. Leonard and CJ have shown promise, but nothing more. Lillard regressed considerably at the end of last season and he will have less help to take pressure of him this year. I don't think we'll even be in the discussion for the playoffs for 3 years or more unless we get a big time free agent or get extremely lucky in the draft.

You are in the wrong thread...

 

[Hobbesarable]

Hey--I'm not saying that I think we are a title contender, or even that we're a playoff team (though we could be). What I am saying is that there is a lot to look forward to about this season, and that enjoyment thereof does not necessarily need to hang solely on wins/losses.

I also plan to like every post that joins me in the positivity party. There's too much negativity around here.

Our team is young, athletic, and ready to run. I'm more excited about our team than I have been the last couple of seasons. Bring on Blazer basketball, baby!

 

[Spud147]

I agree 100%. Writers be all "off course LMA wanted to leave, team only hot out of 1st round once in 9 seasons"... maybe because Lamarcus was our go to guy. Maybe Lamarcus is our infamous "good stats on a not great team" our Shareef Abduhr Rahim... honestly I don't know.

What I do know is I am 40 years old and Lamarcus has been a Blazer for just shy of 25% of my life. He isn't magically going to be better than he has been and honestly once in a while sports franchises just have to move on.

That's how I feel. The franchise did everything in their power to accommodate him and put a team around him that would win. He was the main guy by the time he left and he knows it. Damian chooses to market himself and he wants to stay aloof. I feel like he should've tried to be part of the solution. Stay here and help create stability and get involved with helping us woo a 3rd max player here. But he chose to take the easy way out and ride the coat tails of a team that's already done it 5 times in 15 years and he will never be anything compared to Tim Duncan when its all done.

I truly believe, still, that we have a first class organization and owner. We were ridiculously cursed with injuries not bad management!

 

[Road Ratt]

I'm keeping my pessimism. When my glass becomes empty I'll fill it back to half full with more rum & coke!

 

[Strenuus]

I've had a few days to digest the departure of all our FA's, and you know what--I'm still excited for the upcoming season. There are so many unknowns, so much opportunity, I can barely contain myself.

• Dame is going to be the unquestioned leader for the first time.
• Urkel and Legend are going to get consistent minutes for the first time.
• Crabbe looks like he has a new attitude and confidence that will do volumes for his game.
• Plumlee is poised to be Lopez+.
• Aminu and Davis are going to provide defensive ability and intensity that we haven't seen in years.
• People are calling Connaughton "Project Pat", but I think he's going to be ready to contribute from day 1.
• Vonleh is a legit top 10 talent, and I have no idea what to expect from him, but I hear he can put the ball on the floor better than any PF we've had...maybe ever.
• Even that summer league kid Montero is touted in his draft profile as "an elite level player"

Call me a homer. Call me delusional. Call me whatever you want; I don't care. The moratorium isn't even over and summer league hasn't even begun, but it doesn't matter to me. I'm excited about what our team can be, and I firmly believe that it's still a great day to be a Blazer.

Post of the year!!!

 

[Darkwebs]

I'm most excited to see how CJ and Meyers follow up their brilliant performances in the playoffs. Both have a chance to cement a spot as a starter on our team.

Vonleh and Pat are the unknowns. Both have potential to be a significant contributor to our team next season, but both might struggle due to lack of experience.

It's going to be interesting to see Dame as the number 1 guy and how he will deal with every opponent game-planning for him. It'll be equally interesting what changes Stotts will implement on our offensive and defensive schemes.

Davis, Plumlee, and Aminu are all athletic and will bring energy, so our team may suck, but I think they will be fun to watch!