It's late october again and the weather has turned to remind us all it truly is fall. If the Ducks, Beavers and High School Football wasn't enough of a reminder already. But now the time is drawing near to open up another NBA and college basketball season. I absolutely love this time of year. There is just so much great excitement around the Blazers and the possibilities of this season and what could be. What are your thoughts on the matter?
Personally, I feel that the Blazers are poised to have a breakout year. One that this old Coach has waited for, for many many years. Is that an NBA Championship year? NO! I don't think so this year. But, I do think this is the year that the Blazers prove they are an elite team in this league are ready to start dominating teams and win a couple playoff series. This is the year they realize who they are and who we all have believed that they are as well. The Blazers have a nucleus that has grown, matured and is primed to make a big splash.
Here are my 5 Keys to Success This Season:
1) Brandon Roy - B Roy is a proven All-Star now and needs to become a vocal leader to spur the rest of this team to new heights. His leadership on the floor has to be more than just taking the big shot. It has to be getting all of these guys around him to trust him, rely upon him, and look to him as the stabilizing force when they face adversity night in and night out along this marathon that is the NBA regular season.
2) The coaching staff - moves in the off-season brought in true basketball minds with enormous amounts of experience and expertise on how to make a young group win. Coach Bickerstaff alone has more playoff experience than the Blazers entire roster. I think they have to work on discovering a consistent offense and one that has much more movement in it. How do you beat teams like Miami and LA that have stacked rosters? Make them play defense every possession and make them uncomfortable on the offensive end with your unrelenting pressure defense.
3) LaMarcus Aldridge - No longer just a young, talented player, LaMarcus must now become a dominate force inside and out on the floor. With his overall skills, I ask myself: Where is the passion, toughness, tenacity to become an elite player in this league? If he can add that to his game this year and go after rebounds, take the ball strong to the hole, impose his will on players, he will be an All-Star this year. (Big plus having players like Amare move to the Eastern conference as well as Carlos Boozer)
4) POINT GUARD - The Blazers must find a true point guard to add to this mix. I know a lot of people are saying that Greg and Joel being hurt are the Blazers biggest limiting factor, but I don't believe that is true. No offense to Andre Miller, but he is NOT the PG of the future for this franchise. He is a band-aide PG. We need a point guard like the guy in New Orleans to come to Portland. If we get a PG of that caliber on the roster I believe that this team is easily a 50-win team and can easily make the Western Conference Finals this year.
5) The Fans! - A winning team to go along with the best fans in all of sports. Blazer fans, now is your turn to celebrate, get excited and continue to support your team in only the way that YOU CAN! As President Obama said in his campaign two years ago..."YES WE CAN!" We can be the best team in the league and the best fans in the league. Together we get better and together we will exceed all expectations.
GO BLAZERS!
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