Team Expert/Cool Guy: Dave from Blazer's Edge, a very comprehensive and detailed blog about the Blazers and all of their exploits.
Questions and Answers:
1. One of the downfalls of this young team last season was a lack of leadership. Does anyone step up this season for them or can we expect the same type of chaos that proliferated last season?
Between a new coach, mismatched talent, rampant injuries, and a few knuckleheads last season was an interesting chemistry experiment. Both the coach and talent issues should lessen this year. Nobody can forecast injuries but it's hard to imagine four-fifths of the starting lineup going down for major stretches again. Some of the knuckleheads are gone, but a couple remain.
If there's going to be an emotional leader this year it'll be Joel Przybilla. He showed confidence in the team's direction by re-signing this summer when he just as easily could have gone to Detroit or San Antonio. He also has the work ethic, the toughness, and the self-sacrifical style of play to inspire people. He's not a long-term solution though, as he isn't the most talented player on the squad. Jarrett Jack, Martell Webster, and Brandon Roy are three young players with sterling characters, charisma and enough talent to eventually lead. They're too young to step into command this season but I suspect that within a year or two they will form a triumvirate to be reckoned with on the floor and in the locker room. They're guards and controlling the ball always gives you a leg up in leadership.
The elephants in the closet here are Zach Randolph and Darius Miles, our two most talented players and arguably the biggest headcases. Both are making pre-season noises about wanting to lead and do the right thing but if I got a kiss from a pretty girl every time I'd heard that from a Blazer I'd be Hugh Hefner. It's always divisive when your best players are also your problem children. The only way to bring them in line is to cut their playing time. But doing that sends a message to the rest of the team that something besides winning is on the agenda tonight. It's like sending guys to war without the biggest guns, leading to demoralization and frustration. But not reining them in sends the message that things like discipline, teamwork, and getting with the program don't contribute to winning...a poisonous concept that quickly loses the coach respect and eventually leads to everyone just doing whatever they please. That's the Catch-22 the Blazers are in with these guys. Unless the Wonder Twins miraculously reform or can be traded that won't change this year.
2. Who gets traded first - Darius Miles who likes to make a highlight every time he touches the ball or Zach Randolph who just does not fit into a motion type of offense since he's basically not going to throw the ball back out or to a cutter?
Hmmmm...I shook my Magic 8-ball and it said, "Reply hazy, ask again later". Seriously, the official answer right now is "neither". Blazer management apparently still has high hopes for Zach and even if they didn't his enormous contract means we'd have to find a very special taker. Between his creaky knees, his mouth, his history, and the $36 million owed over the next four years Miles' value is less than nil on the open market. It's like sticking a roll of pea green shag carpet and a rusty Pinto on blocks in your front yard and asking which will sell fastest.
3. How much of an impact do you expect LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, and last year's number one draft pick, Martell Webster to make?
Aldridge just had minor shoulder surgery. He should be ready to go in November but having missed training camp, needing to bulk up more to be effective, and sitting behind Zach, Raef LaFrentz, and perhaps Jamaal Magloire or Travis Outlaw in the power forward rotation I don't expect more than mop-up minutes for him. (Barring major trades, of course.) He'll probably see more playing time towards the end of the year but next year's Summer League will be the potential coming out party for him. Brandon Roy is going to be fast-tracked into the rotation. He's tall, smart, plays defense, can switch directions on a dime, and has a decent shot. There's been talk of him backing up Jarrett Jack at the point as well as getting minutes at his natural shooting guard position. He can handle and pass the ball really well for a two-guard which is something that's been missing in the Blazer backcourt for some time. With Jack getting major minutes and major pressure I anticipate Roy being his backcourt safety valve on many nights.