Post by Akomplice on Aug 7, 2011 13:56:36 GMT -5
After losing game six in the playoffs to the Kings, reporters surrounded the locker of Klay Thompson to ask him about the game. It's simple, the Kings team has been together for quite some time now and trust each other. They haven't made any big moves in a few years now and it really shows, the rapport that their players have is something else. That's what were trying to do here, that's why I resigned here. I don't want to be anywhere else but in Portland, I want to retire a Blazer. Look around the locker room, that's what myself, LeBryan, Xavier, Patric and DaJuan are all trying to accomplish. We want to put the Blazers back on the basketball map, we bringing it back to the glory days.
Starting with Klay it's easy to see why the Blazers are high on him, hell looking back at the draft three years ago they still don't understand how he fell so far in the draft. It really shows that some scouts don't care about Washington State basketball. Going 40th overall Klay spent the first year in the Development league, honing his skills. The second year he spent the first few sims their before being called up. He went on to average 18 points a game, 6 rebounds and 2 assist with great percentages a game. This year his game took another huge leap, improving his scoring efforts to 25.6 points a game while improving his assist numbers and grabbing boards at the same rate. The biggest thing is that he even improved his shooting percentages from both the field and beyond the arc. He just signed a long term deal to remain with the team, he is a core piece for this team.
In that same draft the Blazers select swingman Xavier Henry. Like Klay he can play either position on the wing. Henry has improved his game each year since entering the league, he got the starting job right away due to being a lottery pick, he wasn't eligible to go to the D-League. Henry has seen his scoring efforts increase from 8 to 16 to 19 this past season. He has improved his efficiency from the field each year and has increased his rebounding and assist numbers each year. Henry does bring one thing that Klay don't, his perimeter defense is quite top notch. Henry has made it a habit of slowing down players on the perimeter. Henry is only 22 years old and that was part of the reason he was a lottery pick, his high ceiling. Henry will be entering his fourth and final year on his rookie contract, but the Blazers want to bring him back for good next year.
Stuck behind these two players is LeBryan Nash. Nash is the jack of all trades of this group, he can score in a myriad of ways, he can push and handle the ball and go coast to coast on a rebound. Nash is only 21 years old and the Blazers really are high on him. Nash has seen his stats increase this year, due to the extra playing time. The Blazers really wanted to move him to point guard this year, but a new ruling made them hesitant since he would have lost some of his rebounding prowess. The Blazers are really hoping that he can continue to improve his all around game and become the elite backup at four positions since he has the skills to play all positions. LeBryan would love to start for this team, but at the moment the Blazers really don't have a spot for him due to Klay and Xavier.
The Blazers are also very high on super athletic on Patric Young. They really love his shot blocking abilities, elite athleticism and his ability to hold his own down low on the block. Young was the hardest piece to acquire since he was drafted by the Grizzlies and then moved to the Suns, however ever since the Blazers were enamored with him. They strongly considered taking him at seven where they took Nash, but ultimately passed on him. Young has the ability to really control the game on the defensive end and on the glass. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but the Blazers feel that they have enough scoring on the team already. With some better conditioning the Blazers feel that Young can really take that next leap in this upcoming training camp, their future success on his shoulders, good thing that he has big ones.
The final player that the Blazers are extremely high on is DuJuan Coleman, the rookie. He just finished his rookie year and posted 9/9 numbers for the year, numbers that are very encouraging. The Blazers were debating between Coleman and Birch in the draft, however with Coleman being two years younger it swayed them. Coleman has the size, agility and athleticism to be a force in this league. He already is a solid defender and rebounder, with his size and post moves their confident that his offensive game will come along quite nicely. With him and Young clogging the middle, it makes it hard for opposing players to drive to the hole. Coleman showed a lot of flashes this year, some impressive blocking games, some impressive rebounding game but the thing that they liked is that he was consistent. He showed up every game and that's something they bank on in the future.
These five players are the core of the Blazers and they all seem to want to be a part of it. The final piece that the Blazers are looking for is a point guard, will he come in this years free agency or draft? Who knows? The Blazers will have the 14th pick in this draft and have already begun the scouting process. Talks are also that they will be very active in the trade market looking for a point guard.
Starting with Klay it's easy to see why the Blazers are high on him, hell looking back at the draft three years ago they still don't understand how he fell so far in the draft. It really shows that some scouts don't care about Washington State basketball. Going 40th overall Klay spent the first year in the Development league, honing his skills. The second year he spent the first few sims their before being called up. He went on to average 18 points a game, 6 rebounds and 2 assist with great percentages a game. This year his game took another huge leap, improving his scoring efforts to 25.6 points a game while improving his assist numbers and grabbing boards at the same rate. The biggest thing is that he even improved his shooting percentages from both the field and beyond the arc. He just signed a long term deal to remain with the team, he is a core piece for this team.
In that same draft the Blazers select swingman Xavier Henry. Like Klay he can play either position on the wing. Henry has improved his game each year since entering the league, he got the starting job right away due to being a lottery pick, he wasn't eligible to go to the D-League. Henry has seen his scoring efforts increase from 8 to 16 to 19 this past season. He has improved his efficiency from the field each year and has increased his rebounding and assist numbers each year. Henry does bring one thing that Klay don't, his perimeter defense is quite top notch. Henry has made it a habit of slowing down players on the perimeter. Henry is only 22 years old and that was part of the reason he was a lottery pick, his high ceiling. Henry will be entering his fourth and final year on his rookie contract, but the Blazers want to bring him back for good next year.
Stuck behind these two players is LeBryan Nash. Nash is the jack of all trades of this group, he can score in a myriad of ways, he can push and handle the ball and go coast to coast on a rebound. Nash is only 21 years old and the Blazers really are high on him. Nash has seen his stats increase this year, due to the extra playing time. The Blazers really wanted to move him to point guard this year, but a new ruling made them hesitant since he would have lost some of his rebounding prowess. The Blazers are really hoping that he can continue to improve his all around game and become the elite backup at four positions since he has the skills to play all positions. LeBryan would love to start for this team, but at the moment the Blazers really don't have a spot for him due to Klay and Xavier.
The Blazers are also very high on super athletic on Patric Young. They really love his shot blocking abilities, elite athleticism and his ability to hold his own down low on the block. Young was the hardest piece to acquire since he was drafted by the Grizzlies and then moved to the Suns, however ever since the Blazers were enamored with him. They strongly considered taking him at seven where they took Nash, but ultimately passed on him. Young has the ability to really control the game on the defensive end and on the glass. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but the Blazers feel that they have enough scoring on the team already. With some better conditioning the Blazers feel that Young can really take that next leap in this upcoming training camp, their future success on his shoulders, good thing that he has big ones.
The final player that the Blazers are extremely high on is DuJuan Coleman, the rookie. He just finished his rookie year and posted 9/9 numbers for the year, numbers that are very encouraging. The Blazers were debating between Coleman and Birch in the draft, however with Coleman being two years younger it swayed them. Coleman has the size, agility and athleticism to be a force in this league. He already is a solid defender and rebounder, with his size and post moves their confident that his offensive game will come along quite nicely. With him and Young clogging the middle, it makes it hard for opposing players to drive to the hole. Coleman showed a lot of flashes this year, some impressive blocking games, some impressive rebounding game but the thing that they liked is that he was consistent. He showed up every game and that's something they bank on in the future.
These five players are the core of the Blazers and they all seem to want to be a part of it. The final piece that the Blazers are looking for is a point guard, will he come in this years free agency or draft? Who knows? The Blazers will have the 14th pick in this draft and have already begun the scouting process. Talks are also that they will be very active in the trade market looking for a point guard.
