In Blazer land the offseason has done nothing but add fuel to the fire that is the optimism heading into the 2008-2009 season. A more in depth look at the Blazers new editions will be short coming but first a quick glance at what the summer held in Blazer land;
Starting on draft night The Trade Master (Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard) wheeled and dealed his way into Jerryd Bayless, Nikolaus Batum, and Ike Diogu. Bayless quickly showed heart, skill, and a desire to win in the Blazers summer camp games in Las Vegas where he earned MVP honors. Word is still out on Batum who physically looks like T-Mac but many also said the same of former Pacer Jonathan Bender, too soon to pass judgement on the young frenchman but the tools are their. Diogu was a beast in college but has failed to live up to the high expectations that surrounded him when he entered the league. Regardless of his up and down career Ike will provide a low post scoring presence coming off the bench the Blazers sorely missed last year.
The Greg Oden rehab watch has seen him graduate to full contact practices by the end of August. While many cynics have all but written GO off as another injury prone big man that will fail to live up to heaven high expectations, we Blazer Believers are keeping our mouths closed but they are closed with sly smiles. If Oden can defend the paint, and thats all the Blazers need him to do at this point, his addition will be surprisingly impactful. Oden is a defensive force playing for a defensive minded coach, a combo for success.
Rudy Mania. Rudy Fernandez came into the Olympics known only to the die hard Blazer fans and the Spanish. He left the Olympics as the next word out of everyone's mouths after Redeem Team.
B. Roy's knee durability came into question after a minor surgery to repair a faulty meniscus. He looks ready to start the season and the rest during the preseason may turn out to be a good thing. The thing about Roy is his game isn't built on his outright speed or physical dominance. He out thinks his opponents and even as he will lose a step or two over the years, players like him learn new tricks to get their shots off.
Overall training camp can't get started soon enough, for us fans and for the Blazers themselves. Sounds like all but a few have already shown up in Portland and started practicing.
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