Good news for Blazer fans!
I have 2 very good reports to give today regarding the Blazers. The first is basically telling you what you already know. Damon Stoudamire and Nick Van Exel have been shooting like stars the last several games and show no signs of letting up. Each of them have improved siginicantly. Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune says:
"...The numbers are eye-popping: Van Exel — .496 shooting, .523 on 3-pointers, 22.4 points per game, 6.0 assists; Stoudamire — .476, .456, 26.1 and 5.4. That’s a combined 48.5 points, 11.4 assists and 9.3 3-pointers per game from the southpaw duo. It’s been bombs away, and it’s been a sight to behold..."
The second report is that Darius and Zach are close to returning and might even play tomorrow night against Minnesota! Reef has been told he may return as early as late February. This is great news and I am sure the Blazer's current skeleton crew is more than happy to hear it.
This good news does bring up a question. How will Zach and Darius's return affect current team chemistry? How will it affect the game? Personally I think the guys have had to play without them long enough that the improvements made to their games during this time will remain permanent. I think Ruben will be receptive to returning to the bench. You know Ruben is going to be great regardless of if he starts or not. I do wish that Cheeks would continue starting Pryzbilla instead of Theo. What I am anxious to see is a starting line up of Godzylla, Zach, Darius, Damon and Nick. Please Mo, TRY IT!
Cheek's comments in the Tribune are thrilling in that we may finally see the Blazers have both an inside and an outside game. I can't wait to see it! If the guys turn it on both ways, they will be very hard to beat.
"With Randolph and Miles due back perhaps as early as Saturday, it begs the questions: Can Van Exel and Stoudamire continue with the hot hands? Can they mesh with the Blazers’ inside threats? Will Cheeks still give them the green light? “(Van Exel and Stoudamire) will still shoot the ball,” the coach promises. “We’d like to have a post-up game. It’s important. There are times when those (perimeter) shots are not going to fall, but we’re not going to go post, post, post. We’ll incorporate some post-up plays with our outside shooting...” Source:Portland Tribune
"...The numbers are eye-popping: Van Exel — .496 shooting, .523 on 3-pointers, 22.4 points per game, 6.0 assists; Stoudamire — .476, .456, 26.1 and 5.4. That’s a combined 48.5 points, 11.4 assists and 9.3 3-pointers per game from the southpaw duo. It’s been bombs away, and it’s been a sight to behold..."
The second report is that Darius and Zach are close to returning and might even play tomorrow night against Minnesota! Reef has been told he may return as early as late February. This is great news and I am sure the Blazer's current skeleton crew is more than happy to hear it.
This good news does bring up a question. How will Zach and Darius's return affect current team chemistry? How will it affect the game? Personally I think the guys have had to play without them long enough that the improvements made to their games during this time will remain permanent. I think Ruben will be receptive to returning to the bench. You know Ruben is going to be great regardless of if he starts or not. I do wish that Cheeks would continue starting Pryzbilla instead of Theo. What I am anxious to see is a starting line up of Godzylla, Zach, Darius, Damon and Nick. Please Mo, TRY IT!
Cheek's comments in the Tribune are thrilling in that we may finally see the Blazers have both an inside and an outside game. I can't wait to see it! If the guys turn it on both ways, they will be very hard to beat.
"With Randolph and Miles due back perhaps as early as Saturday, it begs the questions: Can Van Exel and Stoudamire continue with the hot hands? Can they mesh with the Blazers’ inside threats? Will Cheeks still give them the green light? “(Van Exel and Stoudamire) will still shoot the ball,” the coach promises. “We’d like to have a post-up game. It’s important. There are times when those (perimeter) shots are not going to fall, but we’re not going to go post, post, post. We’ll incorporate some post-up plays with our outside shooting...” Source:Portland Tribune
posted by KJM at 1:55 PM
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